Uber Technologies, Inc.

Uatc, LLC

Michael James Aitken

William Payne Ross

Richard Brian Donnelly

Scott E Smith

Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.

Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles that provide a vehicle service to users

Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data indicative of a location associated with a user to which an autonomous vehicle is to travel. The autonomous vehicle is to travel along a first vehicle route that leads to the location. The method includes obtaining traffic data associated with a geographic area that includes the location. The method includes determining an estimated traffic impact of the autonomous vehicle on the geographic area based at least in part on the traffic data. The method includes determining vehicle action(s) based at least in part on the estimated traffic impact and causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the vehicle action(s) that include at least one of stopping the autonomous vehicle at least partially in a travel way within a vicinity of the location or travelling along a second vehicle route.

Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining, by a computing system that includes one or more computing devices onboard an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of an identifier associated with a user device of a user. The identifier can be assigned to the user device by a cellular network. The method includes determining, by the computing system, location data associated with the user device based at least in part on the identifier associated with the user device. The method includes determining, by the computing system, a vehicle route based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes causing, by the computing system, the autonomous vehicle to initiate travel in accordance with the vehicle route.

Cellular device location discovery systems and methods for autonomous vehicles

Systems and methods for facilitating communication with autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, the autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system includes a first point-of-presence (POP) interface configured to obtain a first communication associated with a first autonomous vehicle and to route the first communication associated with the first autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system includes a first security system configured to authenticate the first autonomous vehicle. The first POP interface is separate from the first security system. The autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system includes a first data center system configured to receive the first communication associated with the first autonomous vehicle that is authenticated and to provide data to the first autonomous vehicle. The first POP interface is separate from the first data center system. The autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system can include a similarly configured second POP interface, second security system, and second data center system.

Telecommunications network for vehicles

An autonomous vehicle (AV) tracking and updating system tracks locations of AVs traveling throughout a given region. Using a stored network resource map, the system identifies a number of network-limited areas in the given region, and determines when respective AVs will enter one of the network-limited areas. In response, the system transmits a set of configuration commands to a number of proximate AVs to establish a mesh network with the respective AVs.

Autonomous vehicle mesh networking configuration

An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a communication system to communicate with a backend system, a sensor system to collect sensor data representing an operational environment of the AV, and a control system that can processes the sensor data to perform a localization operation to determine a location and an orientation of the AV within a given region, and autonomously operate the AV's acceleration, braking, and steering systems throughout the given region. Based on the localization operation, the AV can implement a set of configuration commands to configure the communication system to transmit and receive data with the backend system using one or more specified network nodes.

Autonomous vehicle communication configuration system

A backend communications system can manage communications, using transmission control protocol (TCP), between a fleet of AVs in a given region and a backend system that manages transportation for the fleet of AVs. For each of the fleet of AVs, the backend communications system can select a designated one of a plurality of communication channels to transmit and receive transmission acknowledgments (ACKs). The backend communications system can transmit data packets to the fleet of AVs using any number of communication channels and receive ACKs from each of the fleet of AVs over the designated communication channel.

Backend communications system for a fleet of autonomous vehicles

An automated vehicle (AV) can be managed by a backend system and include an acceleration, braking, and steering system, an AV control system to maneuver the AV through road traffic throughout a given region, a memory to store a network resource map indicating locations of base stations and available network types providing coverage from the base stations throughout the given region, a communications array to transmit and receive communications from the backend system, and a communications system. The communications system can utilize the network resource map to dynamically select optimal network types from proximate base stations to communicate data with the backend system, and dynamically configure the communications array to connect with the optimal network types to transmit and receive data with the backend system.

Automated vehicle communications system

A system for managing network connections for AVs can store a spectrum heat map that indicates network coverage strength for networks throughout a given region. The system can identify a travel route for a selected AV. Using the spectrum heat map, the system can determine a connection schedule for the selected AV. The connection schedule can indicate location points along the travel route at which the selected AV is to switch from previous network connections to succeeding network connections. The system may then transmit the connection schedule to the selected AV to enable the selected AV to switch network connections at the location points along the travel route.

Optimizing communication for autonomous vehicles

An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a communication system to communicate with a backend system, a sensor system to collect sensor data representing an operational environment of the AV, and a control system that can processes the sensor data to (i) perform a localization operation to determine a location and an orientation of the AV within a given region, and (ii) autonomously operate the AV's acceleration, braking, and steering system throughout the given region. Based on the localization operation, the AV can implement a set of configuration commands to configure the communication system to transmit and receive data with the backend system using a number of specified network nodes.

A backend system for a fleet of autonomous vehicles (AVs) for a given region can store a spectrum heat map indicating network coverage strength for a plurality of network types sourced at base stations located throughout the given region. The backend system can dynamically receive network quality data from the plurality of AVs traveling throughout the given region, and dynamically update the spectrum heat map based on the received network quality data.

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Wexford, PA, United States of America

Michael James Aitken