Transitioning a mixed-mode vehicle to autonomous mode
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsLuis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Nathaniel Fairfield, Andy Szybalski, Philip Nemec, Christopher Urmson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and devices for transitioning a mixed-mode autonomous vehicle from a human driven mode to an autonomously driven mode. Transitioning may include stopping a vehicle on a predefined landing strip and detecting a reference indicator. Based on the reference indicator, the vehicle may be able to know its exact position. Additionally, the vehicle may use the reference indictor to obtain an autonomous vehicle instruction via a URL. After the vehicle knows its precise location and has an autonomous vehicle instruction, it can operate in autonomous mode.
Claims20
An autonomous vehicle comprising:
- a first sensor configured to detect a landing strip responsive to the vehicle stopping;
- a second sensor configured to detect a reference indicator, responsive to the first sensor detecting the landing strip;
- an analysis module configured to identify reference data associated with the detected reference indicator, wherein the reference data comprises an internet address;
- a wireless unit configured to wirelessly retrieve an autonomous vehicle instruction based on at least the reference data;
- and,
- a control module configured to switch the vehicle into an autonomous operation mode, wherein the autonomous operation mode comprises the control module executing the autonomous vehicle instruction.
A method comprising:
- detecting a landing strip with a first sensor responsive to a vehicle stopping;
- detecting a reference indicator with a second sensor, responsive to the first sensor detecting the landing strip;
- identifying reference data associated with the detected reference indicator, wherein the reference data comprises an internet address;
- wirelessly retrieving the autonomous vehicle instruction based on at least the reference data;
- switching a vehicle to autonomous operation mode;
- and,
- performing the autonomous vehicle instruction.
An article of manufacture including a tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions encoded thereon, the instructions comprising:
- instructions for detecting a landing strip with a first sensor responsive to a vehicle stopping;
- instructions for detecting a reference indicator with a second sensor, responsive to the first sensor detecting the landing strip;
- instructions for identifying reference data associated with the detected reference indicator, wherein the reference data comprises an internet address;
- instructions for wirelessly retrieving the autonomous vehicle instruction based on at least the reference data;
- instructions for switching a vehicle to autonomous operation mode;
- and,
- instructions for performing the autonomous vehicle instruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.