US 11,999,369 B2
Autonomous vehicle operator performance tracking
Jason Palmer, Carlsbad, CA (US); Mark Freitas, San Diego, CA (US); Daniel A. Deninger, Carlsbad, CA (US); David Forney, La Jolla, CA (US); Slaven Sljivar, San Diego, CA (US); Alekh Vaidya, San Diego, CA (US); and Jeffrey Griswold, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to SmartDrive Systems, Inc., Westlake, TX (US)
Filed by SmartDrive Systems, Inc., Westlake, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/498,388.
Application 17/498,388 is a continuation of application No. 16/818,500, filed on Mar. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,198,447.
Application 16/818,500 is a continuation of application No. 16/417,604, filed on May 20, 2019, granted, now 10,589,750, issued on Mar. 17, 2020.
Application 16/417,604 is a continuation of application No. 16/160,451, filed on Oct. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,315,666, issued on Jun. 11, 2019.
Application 16/160,451 is a continuation of application No. 15/879,927, filed on Jan. 25, 2018, granted, now 10,106,174, issued on Oct. 23, 2018.
Application 15/879,927 is a continuation of application No. 15/606,760, filed on May 26, 2017, granted, now 9,908,535, issued on Mar. 6, 2018.
Application 15/606,760 is a continuation of application No. 15/341,737, filed on Nov. 2, 2016, granted, now 9,663,118, issued on May 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0024490 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60W 50/12 (2012.01); B60W 50/08 (2020.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01)
CPC B60W 50/12 (2013.01) [B60W 50/082 (2013.01); B60W 60/0053 (2020.02); B60W 60/0057 (2020.02); B60W 60/0059 (2020.02); B60W 60/007 (2020.02); B60W 2420/403 (2013.01); B60W 2420/408 (2024.01); B60W 2420/54 (2013.01); B60W 2540/22 (2013.01); B60W 2540/221 (2020.02); B60W 2540/225 (2020.02); B60W 2540/229 (2020.02); B60W 2552/15 (2020.02); B60W 2552/30 (2020.02); B60W 2554/00 (2020.02); B60W 2554/406 (2020.02); B60W 2554/80 (2020.02); B60W 2554/802 (2020.02); B60W 2555/20 (2020.02)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system configured to determine vehicle operator preparedness for vehicle operators of vehicles, wherein the vehicles support both an autonomous operation mode and a manual operation mode, the system configured to couple with a vehicle, wherein the vehicle operators include a vehicle operator for the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operated autonomously, wherein continued autonomous operation of the vehicle requires the vehicle operator to exhibit a preparedness to assume control of the vehicle, the system comprising:
one or more processors configured to:
during the autonomous operation mode of the vehicle, effectuate presentation of one or more challenges to the vehicle operator to gauge a level of responsiveness of the vehicle operator, wherein the one or more challenges are presented to the vehicle operator at particular moments in time, and wherein determination of the particular moments in time is based at least in part on the preparedness exhibited by the vehicle operator;
detect one or more responses by the vehicle operator to the one or more challenges;
determine whether the one or more responses reflect an insufficient level of preparedness by the vehicle operator to assume control of the vehicle in the manual operation mode; and
responsive to the determination that the one or more responses reflect the insufficient level of preparedness by the vehicle operator to assume control of the vehicle in the manual operation mode, prompt the vehicle to modify vehicle operation of the vehicle.