BACKGROUND

An autonomous vehicle (AV) is a motorized vehicle that can operate without a human driver. An exemplary AV includes a plurality of sensor systems, such as, but not limited to, a lidar sensor system, a camera sensor system, and a radar sensor system, amongst others. The AV operates based upon sensor signals output by the sensor systems. In an example, an AV includes a computing system that receives sensor signals from the sensor systems and that controls operation of propulsion, braking, and steering systems of the AV to navigate roadways while obeying traffic laws and avoiding obstacles.

An AV can be included in a fleet of AVs that are at least partially coordinated by a centralized server to provide AV transportation to users in an operational region. By way of example, the AV can be included in a rideshare transportation system whereby a user places an order for transportation from an origin to a destination by way of an Internet-connected mobile computing device, and a server in communication with the mobile computing device and the AV dispatches the AV to convey the user from the origin to the destination.

Conventionally, rideshare services provide conveyance all the way from a pickup location at which a user boards a vehicle to a destination of the user. For many trips, however, a single modality of transport may not be the fastest or least expensive way for the user to get from the user's origin to her destination. By way of example, during times of high traffic volume the fastest way for a user to get from his place of employment to his home may be to take a train for at least part of his journey. In a conventional transportation system, however, a user would have to estimate or guess whether using multiple modalities of transportation would be faster or cheaper in connection with reaching his destination. Furthermore, the user would have to manually order or otherwise make arrangements for each of the modalities individually which can potentially eliminate any time or cost savings associated with taking multiple-modality transport.

SUMMARY

The following is a brief summary of subject matter that is described in greater detail herein. This summary is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the claims.

Various technologies that facilitate providing multiple-modality transportation to a user are described herein. With more particularity, technologies disclosed herein facilitate identification of an optimal trip route from an origin of a user to a desired destination of the user, wherein the optimal trip route includes multiple transportation modalities, at least one of which is an AV, and dispatching of the AV to a pickup location for the user in connection with providing transportation to the user along a portion of the identified trip route.

In an exemplary embodiment, a multiple-modality transportation system includes a client computing device, a server computing device, and an AV, wherein the server computing device is in communication with the client computing device and the AV. A user of the client computing device can interact with the client computing device to order transportation from a present location of the user (or other trip origin desired by the user) to a trip destination.

In example operations of the multiple-modality transportation system, the user provides input to the client computing device that indicates a desired trip destination of the user. Responsive to receipt of the user input, the client computing device outputs a trip request that is indicative of the desired trip destination to the server computing device. The server computing device generates a route plan for the trip request by performing an optimization over routing information pertaining to a region that includes the trip origin and the trip destination. For example, the server computing device can execute an optimization algorithm that identifies a fastest route from the trip origin to the trip destination taking into consideration multiple transportation modalities. Stated differently, the server computing device executes an optimization algorithm that determines the fastest way to travel from the trip origin to the trip destination using different transportation modalities to traverse different partial segments of the total trip route. The different transportation modalities considered by the optimization algorithm include transport by way of an AV. The different transportation modalities considered by the optimization algorithm can further include public transportation such as trains, buses, streetcars, etc. In other examples, the different transportation modalities can include walking, cycling, travel by way of scooter (e.g., using a scooter-share service), or substantially any other mode of transportation.

The server computing device transmits data indicative of the route plan to the client computing device, whereupon the client computing device displays graphical indicia of the route plan to the user. The user can provide further input to the client computing device indicating that the user desires to order transportation according to the route plan indicated in the data received from the server computing device. Responsive to receiving such user input the client computing device outputs a trip confirmation to the server computing device. The server computing device can then issue a pickup instruction to an AV in communication with the server computing device to cause the AV to navigate to a pickup location included in the route plan. Upon rendezvous with the user at the pickup location, the AV can convey the user from the pickup location to a drop off location in accordance with the route plan.

In some exemplary embodiments, the multiple-modality transportation system can include or be in communication with a transportation information server to facilitate provision of single-interaction ordering of multiple-modality transportation by way of the client computing device. By way of example, the server computing device can be in communication with a transportation information server that accepts orders of transportation fares for one or more public transportation modalities. Responsive to receipt of a trip confirmation from the client computing device, the server computing device can communicate with the transportation information server to process payment for a public transportation fare. Responsive to receipt of a proof of payment for the public transportation fare from the transportation information server, such as an electronic fare card, the server computing device can transmit the proof of payment to the client computing device. Subsequently, the user of the client computing device can use the proof of payment to gain admittance to public transportation (e.g., by displaying a graphical indication of the proof of payment on the client computing device to a bus operator). The multiple-modality transportation system can therefore enable a user to order and pay for access to multiple transportation modalities for conveyance along a trip route using a single user input.

In further embodiments of a multiple-modality transportation system, the system can be configured to dynamically update a route plan in real time to account for unforeseen changes in conditions affecting conveyance of a user from her trip origin to her trip destination. The client computing device can be configured to transmit updates pertaining to a location of the user to the server computing device in real time. The server computing device can then issue an updated pickup instruction to an AV based upon the updated location of the user to cause the AV to navigate to a pickup location other than a location indicated in the original route plan. In an illustrative example, the client computing device can be configured to transmit an update to a location of the user that indicates that the user has disembarked from a train at an earlier stop than a stop indicated in an original route plan generated by the server computing device. Responsive to receiving the update of the location of the user, the server computing device can issue a pickup instruction to an AV to cause the AV to navigate to the earlier stop in order to pick up the user. Thus, rather than requiring the user to board the train again and disembark at the stop indicated in the original route plan, the multiple-modality transportation system can coordinate AVs to adapt to movements of the user in connection with conveying the user to her destination.

The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

