Patent · US Active

Extension of autonomous driving functionality to new regions

US11181922B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
0References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 29, 2019
Grant dateNov 23, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 12, 2040

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60W2556/40
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles use accurate and detailed maps for navigation. Expanding functionality of an autonomous vehicle to a new, e.g., unmapped, region can include determining drivable surface segments of the new region and comparing the segments to segments or classes of segments from an already-mapped region. Segments of the new region that are similar to segments from the mapped region can be identified as potentially navigable. An autonomous vehicle can travel through the new region via those segments indicated as navigable. In addition, during travel through the new region, data may be collected using sensors on the autonomous vehicle to map additional portions of the region and/or confirm a driving ability in the new region. Functionality of an autonomous vehicle may be limited based on how similar the segments are to one another.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.