Autonomous vehicle automatic parking

US10831204B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company · US

Inventors

• Brian Mark Fields · Phoenix, US
• Chien Che Huang · Normal, US
• Mohamed A. Wazeer · Normal, US
• Shawn C. Bennett · Le Roy, US
• Steven C. Cielocha · Bloomington, US
• Ronny S. Bryant · Bloomington, US
• Stephen Kohaus · Normal, US
• Terry Quakenbush · Bloomington, US
• Richard A. Novak · Bloomington, US
• Aaron Scott Chan · San Jose, US
• Craig M. Main · Allen, US
• Weixin Wu · Seattle, US
• Torri Wollenschlager · Bloomington, US
• Carol Marie Csanda · Hudson, US
• Stacey Gorsuch · Bloomington, US
• Todd Binion · Bloomington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 2015
• Grant date: Nov 10, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 6, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60W2900/00
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, vehicle operation safety may be enhanced. An environmental or weather condition (e.g., hail, storm, wind) may be identified that presents a hazard to an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. With the customer's permission, when it is determined that the vehicle is parked in an unprotected location, a protected or covered location to park the vehicle may be identified, a route to that location may be determined, and the vehicle may be directed to travel automatically to the protected location under the operation of autonomous operation features. Insurance discounts or cost savings may be provided to risk averse insurance customers based upon the self-parking functionality that will reduce or mitigate damage to insured vehicles caused by adverse conditions, falling trees or power lines, hail, etc.