Autonomous Vehicle Curbside Mapping for Pickup Walk Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in efficiently determining convenient pickup and drop-off locations for passengers, leading to inconvenience due to additional distances traveled by passengers, especially for those with disabilities or in crowded environments.
Innovation Solution
A method to assess the inconvenience of pickup and drop-off locations by calculating the difference between the observed distance traveled by passengers and the nearest road edge distance, generating map data to optimize these locations for autonomous vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If autonomous vehicles use traditional taxi service coordination methods (physical signals, phone calls, in-person discussions), then human drivers can easily communicate pickup/dropoff locations, but autonomous vehicles cannot achieve such coordination leading to significant passenger inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical communication methods (physical signals, phone calls, in-person discussions) with electronic communication systems. The autonomous vehicle uses an electronic communication interface to automatically exchange location data and coordination information with passenger devices, eliminating the need for manual coordination while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicle performs coordination autonomously through its onboard computing device that automatically processes location data, determines optimal pickup/dropoff points, and communicates with passengers. The system serves itself by independently assessing inconvenience values and selecting locations without human intervention, resolving the contradiction between automation and operational ease.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If autonomous vehicles stop far from road edges to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but passengers must walk longer distances creating inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the stopping location parameter based on multiple factors including safety requirements, road edge distances, and passenger inconvenience values. The computing device calculates an optimal stopping position that balances safety margins with minimal passenger walking distance, changing the location parameter to resolve the contradiction between safety and convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system assesses local conditions at potential stopping points by calculating inconvenience values based on specific location characteristics such as distance to road edges, passenger approach paths, and environmental factors. Each location is evaluated with its own quality metrics, allowing the vehicle to select the locally optimal stopping point that satisfies both safety and convenience requirements.
3Ease of operation
If autonomous vehicles assess and optimize pickup/dropoff locations to minimize passenger walking distance, then passenger convenience is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary assessment of potential pickup and dropoff locations before the vehicle arrives. The computing device calculates inconvenience values for multiple candidate locations in advance, allowing the system to select the optimal location without complex real-time decision-making. This preliminary action reduces the operational complexity while maintaining high passenger convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electronic communication system that facilitates coordination between the autonomous vehicle and passengers. This intermediary handles the complex assessment and optimization calculations, acting as a mediator that simplifies the interaction while improving passenger convenience through data-driven location selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to generating map data. For instance, data generated by a perception system of a vehicle may be received. This data corresponds to a plurality of observations including observed positions of a passenger of the vehicle as the passenger approached the vehicle at a first location. The data may be used to determine an observed distance traveled by a passenger to reach a vehicle. A road edge distance between an observed position of an observation of the plurality of observations and a nearest road edge to the observed position may be determined. An inconvenience value for the first location may be determined using the observed distance and the road edge distance. The map data is then generated using the inconvenience value.