Abstract: An apparatus for remote support of autonomous operation of a vehicle includes a processor that is configured to perform a method including receiving a request for a trip through a transportation network, wherein the trip includes a first travel portion from a first location to a second location, and a second travel portion from the second location to a third location. Each of the first travel portion and the second travel portion is associated with a different service such that a first payload of the first travel portion is different from a second payload of the second travel portion. The method also includes determining, based on the request, a route for the trip from the first location to the second location, and from the second location to the third location, and performing a validation process that confirms a presence of cargo in the first payload and/or the second payload.

Abstract: Navigating a vehicle from an origin location to a destination location includes receiving, from a requester, the origin location and the destination location; determining a transition point between the origin location and the destination location that partitions a portion of a route between the origin location to the destination location into a first route segment and a second route segment; and providing the transition point, the first route segment, and the second route segment to the requester. The vehicle is to be driven according to a first drive mode in the first route segment that ends at the transition point and according to a second drive mode in the second route segment that starts at the transition point.

Abstract: A method of exception handing for an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes identifying an exception situation; identifying relevant sensors for the exception situation; identifying relevant tools to the exception situation, the relevant tools usable by a tele-operator to resolve the exception situation; and presenting, on a display of the tele-operator, data from the relevant sensors and the relevant tools.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote support of autonomous operation of a vehicle is described. The apparatus includes a processor that performs a method including receiving a query to define a path for the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling along a route from an origin to a destination in a vehicle transportation network, the query comprising multiple points including at least a start point and an end point of the path, obtaining a satellite image of a portion of a geographical area that encompasses the multiple points, determining, using the satellite image, static obstacles within the portion of the geographical area, the static obstacles defining navigable areas within the vehicle transportation network, generating the path through each of the multiple points such that the path is located within at least one navigable area of the navigable areas, and transmitting the path for use by the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of exception handing for an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes identifying an exception situation; identifying relevant sensors for the exception situation; identifying relevant tools to the exception situation, the relevant tools usable by a tele-operator to resolve the exception situation; and presenting, on a display of the tele-operator, data from the relevant sensors and the relevant tools.

Abstract: On-demand travel through a transportation network is achieved by receiving, via a communication device, a request for a trip through the network using a vehicle. The request includes criteria for the trip and a goal for the trip, the criteria identifying a target duration of the trip, a starting location of the trip, and an ending location of the trip, and the goal is other than reaching the ending location from the starting location using a shortest time or a shortest distance. Based on the request; a route for the trip between the starting and ending locations is determined that has a predicted duration no greater than the target duration. The route includes a waypoint between the starting and ending locations determined based on the goal of the trip, and the route is transmitted, via the communication device, to a source of the request for traveling the route.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote support of autonomous operation of a vehicle includes a processor that is configured to perform a method including receiving a request for a trip through a transportation network, wherein the trip includes a first travel portion from a first location to a second location, and a second travel portion from the second location to a third location. Each of the first travel portion and the second travel portion is associated with a different service such that a first payload of the first travel portion is different from a second payload of the second travel portion. The method also includes determining, based on the request, a route for the trip from the first location to the second location, and from the second location to the third location, and performing a validation process that confirms a presence of cargo in the first payload and/or the second payload.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote support of autonomous operation of a vehicle is described. The apparatus includes a processor that performs a method including receiving a query to define a path for the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling along a route from an origin to a destination in a vehicle transportation network, the query comprising multiple points including at least a start point and an end point of the path, obtaining a satellite image of a portion of a geographical area that encompasses the multiple points, determining, using the satellite image, static obstacles within the portion of the geographical area, the static obstacles defining navigable areas within the vehicle transportation network, generating the path through each of the multiple points such that the path is located within at least one navigable area of the navigable areas, and transmitting the path for use by the vehicle.