Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Sharing for Taxi and Delivery Dispatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving technologies are limited in their ability to allow fully autonomous vehicles to be utilized for revenue-generating services beyond their primary use, as they are often idle during commuting times, and existing systems lack a comprehensive framework for managing a fleet of vehicles owned by unassociated individuals for taxi and delivery services.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for registering and managing a fleet of autonomously driven vehicles, enabling owners to rent their vehicles for taxi and delivery services, with a web-enabled GUI for registration, scheduling, and payment processing, along with a server-based system for selecting and deploying vehicles based on customer requests and proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a provider purchases a fleet of vehicles to provide taxi/delivery services, then service reliability and availability are improved, but capital investment and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independently owned autonomous vehicles into a unified fleet managed through a centralized server. Individual vehicle owners retain ownership while the server coordinates them to function as a single service provider, combining resources without requiring one entity to purchase all vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The server system serves multiple functions: it acts as a registration authority for vehicle owners, a dispatch center for assigning trips, a billing system for charging customers, and a payment processor for compensating owners. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate systems that would be required in a traditional owned-fleet model.
2Ease of operation
If autonomous vehicles are used solely for owner commuting, then vehicle ownership simplicity is maintained, but vehicle utilization efficiency decreases due to idle time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically assigns vehicles to different uses based on real-time conditions. Vehicles transition between owner-commuter mode and service-provider mode depending on availability, location, and demand, maximizing utilization while maintaining owner control and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous productive use of vehicles by filling idle time with service assignments. When vehicles are not needed for owner commuting, they are automatically assigned delivery or taxi trips, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous useful action.
3Productivity
If a centralized fleet management system is implemented, then service coordination and scheduling are improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server system operates autonomously to match service requests with available vehicles using automated algorithms. It independently handles request processing, vehicle selection, routing, and coordination without requiring complex human management infrastructure, reducing system complexity while maintaining high coordination efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a system, method, and software for operating a taxi and delivery service using a fleet of autonomously driven vehicles amassed from a plurality of unassociated individuals and providing a graphical user interface for interested parties to register their vehicles for use and for customers to schedule services.