Abstract: Methods and systems for determining risk associated with operation of fully autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, including types and version of sensors, control systems, and software. This information may be used to determine a risk profile reflecting risk levels for a plurality of features, which may be based upon test data regarding the features or actual loss data. Expected use levels may further be determined and used with the risk profile to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle by the autonomous operation features. The expected use levels may indicate expected vehicle use, as well as traffic, weather, or other conditions in which the vehicle is likely to operate. The total risk level may be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fault for an accident involving a vehicle having one or more autonomous and/or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, performance data indicative of the performance of the features may be used to determine fault for a vehicle accident, such as a collision, by allocating fault for the accident between a vehicle operator, the autonomous operation features, or a third party. The allocation of fault may be used to determine an adjustment to an insurance policy and/or adjust coverage levels for an insurance policy. The allocation of fault may further be used to adjust risk levels or profiles associated with the autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features, which may be applied to other vehicles having the same or similar features.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use and determining risk associated with operation of autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, and operating data regarding vehicle operation may be obtained. The operating data may include information regarding use levels or settings associated with use of the autonomous operation features. Risk levels associated with the features may be determined from test data or actual loss data. The risk levels and operating data may be used to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle with expected use levels of the autonomous operation features. The total risk level may further be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control, routing, and automatic feature adjustment are disclosed. Autonomous operation feature usage levels or settings may be automatically adjusted to optimize performance using suitability data for road segments along a route traveled by a vehicle, such as when operating conditions change. Data regarding road segment suitability may be generated from prior operating data for the road segments and retrieved from a map database to aid autonomous vehicle routing, as well as to implement automatic adjustments to feature usage. In some instances, vehicle control may be returned to a vehicle operator, in which case advance warning may be given to enable the operator to prepare to resume control of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fault for an accident involving a vehicle having one or more autonomous (and/or semi-autonomous) operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, operating data from sensors within or near the vehicle may be used to determine fault for a vehicle accident, such as a collision. The operating data may include information regarding use of the features at the time of the accident and may further be used to determine an allocation of fault for the accident between a vehicle operator, the autonomous operation features, or a third party. The allocation of fault may be used to determine and/or adjust coverage levels for an insurance policy associated with the vehicle. The allocation of fault may further be used to adjust risk levels or profiles associated with the vehicle operator or with the autonomous operation features.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. An autonomous vehicle may determine an upcoming maneuver for the autonomous vehicle and identify a vehicle signal which is indicative of the upcoming maneuver. Then the autonomous vehicle may present the vehicle signal. After presenting the vehicle signal, the autonomous vehicle may perform the maneuver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle routing are disclosed. Roadway suitability for autonomous operation is scored to facilitate use in route determination. Maps of roadways suitable for various levels of autonomous operation may be generated. Such map data may be used by autonomous vehicles or other computer devices in determining routes based upon criteria for vehicle trips. Such routes may be automatically updated based upon changes in road conditions, vehicle conditions, operator conditions, or environmental conditions. Emergency routing using such map data is described, such as automatic routing and travel when a passenger is experiencing a medical emergency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Malfunctions may be detected by receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors. One of these sensors may be selected for assessment. An electronic device may obtain from the selected sensor a set of signals. When the set of signals includes signals that are outside of a determined range of signals associated with proper functioning for the selected sensor, it may be determined that the selected sensor is malfunctioning. In response, an action may be performed to resolve the malfunction and/or mitigate consequences of the malfunction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for testing the operation of autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features in a virtual test environment are provided. Computer-executable instructions for implementing the features may be received and executed on a test device. Test input signals may be presented to software routines associated with the features, which may generate output signals including control commands. The output signals may be used to predict the response of a vehicle in the virtual test environment, which may include a simulation of vehicle responses to the output signals. Measures of the effectiveness of the features may be determined based upon the predicted responses of the vehicle, which may then be used to determine risk levels associated with the features.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fault for an accident involving a vehicle having one or more autonomous (and/or semi-autonomous) operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, operating data from sensors within or near the vehicle may be used to determine fault for a vehicle accident, such as a collision. The operating data may include information regarding use of the features at the time of the accident and may further be used to determine an allocation of fault for the accident between a vehicle operator, the autonomous operation features, or a third party. The allocation of fault may be used to determine and/or adjust coverage levels for an insurance policy associated with the vehicle. The allocation of fault may further be used to adjust risk levels or profiles associated with the vehicle operator or with the autonomous operation features.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use and determining risk associated with operation of autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, and operating data regarding vehicle operation may be obtained. The operating data may include information regarding use levels or settings associated with use of the autonomous operation features. Risk levels associated with the features may be determined from test data or actual loss data. The risk levels and operating data may be used to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle with expected use levels of the autonomous operation features. The total risk level may further be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. Several communications from autonomous vehicles may be received at a computing device, where the autonomous vehicles are travelling within a threshold distance of each other. Each communication may include an indication of the next waypoint on a route for the respective vehicle. The computing device may analyze the communications to determine maneuvers for the autonomous vehicles so that each autonomous vehicle may navigate to the corresponding waypoint in the least amount of time or distance. The computing device also may cause each of the autonomous vehicles to move in accordance with the maneuvers for the respective vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fault for an accident involving a vehicle having one or more autonomous (and/or semi-autonomous) operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, operating data from sensors within or near the vehicle may be used to determine the occurrence of a vehicle accident, such as a collision. The operating data may further be used to determine an allocation of fault for the accident between a vehicle operator, the autonomous operation features, or a third party. The allocation of fault may be used to adjust risk levels or profiles associated with the vehicle operator or with the autonomous operation features.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining collision risk associated with operation of autonomous vehicles using autonomous communication are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, including features associated with autonomous communication between vehicles or with infrastructure. This information may be used to determine collision risk levels for a plurality of features, which may be based upon test data regarding the features or actual collision data. Expected use levels and autonomous communication levels may further be determined and used with the collision risk levels to determine a total collision risk level associated with operation of the vehicle. The autonomous communication levels may indicate the types of communications, the levels of communication with other vehicles or infrastructure, or the frequency of autonomous communication.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. A risk of malfunction and/or cyber-attack may be determined by collecting operating data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes. The operating data may be analyzed to identify occurrences of a component malfunctioning. For each component, a risk associated with malfunctioning and/or cyber-attack may be determined based upon the identified occurrences. Based on the risks, at least one result associated with the malfunction and/or cyber-attack may be determined. A component profile may be generated based upon the determined risk and/or the impact of the determined results.

Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle routing are disclosed. Roadway suitability for autonomous operation is scored to facilitate use in route determination. Maps of roadways suitable for various levels of autonomous operation may be generated. Such map data may be used by autonomous vehicles or other computer devices in determining routes based upon criteria for vehicle trips. Such routes may be automatically updated based upon changes in road conditions, vehicle conditions, operator conditions, or environmental conditions. Emergency routing using such map data is described, such as automatic routing and travel when a passenger is experiencing a medical emergency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. A computing device may receive data for the same road segment from autonomous vehicles, including (i) an indication of a location within the road segment, and (ii) an indication of a condition of the road segment. The computing device may generate, from the data for the same road segment, an overall indication of the condition of the road segment, which may include a recommendation to vehicles approaching the road segment. Additionally, the computing device may receive a request from a computing device within a vehicle approaching the road segment to display vehicle data. The overall indication for the road segment may then be displayed on a user interface of the computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining risk associated with operation of fully autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, including types and version of sensors, control systems, and software. This information may be used to determine a risk profile reflecting risk levels for a plurality of features, which may be based upon test data regarding the features or actual loss data. Expected use levels may further be determined and used with the risk profile to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle by the autonomous operation features. The expected use levels may indicate expected vehicle use, as well as traffic, weather, or other conditions in which the vehicle is likely to operate. The total risk level may be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicle and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Such assessment may be performed to determine the condition of components for salvage following a collision or other loss-event. To this end, the information regarding a plurality of components may be received. A component of the plurality of components may be identified for assessment. Assessment may including causing test signals to be sent to the identified component. In response to the test signal, one or more responses may be received. The received response may be compared to an expected response to determine whether the identified component is salvageable.

Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous vehicle recharging or refueling are disclosed. Autonomous electric vehicles may be automatically recharged by routing the vehicles to available charging stations when not in operation, according to methods described herein. A charge level of the battery of an autonomous electric vehicle may be monitored until it reaches a recharging threshold, at which point an on-board computer may generate a predicted use profile for the vehicle. Based upon the predicted use profile, a time and location for the vehicle to recharge may be determined. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be controlled to automatically travel to a charging station, recharge the battery, and return to its starting location in order to recharge when not in use.