Pick-up and drop-off signals for managing double parking obstruction

Abstract

The technology involves pick-up and drop-off techniques for autonomous vehicles. Pullover selection options are evaluated by considering road user inconvenience and dynamic changes to such inconvenience. In response, a change in vehicle operation is made as needed. This process may consider whether a given situation is 'likely-inconvenient' or “unlikely-inconvenient” based on both statie and dynamic signals from the environment for a likely pick-up or drop-off location. The vehicle may request remote support to determine whether to pull over or to move from a stopped location, for instance based on changes to dynamic signals associated with other road users. In double parking situations, the vehicle may determine whether to remain double parked or move to limit inconvenience to a minimum number of other vehicles, such as by blocking as few other vehicles as possible or by making it as easy as possible for a parked vehicle to pull out.