An embodiment apparatus for controlling a driving mode of a robo-taxi includes a communication device configured to provide a communication interface with a master key and a controller configured to change the driving mode of the robo-taxi based on a control signal from the master key. An embodiment method of controlling a driving mode of a robo-taxi includes receiving a control signal from a master key and changing the driving mode of the robo-taxi based on the control signal from the master key.

A vehicle control device that controls a vehicle configured to transport a passenger to a destination by autonomous traveling, the vehicle control device includes a vehicle controller configured to control operation of the vehicle, an image display configured to display an image of a periphery of the destination to the passenger via an output device, and a getting-off position detector configured to detect a desired getting-off position designated by the passenger via an input device. The image shows a region where stopping is prohibited, and the vehicle controller is configured to cause the vehicle to stop at the desired getting-off position.

Among other things, a command is received expressing an objective for operation of a vehicle within a denominated travel segment of a planned travel route. The objective spans a time series of (for example, is expressed at a higher or more abstract level than) control inputs that are to be delivered to one or more of the brake, accelerator, steering, or other operational actuator of the vehicle. The command is expressed to cause operation of the vehicle along a selected man-made travel structure of the denominated travel segment. A feasible manner of operation of the vehicle is determined to effect the command. A succession of control inputs is generated to one or more of the brake, accelerator, steering or other operational actuator of the vehicle in accordance with the determined feasible manner of operation.

A management server executes interval adjustment processing to adjust a service frequency of a ride-sharing vehicle group. In the interval adjustment processing, it is judged whether or not a vehicle pair composed of two vehicles in a relationship of a preceding vehicle and a following vehicle includes a stopping vehicle that stops in a pick-up and drop-off point as a following vehicle. Further, it is judged whether or not the vehicle pair corresponds to a separated pair. If it is judged that vehicle pair includes the stopping vehicle as the following vehicle and the said vehicle pair corresponds to the separated pair, selection processing to select an overtaking vehicle is executed. The overtaking vehicle is a ride-sharing vehicle that overtakes with the stopping vehicle to cut into between the separated pair. An overtake instruction is transmitted to the overtaking vehicle selected by the selection processing.

This document describes methods and systems for enabling an autonomous vehicle (AV) to determine a path to a stopping location. The AV will determine a desired stop location (DSL) that is associated with a service request. The AV's motion control system will move the AV along a path to the DSL. While moving along the path, the AV's perception system will detect ambient conditions near the DSL. The ambient conditions will be parameters associated with a stopping rule. The AV will apply the stopping rule to the ambient conditions to determine whether the stopping rule permits the AV to stop at the DSL. If the stopping rule permits the AV to stop at the DSL, the motion control system will move the AV to, and stop at, the DSL. Otherwise, the motion control system will not stop the AV at the DSL.

An on-demand predefined route automated driving vehicle automatically travels, regardless of whether a passenger is on board, along a annular-connecting predefined route which has a annular predefined route and a connecting predefined route. The in-vehicle control device of the on-demand predefined route automated driving vehicle transmits its current location to a fleet control device, and controls a drive mechanism, a braking mechanism and a travel-direction control mechanism in a manner such that the velocity V1 in a standby state is lower than the velocity V2 in an dispatch state when changing states from the standby state, which is a state where no passenger is on board and it is possible to receive an dispatch command signal, to the dispatch state, which is a state in which a vehicle selected for dispatch to a scheduled boarding location is traveling toward the scheduled boarding location on the basis of an dispatch command signal transmitted from the fleet control device in response to the use request from the user.

Disclosed are systems and techniques for managing an autonomous vehicle. In some aspects, an autonomous vehicle may obtain one or more radio frequency (RF) signals corresponding to a wireless device. In some cases, the autonomous vehicle may determine a location probability map associated with the wireless device based on the one or more RF signals. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle may adjust a behavior of the autonomous vehicle based on the location probability map associated with the wireless device.

The technology relates to facilitating transportation services between a user and a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, one or more server computing devices having one or more processors may information identifying the current location of the vehicle. The one or more server computing devices may determine that the user is likely to want to take a trip to a particular destination based on prior location history for the user. The one or more server computing devices may dispatch the vehicle to cause the vehicle to travel in the autonomous driving mode towards a location of the user. In addition, after dispatching, the one or more server computing devices sending a notification to a client computing device associated with the user indicating that the vehicle is currently available to take the passenger to the particular destination.

Disclosed is an electronic device for a vehicle, including a processor acquiring image data acquired by a camera mounted in a vehicle, determining a riding intention of an outside person based on the location, posture, and gesture of the outside person detected from the image data, and generating a control signal to stop the vehicle based on the riding intention.

The technology relates to facilitating transportation services between a user and a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, one or more server computing devices having one or more processors may information identifying the current location of the vehicle. The one or more server computing devices may determine that the user is likely to want to take a trip to a particular destination based on prior location history for the user. The one or more server computing devices may dispatch the vehicle to cause the vehicle to travel in the autonomous driving mode towards a location of the user. In addition, after dispatching, the one or more server computing devices sending a notification to a client computing device associated with the user indicating that the vehicle is currently available to take the passenger to the particular destination.