Using Pre-Computed Vehicle Locations and Paths to Direct Autonomous Vehicle Maneuvering

Abstract

A method includes, by a central computing device, receiving instructions to provide access to an autonomous vehicle of multiple autonomous vehicles in a parking area, identifying one or more blocking autonomous vehicles of the multiple autonomous vehicles to be moved to provide access to the autonomous vehicle, and causing each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform a pre-computed movement based on a determined state of the blocking autonomous vehicle, wherein the blocking autonomous vehicle performing the pre-computed movement allows the first autonomous vehicle to be accessible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising, by a computing system:
 receiving instructions to provide access to an autonomous vehicle of a plurality of autonomous vehicles in a parking area;   identifying one or more blocking autonomous vehicles of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to be moved to provide access to the autonomous vehicle; and   causing each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform a pre-computed movement based on a determined state of the blocking autonomous vehicle, wherein the blocking autonomous vehicle performing the pre-computed movement allows the first autonomous vehicle to be accessible.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing, in response to the one or more blocking autonomous vehicles performing their pre-computed movements, the first autonomous vehicle to move to a pre-assigned parking space in the parking area.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing, in response to the one or more blocking autonomous vehicles performing their pre-computed movements, the first autonomous vehicle to move out of a pre-assigned parking space in the parking area.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying one or more blocking autonomous vehicles of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to be moved is based on one or more of:
 sensors or markers associated with one or more autonomous vehicles in the parking area; or   sensors or markers associated with the parking area.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform the pre-computed movement is further based on at least one of vehicle type, vehicle dimensions, vehicle capabilities, or vehicle count of the blocking autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle capabilities comprise one or more of:
 traction;   turning ability;   speed capability;   autonomous-operation capabilities;   ability to sense and coordinate with other vehicles;   communication capabilities; or   reliability.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform the pre-computed movement based on the determined state comprises waiting until the determined state indicates that the blocking autonomous vehicle is present at its pre-assigned parking space. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein waiting until the determined state indicates that the blocking autonomous vehicle is present comprises continually determining a state of the blocking autonomous vehicle until the determined state indicates that the blocking autonomous vehicle is present at its pre-assigned parking space. 
     
     
         9 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed by a central computing device to:
 receive instructions to provide access to an autonomous vehicle of a plurality of autonomous vehicles in a parking area;   identify one or more blocking autonomous vehicles of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to be moved to provide access to the autonomous vehicle; and   cause each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform a pre-computed movement based on a determined state of the blocking autonomous vehicle, wherein the blocking autonomous vehicle performing the pre-computed movement allows the first autonomous vehicle to be accessible.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the software is further operable when executed by the central computing device to:
 cause, in response to the one or more blocking autonomous vehicles performing their pre-computed movements, the first autonomous vehicle to move to a pre-assigned parking space in the parking area.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the software is further operable when executed by the central computing device to:
 cause, in response to the one or more blocking autonomous vehicles performing their pre-computed movements, the first autonomous vehicle to move out of a pre-assigned parking space in the parking area.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of  claim 9 , wherein identifying one or more blocking autonomous vehicles of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to be moved is based on one or more of:
 sensors or markers associated with one or more autonomous vehicles in the parking area; or   sensors or markers associated with the parking area.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of  claim 9 , wherein causing each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform the pre-computed movement is further based on at least one of vehicle type, vehicle dimensions, vehicle capabilities, or vehicle count of the blocking autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle capabilities comprise one or more of:
 traction;   turning ability;   speed capability;   autonomous-operation capabilities;   ability to sense and coordinate with other vehicles;   communication capabilities; or   reliability.   
     
     
         15 . A system comprising: one or more processors of a central computing device and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to one or more of the processors, the one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising instructions operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to:
 receive instructions to provide access to an autonomous vehicle of a plurality of autonomous vehicles in a parking area;   identify one or more blocking autonomous vehicles of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to be moved to provide access to the autonomous vehicle; and   cause each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform a pre-computed movement based on a determined state of the blocking autonomous vehicle, wherein the blocking autonomous vehicle performing the pre-computed movement allows the first autonomous vehicle to be accessible.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
 cause, in response to the one or more blocking autonomous vehicles performing their pre-computed movements, the first autonomous vehicle to move to a pre-assigned parking space in the parking area.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
 cause, in response to the one or more blocking autonomous vehicles performing their pre-computed movements, the first autonomous vehicle to move out of a pre-assigned parking space in the parking area.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein identifying one or more blocking autonomous vehicles of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to be moved is based on one or more of:
 sensors or markers associated with one or more autonomous vehicles in the parking area; or   sensors or markers associated with the parking area.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein causing each of the blocking autonomous vehicles to perform the pre-computed movement is further based on at least one of vehicle type, vehicle dimensions, vehicle capabilities, or vehicle count of the blocking autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the vehicle capabilities comprise one or more of:
 traction;   turning ability;   speed capability;   autonomous-operation capabilities;   ability to sense and coordinate with other vehicles;   communication capabilities; or   reliability.