US 2022/0191657 A1 · EARLY BOARDING OF PASSENGERS IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

Abstract

The technology relates to actively looking for an assigned passenger prior to a vehicle 100 reaching a pickup location. For instance, information identifying the pickup location and client device information for authenticating the assigned passenger is received. Sensor data is received from a perception system of the vehicle identifying objects in an environment of the vehicle. When the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the pickup location, authenticating a client device using the client device information is attempted. When the client device has been authenticated, the sensor data is used to determine whether a pedestrian is within a first threshold distance of the vehicle. When a pedestrian is determined to be within the first threshold distance of the vehicle, the vehicle is stopped prior to reaching the pickup location, to wait for the pedestrian within the first threshold distance of the vehicle to enter the vehicle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of actively looking for a passenger as a vehicle is approaching a pickup location, the method comprising:

maneuvering, by one or more processors, the vehicle in order to pick up an assigned passenger at a pickup location;
receiving, by the one or more processors, sensor data from a perception system of the vehicle identifying objects in an environment of the vehicle;
prior to reaching the pickup location, using the sensor data to determine whether a pedestrian is within a first area defined by a first threshold distance from the vehicle;
if the pedestrian is determined to be within the first area, and while the vehicle is stopped, determining whether the pedestrian is within a second area, the second area being defined by a second threshold distance from the vehicle, the second threshold distance being determined based on an expected walking speed of a hypothetical pedestrian, and the first threshold distance being greater than the second threshold distance;
and
based on the determination that the pedestrian is within the second area, causing, by the one or more processors, the vehicle to wait for the pedestrian to enter the vehicle.

3 more elements

A system of actively looking for a passenger as a vehicle is approaching a pickup location, the system comprising one or more processors configured to:

maneuver the vehicle in order to pick up an assigned passenger at a pickup location;
receive sensor data from a perception system of the vehicle identifying objects in an environment of the vehicle;
prior to reaching the pickup location, use the sensor data to determine whether a pedestrian is within a first area defined by a first threshold distance from the vehicle;
if the pedestrian is determined to be within the first area, and while the vehicle is stopped, determine whether the pedestrian is within a second area, the second area being defined by a second threshold distance from the vehicle, the second threshold distance being determined based on an expected walking speed of a hypothetical pedestrian, and the first threshold distance being greater than the second threshold distance;
and
based on the determination that the pedestrian is within the second area, cause the vehicle to wait for the pedestrian to enter the vehicle.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Early boarding of passengers in autonomous vehicles

Life of this patent

Early boarding of passengers in autonomous vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20