Systems and methods are provided for autonomous vehicle passenger safety monitoring following an autonomous vehicle route. In particular, an autonomous vehicle waits for a selected time period after a passenger exits the vehicle. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle remains until the passenger has entered a building at the passenger's destination. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle remains until the passenger is no longer detectable by the vehicle's sensors. During the waiting period, the passenger may choose to re-enter the vehicle.

Micro-authorization of remote assistance for an autonomous vehicle is described herein. A constraint that inhibits propulsion by a mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle is activated by a computing system of the autonomous vehicle, wherein a signal that identifies the activated constraint is transmitted from the autonomous vehicle to a remote computing system. The remote computing system generates instructions to deactivate the activated constraint. A return signal is transmitted from the remote computing system that specifies instructions to deactivate the constraint and a distance to desirably advance the autonomous vehicle. The computing system of the autonomous vehicle deactivates the constraint and the mechanical system is controlled to advance the autonomous vehicle when signal latency is less than a predetermined threshold duration of time.

A vehicular control system includes at least one processor that processes image data captured by a forward viewing camera and radar data captured by a forward sensing radar sensor. With the system controlling driving of the vehicle, the system determines a triggering event that requires driving of the vehicle to be handed over to a driver of the vehicle before the vehicle encounters an event point, and the system (i) determines a total action time until the vehicle encounters the event, (ii) estimates a driver take over time for the driver to take over control and (iii) estimates a handling time for the driver to control the vehicle to avoid encountering the event point. Based on the determined and estimated times, the system (i) requests the driver take over control of the vehicle or (ii) controls the vehicle to slow down and stop the vehicle before the event point.

An autonomous vehicle and a drone-based emergency response method thereof are provided. The autonomous vehicle includes a communication device that supports communication with a drone and a detection device that detects vehicle status information and driving environment information. A processing device detects an emergency situation occurring on a road based on the vehicle status information and the driving environment information while autonomous driving and performs a response logic matching the recognized emergency situation using the drone.

An electronic apparatus for an emergency control is provided. The electronic apparatus controls a human machine interface associated with a first vehicle to display a first user-selectable element. The electronic apparatus receives a first input, which corresponds to a first selection of the first user-selectable element. The first selection indicates a request to enable an emergency mode. The electronic apparatus activates a timer, which is associated with the electronic apparatus, for a pre-determined time period based on the first input. The electronic apparatus establishes a first communication with an emergency device associated with the first vehicle for the emergency mode, based on an expiration of the timer. The electronic apparatus deactivates a second user-selectable element on the human machine interface based on the first communication. The electronic apparatus receives one or more control instructions for the first vehicle from the emergency device based on the first communication.

A computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may include identifying a vehicle operator and retrieving an associated vehicle operator profile. Operating data regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be received that includes data from sensors disposed within the vehicle. When a request to enable an autonomous operation feature is received, (i) autonomous operation risk levels associated with vehicle operation by the autonomous operation feature based upon the received operating data, and (ii) operator risk levels associated with vehicle operation by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile are determined. Autonomous operation feature enablement may be allowed based upon a comparison of (i) autonomous operation risk levels with (ii) operator risk levels. As a result, only safe autonomous feature engagement may be facilitated, and risk averse vehicle owners may receive insurance discounts based upon this safe autonomous feature engagement functionality.

It is an object to provide a driver abnormality response device determining, when an abnormality of a driver occurs, whether the driver has an intention to allow a service facility to perform remote operation on a vehicle. The driver abnormality response device includes a driver abnormality acquisition unit and a controller. The driver abnormality acquisition unit acquires an abnormal condition of the driver of the vehicle. Based on the abnormal condition of the driver, the controller performs an intention check sequence to check whether the driver has the intention to allow the service facility capable of performing the remote operation on control of driving of the vehicle to perform the remote operation. Based on a result of the intention check sequence, the controller authorizes the service facility to perform the remote operation.

A vehicle driving assist system includes a steering wheel contact position detector, a steering torque detector, a driving mode setting calculator, and a steering override determiner. The driving mode setting calculator is configured to set a driving mode including a first driving assist mode, a second driving assist mode, and a manual driving mode. The driving mode setting calculator is configured, while traveling in a current driving mode that is the first driving assist mode or the second driving assist mode, to allow the current driving mode to continue in a case where the steering override determiner has determined that a steering torque detected by the steering torque detector is a false detection or to cause the driving mode to make a transition to the manual driving mode in a case where the steering override determiner has determined that the steering torque is a steering override intended by a driver.

Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle in response to vehicle instructions from a remote computing system are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes controlling a first autonomous vehicle to provide a vehicle service, the first autonomous vehicle being associated with a first convoy that includes one or more second autonomous vehicles. The method includes receiving one or more communications from a remote computing system associated with a third-party entity, the one or more communications including one or more vehicle instructions. The method includes coordinating with the one or more second autonomous vehicles to determine one or more vehicle actions to perform in response to receiving the one or more vehicle instructions from the third-party entity. The method includes controlling the first autonomous vehicle to implement the one or more vehicle actions.

This disclosure relates to a system and method for determining vehicle operator preparedness for vehicles that support both autonomous operation and manual operation. The system includes sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to vehicles and their operation. During autonomous vehicle operation, the system gauges the level of responsiveness of an individual vehicle operator through challenges and corresponding responses. Based on the level of responsiveness, a preparedness metric is determined for each vehicle operator individually.