US 12,280,740 B2
Methods for passenger authentication and door operation for autonomous vehicles
Junsung Kim, Boston, MA (US); Yunpeng Xu, Boston, MA (US); Vasudeva Pai Melgangolli, Boston, MA (US); Brett Sandler, Boston, MA (US); and Scott Sweeny, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to Motional AD LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by Motional AD LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/194,344.
Application 18/194,344 is a continuation of application No. 16/991,625, filed on Aug. 12, 2020, granted, now 11,623,611.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/893,552, filed on Aug. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0311810 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 25/24 (2013.01); B60R 13/00 (2006.01); B60R 25/01 (2013.01); B60R 25/25 (2013.01); B60R 25/31 (2013.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01); G08G 1/00 (2006.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01)
CPC B60R 25/24 (2013.01) [B60R 13/00 (2013.01); B60R 25/01 (2013.01); B60R 25/25 (2013.01); B60R 25/31 (2013.01); B60W 60/00253 (2020.02); G08G 1/202 (2013.01); H04L 63/083 (2013.01); H04L 63/0861 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
determining that an autonomous vehicle has arrived at a first location, the autonomous vehicle comprising a plurality of doors;
detecting at least one object in an environment of the autonomous vehicle using at least one sensor of the autonomous vehicle;
responsive to determining that the autonomous vehicle has arrived at the first location, determining whether the at least one object is approaching the plurality of doors of the autonomous vehicle;
determining a desirability score for each of the plurality of doors based at least in part on determining that the at least one object is not approaching a first door of the plurality of doors;
identifying the first door of the plurality of doors of the autonomous vehicle to open based at least in part on the desirability scores for the plurality of doors;
causing the first door to open;
based on a determination that authorization criteria for a user account is satisfied, enabling a user to request departure of the autonomous vehicle; and
based on a received request to initiate departure of the autonomous vehicle, initiating departure of the autonomous vehicle from the first location.