Abstract: The technology employs a holistic approach to passenger pickups and other wayfinding situations. This includes identifying where passengers are relative to the vehicle and/or the pickup location. Information synthesis from different sensors, agent behavior prediction models, and real-time situational awareness are employed to identify the likelihood that the passenger to be picked up is at a given location at a particular point in time, with sufficient confidence. The system can provide adaptive navigation by helping passengers understand their distance and direction to the vehicle, for instance using various cues via an app on the person's device. Rider support tools may be provided, which enable a remote agent to interact with a customer via that person's device, such as using the camera on the device to provide wayfinding support to enable the person to find their vehicle. Ride support may also use sensor information from the vehicle when providing wayfinding support.

Abstract: The technology employs a holistic approach to passenger pickups and other wayfinding situations. This includes identifying where passengers are relative to the vehicle and/or the pickup location. Information synthesis from different sensors, agent behavior prediction models, and real-time situational awareness are employed to identify the likelihood that the passenger to be picked up is at a given location at a particular point in time, with sufficient confidence. The system can provide adaptive navigation by helping passengers understand their distance and direction to the vehicle, for instance using various cues via an app on the person's device. Rider support tools may be provided, which enable a remote agent to interact with a customer via that person's device, such as using the camera on the device to provide wayfinding support to enable the person to find their vehicle. Ride support may also use sensor information from the vehicle when providing wayfinding support.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling an autonomous vehicle. For instance, dispatching instructions including a destination location and a trip plan identifying a selected route may be received. The route was selected by a user from a set of two or more routes. The trip plan may be used to determine whether to user the selected route or a new route. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled to the destination location based on the determination.

Abstract: The technology includes communicating the current status of a self-driving vehicle to users, such as passengers within the vehicle and other users awaiting pickup. Certain information about the trip and vehicle status is communicated depending on where the passenger is sitting within the vehicle or where the person awaiting pickup is located outside the vehicle. This includes disseminating the “monologue” of a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode to a user via an app on the user's device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet or laptop PC, wearable, or other computing device) and/or an in-vehicle user interface. The monologue includes current status information regarding driving decisions and related operations or actions. This alerts the user as to why the vehicle is taking (or not taking) a certain action, which reduces confusion and allows the user to focus on other matters.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for arranging a trip in an autonomous vehicle without a driver. For instance, a request may be received from a client computing device associated with a first person to arrange the trip for a second person. The request may include a pickup location for the second person and a destination location for the second person. An authentication method may be identified for the trip. A signal may be sent to the autonomous vehicle in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to maneuver to the pickup location, authenticate the second person using the authentication method, and transport the second person to the destination location.

Abstract: The technology includes communicating the current status of a self-driving vehicle to users, such as passengers within the vehicle and other users awaiting pickup. Certain information about the trip and vehicle status is communicated depending on where the passenger is sitting within the vehicle or where the person awaiting pickup is located outside the vehicle. This includes disseminating the “monologue” of a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode to a user via an app on the user's device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet or laptop PC, wearable, or other computing device) and/or an in-vehicle user interface. The monologue includes current status information regarding driving decisions and related operations or actions. This alerts the user as to why the vehicle is taking (or not taking) a certain action, which reduces confusion and allows the user to focus on other matters.

Abstract: The technology involves pickups of riders by autonomous vehicles in a manner that ensures the rider is picked up within an estimated time of arrival (ETA). For instance, in accordance with customer authorization, the autonomous vehicle may loiter or otherwise stay within a certain proximity (e.g., distance or time) to guarantee rider pickup within a predetermined time. One vehicle may be assigned to a rider for a set timeframe or multiple vehicles may be allocated to a particular event. Either approach may be used to ensure rider pickup with minimal waiting. One benefit is to avoid user-initiated ride requests when the customer is ready to depart a location, because a vehicle will already be present and ready to take the rider to their desired destination. Loitering may include prepositioning a vehicle at a given place, or driving autonomously to be nearby as needed.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing suggested locations for a trip using a transportation service. In one example, information for an initial destination location for a trip may be received from a client computing device. That the initial destination location is unavailable for the trip may be determined. One or more attributes may be identified based on the information. A search may be conducted for a plurality of suggested locations having attributes in common with the one or more identified attributes. The plurality of suggested locations may be ranked. The one or more of the plurality of suggested locations may be provided for display on the client computing devices to a user based on the ranking.

Abstract: The technology employs a holistic approach to passenger pickups and other wayfinding situations. This includes identifying where passengers are relative to the vehicle and/or the pickup location. Information synthesis from different sensors, agent behavior prediction models, and real-time situational awareness are employed to identify the likelihood that the passenger to be picked up is at a given location at a particular point in time, with sufficient confidence. The system can provide adaptive navigation by helping passengers understand their distance and direction to the vehicle, for instance using various cues via an app on the person's device. Rider support tools may be provided, which enable a remote agent to interact with a customer via that person's device, such as using the camera on the device to provide wayfinding support to enable the person to find their vehicle. Ride support may also use sensor information from the vehicle when providing wayfinding support.

Abstract: The technology includes communicating the current status of a self-driving vehicle to users, such as passengers within the vehicle and other users awaiting pickup. Certain information about the trip and vehicle status is communicated depending on where the passenger is sitting within the vehicle or where the person awaiting pickup is located outside the vehicle. This includes disseminating the “monologue” of a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode to a user via an app on the user's device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet or laptop PC, wearable, or other computing device) and/or an in-vehicle user interface. The monologue includes current status information regarding driving decisions and related operations or actions. This alerts the user as to why the vehicle is taking (or not taking) a certain action, which reduces confusion and allows the user to focus on other matters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus filter light spectrum. Ambient light conditions of light that is ambient to a user device can be sensed. Ambient light color conditions can be determined based on the sensed ambient light conditions. User device charging times when the user device is being charged can be monitored. User device motion including movement of the user device can be monitored. User device activity can be monitored. Color-modified image display times can be ascertained from at least one selected from the user device motion, the user device activity, and the user device charging times. A color-modified image can be generated based on at least the ambient light color conditions and the color-modified image display times. The color-modified image can be displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus filter light spectrum. Ambient light conditions of light that is ambient to a user device can be sensed. Ambient light color conditions can be determined based on the sensed ambient light conditions. User device charging times when the user device is being charged can be monitored. User device motion including movement of the user device can be monitored. User device activity can be monitored. Color-modified image display times can be ascertained from at least one selected from the user device motion, the user device activity, and the user device charging times. A color-modified image can be generated based on at least the ambient light color conditions and the color-modified image display times. The color-modified image can be displayed.

Abstract: A method includes detecting an interaction event on a display of a device in a locked mode. The interaction event originates at one of a fingerprint sensor of the device or an application icon and terminates at the other of the fingerprint sensor or the application icon. The interaction event is authenticated using the fingerprint sensor. A function associated with the application icon is activated responsive to authenticating the interaction event without unlocking the device.

Abstract: A method includes detecting an interaction event on a display of a device in a locked mode. The interaction event originates at one of a fingerprint sensor of the device or an application icon and terminates at the other of the fingerprint sensor or the application icon. The interaction event is authenticated using the fingerprint sensor. A function associated with the application icon is activated responsive to authenticating the interaction event without unlocking the device.