Abstract: A vehicle fire is an emergency in which seconds count. Each second saved until the rider exits the vehicle can significantly reduce the severity of injuries due to the fire. Accordingly, a safety system can include a self-driving vehicle configured to transport a rider, a vehicle management system configured to autonomously drive the self-driving vehicle, a seat coupled to the self-driving vehicle, and a seat belt configured to alternatively have a buckled state and an unbuckled state. In many embodiments, the safety system includes a smoke detection system coupled to the self-driving vehicle and configured to detect smoke inside a cabin of the self-driving vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system can include a detection system having a camera, radar, and lidar. The vehicle monitoring system can detect a vehicle, generate numerical position data indicative of a first path of the vehicle as the vehicle drives on a road, numerically analyze the first numerical position data, and in response, take actions to protect lives.

Abstract: A maintenance system can be used with a self-driving vehicle. The maintenance system can include a vehicle management system configured to autonomously drive the vehicle to a destination chosen by a rider. The maintenance system can include a smoke detection system configured to detect smoke inside a cabin of the vehicle.

Abstract: Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Several embodiments described herein include a method of using a vehicle management system to determine high traffic areas and thereby move a self-driving vehicle to a variety of pick-up locations to meet a rider. Methods also include receiving, by the vehicle management system, a primary pick-up location to meet the rider. Additionally, methods include determining, by the vehicle management system, whether traffic adjacent to the primary pick-up location is greater than a predetermined traffic threshold.

Abstract: A seat-belt monitoring system can be used with self-driving vehicles. A self-driving vehicle can include a belt sensor configured to detect a buckled state of a seat belt. The self-driving vehicle can include an occupancy sensor configured to detect a rider sitting in a seat. The seat-belt monitoring system can receive buckle and occupancy data from multiple self-driving vehicles and then can respond in ways configured to promote increased seat belt use.

Abstract: A vehicle management system can include self-driving vehicles. Before entering a self-driving vehicle, a rider can use a remote computing device to select a pick-up location at which a self-driving vehicle will later pick up the rider. Detecting that the remote computing device is unable to communicate with the vehicle management system can trigger several responses configured to minimize the risk of a self-driving vehicle failing to pick up the rider.

Abstract: A vehicle management system can include a self-driving vehicle and a computer system that is communicatively coupled with a remote computing device of a rider. The vehicle management system can include a location tracking system configured to receive a first location data indicative of a drop-off location where the self-driving vehicle dropped off the rider. The location tracking system can receive a second location data indicative of locations of the remote computing device during a period from after the self-driving vehicle fleet drops off the rider to before the self-driving vehicle fleet picks up the rider. The computer system can be configured to prompt the self-driving vehicle to drive to an area within 100 feet of the drop-off location to pick up the rider in response to determining that the second location data is indicative of the remote computing device having returned to the area after being dropped off.

Abstract: Vehicle management systems can be configured to help govern self-driving vehicles. A vehicle management system can communicatively couple a self-driving vehicle to a remote computing device of a user of the vehicle. Detecting a battery charge indication below a threshold can trigger several responses configured to minimize the risk of the self-driving vehicle failing to pick up the user due to the remote computing device having a low or dead battery.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system can include a first vehicle that has a camera, radar, and lidar to record a first path of a second vehicle as the first and second vehicles drive on a road. A processor system of the vehicle guidance system can analyze a first deviation of the first path. Information from a third vehicle can provide additional data regarding a second path of the second vehicle. Analyzing the first path in light of the second path can enable the vehicle guidance system to identify impaired driving indicators. The vehicle guidance system can warn other vehicles about the impaired driver.

Abstract: A maintenance system can be used with a self-driving vehicle. The maintenance system can include a camera system coupled to an interior of the vehicle and a vehicle management system configured to autonomously drive the vehicle to a first location to remove an item left in the vehicle by a rider.

Abstract: A maintenance system can be used with a self-driving vehicle. The maintenance system can include a vehicle management system configured to autonomously drive the vehicle to a destination chosen by a rider. The maintenance system can include a smoke detection system configured to detect smoke inside a cabin of the vehicle.

Abstract: Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Vehicle management systems can be configured to help govern self-driving vehicles. A vehicle management system can communicatively couple a self-driving vehicle to a remote computing device of a user of the vehicle. Losing communication with the remote computing device can cause the vehicle management system to take actions designed to safeguard the user.

Abstract: Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Vehicle management systems can be configured to help govern self-driving vehicles. A vehicle management system can communicatively couple a self-driving vehicle to a remote computing device of a user of the vehicle. Losing communication with the remote computing device can cause the vehicle management system to take actions designed to safeguard the user.

Abstract: Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Several embodiments described herein include a method of using a vehicle management system to operate a self-driving vehicle. Methods include coupling communicatively, by the vehicle management system, a remote computing device to the self-driving vehicle, and then determining, by the vehicle management system, that the remote computing device is no longer communicatively coupled to the vehicle management system. Methods also include identifying, by the vehicle management system, a pick-up location of the user and sending, by the vehicle management system, the self-driving vehicle to the pick-up location in response to determining that the remote computing device is no longer communicatively coupled to the vehicle management system.

Abstract: A vehicle management system can send a first pick-up location to a remote computing device of a prospective rider. A location tracking system is configured to monitor a location of the rider as the rider walks to rendezvous with the vehicle. The vehicle management system can later determine, based on the location of the rider as the rider walks to rendezvous with the vehicle, that the vehicle could rendezvous with the rider sooner by using a second pick-up location. The vehicle management system can prompt the vehicle navigation system to cease directing the vehicle toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the vehicle toward the second pick-up location. The vehicle management system can prompt the remote computing device to cease directing the rider toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the rider toward the second pick-up location.

Abstract: A maintenance system can be used with a self-driving vehicle. The maintenance system can include a vehicle management system configured to autonomously drive the vehicle. The maintenance system can include a smoke detection system configured to detect smoke inside the vehicle and a communication system configured to send wireless communications to a remote computing device in response to the smoke detection system detecting the smoke.

Abstract: Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Several embodiments described herein include a method of using a vehicle management system to operate a self-driving vehicle. Methods include coupling communicatively, by the vehicle management system, a remote computing device to the self-driving vehicle, and then determining, by the vehicle management system, that the remote computing device is no longer communicatively coupled to the vehicle management system. Methods also include identifying, by the vehicle management system, a pick-up location of the user and sending, by the vehicle management system, the self-driving vehicle to the pick-up location in response to determining that the remote computing device is no longer communicatively coupled to the vehicle management system.

Abstract: Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Several embodiments described herein enable a self-driving vehicle to monitor human activity and predict when and where the human will be located and whether the human needs a ride from the self-driving vehicle. Self-driving vehicles will be able to perform such tasks with incredible efficacy and accuracy that will allow self-driving vehicles to proliferate at a much faster rate than would otherwise be the case.

Abstract: Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Several embodiments described herein enable a self-driving vehicle to monitor human activity and predict when and where the human will be located and whether the human needs a ride from the self-driving vehicle. Self-driving vehicles will be able to perform such tasks with incredible efficacy and accuracy that will allow self-driving vehicles to proliferate at a much faster rate than would otherwise be the case.

Abstract: When a human driver picks up a passenger, the driver typically looks at the passenger to determine if the passenger is the individual who is supposed to receive a ride. Self-driving vehicles often do not have a human in the vehicle to make this decision. Several systems and methods described herein enable self-driving vehicles to know if they are picking up the correct person.