US 12,072,194 B2
Method of navigating autonomous vehicle to passenger pickup / drop-off location
Shenglong Gao, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Ramadev Burigsay Hukkeri, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Israel-Marc Kositsky, Cranberry Township, PA (US); and Dale Lord, Gibsonia, PA (US)
Assigned to Argo AI, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Argo AI, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/244,379.
Prior Publication US 2022/0349720 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01C 21/34 (2006.01); G01C 21/36 (2006.01); G06Q 10/02 (2012.01); G06Q 50/40 (2024.01)
CPC G01C 21/3438 (2013.01) [G01C 21/3602 (2013.01); G01C 21/3697 (2013.01); G06Q 10/02 (2013.01); G06Q 50/40 (2024.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of determining a stopping location for a vehicle before picking up a passenger, the method comprising:
by one or more processors, at least one of which is a component of an autonomous vehicle (AV):
receiving a ride service request that has been transmitted from a ride service application on a passenger electronic device;
determining a pickup area for the ride service request, along with a loading point that is within a pickup area;
determining a route from a starting location of the AV to the pickup area;
navigating the AV along the route toward the pickup area;
before the AV reaches the pickup area, determining whether the one or more processors have received a departure confirmation from the passenger electronic device, wherein the departure confirmation comprises data confirming that coordinates of the passenger electronic device correspond to the loading point; and
if the one or more processors have received the departure confirmation, causing the AV to navigate into the pickup area and stop at the loading point, otherwise causing the AV to either (a) navigate to an intermediate stopping location before reaching the pickup area or (b) pass through the pickup area.