Autonomous Vehicle Pickup Refinement Using Passenger Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in accurately identifying the exact pickup location of a passenger, especially in crowded areas or when the passenger's mobile device is out of battery or lacks service, making it difficult to initiate a ride request.
Innovation Solution
The autonomous vehicle uses sensors to detect a passenger identifier, such as a barcode or color, presented by the passenger to identify and verify their account, allowing it to refine the pickup location and initiate the ride even without a mobile device or service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the autonomous vehicle uses GPS and mobile device location data to determine pickup location, then the pickup location can be determined automatically, but the exact location cannot be identified in crowded areas or when mobile device is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an identifier object as an intermediary between the passenger and the autonomous vehicle. This identifier (displayed on mobile device or physical object) serves as a mediator that allows the vehicle to precisely locate the passenger among multiple potential passengers at the general pickup location, resolving the contradiction between automatic determination and exact identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pickup location identification process into two parts: (1) general location determination via GPS/mobile device data, and (2) precise passenger identification via the identifier object. This segmentation allows the system to handle both the automatic determination aspect and the exact location identification aspect separately and effectively.
2Extent of automation
If the system relies on mobile device to initiate ride request, then the ride request process is automated, but the system fails when mobile device is out of battery or lacks service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical or visual copy of the identification information (identifier) that can be displayed on mobile device or printed on physical objects. This copy serves as a backup mechanism that maintains reliability even when the mobile device is unavailable, while the system remains automated through optical recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares alternative identification methods (physical identifier objects) in advance to cushion against the failure of mobile device-based identification. This prior preparation ensures that the automated ride request system remains reliable even when mobile devices are out of battery or lack service.
3Ease of operation
If the autonomous vehicle picks up passengers at general location, then pickup process is simple, but the vehicle cannot identify the specific passenger among multiple potential passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual characteristics (colors, patterns, images) of the identifier object to enable the autonomous vehicle to distinguish and identify the specific passenger among multiple potential passengers at the general pickup location. The visual features provide easy-to-detect differentiation without complicating the pickup process.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies relating to an autonomous vehicle are described. The autonomous vehicle is configured to determine that a person is attempting to hail the autonomous vehicle through use of a passenger identifier. The autonomous vehicle identifies a passenger account associated with the passenger identifier being presented by the person, and responsive to identifying the passenger account, determines whether the autonomous vehicle should pick up the person.