Collaborative traveling

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle including a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a steering system, and a computing system that is in communication with the vehicle propulsion system, the braking system, and the steering system. The computing system includes a processor and memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts including setting as a destination for a trip of the autonomous vehicle. The destination for the trip of the autonomous vehicle being set as a location of a second autonomous vehicle at a specific time. The processor is further configured to select a route to the destination for the trip of the autonomous vehicle. The processor is yet further configured to control at least one of the vehicle propulsion system, the braking system, or the steering system to move the autonomous vehicle along the route as selected for the trip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a dynamic location for a trip of a vehicle, comprising:
 receiving an input requesting the trip of the vehicle, the input specifies an identity of a user and a specific time;   setting, responsive to the input, the dynamic location for the trip of the vehicle as a location of the user at the specific time; and   causing the vehicle to move to the dynamic location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user differs from a second user, the input further specifies setting a destination for the trip to meet the user, and the input is requesting the trip of the vehicle for the second user to ride in the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user differs from a second user, the user is suggested as a destination to the second user, the input further specifies selection of the suggested user as a destination for the trip to meet the user, and the input is requesting the trip of the vehicle for the second user to ride in the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of autonomous vehicles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic location for the trip of the vehicle is a pick-up location for the trip of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic location for the trip of the vehicle is a drop-off location for the trip of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the user at the specific time is an anticipated location of the user at a specific future time, the specific future time being after a time of receipt of the input. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the user at the specific time is a prior location of the user at a specific prior time, the specific prior time being before a time of receipt of the input. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic location for the trip of the vehicle is dynamically adjusted based on a modification to the location of the user at the specific time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a route to the dynamic location for the trip of the vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein causing the vehicle to move to the dynamic location comprises controlling at least one of a vehicle propulsion system of the vehicle, a braking system of the vehicle, or a steering system of the vehicle to move the vehicle along the route to the dynamic location. 
     
     
         12 . A method of controlling a dynamic location for a trip of a vehicle, comprising:
 transmitting to a user a suggestion for a destination, the suggestion comprising a second user and a specific time;   receiving an input requesting the trip of the vehicle, the input specifies setting a destination for the trip to meet the second user;   setting, responsive to the input, the dynamic location for the trip of the vehicle as a location of the second user at the specific time; and   causing the vehicle to move to the dynamic location.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 generating the suggestion for the destination for the user, the suggestion being generated based on at least of passengers with whom the user previously traveled or feedback data from the user concerning the passengers with whom the user previously traveled.   
     
     
         14 . An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 a computing system, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
 receiving an input requesting a trip of the autonomous vehicle, the input specifies an identity of a user and a specific time; 
 setting, responsive to the input, the dynamic location for the trip of the autonomous vehicle as a location of the user at the specific time; and 
 causing the autonomous vehicle to move to the dynamic location. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a vehicle propulsion system;   a braking system; and   a steering system;   wherein the acts further comprise:
 selecting a route to the dynamic location for the trip of the vehicle; and 
 controlling at least one of the vehicle propulsion system, the braking system, or the steering system to move the vehicle along the route to the dynamic location. 
   
     
     
         16 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the user differs from a second user, the input further specifies setting a destination for the trip to meet the user, and the input is requesting the trip of the autonomous vehicle for the second user to ride in the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the user differs from a second user, the user is suggested as a destination to the second user, the input further specifies selection of the suggested user as a destination for the trip to meet the user, and the input is requesting the trip of the autonomous vehicle for the second user to ride in the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the location of the user at the specific time is an anticipated location of the user at a specific future time, the specific future time being after a time of receipt of the input. 
     
     
         19 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the location of the user at the specific time is a prior location of the user at a specific prior time, the specific prior time being before a time of receipt of the input. 
     
     
         20 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the dynamic location for the trip of the autonomous vehicle is dynamically adjusted based on a modification to the location of the user at the specific time.