According to one aspect, a method includes obtaining a request for a first vehicle from a customer, and dispatching the first vehicle to a first location identified in the request. Dispatching the first vehicle to the first location includes causing the first vehicle to drive in an autonomous mode. The method also includes determining when the first vehicle arrives at the first location, and providing the customer with access to enter the first vehicle.

A remote driving service processing device includes: a general user terminal by which a requester applies for a remote driving service for moving a vehicle to a destination; a remote control terminal by which a remote driver remotely control the vehicle and sends a remote driving service termination permission request for terminating the remote driving service when the vehicle is having difficulty reaching the destination; and a server that sends a termination approval to the remote control terminal and terminates the remote driving service when (i) transferring the remote driving service termination permission request received from the remote control terminal to the general user terminal, and (ii) receiving a remote driving service termination consent, which is a response to the remote driving service termination permission request, from the general user terminal.

An operation device for an autonomous vehicle includes a touch panel configured to display at least one of a start button and a deceleration button, and a notification button on the same screen. The autonomous vehicle is autonomously drivable. The start button is a button for starting driving of the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous drive mode. The deceleration button is a button for decelerating the autonomous vehicle during the autonomous drive mode. The notification button is a button for performing notification to an outside of the autonomous vehicle.

A driving operation handover system includes a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: acquire a first characteristic value of preset setting characteristics during travel of a vehicle equipped with a manual operation unit that an occupant operates; acquire a second characteristic value of the preset setting characteristics during travel of a virtual vehicle that simulates the vehicle, which a remote operator operates using a remote operation unit; calculate a difference value between the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value; in a case in which the difference value is lower than a setting threshold value, notify the occupant and the remote operator that operation of the vehicle can be handed over; and after notification, switch operation of the vehicle from one of the remote operator or the occupant to another of the remote operator or the occupant.

A method for providing a situational awareness interface for an occupant of an automated vehicle is provided. The method includes: generating a vehicle route graphic that displays a street level map of an area that includes a current location of the vehicle and an intended destination of the vehicle along with a visual depiction of a planned route and one or more alternate routes for the vehicle; determining a probability of requiring assistance or interaction and an estimated time of arrival for each of the planned route and the one or more alternate routes; providing a visual indication of the probability of requiring assistance or interaction and the estimated time of arrival for each of the planned route and the one or more alternate routes on the vehicle route graphic; and signaling a display device to display the vehicle route graphic.

An autonomous vehicle control device controls an autonomous vehicle provided with a warning sound output device. The autonomous vehicle control device prohibits transition to a traveling mode when an abnormality occurs in the warning sound output device. Before traveling, the autonomous vehicle control device may execute sound output control to cause the warning sound output device to output a warning sound, and determine whether the abnormality occurs based on output data of the warning sound output by the warning sound output device.

An autonomous driving system includes one or more storage devices configured to store specific position information indicating specific positions at which there is a possibility that remote assistance is required; and one or more processors configured to: determine presence or absence of an abnormality in a remote assistance system configured to provide the remote assistance to an autonomous driving vehicle; set, when an abnormality is detected in the remote assistance system, any one of the specific positions on a target route from a current position of the autonomous driving vehicle to a destination as a limit position based on the specific position information; set a target retracting position such that the target retracting position is included in the target route from the current position to the limit position; and control the autonomous driving vehicle such that the autonomous driving vehicle stops at the target retracting position.

A driving handover control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. In a case in which driving is handed over from a first state in which a vehicle is traveling by remote driving by a first driver from outside the vehicle or by occupant driving by the first driver in the vehicle, to a second state in which the vehicle travels by the remote driving or the occupant driving by a second driver who is different from the first driver, the processor is configured to cause transition from the first state to a third state in which the vehicle is caused to travel by automatic driving, and then cause transition from the third state to the second state.

A driving handover control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. In a case in which driving is handed over from a first state in which a vehicle travels in accordance with instruction from a remote operator of the vehicle to a second state in which the vehicle travels in accordance with operation by a passenger of the vehicle, the processor implements a transition from the first state to a third state in which the vehicle travels autonomously without instruction from the remote operator or operation by the passenger, and, after the transition from the first state to the third state, implements a transition from the third state to the second state.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for monitoring a driving automation system of a vehicle. An example system comprises a vehicle interface for connecting to a forward-facing camera mounted on the vehicle to receive video data, a microphone for recording audio signals from inside the vehicle, an internal measurement unit (IMU) for generating vehicle motion signals comprising at least a lateral acceleration signal, a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw angular acceleration signal, and a processor connected to process the video data, audio signals and vehicle motion signals to determine whether the driving automation signal is engaged or disengaged.