Autonomous Vehicle Timing Controller for Passenger Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous vehicle systems lack efficient mechanisms for determining optimal drop-off and pick-up times and locations, especially considering individual activities and travel delays, which can lead to inefficient operations and passenger inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a GPS unit, communication unit, timing controller, and environment sensors to autonomously determine adjusted pick-up times and navigate around obstacles, incorporating timing factors from mobile devices to synchronize vehicle and passenger arrival times, and suggest alternative pick-up locations based on activity inferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle arrives at the pick-up location at the scheduled pick-up time, then the passenger pickup function is fulfilled, but the vehicle may arrive before the passenger is ready causing waiting time and operational inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining the passenger's activity schedule and estimating their arrival time at the pick-up location before the vehicle departs. The timing controller uses this information to calculate an adjusted departure time that ensures the vehicle arrives when the passenger is actually ready, preventing both early arrival waiting and late arrival failures.
2Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle parks at a distant location to avoid obstacles, then navigation reliability is improved, but travel time and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the pick-up location based on real-time environmental conditions. When obstacles are detected at the original pick-up location, the autonomous controller communicates with the timing controller to select an alternative location that minimizes additional travel time while ensuring safe vehicle arrival. This dynamic adaptation maintains navigation reliability without incurring excessive time penalties.
3Reliability
If the system accounts for passenger activity delays to determine adjusted pick-up time, then passenger pickup reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring the passenger's activity status and comparing it against the schedule. The timing controller receives updates about the passenger's location and activity completion, then adjusts the vehicle's departure time accordingly. This feedback loop ensures reliable pickup timing while keeping the system architecture manageable through modular communication between controllers.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for autonomous vehicle drop-off and pick-up of an individual (e.g., valet type operation) are disclosed herein. An autonomous vehicle may receive global positioning system (GPS) location data including a drop-off location, a parking location, a pick-up location, a pick-up time, and timing factor information associated with an estimated arrival of the individual at the pick-up location, determine an adjusted pick-up time associated with the pick-up of the individual based on the timing factor, determine a departure time for autonomous pick-up of the individual based on the adjusted pick-up time, autonomously park the autonomous vehicle, by travelling from the drop-off location to the parking location after drop-off of the individual, and autonomously pick-up the individual, by departing, at the departure time, from the parking location and travelling to the pick-up location.