Self-driving vehicles and weigh station operation

    公开(公告)号:US11854319B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-12-26

    申请号:US17581217

    申请日:2022-01-21

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Inventor: Vijaysai Patnaik

    Abstract: The technology involves operation of a self-driving truck or other cargo vehicle when it is being inspected at a weigh station. This may include determining whether a weigh station is open for inspection. Once at the weigh station, the vehicle may follow instructions of an inspection officer or autonomous inspection system. The vehicle may perform predefined actions or operations so that various vehicle systems and safety issues can be evaluated, such as the brakes, lights, tires, connections between the tractor and trailer, exposed fuel tanks, leaks, etc. A visual inspection may be performed to ensure the load is secured, vehicle and cargo documents meet certain criteria, and the carrier's safety record meets any requirements. In addition, the weigh station itself may be operated in a partly or fully autonomous mode when dealing with autonomous and manually driven vehicles.

    Efficient autonomous trucks
    2.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11772719B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-10-03

    申请号:US17857424

    申请日:2022-07-05

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to enhancing the operation of autonomous vehicles. Extendible sensors are deployed based on detected or predicted conditions around a vehicle while operating in a self-driving mode. When not needed, the sensors are fully retracted into the vehicle to reduce drag and increase fuel economy. When the onboard system determines that there is a need for a deployable sensor, such as to enhance the field of view of the perception system, the sensor is extended in a predetermined manner. The deployment may depend on one or more operating conditions and/or particular driving scenarios. These and other sensors of the vehicle may be protected with a rugged housing, for instance to protect against damage from the elements. And in other situations, deployable foils may extend from the vehicle's chassis to increase drag and enhance braking. This may be helpful for large trucks in steep descent situations.

    Efficient Autonomous Trucks
    3.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220332378A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-20

    申请号:US17857424

    申请日:2022-07-05

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to enhancing the operation of autonomous vehicles. Extendible sensors are deployed based on detected or predicted conditions around a vehicle while operating in a self-driving mode. When not needed, the sensors are fully retracted into the vehicle to reduce drag and increase fuel economy. When the onboard system determines that there is a need for a deployable sensor, such as to enhance the field of view of the perception system, the sensor is extended in a predetermined manner. The deployment may depend on one or more operating conditions and/or particular driving scenarios. These and other sensors of the vehicle may be protected with a rugged housing, for instance to protect against damage from the elements. And in other situations, deployable foils may extend from the vehicle's chassis to increase drag and enhance braking. This may be helpful for large trucks in steep descent situations.

    Efficient Autonomous Trucks
    4.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20210061372A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-03-04

    申请号:US17098535

    申请日:2020-11-16

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to enhancing the operation of autonomous vehicles. Extendible sensors are deployed based on detected or predicted conditions around a vehicle while operating in a self-driving mode. When not needed, the sensors are fully retracted into the vehicle to reduce drag and increase fuel economy. When the onboard system determines that there is a need for a deployable sensor, such as to enhance the field of view of the perception system, the sensor is extended in a predetermined manner. The deployment may depend on one or more operating conditions and/or particular driving scenarios. These and other sensors of the vehicle may be protected with a rugged housing, for instance to protect against damage from the elements. And in other situations, deployable foils may extend from the vehicle's chassis to increase drag and enhance braking. This may be helpful for large trucks in steep descent situations.

    Method for performing a vehicle assist operation

    公开(公告)号:US12204332B2

    公开(公告)日:2025-01-21

    申请号:US17839640

    申请日:2022-06-14

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to assisting large self-driving vehicles, such as cargo vehicles, as they maneuver towards and/or park at a destination facility. This may include a given vehicle transitioning between different autonomous driving modes. Such a vehicles may be permitted to drive in a fully autonomous mode on certain roadways for the majority of a trip, but may need to change to a partially autonomous mode on other roadways or when entering or leaving a destination facility such as a warehouse, depot or service center. Large vehicles such as cargo truck may have limited room to maneuver in and park at the destination, which may also prevent operation in a fully autonomous mode. Here, information from the destination facility and/or a remote assistance service can be employed to aid in real-time semi-autonomous maneuvering.

    Efficient autonomous trucks
    6.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US12084119B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-09-10

    申请号:US18474610

    申请日:2023-09-26

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to enhancing the operation of autonomous vehicles. Extendible sensors are deployed based on detected or predicted conditions around a vehicle while operating in a self-driving mode. When not needed, the sensors are fully retracted into the vehicle to reduce drag and increase fuel economy. When the onboard system determines that there is a need for a deployable sensor, such as to enhance the field of view of the perception system, the sensor is extended in a predetermined manner. The deployment may depend on one or more operating conditions and/or particular driving scenarios. These and other sensors of the vehicle may be protected with a rugged housing, for instance to protect against damage from the elements. And in other situations, deployable foils may extend from the vehicle's chassis to increase drag and enhance braking. This may be helpful for large trucks in steep descent situations.

    Real time fleet management for autonomous vehicles using puddle mapping

    公开(公告)号:US11816992B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-11-14

    申请号:US16935266

    申请日:2020-07-22

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    CPC classification number: G08G1/207 G08G1/096775 G08G1/22

    Abstract: The disclosure relates to managing a fleet of autonomous vehicles. For instance, a method may include receiving, from a plurality of the autonomous vehicles of the fleet, reports identifying locations of detected puddles. A miles per puddle rate may be determined based on the received reports. An operating policy for the fleet may be determined based on the miles per puddle rate. An instruction may be sent to one or more of the autonomous vehicles of the fleet in order to implement the operating policy.

    Method for Performing a Vehicle Assist Operation

    公开(公告)号:US20220308583A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-09-29

    申请号:US17839640

    申请日:2022-06-14

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to assisting large self-driving vehicles, such as cargo vehicles, as they maneuver towards and/or park at a destination facility. This may include a given vehicle transitioning between different autonomous driving modes. Such a vehicles may be permitted to drive in a fully autonomous mode on certain roadways for the majority of a trip, but may need to change to a partially autonomous mode on other roadways or when entering or leaving a destination facility such as a warehouse, depot or service center. Large vehicles such as cargo truck may have limited room to maneuver in and park at the destination, which may also prevent operation in a fully autonomous mode. Here, information from the destination facility and/or a remote assistance service can be employed to aid in real-time semi-autonomous maneuvering.

    Maintaining road safety when there is a disabled autonomous vehicle

    公开(公告)号:US11447067B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-09-20

    申请号:US16991282

    申请日:2020-08-12

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Inventor: Vijaysai Patnaik

    Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles suffering a breakdown along a roadway. Onboard systems may utilize various proactive operations to alert specific vehicles or other objects on or near the roadway about the breakdown. This can be done alternatively or in addition to turning on the hazard lights or calling for remote assistance. The disabled vehicle is able to detect nearby and approaching objects. The detection may be performed in combination with a determination of the type of object or predicted behavior for that object, enables the vehicle to generate a targeted alert that can be transmitted or otherwise presented to that particular object. This approach provides the other object, such as a vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian, sufficient time and information about the breakdown to take appropriate corrective action. Different communication options are available and may be selected based on the particular object, environmental conditions and other factors.

    SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES AND WEIGH STATION OPERATION

    公开(公告)号:US20220028191A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-01-27

    申请号:US17410402

    申请日:2021-08-24

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Inventor: Vijaysai Patnaik

    Abstract: The technology involves operation of a self-driving truck or other cargo vehicle when it is being inspected at a weigh station. This may include determining whether a weigh station is open for inspection. Once at the weigh station, the vehicle may follow instructions of an inspection officer or autonomous inspection system. The vehicle may perform predefined actions or operations so that various vehicle systems and safety issues can be evaluated, such as the brakes, lights, tires, connections between the tractor and trailer, exposed fuel tanks, leaks, etc. A visual inspection may be performed to ensure the load is secured, vehicle and cargo documents meet certain criteria, and the carrier's safety record meets any requirements. In addition, the weigh station itself may be operated in a partly or fully autonomous mode when dealing with autonomous and manually driven vehicles.

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