Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for automated following behind a lead vehicle. The lead vehicle navigates a path from a starting point to a destination. The lead vehicle and the following vehicle are connected via V2V communication, allowing one or more following vehicles to detect the path taken by the lead vehicle. A computerized control system on the following vehicle (a Follow-the-Leader, or FTL, system) allows the following vehicle to mimic the behavior of the lead vehicle, with the FTL system controlling steering to guide the following vehicle along the path previously navigated by the lead vehicle. In some embodiments, the lead vehicle and following vehicle may both use Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates. In some embodiments, the following vehicle may also have a system of sensors to maintain a gap between the following and lead vehicles.

Abstract: A system includes an autonomous vehicle (AV) comprising a sensor, a control subsystem, and an operation server. The control subsystem receives sensor data comprising location coordinates of the AV from the sensor. The operation server detects an unexpected event from the sensor data, comprising at least one of an accident, an inspection, and a report request. The operation server receives a message from a user comprising a request to access particular information regarding the AV and location data. The operation server associates the AV with the user if the location coordinates of the AV match location data of the user. The operation server establishes a communication path between the user and a remote operator for further communications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for granting access to autonomous vehicles are disclosed. In one aspect, an autonomous vehicle includes an access sensor located on an exterior of the autonomous vehicle and configured to receive user credentials from an authorized user, a door configured to provide access to the autonomous vehicle, and a network communications subsystem configured to communicate with a remote oversight system. The autonomous vehicle further includes a processor configured to receive the user credentials from the access sensor, transmit the user credentials to the oversight system via the network communications subsystem, receive a confirmation from the oversight system that the user credentials are associated with a user authorized to access the autonomous vehicle, and unlock the door in response to receiving the confirmation to provide the user access to the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting non-operational design domain (ODD) scenarios are disclosed. In one aspect, a server includes a network communication device configured to communicate with an autonomous vehicle over a network, a memory, and a processor configured to receive information related to the navigation of the autonomous vehicle from a plurality of data sources. The processor is further configured to predict whether the autonomous vehicle will encounter a non-ODD scenario based on the received information and transmit a signal to the autonomous vehicle in response to predicting that the autonomous vehicle will encounter the non-ODD scenario.

Abstract: A system comprises a fleet of autonomous vehicles and a scheduling server. The scheduling server accepts input comprising at least one preferred performance criteria to complete a mission trip. The scheduling server determines a routing plan to complete the mission trip based on the input. The routing plan is determined to optimize the at least one preferred performance criteria. The scheduling server identifies at least one autonomous vehicle that can perform the mission trip according to the determined routing plan. The scheduling server assigns the at least one autonomous vehicle to perform the mission trip.

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: Various embodiments of the present invention provide methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for dynamic allocation of communication network resources by an autonomous vehicle. For example, certain embodiments of the present invention utilize systems, methods, and computer program products that determine a data transmission prioritization policy and cause an auxiliary data object to be provided based at least in part on the data transmission prioritization policy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating with third parties external to autonomous vehicles are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus may be configured to receive a signal from a first user interface mounted to an exterior of an autonomous vehicle, establish a two way communication between the first user interface and a remote system, authenticate a third party, and in response to the third party being authenticated, establish a connection with a second user interface.

Abstract: A mobile terminal system includes equipment used to establish a terminal site with at least one landing pad sized and shaped to accommodate an autonomous vehicle of a fleet. A control subsystem determines that an autonomous vehicle of the fleet is in-bound to the established terminal site. After determining the in-bound autonomous vehicle, landing instructions are determined that indicate a landing pad in which the in-bound autonomous vehicle is to stop and a route that the in-bound autonomous vehicle is to travel along to reach the landing pad. The landing instructions are provided to the in-bound autonomous vehicle. The landing instructions cause the in-bound autonomous vehicle to travel along the route to the landing pad.

Abstract: A gateway processor coordinates communication among an autonomous vehicle components boundary domain, a vehicle boundary domain, and an oversight server. The gateway processor receives a message from the oversight server. The gateway processor determines a priority level, a domain tag data, and destination data associated with the message. The priority level indicates a scheduling requirement associated with the message. The domain tag data indicates that the message is associated with a particular domain from among the autonomous vehicle components boundary domain, the vehicle components boundary domain, or the security domain. The destination data indicates that the message is designated to a particular component within the particular domain. In response, the gateway processor schedules the message to be transmitted to the particular domain. The gateway processor routes the message to the particular component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for automated following behind a lead vehicle. The lead vehicle navigates a path from a starting point to a destination. The lead vehicle and the following vehicle are connected via V2V communication, allowing one or more following vehicles to detect the path taken by the lead vehicle. A computerized control system on the following vehicle (a Follow-the-Leader, or FTL, system) allows the following vehicle to mimic the behavior of the lead vehicle, with the FTL system controlling steering to guide the following vehicle along the path previously navigated by the lead vehicle. In some embodiments, the lead vehicle and following vehicle may both use Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates. In some embodiments, the following vehicle may also have a system of sensors to maintain a gap between the following and lead vehicles.

Abstract: A system includes autonomous vehicle and an oversight server. The oversight server obtains road condition data associated with a road ahead of the autonomous vehicle. The oversight server obtains status data from the autonomous vehicle. The oversight server determines that a routing plan of the autonomous vehicle should be updated based on the road condition data and the status data in response to determining an unexpected anomaly in one or both of the road condition data and the status data. The unexpected anomaly includes one or more of a severe weather event, a traffic event, a road block, and a service that needed to be provided to the autonomous vehicle. The oversight server communicates the updated routing plan to the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is autonomously driving along the road.

Abstract: A system includes an autonomous vehicle and an oversight server. The oversight server receives status data from the autonomous vehicle. The oversight server determines that a service is needed to be provided to the autonomous vehicle based on the status data. The oversight server determines an updated routing plan for the autonomous vehicle so that the service is provided to the autonomous vehicle. The oversight server communicates instructions that implement the updated routing plan to the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes an autonomous vehicle and an oversight server. The oversight server obtain sensor data from the autonomous vehicle. The sensor data may include a location of the autonomous vehicle. The oversight server determines that one or more criteria apply to the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor data. The one or more criteria includes a geofence area, a particular time window, and a credential associated with a third party. The oversight server grants remote access to the autonomous vehicle in response to determining that the one or more criteria apply to the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes audio sensors configured to detect audio in an environment around the autonomous vehicle and to generate audio signals based on the detected audio. A processor in the autonomous vehicle receives the audio signals and compares a time domain or frequency domain representation of the audio signals to a corresponding representation of a known emergency vehicle siren. The comparison causes the processor to output a first determination indicating whether the audio signals are indicative of an emergency vehicle siren. The processor also applies a trained neural network to the audio signals that causes the processor to output a second determination indicating whether the audio signals are indicative of the emergency vehicle siren. If the first determination or the second determination indicates presence of an emergency vehicle siren in the environment around the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle is caused to perform an action.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) includes features that allows the AV to comply with applicable regulations and statues for performing safe driving operation. An example system for an AV includes a communications gateway device. The communications gateway device includes a plurality of modules each configured for different communication mediums or applications. In particular, the plurality of modules includes a first module for communicating with a remote computer. Via the first module, vehicle operational data is reported to the remote computer, and instructional data is received from the remote computer. The modules further include a second module for communicating with devices located within a vicinity external to the vehicle, and a third module configured to communicate with subsystems located within the vehicle. The example AV system includes a second communications gateway device that is configured to be redundant.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) includes features that allows the AV to comply with applicable regulations and statues for performing safe driving operation. Example embodiments disclosed herein provide enhanced high-precision operation of an AV in low-speed environments, such as a toll booth facility or heavy traffic. One example method disclosed herein includes a control computer identifying a starting point of the toll booth facility on the roadway and a plurality of toll lanes associated with the toll booth facility; selecting a particular toll lane; determining a trajectory for the AV that extends through the particular toll lane; and in response to the autonomous vehicle arriving at the starting point for the toll booth facility, transmitting, over a subsystem interface to one or more drive subsystems of the AV, instructions configured to cause the drive subsystems to operate together to cause the AV to travel according to the trajectory.

Abstract: A system for instructing an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) to perform a minimal risk condition maneuver comprises a fleet of AVs and an oversight server. The oversight server receives macro information that applies to a plurality of AVs from the fleet. The oversight server generates a batch command based on the macro information. The batch command is associated with one or more conditions. The oversight server determines whether each AV meets the one or more conditions. If the oversight server determines that the AV meets the one or more conditions, the oversight server sends the batch command to the AV. The batch command includes instructions to perform a minimal risk condition maneuver.

Abstract: A system includes an autonomous vehicle (AV) comprising a sensor, a control subsystem, and an operation server. The control subsystem receives sensor data comprising location coordinates of the AV from the sensor. The operation server detects an unexpected event from the sensor data, comprising at least one of an accident, an inspection, and a report request. The operation server receives a message from a user comprising a request to access particular information regarding the AV and location data. The operation server associates the AV with the user if the location coordinates of the AV match location data of the user. The operation server establishes a communication path between the user and a remote operator for further communications.