Rider Signaling for Precise Autonomous Vehicle Pickup Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for autonomous vehicles to determine a precise pick-up location from a general goal location are often imprecise or inaccurate, leading to difficulties in locating the rider and inefficient vehicle routing, especially when the general goal location is specified imprecisely or inaccurately, such as a building or using GPS with significant errors.
Innovation Solution
A location signaling system where a rider uses a signaling device to transmit a location indication signal to the autonomous vehicle, which receives and processes this signal using stimulus detectors and software processes to determine a precise goal location, allowing the vehicle to navigate to a suitable stopping place near the rider's actual location, using various signaling modes like image display, light emission, gestures, or biometric recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the autonomous vehicle uses general goal location (e.g., building address or GPS coordinates) to navigate to pick-up point, then the vehicle can reach the general area, but the precise pick-up location cannot be accurately determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a signaling device as an intermediary between the rider and the autonomous vehicle. This device transmits location indication signals that enable the vehicle to accurately determine the precise pick-up location. The signaling device acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between the general goal location and the exact pick-up point, resolving the contradiction by providing additional location information without requiring complex modifications to the vehicle itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical communication methods (driver-rider interaction) with electronic signal transmission. The signaling device transmits location information electronically to the autonomous vehicle, eliminating the need for manual communication and enabling precise location determination through signal processing rather than mechanical interaction.
2Measurement precision
If the driver communicates with the rider to learn precise goal location, then the precise location can be determined, but time is lost in communication and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The signaling device transmits the location indication signal in advance, allowing the autonomous vehicle to determine the precise pick-up location before arrival. This preliminary transmission of location information eliminates the need for time-consuming communication at the pick-up point, as the vehicle already knows the exact location where it should stop.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming verbal or text communication with instant electronic signal transmission. The location indication signal is transmitted electronically and processed immediately, eliminating the delays associated with human communication and coordination.
3Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle waits for rider signals at the general goal location, then it can ensure rider presence, but vehicle routing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The signaling device transmits the location indication signal before the vehicle arrives, allowing the vehicle to plan its precise routing in advance. This preliminary action enables the vehicle to maintain high routing efficiency while still ensuring rider confirmation, as the vehicle knows exactly where to stop before it even reaches the general goal location.
Solution Approach 2:
The location indication signal provides feedback to the autonomous vehicle about the precise pick-up location. This feedback mechanism allows the vehicle to adjust its routing efficiently without unnecessary waiting or deviation, maintaining productivity while ensuring reliable rider location confirmation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Among other things, a signal is emitted from a signaling device and is captured by stimulus detectors location on a vehicle, including an autonomous vehicle. Properties of the signal are analyzed, potentially in concert with other information, to determine the precise location of the signaling device and therefore the precise goal location for picking up a rider of the autonomous vehicle. In response to the calculation of the precise goal location, the autonomous vehicle attempts to travel to a location as near as possible to the precise goal location to facilitate entry of the rider into the vehicle.