Autonomous Vehicle Courtesy Requests With Safe Mission Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles sometimes exhibit courtesy failures, inconveniencing nearby drivers, and existing systems lack effective mechanisms for users to influence vehicle behavior while ensuring safe and legal operation.
Innovation Solution
An autonomy computing system with an incentivized behavior module allows users to request actions through a client device, requiring payment to process the request, ensuring it does not compromise the vehicle's global mission, and maintaining safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If autonomous vehicles allow user requests to influence behavior, then courtesy to other drivers is improved, but the vehicle may receive frivolous or spam requests that compromise safe operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that mediates between user requests and the autonomous vehicle's behavior. The system processes requests through multiple validation layers including spam detection algorithms, priority-based queuing, and safety constraint verification before executing any requested action. This intermediary mechanism filters out frivolous requests while allowing legitimate courtesy requests to influence vehicle behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where the autonomous vehicle communicates with users about requested actions, seeking confirmation before execution. The feedback mechanism includes notifying users of pending requests, explaining safety constraints, and obtaining explicit approval for actions that may impact the vehicle's primary mission. This feedback process prevents unauthorized or unsafe modifications to vehicle behavior.
2Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicles process multiple user requests, then user influence on behavior is improved, but the global mission to reach destination may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of user requests against the vehicle's global mission parameters before execution. Each requested action is pre-evaluated to determine compatibility with the primary destination goal, required travel time, and safety constraints. Requests that would significantly deviate from the global mission are rejected in advance, while compatible requests are queued for execution during appropriate opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the acceptance and execution of user requests based on real-time mission progress, traffic conditions, and vehicle state. As the vehicle approaches its destination or encounters time-sensitive situations, the system becomes more restrictive about accepting requests that could delay the mission. Conversely, during less critical phases, the system allows greater user influence while maintaining mission oversight.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous vehicle includes an autonomy computing system and an exterior surface displaying an indicium. The autonomy computing system includes an incentivized behavior module. The autonomy computing system further includes at least one processor and at least one memory. The processor is configured to establish communication between a client device of a user and the autonomous vehicle using the indicium. The processor is configured to receive, at least one request from the client device, the at least one request including a desired action of the autonomous vehicle. The processor is configured to initiate execution of the desired action. The processor is configured to communicate to the client device whether the autonomous vehicle will complete the requested action.