Predicting rider entry time for pick-up and drop-off locations

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle having observational sensors and a computing system. The computing system may have a processor and memory having computer-executable instructions that may cause the processor to determine, based upon a profile of a user, an average amount of time it takes the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle. The processor may then cause the observational sensors to detect and observe obstacles around the locations. The processor may also determined, based upon detected objects around the autonomous vehicle and the average amount of time it takes the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle, a location to stop to allow the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous vehicle comprising:
 a processor; and   memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine an average amount of time for a user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle at a zone near a destination; 
 determine an estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle based on the average amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle and a weight of cargo in the autonomous vehicle; 
 determine that the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is greater than an offered amount of time for a classification of the zone; 
 determine, based upon detected objects around the autonomous vehicle and the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle, a location within the zone to stop the autonomous vehicle to allow the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle; and 
 navigate the autonomous vehicle to the location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein live traffic data received from at least one other autonomous vehicle in an autonomous vehicle fleet indicating current traffic conditions is used to classify the zone. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to:
 prohibit loading and unloading of the user in the zone when the zone is classified as a rushed zone and the user is accompanied by luggage.   
     
     
         4 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is further based on a projected amount of time for the user to close a distance between the autonomous vehicle and the zone, and wherein the zone is classified as a safe pedestrian zone. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to:
 receive confirmation from the user that they accept the location,   wherein navigating the autonomous vehicle to the location is based on the confirmation from the user.   
     
     
         6 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is further determined by a preference set by the user in a profile. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein determining the location is further based upon map data having predetermined stopping locations. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 determine an average amount of time for a user to enter or exit an autonomous vehicle at a zone near a destination;   determine an estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle based on the average amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle and a weight of cargo in the autonomous vehicle;   determine that the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is greater than an offered amount of time for a classification of the zone;   determine, based upon detected objects around the autonomous vehicle and the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle, a location within the zone to stop the autonomous vehicle to allow the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle; and   navigate the autonomous vehicle to the location.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein live traffic data received from at least one other autonomous vehicle in an autonomous vehicle fleet indicating current traffic conditions is used to classify the zone. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 prohibit loading and unloading of the user in the zone when the zone is classified as a rushed zone and the user is accompanied by luggage.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is further based on a projected amount of time for the user to close a distance between the autonomous vehicle and the zone, and wherein the zone is classified as a safe pedestrian zone. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive confirmation from the user that they accept the location,   wherein navigating the autonomous vehicle to the location is based on the confirmation from the user.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is further determined by a preference set by the user in a profile. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein determining the location is further based upon map data having predetermined stopping locations. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 determining an average amount of time for a user to enter or exit an autonomous vehicle at a zone near a destination;   determining an estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle based on the average amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle and a weight of cargo in the autonomous vehicle;   determining that the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is greater than an offered amount of time for a classification of the zone;   determining, based upon detected objects around the autonomous vehicle and the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle, a location within the zone to stop the autonomous vehicle to allow the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle; and   navigating the autonomous vehicle to the location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein live traffic data received from at least one other autonomous vehicle in an autonomous vehicle fleet indicating current traffic conditions is used to classify the zone. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 prohibiting loading and unloading of the user in the zone when the zone is classified as a rushed zone and the user is accompanied by luggage.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is further based on a projected amount of time for the user to close a distance between the autonomous vehicle and the zone, and wherein the zone is classified as a safe pedestrian zone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving confirmation from the user that they accept the location,   wherein navigating the autonomous vehicle to the location is based on the confirmation from the user.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the estimated amount of time for the user to enter or exit the autonomous vehicle is further determined by a preference set by the user in a profile.