Methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G08G-001/0967
G08G-001/0968
G06N-005/02
G08G-001/00
G08G-001/123
G06Q-010/04
G08G-001/01
출원번호
US-0727688
(2012-12-27)
등록번호
US-9195938
(2015-11-24)
발명자
/ 주소
Bonawitz, Keith Allen
Rhodes, Bradley
Treuille, Adrien
출원인 / 주소
Google Inc.
대리인 / 주소
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
6인용 특허 :
18
초록▼
Example methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles are described. A method comprises receiving a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time. The region may be characterized by landmarks and the period of time can be divid
Example methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles are described. A method comprises receiving a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time. The region may be characterized by landmarks and the period of time can be divided into time intervals. The method also includes defining a landmark as a launch site representative of a landmark at which a given vehicle can be added to a plurality of operating vehicles, and determining for a respective landmark, estimated landmarks that can be reached by a vehicle starting from the respective landmark by an end of a time interval. The method also includes based on the sequence of coverage requirements and the estimated landmarks, determining a given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles.
대표청구항▼
1. A method comprising: receiving information indicative of a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time, wherein the region is characterized by a plurality of landmarks and the period of time is divided into a plurality of time intervals, and wherein an individual coverage
1. A method comprising: receiving information indicative of a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time, wherein the region is characterized by a plurality of landmarks and the period of time is divided into a plurality of time intervals, and wherein an individual coverage requirement identifies a desired number of vehicles of a plurality of operating vehicles for given landmarks at a given time interval;defining one or more landmarks as a launch site representative of a landmark at which a given vehicle can be added to the plurality of operating vehicles;determining, by a processor, for at least one respective landmark of the plurality of landmarks, estimated landmarks of the plurality of landmarks that can be reached by one or more vehicles starting from the respective landmark by an end of a respective time interval;based on the sequence of coverage requirements and the estimated landmarks that can be reached by the one or more vehicles, determining, by the processor, a given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles; anddetermining a fleet plan for the plurality of time intervals, the fleet plan indicating landmarks of the plurality of landmarks for vehicles of the plurality of operating vehicles to travel to during each of the time intervals. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the fleet plan based on a number of vehicles available at the one or more landmarks defined as launch sites that can be introduced into the plurality of operating vehicles. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the fleet plan comprises: determining the fleet plan by utilizing vehicles of the plurality of operating vehicles; anddetermining to add one or more new vehicles into the plurality of operating vehicles based on a need of vehicles to satisfy the sequence of coverage requirements. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles based on a number of launches per hour for the given launch site. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles based on a time of day. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles based on a wind condition at the given launch site. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein vehicles of the plurality of vehicles include a balloon within a data network that is operable to provide data communication via optical or radio-frequency (RF) links. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the launch site is representative of the landmark at which the balloon can be launched into atmosphere. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: making a determination of whether given individual coverage requirements have the desired number of vehicles of the plurality of operating vehicles for given landmarks at the given time interval; andbased on the determination, determining the given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor, a launch time at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles, wherein the launch time is at least a given time after a beginning of a respective time interval. 11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising: receiving information indicative of a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time, wherein the region is characterized by a plurality of landmarks and the period of time is divided into a plurality of time intervals, and wherein an individual coverage requirement identifies a desired number of vehicles of a plurality of operating vehicles for given landmarks at a given time interval;defining one or more landmarks as a launch site representative of a landmark at which a given vehicle can be added to the plurality of operating vehicles;determining for at least one respective landmark of the plurality of landmarks, estimated landmarks of the plurality of landmarks that can be reached by one or more vehicles starting from the respective landmark by an end of a respective time interval;based on the sequence of coverage requirements and the estimated landmarks that can be reached by the one or more vehicles, determining a given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles; anddetermining a fleet plan for the plurality of time intervals, the fleet plan indicating landmarks of the plurality of landmarks for vehicles of the plurality of operating vehicles to travel to during each of the time intervals. 12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise: determining the fleet plan for the plurality of time intervals based on a number of vehicles available at the one or more landmarks defined as launch sites that can be introduced into the plurality of operating vehicles. 13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise: determining the given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles based on one or more of a number of launches per hour for the given launch site, a time of day, and wind conditions at the given launch site. 14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein vehicles of the plurality of vehicles include a balloon within a data network that is operable to provide data communication via optical or radio-frequency (RF) links, and wherein the launch site is representative of the landmark at which the balloon can be launched into atmosphere. 15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise: making a determination of whether given individual coverage requirements have the desired number of vehicles of the plurality of operating vehicles for given landmarks at the given time interval; andbased on the determination, determining the given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles. 16. A system, comprising: at least one processor; anddata storage comprising program instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to perform functions comprising: receiving information indicative of a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time, wherein the region is characterized by a plurality of landmarks and the period of time is divided into a plurality of time intervals, and wherein an individual coverage requirement identifies a desired number of vehicles of a plurality of operating vehicles for given landmarks at a given time interval;defining one or more landmarks as a launch site representative of a landmark at which a given vehicle can be added to the plurality of operating vehicles;determining for at least one respective landmark of the plurality of landmarks, estimated landmarks of the plurality of landmarks that can be reached by one or more vehicles starting from the respective landmark by an end of a respective time interval;based on the sequence of coverage requirements and the estimated landmarks that can be reached by the one or more vehicles, determining a given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles; anddetermining a fleet plan for the plurality of time intervals, the fleet plan indicating landmarks of the plurality of landmarks for vehicles of the plurality of operating vehicles to travel to during each of the time intervals. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise: determining a fleet plan for the plurality of time intervals based on a number of vehicles available at the one or more landmarks defined as launch sites that can be introduced into the plurality of operating vehicles. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise: determining the given launch site and corresponding time interval at which to add the given vehicle to the plurality of operating vehicles based on one or more of a number of launches per hour for the given launch site, a time of day, and wind conditions at the given launch site. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein vehicles of the plurality of vehicles include a balloon within a data network that is operable to provide data communication via optical or radio-frequency (RF) links, and wherein the launch site is representative of the landmark at which the balloon can be launched into atmosphere.
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