Methods and systems for enabling an autonomous vehicle (AV) to determine a path to a stopping location are disclosed. Upon receipt of a service request, the AV will determine a desired stop location (DSL) and state information for the service request. The AV using the DSL and the state information to define a pickup/drop-off interval that comprises an area of a road that includes the DSL. When approaching the pickup/drop-off interval, the AV will uses its perception system to determine whether an object is occluding the DSL. If no object is occluding the DSL, the AV will continue along the path toward the DSL. However, if an object is occluding the DSL, the AV will identify and move to a non-occluded alternate stop location (ASL) within the pickup/drop-off interval. The ASL must satisfy one or more permissible stopping location criteria.

The present disclosure provides a method comprising identifying at least one of a characteristic and an identity of an item for delivery from an origin to a destination and selecting one of a plurality of possible routes between the origin and the destination. For each of a plurality of route segments of the selected route, mapping information is used to characterize the route segment and one of a plurality of driving modes is selected for the route segment based on the characterization of the route segment and the at least one of the item characteristic and the item identity. A driving plan comprising a collection of the selected driving modes corresponding to the plurality of route segments comprising the selected route is provided to a vehicle and the vehicle delivers the item from the origin to the destination via the selected route using the driving plan.

A vehicle includes a control unit. The control unit is configured to execute: outputting, when detecting or estimating travel inability of an own vehicle, information regarding a request for receiving an article provided from another vehicle to avoid the travel inability. The control unit performs, when determining that a request vehicle outputs the information regarding the request, a prescribed process for providing an article corresponding to the request to the request vehicle.

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for configuring and controlling an automated vehicle to perform user specified operations. User vehicle control programs are loaded in an unmanned vehicle to control the unmanned vehicle to perform a user specified operation. The loading the user vehicle control programs replaces base vehicle control programs in the unmanned vehicle. There is communication with the unmanned vehicle to execute the user vehicle control programs to control the unmanned vehicle to perform the user specified operation. The base vehicle control programs are loaded into the unmanned vehicle to replace the user vehicle control programs to return control of the unmanned vehicle to a vehicle provider after performing the user specified operation.

Aspects of the disclosure provide for enabling autonomous vehicles to pull over into driveways when picking up or dropping off passengers or goods. For instance, a request for a trip identifying a first location and a second location may be received. The first location may be a location of a client computing device, and the second location may be a starting location or a destination for the trip. A user preference for the trip indicating that a pickup for the trip be in a driveway may be identified. That the first location corresponds with the second location may be identified. Based on the determination that the first location corresponds with the second location, dispatch instructions may be to an autonomous vehicle. The dispatch instructions may identify a polygon for a driveway at the second location in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to pull over into the driveway.

A controller is provided which controls a vehicle with a storage device mounted thereon in which a user is able to deposit baggage, the controller being configured to determine a deposit point of the baggage or a pick-up point of the baggage according to weather conditions.

A controller is provided which performs notifying a user when it is detected that baggage remains in a compartment after the user uses a service of keeping the baggage in a storage device which is mounted on a vehicle and which has a plurality of compartments in which the baggage can be deposited by the user.

A dispatch device includes an information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, location information indicating a location of the vehicle and loaded object information indicating a status of an object of transportation loaded on the vehicle and a vehicle dispatching unit that dispatches an unfilled vehicle that can carry an object of transportation so that a predetermined number or higher number of unfilled vehicles, are present around an operating vehicle that is carrying an object of transportation.

A fleet management system dispatches autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) as on-demand power sources. The fleet management system receives a request for a power source including a location and data describing the amount of power requested. The fleet management system selects an AEV of the fleet to service the request based on the relative locations of the AEVs to the requested location, and based on the amount of power requested. The fleet management system instructs the selected AEV to drive to the location and supply power. The fleet management system instructs the selected AEV to disconnect and return to the charging station, and may instruct another AEV to continue fulfilling the request if additional power is needed.

Systems and methods of the present disclosure are directed to a verifying vehicle service readiness and controlling a vehicle. An example method can include communicating a service request and receiving a vehicle state payload including data descriptive of service condition item(s). The service condition item(s) can be descriptive of action(s) for placing an autonomous vehicle into appropriate condition for the vehicle service. The method can include providing, for display, the service condition item(s) to a user via a checklist element on an application. The method can include enabling a user ready element on the application based on a status of the service condition item(s) indicating that the autonomous vehicle is in appropriate condition for the vehicle service. The method can include receiving data indicative of an interaction by the user with the user ready element and, in response, communicating a request for a vehicle verification to the backend.