Autonomous Vehicle Pickup Countdown for Passenger Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in managing passenger pickups, as they cannot wait indefinitely for passengers, leading to potential missed pickups and inefficient operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and system where autonomous vehicles receive instructions to pick up passengers, provide notifications upon arrival, initiate a countdown for passenger authentication, and cancel the trip if authentication fails, allowing the vehicle to move on without the passenger if not authenticated within a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle waits indefinitely for passenger authentication, then the passenger can board the vehicle, but the vehicle operation efficiency deteriorates and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending arrival notifications to the passenger before the vehicle actually arrives, and initiates authentication procedures in advance. The countdown timer is started immediately upon arrival, preparing the system for the expected authentication process before it actually occurs, thus reducing waiting time and improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback through multiple notification stages (arrival notification, countdown notifications at 30 seconds and 10 seconds). This feedback loop keeps the passenger informed of the vehicle's status and expected wait time, enabling the passenger to take appropriate action to board the vehicle while minimizing the vehicle's idle waiting time.
2Loss of information
If the autonomous vehicle provides multiple notifications to the passenger, then communication with the passenger is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is segmented into distinct stages: arrival notification, first countdown notification (30 seconds), and second countdown notification (10 seconds). Each notification serves a specific purpose in the authentication sequence, breaking down the complex communication process into manageable, purposeful segments that reduce overall system complexity while maintaining effective communication.
3Productivity
If the autonomous vehicle cancels the trip after a countdown period, then the vehicle can move on to the next operation, but the passenger may miss the pickup
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary communication actions by sending arrival notifications and countdown notifications before the trip cancellation occurs. This preliminary information provision gives the passenger advance warning and opportunity to board the vehicle, reducing the likelihood of missed pickups while enabling the vehicle to proceed with cancellation and move to the next operation after the countdown period.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle having one or more computing devices that may receive instructions to pick up a passenger at a location, determine when the vehicle is within a first distance of the location, provide a first notification that the vehicle is within the first distance, and stop the vehicle. When the vehicle is stopped, the computing device may initiate a countdown. When a client computing device associated with the passenger has not been authenticated, the computing devices may provide a second notification based on a first amount of time remaining in the countdown and a third notification indicating that the trip is cancelled based on a second amount of time remaining in the countdown less than the first amount of time. Once the third notification is provided, the computing devices move the vehicle from the where the vehicle is stopped without the passenger.