Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes calculating, via a router of a vehicle system that accesses road map data, at least one route to a destination based on the road map data, thereby producing route solution data. The vehicle system enters a remote assistance mode in response to remote assistance decision data received from a blockage arbiter of the vehicle system. In the remote assistance mode, the method includes determining, via the router, at least one road segment of the road map data that is permitted to be blacklisted, thereby producing permitted blacklist data. The method includes transmitting the permitted blacklist data and the route solution data, via a vehicle communications module of the vehicle system, to a remote vehicle assistance system. The method includes updating, via the router, the road map data to exclude at least one blacklisted road segment defined by the permitted blacklist data.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a position of a sensing device relative to a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes the sensing device configured to provide sensor data associated with an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes an adjustable sensor mount that mounts the sensing device to the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to process the sensor data to a representation of the environment of the vehicle, to process the representation to determine an obstruction within a field of view of the sensing device, to determine a location of the obstruction, and to control the adjustable sensor mount to a desired position based on the location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for remotely assisting an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: aggregating sensor data from the autonomous vehicle; identifying an assistance-desired scenario; generating an assistance request based on the sensor data; transmitting the assistance request to a remote assistance interface; and receiving and processing a response to the assistance request. The remote assistance interface includes a remote assistance interface that is used in generating the response to the assistance request.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for calibrating a camera system of an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: identifying, by the processor, a planar object from sensor data generated by a sensor of the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operating; identifying, by the processor, a pattern of the planar object; selecting, by the processor, planar points from the pattern of the planar object; and calibrating, by the processor, the camera system, while the autonomous vehicle is operating, based on the planar points.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle using an external interface is disclosed. The method includes an external interface that is in operable communication with one or more control systems of the autonomous vehicle. The method allows an entity in proximity of an outside of the autonomous vehicle to interact with the external interface; receives from the entity one or more control inputs, and controls one or more operations of the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more control inputs.

Abstract: A system and method for providing routing instructions to one or more autonomous vehicles includes identifying a destination of an autonomous vehicle; identifying a starting position or an initial location of the autonomous vehicle; receiving autonomous vehicle sensor data; receiving one or more routing goals for a routing plan for the autonomous vehicle; generating one or more route modification parameters; and generating a route plan for the autonomous vehicle based on (a) the destination, (b) the starting position or the initial location, (c) the one or more route modification parameters and (d) the one or more routing goals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic maintenance of an autonomous vehicle include: identifying a maintenance requirement for an autonomous vehicle, wherein identifying a maintenance requirement includes using one or more sensors to obtain vehicle maintenance data; in response to identifying the maintenance requirement, generating a maintenance request comprising a description or data relating to the maintenance requirement; transmitting the maintenance request; receiving maintenance instructions comprising maintenance routing instructions and a maintenance schedule for a maintenance session for resolving the maintenance requirement; and implementing the maintenance instructions.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method of predicting sensor information of an autonomous vehicle includes: receiving point cloud data sensed from an environment associated with the vehicle; processing, by a processor, point cloud data with a convolutional neural network (CNN) to produce a set of segmentations stored in a set of memory cells; processing, by the processor, the set of segmentations of the CNN with a recurrent neural network (RNN) to predict future point cloud data; processing, by the processor, the future point cloud data to determine an action; and controlling the vehicle based on the action.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a position of a sensing device relative to a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes the sensing device configured to provide sensor data associated with an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes an adjustable sensor mount that mounts the sensing device to the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to process the sensor data to a representation of the environment of the vehicle, to process the representation to determine an obstruction within a field of view of the sensing device, to determine a location of the obstruction, and to control the adjustable sensor mount to a desired position based on the location.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for calibrating a camera system of an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: identifying, by the processor, a planar object from sensor data generated by a sensor of the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operating; identifying, by the processor, a pattern of the planar object; selecting, by the processor, planar points from the pattern of the planar object; and calibrating, by the processor, the camera system, while the autonomous vehicle is operating, based on the planar points.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes calculating, via a router of a vehicle system that accesses road map data, at least one route to a destination based on the road map data, thereby producing route solution data. The vehicle system enters a remote assistance mode in response to remote assistance decision data received from a blockage arbiter of the vehicle system. In the remote assistance mode, the method includes determining, via the router, at least one road segment of the road map data that is permitted to be blacklisted, thereby producing permitted blacklist data. The method includes transmitting the permitted blacklist data and the route solution data, via a vehicle communications module of the vehicle system, to a remote vehicle assistance system. The method includes updating, via the router, the road map data to exclude at least one blacklisted road segment defined by the permitted blacklist data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic maintenance of an autonomous vehicle include: identifying a maintenance requirement for an autonomous vehicle, wherein identifying a maintenance requirement includes using one or more sensors to obtain vehicle maintenance data; in response to identifying the maintenance requirement, generating a maintenance request comprising a description or data relating to the maintenance requirement; transmitting the maintenance request; receiving maintenance instructions comprising maintenance routing instructions and a maintenance schedule for a maintenance session for resolving the maintenance requirement; and implementing the maintenance instructions

Abstract: A system and method for providing routing instructions to one or more autonomous vehicles includes identifying a destination of an autonomous vehicle; identifying a starting position or an initial location of the autonomous vehicle; receiving autonomous vehicle sensor data; receiving one or more routing goals for a routing plan for the autonomous vehicle; generating one or more route modification parameters; and generating a route plan for the autonomous vehicle based on (a) the destination, (b) the starting position or the initial location, (c) the one or more route modification parameters and (d) the one or more routing goals.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle using an external interface is disclosed. The method includes an external interface that is in operable communication with one or more control systems of the autonomous vehicle. The method allows an entity in proximity of an outside of the autonomous vehicle to interact with the external interface; receives from the entity one or more control inputs, and controls one or more operations of the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more control inputs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for remotely assisting an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: aggregating sensor data from the autonomous vehicle; identifying an assistance-desired scenario; generating an assistance request based on the sensor data; transmitting the assistance request to a remote assistance interface; and receiving and processing a response to the assistance request. The remote assistance interface includes a remote assistance interface that is used in generating the response to the assistance request.