Aspects of the disclosure relate to enabling playing of content at an autonomous vehicle. For example, a request to transport a user on a trip may be received. The autonomous vehicle may be assigned to the trip. Whether the user has enabled a content feature may be determined. In response to determining that the user has enabled the content feature a request for a device identifier is sent to the autonomous vehicle. The device identifier generated at the autonomous vehicle is received. The received device identifier may be sent to a content-enabling computing system including one or more processors in order to enable the user to play content from the client computing device at the autonomous vehicle during the trip.

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a current location of the vehicle in a map of a stopping area, collect data to calibrate a sensor while the vehicle is moving in the stopping area, calibrate the sensor based on the collected data, and actuate one or more vehicle components to move the vehicle to a stopping location in the stopping area based on the location of the vehicle in the map and data collected by the calibrated sensor.

Various examples are directed to systems and methods for dispatching autonomous vehicles. A service arrangement system may receive error data describing an error state at a first autonomous vehicle executing a first transportation service. The first transportation service may include moving a payload from a transportation service start point to a transportation service end point. The service arrangement system may determine, using the error data, a first property of the first autonomous vehicle associated with the error state and select a second autonomous vehicle that does not have the first property. The service arrangement system may send to the second autonomous vehicle a transportation service request requesting that the second autonomous vehicle travel to a rendezvous location to meet the first autonomous vehicle and transport the payload from the rendezvous location to the transportation service end point.

Aspects of the disclosure provide for arranging a trip in an autonomous vehicle without a driver. For instance, a request may be received from a client computing device associated with a first person to arrange the trip for a second person. The request may include a pickup location for the second person and a destination location for the second person. An authentication method may be identified for the trip. A signal may be sent to the autonomous vehicle in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to maneuver to the pickup location, authenticate the second person using the authentication method, and transport the second person to the destination location.

In some implementations, a route selection system obtains a first scheduled time for a first event at a venue for a passenger of an autonomous vehicle. The system determines whether the autonomous vehicle will arrive at the venue by the first scheduled time. The system obtains, in response to a determination that the autonomous vehicle will not arrive at the venue by the first scheduled time, a second scheduled time for a second event at the venue. The system determines a route to the venue based on one or more preferences of the passenger, one or more preferences of an operator of the autonomous vehicle, or any combination thereof, wherein the determined route is configured for arrival of the passenger at the venue after the first scheduled time and at or within a time period before the second scheduled time.

The disclosure provides for a method for determining a pullover spot for a vehicle. The method includes using a computing device to detect information related to a system of the vehicle or an environment surrounding the vehicle using a sensor of a vehicle and determine a local failure of the vehicle based on the information. The computing device may then be used to determine that the vehicle should pullover before completing a current trip related to transporting a passenger or good by comparing vehicle requirements for the trip with the local failure and determine a pullover spot by identifying a first area for the vehicle to park in part based on a second area being available for a second vehicle to pick up the passenger or good. The computing device may operate the vehicle to the pullover spot and transmit a request for a second vehicle.

An autonomous vehicle (AV) system includes an AV control system that resolves unique situations encountered while operating as a ride hail provider. The AV control system includes an artificial intelligence (AI) agent programmed to receive a situation data set as an input from vehicle sensors or from another AI agent. The situation data set can include a generic representation of information describing and characterizing the circumstances and details of the current situation. The system may access a knowledge library having catalogued prior situation data sets that describe situations encountered by the AV or other vehicles in a fleet. The AV control system may search the knowledge library for a similar situation encountered by a fleet vehicle. Once a similar situation is identified, the AV control system may identify one or more remedies that were executed to handle the prior situation, and execute the remedy to address the current situation.

An operation management system includes an automatic traveling vehicle and a management server. The vehicle includes a first processor, and is configured to transport at least one of people or luggage. The management server includes a second processor, and is configured to communicate with the vehicle and manage the operation thereof. The first processor or second processor is configured to: determine whether there is a transport task in which the vehicle transports at least one of people or luggage; and, when there is no transport task, execute a task switching process of causing the vehicle to execute any one of a patrol task in which the vehicle performs a patrol of an operating area of the vehicle, a cleaning task in which the vehicle performs a cleaning of the operating area, and a patrol cleaning task in which the vehicle performs both the patrol and the cleaning.

Disclosed is a method including obtaining, using at least one processor, a user destination; obtaining, using the at least one processor, preference data indicative of a user route preference; determining, using the at least one processor, based on the user destination and the preference data, a set of routes towards a set of destinations, wherein at least one route of the set of routes is associated with one or more operational metrics; ranking, using the at least one processor, based on the preference data, the routes of the set of routes; and controlling, using the at least one processor, based on at least one of the ranked routes, navigation of an autonomous vehicle Systems and computer program products are also provided.

The technology involves identifying suitable pickup and drop-off locations based on detected pedestrian walking paths. Mapped areas have specific physical configurations, which may suggest places to pick up or drop off a rider (or a delivery). However, relying solely on map-based information fails to account for how people actually walk or where a most convenient pickup/drop-off spot is located. A walking path heatmap can be generated based on obtained historical and/or real-time pedestrian-related information, which can be obtained by autonomous vehicles driving in areas of interest. Incorporating heatmap information into the evaluation, the system identifies locations for optimized pickup or drop-off in accordance with where pedestrians would likely go. One aspect involves classifying different objects, for instance identifying one or more objects as people who may be walking versus riding a bicycle. Once classified, information about the paths is used to obtain a the heatmap associated with the walking paths.