Autonomous Vehicle Fly-By Pickup Using Real-Time Passenger Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges in arranging passenger pickups for autonomous vehicles include uncertainty about waiting times, environmental conditions, and the absence of a human driver to facilitate safe and efficient pickups, leading to confusion and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allows for real-time communication between the passenger and the vehicle to enable 'fly-by pickups', where the passenger can enter the vehicle outside the predetermined pickup area, facilitated by sensors, GPS, and computing devices that assess safety and passenger intent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle waits at the predetermined pickup area for the passenger, then the passenger can safely enter the vehicle, but the vehicle and passenger spend excessive time waiting
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the pickup process by transitioning from a static waiting model to a dynamic fly-by model. The vehicle computes real-time safety assessments and dynamically decides whether to perform a fly-by pickup (passing through without stopping) or wait at the predetermined area, optimizing both safety and time efficiency based on current conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary safety assessments and computations before the vehicle reaches the pickup area. By evaluating environmental conditions, traffic patterns, and passenger location in advance, the system can determine whether a fly-by pickup is safe, reducing unnecessary waiting time while maintaining safety standards
2Loss of time
If the passenger enters the vehicle outside the predetermined pickup area, then pickup time is reduced, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor environmental conditions, traffic patterns, and vehicle position in real-time. This feedback enables the safety system to dynamically assess whether a fly-by pickup location is safe, allowing time-efficient pickups while maintaining safety through real-time condition monitoring and adjustment
3Reliability
If the vehicle follows strict predetermined pickup area protocols, then safety is maintained, but efficiency and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms rigid predetermined pickup protocols into a dynamic decision-making framework. The vehicle computes safety assessments based on real-time conditions and dynamically selects between predetermined area pickups and fly-by pickups, maintaining safety through computational evaluation while improving efficiency by adapting to actual conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of pickup locations from fixed predetermined areas to variable locations including fly-by points. By computing safety parameters for different locations and conditions, the system optimizes pickup efficiency while maintaining safety through parameter-based decision making
4Loss of time
If the system allows fly-by pickups, then time is saved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's computing system performs self-assessment of safety conditions for fly-by pickups using onboard sensors and computational algorithms. The system autonomously evaluates environmental data, computes safety parameters, and makes decisions without requiring external intervention, managing the increased complexity through self-service computational processes
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger. For instance, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup area in order to pick up the passenger are received by the vehicle which begins maneuvering to the predetermined pickup area. While doing so, the vehicle receives from the passenger's client computing device the device's location. An indication that the passenger is interested in a fly-by pickup is identified. The fly-by pickup allows the passenger to safely enter the vehicle at a location outside of the predetermined pickup area and prior to the one or more processors have maneuvered the vehicle to the predetermined pickup area. The vehicle determines that the fly-by pickup is appropriate based on at least the location of the client computing device and the indication, and based on the determination, maneuvers itself in order to attempt the fly-by pickup.