The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 2021
Filed:
Oct. 22, 2018
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Kathryn Hamilton, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Michael Awad Alla, Novi, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure generally pertain to a ride service that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to execute various functions autonomously for assisting customers. An exemplary autonomous vehicle of the ride service may be configured to autonomously execute one or more functions such as identifying a customer upon arriving at a pick-up location, finding a suitable parking spot close to the customer, guiding the customer (such as a visually impaired customer) to the autonomous vehicle, positioning a particular door of the autonomous vehicle to facilitate entry into the autonomous vehicle by the customer, and/or providing an assigned seat to the customer upon entry into the autonomous vehicle. In at least some cases, the customer may be a physically handicapped individual in need of certain types of assistance offered by the autonomous vehicle.