Methods and apparatus for controlling autonomous vehicles
US11635757B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 2020 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/648
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for making autonomous vehicle handover decisions are described. A handover decision involves deciding if an autonomous vehicle should be handed off from one worker to another worker. The methods allow for decisions to be made in real or near real time shortly before an autonomous vehicle changes location. Worker time, if a handover is not implemented, is considered including the amount of worker time involved with the worker moving with the autonomous vehicle to the new location as compared to a new worker meeting the autonomous vehicle at the new location or on the way to the new location. Handover decisions can consider worker distribution and/or order priority. Such factors can be used to weight one or more time based cost values with a cost value representation of the cost if a handover is not implemented vs implementing a handover being compared to make the handover decision.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.