US 12,214,724 B2
Systems and methods for deploying warning devices from an autonomous vehicle
Zac Vawter, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Alden James Woodrow, Oakland, CA (US)
Assigned to AURORA OPERATIONS, INC., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Aurora Operations, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/843,278.
Application 17/843,278 is a continuation of application No. 15/890,383, filed on Feb. 7, 2018, granted, now 11,366,476.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/617,409, filed on Jan. 15, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0317690 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/46 (2006.01); B60Q 1/50 (2006.01); B60Q 7/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01)
CPC B60Q 7/00 (2013.01) [B60Q 1/507 (2022.05); B60Q 1/525 (2013.01); G05D 1/0214 (2013.01); G05D 1/0274 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
obtaining data indicative of a vehicle stop maneuver for an autonomous vehicle, wherein the autonomous vehicle is an autonomous truck comprising a tractor portion;
obtaining map data associated with the vehicle stop maneuver, the map data comprising information indicative of at least one of (i) a road elevation or (i) a road curvature;
based on the data indicative of the vehicle stop maneuver and the map data, identifying a warning device of the autonomous vehicle for deployment, wherein the warning device is physically connected to the tractor portion;
determining a predicted trajectory of one or more vehicles within a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle;
determining a timing and a position for physically moving the warning device from the autonomous vehicle based on the predicted trajectory of the one or more vehicles within the surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle and at least one of (i) the road elevation or (ii) the road curvature; and
providing one or more signals to initiate the physical movement of the warning device of the autonomous vehicle in accordance with the timing and the position, wherein the warning device remains physically connected to the tractor portion while deployed.