Patent Issued for Autonomous vehicle routing during emergencies (USPTO 11022978)

2021 JUN 23 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- From Alexandria, Virginia, NewsRx journalists report that a patent by the inventors Christensen, Scott T. (Salem, OR, US), Farris, Scott (Bloomington, IL, US), Hayward, Gregory (Bloomington, IL, US), Konrardy, Blake (Bloomington, IL, US), filed on October 25, 2018, was published online on June 1, 2021.

The patent’s assignee for patent number 11022978 is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States).

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Vehicles are typically operated by a human vehicle operator who controls both steering and motive controls. Operator error, inattention, inexperience, misuse, or distraction leads to many vehicle collisions each year, resulting in injury and damage. Autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles augment vehicle operators’ information or replace vehicle operators’ control commands to operate the vehicle, in whole or part, with computer systems based upon information from sensors within, or attached to, the vehicle. Such vehicles may be operated with or without passengers, thus requiring different means of control than traditional vehicles. Such vehicles also may include a plurality of advanced sensors, capable of providing significantly more data (both in type and quantity) than is available even from GPS navigation assistance systems installed in traditional vehicles.

“Ensuring safe operation of such autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles is of the utmost importance because the automated systems of these vehicles may not function properly in all environments. Although autonomous operation may be safer than manual operation under ordinary driving conditions, unusual or irregular environmental conditions may significantly impair the functioning of the autonomous operation features controlling the autonomous vehicle. Under some conditions, autonomous operation may become impractical or excessively dangerous. As an example, fog or heavy rain may greatly reduce the ability of autonomous operation features to safely control the vehicle. Additionally, damage or other impairment of sensors or other components of autonomous systems may significantly increase the risks associated with autonomous operation. Such conditions may change frequently, thereby changing the safety of autonomous vehicle operation.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “The present embodiments may be related to autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle operation, including driverless operation of fully autonomous vehicles. The embodiments described herein relate particularly to various aspects of route determination and navigation of autonomous vehicles. This may include determining suitability of roads or road segments for varying levels of autonomous operation, which may include generating maps indicating roadway suitability for autonomous operation. This may further include route planning, adjustment, or optimization, including risk management by avoidance of road segments associated with high risk levels for vehicle accidents involving autonomous vehicles. This may yet further include autonomous route generation and/or implementation in emergency or non-emergency situations. Yet further embodiments may be related to parking autonomous vehicles and retrieving parked autonomous vehicles, which may similarly involve autonomous route determination and/or vehicle control.

“In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for analyzing roadway suitability for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle operation may be provided. The method may include (1) receiving map data including indications of a plurality of road segments: (2) receiving operating data from a plurality of vehicles having at least one autonomous operation feature; (3) identifying a road segment to analyze from the plurality of road segments; (4) associating a subset of the operating data with the identified road segment based upon the location data: (5) determining one or more risk levels associated with the road segment based upon the associated subset of the operating data: (6) determining one or more suitability scores for the road segment based upon the one or more risk levels; and/or (7) storing the one or more suitability scores in a database. Each suitability score may indicate a category of suitability for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle operation. Additionally, each suitability score may be stored with an indication of the associated road segment. The one or more suitability scores may include a minimum safety rating for the road segment. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“For instance, the received operating data may include location data associated with operation of the plurality of vehicles. The operating data may further include usage information regarding one or more autonomous operation feature settings. Similarly, the operating data may include data regarding a plurality of environmental conditions associated with the plurality of vehicles. The operating data for one or more of the plurality of vehicles may be generated by a data application running on a mobile device associated with the vehicle. Additionally, or alternatively, the method may include receiving additional data regarding a plurality of vehicle accidents or other hazardous events, such that each of the plurality of hazardous events is associated with one of the plurality of road segments. Moreover, the one or more risk levels associated with the road segment may be determined based in part upon at least part of this additional data. In further embodiments, determining the one or more risk factors may include using machine learning techniques to identify one or more salient risk factors.

“In some embodiments, the method may further include generating one or more map tiles including visual representations of the one or more suitability scores. The method may further include requesting the map data from a third-party data source using an application program interface (API) associated with the third-party data source. In further embodiments, the map data may include one or more indications of location for each of the plurality of road segments utilizing a first format for indicating geospatial location, but the location data may utilize a second format distinct from the first format for indicating geospatial location. In such embodiments, associating subset of the operating data with the identified road segment may include converting one or both of the indication of location or the location data to a compatible format for association.

“In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle routing may be provided. The method may include (1) receiving a request to determine an optimal route for a vehicle; (2) receiving a first geospatial location indicating a starting location; (3) receiving a second geospatial location indicating a destination location; (4) receiving a set of parameters indicating requirements for the optimal route: (5) accessing map data including a plurality of road segments including one or more suitability scores for each road segment (indicating the road segment’s suitability for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle operation); (5) identifying a set of suitable road segments that meet the requirements indicated by the set of parameters from the plurality of road segments: (6) determining one or more paths between the first geospatial location and the second geospatial location composed of one or more of the suitable road segments of the set of suitable road segments; and/or (7) selecting the optimal route from the one or more paths. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“For instance, the parameters may indicate a minimum safety rating for fully autonomous vehicle operation. Such minimum safety rating may be associated with a risk level for fully autonomous operation of the vehicle below a risk threshold. The first geospatial location may be automatically determined based upon the current location of the vehicle in response to the request to determine the optimal route, which current location of the vehicle may be obtained from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver within the vehicle.

“The optimal route may be selected from the one or more paths based upon maximization or minimization of one or more optimization criteria determined for each path, which optimization criteria may include distance, time, risk, cost, amount of manual driving required, and/or average level of autonomous feature operation available. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise transmitting, from a server to a computing device associated with the vehicle via a communication network, an indication of the optimal route. The method may further include causing, by a vehicle control system of the vehicle, the vehicle to operate along the optimal route from the first geospatial location to the second geospatial location.

“In some embodiments, the method may further include determining that no path exists between the first geospatial location and the second geospatial location using the suitable road segments of the set of suitable road segments meeting the requirements indicated by the received parameters. In such a case, a second set of parameters may be determined based upon the received set of parameters, and the one or more suitable road segments meeting the requirements indicated by the second set of parameters may be added to the set of suitable road segments. The one or more paths between the first geospatial location and the second geospatial location may then be determined, which paths may include the added suitable road segments. Additionally, or alternatively, a substitute destination location along one of the suitable road segments may be determined, and the second geospatial location may be adjusted to indicate the substitute destination location

“In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for automatically routing a vehicle capable of autonomous operation may be provided. The method may include (1) receiving an indication of an emergency condition: (2) determining a target location associated with emergency assistance to which to route the vehicle; (3) determining a route to the target location using only road segments meeting a minimum safety rating for fully autonomous vehicle operation: and/or (4) causing a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle along the determined route to the target location. The minimum safety rating of the road segments may be associated with a risk level for fully autonomous operation of the vehicle below a risk threshold. The method may be implemented by a data application running on a mobile device and/or on-board computer associated with the vehicle. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“For instance, the indication of the emergency condition may be automatically generated based upon sensor data regarding health of a vehicle user within the vehicle. Alternatively, the indication of the emergency condition may be automatically generated based upon sensor data indicating the vehicle has been involved in a collision. The indication of the emergency condition may alternatively be generated by operation of an emergency button by a vehicle user within the vehicle, which emergency button may be presented on an electronic display screen within the vehicle. The indication of the emergency condition may further include information indicating a type of the emergency condition. In such embodiments, the target location may be determined based upon the type of the emergency condition.

“The method may further include presenting a message requesting confirmation of the emergency condition to a person within the vehicle, by a display or speaker within the vehicle. Such message may include an option to suppress the indication of the emergency condition, such as by selecting an option to cancel the emergency determination. The vehicle may then be operated along the determined route to the target location unless the option to suppress the indication is selected.”

There is additional summary information. Please visit full patent to read further.

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A computer-implemented method for automatically routing a vehicle capable of autonomous operation, comprising: determining, by one or more processors, a target location to which to route the vehicle, wherein the target location is associated with emergency assistance; determining, by the one or more processors, a route to the target location, wherein the route includes only road segments meeting a minimum safety rating for fully autonomous vehicle operation, wherein the minimum safety rating of the road segments is associated with a risk level for fully autonomous operation of the vehicle below a risk threshold; and causing, by the one or more processors, a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle along the determined route to the target location.

“2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further comprising: receiving, at the one or more processors, an indication of an emergency condition.

“3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the indication of the emergency condition is automatically generated based upon sensor data regarding health of a vehicle user within the vehicle.

“4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the sensor data regarding the health of the vehicle user is received from a personal sensor device configured to monitor one or more health metrics associated with the health of the vehicle user.

“5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the indication of the emergency condition is automatically generated based upon sensor data indicating the vehicle has been involved in a collision.

“6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the indication of the emergency condition is generated by operation of an emergency button by a vehicle user within the vehicle, which emergency button is presented on an electronic display screen within the vehicle.

“7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the indication of the emergency condition further includes information indicating a type of the emergency condition.

“8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the target location is determined based upon the type of the emergency condition.

“9. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising: presenting to a person within the vehicle, by a display or speaker within the vehicle, a message requesting confirmation of the emergency condition, which message includes an option to suppress the indication of the emergency condition, wherein the vehicle is operated along the determined route to the target location unless the option to suppress the indication is selected.

“10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are disposed within one or more of an on-board computer of the vehicle or a mobile device within the vehicle, and the one or more processors are configured to control operation of the vehicle by a data application.

“11. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising: generating, by the one or more processors, an alert including information regarding the emergency condition and the target location; and communicating, via a communication network, the alert to an interested party remote from the vehicle to inform such interested party of the emergency condition and the target location.

“12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the target location is a geospatial location on a road segment meeting the minimum safety rating and in proximity to an emergency care facility.

“13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein: the target location is associated with an emergency vehicle; and the target location is repeatedly updated based upon a plurality of locations of the emergency vehicle as the emergency vehicle moves.

“14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: causing, by the one or more processors, the vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate one or more signaling components of the vehicle to draw attention to the vehicle upon reaching the target location.

“15. A computer system for automatically routing a vehicle capable of autonomous operation, comprising: one or more processors; a map database communicatively connected to the one or more processors and storing map data including one or more suitability scores for each of a plurality of road segments indicating the road segment’s suitability for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle operation; and a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to: determine a target location to which to route the vehicle, wherein the target location is associated with emergency assistance; determine a route to the target location using the map data of the map database, wherein the route includes only road segments meeting a minimum safety rating for fully autonomous vehicle operation, wherein the minimum safety rating of the road segments is associated with a risk level for fully autonomous operation of the vehicle below a risk threshold; and cause a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle along the determined route to the target location.

“16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program memory further stores executable instructions that cause the computer system to: receive an indication of an emergency condition.

“17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the indication of the emergency condition is automatically generated based upon sensor data regarding health of a vehicle user within the vehicle received from a personal sensor device configured to monitor one or more health metrics associated with the health of the vehicle user.

“18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the program memory further stores executable instructions that cause the computer system to: determine a type of the emergency condition, wherein the target location is determined based at least in part upon the type of the emergency condition; generate, an alert including information regarding the emergency condition and the target location; and communicate the alert to an interested party remote from the vehicle to inform such interested party of the emergency condition and the target location via a communication network.

“19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the target location is a geospatial location on a road segment meeting the minimum safety rating and in proximity to an emergency care facility.

“20. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for automatically routing a vehicle capable of autonomous operation that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to: determine a target location to which to route the vehicle, wherein the target location is associated with emergency assistance; determine a route to the target location using map data from a map database storing information regarding a plurality of road segments, wherein the route includes only road segments meeting a minimum safety rating for folly autonomous vehicle operation, wherein the minimum safety rating of the road segments is associated with a risk level for fully autonomous operation of the vehicle below a risk threshold; and cause a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle along the determined route to the target location.”

For additional information on this patent, see: Christensen, Scott T. Autonomous vehicle routing during emergencies. U.S. Patent Number 11022978, filed October 25, 2018, and published online on June 1, 2021. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=11022978.PN.&OS=PN/11022978RS=PN/11022978

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