RE: WAYMO LLC 13 Sep 2020 11:02
Goshdarnit,
I found this patent confusing as it sounds to me like Waymo are moving into the L2/3 space while using Tesla's steering wheel pressure technique to gauge attention while Tesla have L5 aspirations.
The sentence
'However, it could be dangerous to allow computer 110 to relinquish control to the passenger, for example if the passenger is actually asleep or not paying attention' I imagine will not fill regulators with confidence as it looks to be ignoring lessons learned from Tesla. It looks like a muddled and dangerous approach to me but then again I could easily be the muddled one here:)
'In order to prevent returning the control computer to ready mode in every case of contact, the touch sensitive input apparatuses may be calibrated to prevent accidental transferring control from the control computer to the passenger. As shown in FIG. 12, passenger 290 may accidentally bump steering wheel 210 and place computer 110 into ready mode. However, it could be dangerous to allow computer 110 to relinquish control to the passenger, for example if the passenger is actually asleep or not paying attention. Thus, the touch sensitive inputs may only accept certain types of input. For example, the contact may be required to be in a particular location along steering wheel 210, for example, the top or bottoms surface of steering wheel 210 or both. In another example, the contact may be required to be over a particular time or pressure threshold as described above. In a further example, the user may be required to contact the steering wheel with two hands rather than one. Alternatively, the touch sensitive inputs may always send the inputted information to computer 110 which may determine whether the required contact or contacts have been met.
Control computer may use pressure sensing devices at other locations of the vehicle in order to determine whether the passenger is ready or able to relinquish or regain control. For example, touch sensitive input apparatuses 140 may also (or alternatively) be located on the brake and/or acceleration pedals. If computer 110 has been armed and the passenger applies some threshold pressure to the pedals, computer 110 may enter ready mode. Thus, if computer 110 is controlling vehicle 101 and passenger 290 applies the brakes, computer 110 will return to ready mode. Or if the passenger has released the steering wheel, but continues to apply pressure to the pedals, computer 110 may continue in ready mode, but request that the passenger grip the steering wheel'.
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