Autonomous Vehicle Pickup Zone Routing for Dynamic Stop Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing taxi services lack real-time information about the vehicle's actions while en route to pick up a user, making it difficult for users to understand the dynamic nature of the pickup location, especially in autonomous vehicle systems where communication of location changes can be challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a client computing device to send a request for a vehicle to stop at a particular location, receive the vehicle's current location, and generate a map displaying a route between the vehicle's location and a pickup zone with a shape defining the area where the vehicle may stop, allowing for dynamic updates and changes in the pickup zone based on the vehicle's progress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fixed pickup location is specified, then the user can provide precise pickup instructions, but the vehicle may be unable to stop exactly at the specified location due to traffic, parking availability, or safety constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming the static pickup location concept into a dynamic zone. Instead of a fixed point, the system defines a pickup zone with a boundary at a predetermined distance from the specified location. The zone's parameters (boundary distance, shape) can be adjusted based on vehicle proximity, allowing the system to adapt between precision and flexibility as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by adjusting the predetermined distance that defines the zone boundary. As the vehicle approaches the pickup location, the boundary distance can be modified to shrink the zone, providing more precise guidance to the user. This parameter change allows the system to transition from a flexible zone concept to a more precise pickup point as the vehicle gets closer.
2Loss of information
If real-time vehicle location information is provided to users, then users can track vehicle progress, but the communication of location changes and zone adjustments becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pickup location information into distinct components: the specified pickup location, the pickup zone boundary at a predetermined distance, and the vehicle's current location. By dividing the information structure this way, the system can communicate each element separately through the user interface, making the overall complex information more manageable and understandable for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary computing device (such as a mobile device or display system) to mediate between the vehicle's location data and the user interface. This intermediary processes the raw location information, calculates the zone boundary based on predetermined distances, and presents the information in a user-friendly format, reducing the complexity burden on both the vehicle system and the user.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pickup zone boundary is set at a fixed distance from the specified location, then the zone definition is simple, but it may not account for varying vehicle distances and traffic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by making the pickup zone boundary adjustable rather than fixed. The predetermined distance that defines the boundary can be modified based on the vehicle's distance from the specified location and traffic conditions. This allows the zone to expand or shrink dynamically, combining the simplicity of a distance-based definition with the adaptability needed for varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the zone boundary at a predetermined distance from the specified pickup location before the vehicle arrives. This preliminary zone definition provides a clear, simple target for users to understand where to meet the vehicle. As the vehicle approaches, the system can then adjust this preliminary zone boundary to account for changing conditions, maintaining both simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing information about a vehicle dispatched to pick up the user. In one example, a request for the vehicle to stop at a particular location is sent. In response, information identifying a current location of the vehicle is received. A map is generated. The map includes a first marker identifying the received location of the vehicle, a second marker identifying the particular location, and a shape defining an area around the second marker at which the vehicle may stop. The shape has an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the second area. A route is displayed on the map between the first marker and the shape such that the route ends at the shape and does not reach the second marker. Progress of the vehicle towards the area along the route is displayed based on received updated location information for the vehicle.