Abstract: A system comprises an autonomous vehicle (AV) and a control device operably coupled with the AV. The control device receives, from an operation server, a command to navigate the AV to avoid an expected road condition. The control device receives, from sensors of the AV, sensor data comprising location coordinates of a plurality of objects ahead of the AV. The control device determines whether at least one object from the plurality of objects impedes performing the command. In response to determining that at least one object impedes performing the command, the control device updates the command, such that the updated command comprises one or more navigation instructions to avoid the at least one object while performing the command. The control device navigates the AV according to the updated command.

Abstract: A system determines that an engine of an autonomous vehicle is ignited. In response, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into an initiation state, during which Autonomous Vehicle Communication Gateway (AVCG) configuration data is received by the autonomous vehicle. When a particular time period passes after the ignition of the engine, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into an active state, during which instructions provided by the AVCG configuration data are executed. If the engine of the autonomous vehicle is turned off, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into a timed-active state, during which the system sends a rescue message to an oversight server. After a timeout parameter associated with the timed-active state is reached, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into a shutdown state, during which results of the executed instructions are stored in a local memory.

Abstract: A system accesses Autonomous Vehicle Communication Gateway (AVCG) information that comprises information associated with an AVCG manager. The AVCG manager is a software resource configured to transition among states in which the autonomous vehicle operates in response to detecting a respective trigger event. The system determines an autonomy status associated with the autonomous vehicle. The system detects a change in the autonomy status by accessing historical records of event, tracking back through the historical records of events, and tracking back through the AVCG information. The system determines one or more particular events from among one or both of the historical records of events and the AVCG information that led to the change in the autonomy status. The system outputs the cause of the change in the autonomy status.

Abstract: A system establishes a first network communication path with a first base station. The system detects a first cellular information associated with a first network provider based on the first network communication path. The first cellular information indicates cellular coverage provided by the first network provider along a road. The system establishes a second network communication path with a second base station. The system detects a second cellular information associated with a second network provider based on the second network communication path. The second cellular information indicates cellular coverage provided by the second network provider along the road. The system establishes a third network communication path with a remote server and detects network information based on the third network communication path. A network coverage map along the road is generated based on the network information, the first and second cellular information.

Abstract: A system accesses cellular information and network information. The cellular information provides information about cellular coverage along a road. The cellular information also provides information about cellular coverage with respect to multiple network providers. The network information provides information about network communication conditions along the road. The network information is detected from communications with a remote server. The system determines network coverage along the road based on the cellular information and the network information. The system creates a cellular map that indicates the determined network coverage along the road.

Abstract: A redundant hardware and software architecture can be designed to enable vehicles to be operated in an autonomous mode while improving the reliability and/or safety of such vehicles. A system for redundant architecture can include a set of at least two redundant sensors coupled to a vehicle and configured to provide timestamped sensor data to each of a plurality of computing unit (CU) computers. The CU computers can process the sensor data simultaneously based on at least a time value indicative of an absolute time or a relative time and based on the timestamped sensor data. The CU computers provide to a vehicle control unit (VCU) computer at least two sets of outputs configured to instruct a plurality of devices in a vehicle and cause the vehicle to be driven.

Abstract: A redundant hardware and software architecture can be designed to enable vehicles to be operated in an autonomous mode while improving the reliability and/or safety of such vehicles. A system for redundant architecture can include a set of at least two redundant sensors coupled to a vehicle and configured to provide timestamped sensor data to each of a plurality of computing unit (CU) computers. The CU computers can process the sensor data simultaneously based on at least a time value indicative of an absolute time or a relative time and based on the timestamped sensor data. The CU computers provide to a vehicle control unit (VCU) computer at least two sets of outputs configured to instruct a plurality of devices in a vehicle and cause the vehicle to be driven.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle can include a compute controller that can efficiently perform autonomous driving operations. An apparatus for autonomous vehicle operation comprises an electrical board that includes a plurality of semiconductor devices; a first switch device that is electrically coupled to the plurality of semiconductor devices via a first communication bus of the electrical board; and a second switch device that is electrically coupled to the plurality of semiconductor devices via a second communication bus of the electrical board, where the second switch device is configured to route data between any two or more of the plurality of semiconductor devices using the second communication bus, and where a first data carrying capacity of the first communication bus is independent of a second data carrying capacity of the second communication bus.

Abstract: A system comprises an autonomous vehicle (AV) and an operation server operably coupled with the AV. The operation server accesses environmental data associated with a road traveled by the AV. The environmental data is associated with a time window during which the AV is traveling along the road. The operation server compares the environmental data with map data that comprises expected road conditions ahead of the AV. The operation server determines whether the environmental data comprises an unexpected road condition that is not included in the map data. In response to determining that the environmental data comprises the unexpected road condition that is not included in the map data, the operation server determines a location coordinate of the unexpected road condition, and communicates a command to the AV to maneuver to avoid the unexpected road condition.

Abstract: A system comprises a lead autonomous vehicle (AV), a control device associated with the lead AV, and a following AV. The control device receives a command to navigate the lead AV to avoid an unexpected road condition. The control device receives sensor data from a sensor of the lead AV, comprising location coordinates of objects ahead of the lead AV. The control device accesses environmental data associated with a portion of a road between the lead AV and following AV. The environmental data comprises location coordinates of objects between the lead AV and following AV. The control device determines whether an object in the sensor data or environmental data impedes performing the command by the following AV. The control device updates the command, if the control device determines that an object impedes performing the command by the following AV, and communicates the updated command to the following AV.

Abstract: A system comprises an autonomous vehicle (AV) and an operation server operably coupled with the AV. The operation server accesses environmental data associated with a road traveled by the AV. The environmental data is associated with a time window during which the AV is traveling along the road. The operation server compares the environmental data with map data that comprises expected road conditions ahead of the AV. The operation server determines whether the environmental data comprises an unexpected road condition that is not included in the map data. In response to determining that the environmental data comprises the unexpected road condition that is not included in the map data, the operation server determines a location coordinate of the unexpected road condition, and communicates a command to the AV to maneuver to avoid the unexpected road condition.

Abstract: A system comprises a lead autonomous vehicle (AV), a control device associated with the lead AV, and a following AV. The control device receives a command to navigate the lead AV to avoid an unexpected road condition. The control device receives sensor data from a sensor of the lead AV, comprising location coordinates of objects ahead of the lead AV. The control device accesses environmental data associated with a portion of a road between the lead AV and following AV. The environmental data comprises location coordinates of objects between the lead AV and following AV. The control device determines whether an object in the sensor data or environmental data impedes performing the command by the following AV. The control device updates the command, if the control device determines that an object impedes performing the command by the following AV, and communicates the updated command to the following AV.

Abstract: A system comprises an autonomous vehicle (AV) and a control device operably coupled with the AV. The control device receives, from an operation server, a command to navigate the AV to avoid an expected road condition. The control device receives, from sensors of the AV, sensor data comprising location coordinates of a plurality of objects ahead of the AV. The control device determines whether at least one object from the plurality of objects impedes performing the command. In response to determining that at least one object impedes performing the command, the control device updates the command, such that the updated command comprises one or more navigation instructions to avoid the at least one object while performing the command. The control device navigates the AV according to the updated command.

Abstract: A redundant hardware and software architecture can be designed to enable vehicles to be operated in an autonomous mode while improving the reliability and/or safety of such vehicles. A system for redundant architecture can include a set of at least two redundant sensors coupled to a vehicle and configured to provide timestamped sensor data to each of a plurality of computing unit (CU) computers. The CU computers can process the sensor data simultaneously based on at least a time value indicative of an absolute time or a relative time and based on the timestamped sensor data. The CU computers provide to a vehicle control unit (VCU) computer at least two sets of outputs configured to instruct a plurality of devices in a vehicle and cause the vehicle to be driven.