PDZ Handoff Control Between Autonomous Vehicles to Cut Search Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in efficiently locating and utilizing available pick-up/drop-off zones (PDZs), leading to unnecessary time spent searching for suitable locations, which could be utilized for ride or delivery services.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to strategically manage the movement of autonomous vehicles by requesting one vehicle to remain at a PDZ, allowing another vehicle to claim it, based on factors such as target locations, estimated arrival times, historical availability, and operational capabilities, using a dispatch system to facilitate PDZ handoffs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles independently search for available PDZs, then each vehicle can find a PDZ for itself, but the time spent searching increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispatch system performs preliminary actions by proactively identifying available PDZs and assigning them to waiting AVs before the AVs would otherwise need to search independently. This advance preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming searches when PDZs become available, directly resolving the contradiction between ensuring PDZ availability and minimizing search time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the dispatch system continuously monitors PDZ availability, AV locations, and AV states. This real-time feedback enables the system to dynamically assign PDZs to appropriate AVs, ensuring that PDZs are utilized efficiently and that AVs are directed to available zones without unnecessary searching, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.
2Productivity
If autonomous vehicles wait for PDZs to become available, then PDZ utilization improves, but vehicle productivity decreases due to idle time
Solution Approach 1:
The dispatch system performs preliminary assignments by identifying PDZs in advance and assigning them to AVs that will arrive soonest or are best suited for the zone. This prevents AVs from idle waiting and ensures continuous productivity, as vehicles are kept informed of upcoming opportunities without needing to wait passively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts PDZ assignments based on real-time conditions including AV availability, PDZ characteristics, and demand patterns. This dynamic allocation optimizes the match between vehicles and zones, minimizing idle waiting time while maximizing service provision productivity by keeping AVs engaged in productive activities.
3Productivity
If a dispatch system manages PDZ assignments centrally, then overall fleet efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispatch system is designed as a multi-functional platform that handles not only PDZ assignment but also route optimization, AV monitoring, demand prediction, and coordination with multiple stakeholders. By consolidating these functions into a single universal system, the patent manages complexity through integration rather than proliferation of separate systems, maintaining fleet efficiency while controlling overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates self-service capabilities where AVs autonomously report their status, availability, and location to the dispatch system. The dispatch system uses this self-reported data to automatically make assignments without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach reduces the operational complexity of managing a centralized system while preserving its ability to optimize fleet efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to facilitate pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) handoffs between autonomous vehicles. Consistent with some embodiments, a pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) is located based on detecting a first autonomous vehicle stopped at a stopping location. A system determines, based on one or more criteria, whether to request the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location to create an opportunity for a second autonomous vehicle to claim the PDZ. An amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location is determined based on the one or more criteria. A request to remain stopped at the stopping location is transmitted to a vehicle autonomy system of the first autonomous vehicle based on satisfaction of the one or more criteria. The request specifies the amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain at the stopping location.