US 12,254,771 B2
Method and apparatus for placing a shared micro-mobility vehicle in public spaces
Jerome Beaurepaire, Nantes (FR)
Assigned to HERE Global B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed by HERE Global B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/752,487.
Prior Publication US 2023/0386335 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. G08G 1/14 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G08G 1/065 (2006.01)
CPC G08G 1/144 (2013.01) [G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G08G 1/065 (2013.01); G08G 1/146 (2013.01); G08G 1/147 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining one or more placement locations on a sidewalk area that are suitable for temporary placement of a shared micro-mobility vehicle, the method comprising:
identifying, by one or more processors, a candidate placement location in the sidewalk area, the identification being prior to the temporary placement of the shared micro-mobility vehicle, wherein the candidate placement location is an available space in the sidewalk area to place the shared micro-mobility vehicle, and wherein the candidate placement location is determined by processing light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data, image data, or a combination thereof;
determining, by the one or more processors, one or more factors associated with the candidate placement location and/or one or more nearby locations in the sidewalk area, wherein the one or more factors comprise one or more of: a current or predicted people flow, a bicycle lane, presence of one or more objects, a point of interest, a vehicle parking area, a transit station, or a sidewalk configuration;
making a determination, by the one or more processors, of whether the candidate placement location in the sidewalk area is suitable for temporary placement of the shared micro-mobility vehicle based on whether the candidate placement location enables one or more of following:
(i) avoiding interference between the shared micro-mobility vehicle and (a) the current or predicted people flow, (b) the bicycle lane, and/or (c) the one or more objects,
(ii) preventing the shared micro-mobility vehicle from hindering usage of (a) the point of interest, (b) the vehicle parking area, and/or (c) the transit station, or
(iii) accommodating the shared micro-mobility vehicle to the sidewalk configuration; and
based on the determination, outputting, by the one or more processors, an indication of whether the candidate placement location in the sidewalk area is suitable for temporary placement of the shared micro-mobility vehicle.