Fully autonomous vehicle insurance pricing

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining risk associated with operation of fully autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, including types and version of sensors, control systems, and software. This information may be used to determine a risk profile reflecting risk levels for a plurality of features, which may be based upon test data regarding the features or actual loss data. Expected use levels may further be determined and used with the risk profile to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle by the autonomous operation features. The expected use levels may indicate expected vehicle use, as well as traffic, weather, or other conditions in which the vehicle is likely to operate. The total risk level may be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

1 . A computer system for monitoring usage of a vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features, comprising one or more processors and one or more program memories storing executable instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a risk profile associated with operation of the vehicle (i) under operating environment conditions with the one or more autonomous operation features engaged, and (ii) under operating environment conditions with the one or more autonomous operation features disengaged;   receive a log of usage data regarding previous use of the one or more autonomous operation features by a vehicle operator during the operating environment conditions;   determine a plurality of expected use levels of the vehicle during the operating environment conditions, including whether or not the vehicle operator is expected to engage or disengage the one or more autonomous operation features during the operating environment conditions as determined from processor analysis of the log of usage data;   determine a risk level associated with operation of the vehicle based upon (a) the determined risk profile, and (b) the determined expected use levels; and   cause the one or more processors to automatically perform an action based upon the determined risk level, wherein the action includes one or more of: adjust an insurance policy associated with the vehicle, determine a coverage level associated with the insurance policy, present information regarding the determined risk level to a reviewer via a display.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 estimate future usage or operation of the vehicle during the operating environment conditions and with each of the one or more autonomous operation features engaged or disengaged based upon the log of usage data; and   adjust the risk level for the vehicle based upon (1) the determined risk profile, (2) the determined expected use levels, and (3) the estimated future usage or operation of the vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 estimate future usage or operation of the vehicle, either by time or mileage, during the operating environment conditions; and   adjust the risk level for the vehicle based upon (1) the determined risk profile, (2) the determined expected use levels, and (3) an amount of time or miles that the vehicle is estimated to be operated in the operating environment conditions as indicated by the log of usage data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the risk profile associated with autonomous operation of the vehicle is based upon test result data generated from test units corresponding to the one or more autonomous operation features;   the test result data include responses of the test units to test inputs corresponding to test scenarios, the test scenarios include vehicle operation with an autonomous feature engaged during the operating environment conditions; and   the test result data are generated and recorded by the test units disposed within one or more test vehicles in response to sensor data from a plurality of sensors, and video recording devices, within the one or more test vehicles.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the risk profile associated with autonomous operation of the vehicle is based upon actual losses associated with insurance policies covering a plurality of other vehicles having at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features, the actual losses incurred through vehicle operation in the operating environment conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the log of usage data comprises receiving the log via wireless communication from a mobile device of the vehicle operator in communication with an on-board computer of the vehicle, wherein the mobile device generates the log of usage data from the data received from the on-board computer during a vehicle trip, the log of usage data including: a timestamp indicating a beginning of the vehicle trip, a timestamp indicating an end of the vehicle trip, one or more timestamps associated with engagement or disengagement of the one or more autonomous operation features, and configuration data associated with the one or more autonomous operation features when engaged, and wherein the log of usage data further includes current operating environment conditions during the vehicle trip. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a request for a quote of a premium associated with a vehicle insurance policy via wireless communication;   determine a premium associated with the vehicle insurance policy based upon the risk level; and   present an option to purchase the vehicle insurance policy to the customer associated with the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the log of usage data includes a version of autonomous operation feature control software that is currently installed on the vehicle or in the autonomous operation feature system mounted on the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive information regarding a type and version of the one or more autonomous operation features; and   update the risk level associated with autonomous operation of the vehicle based upon the type and version of the one or more autonomous operation features.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more autonomous operation features include a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication capability, and wherein the executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive telematics data from other vehicles; and   generate and display alternate routes based upon the received telematics data.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for use in connection with a vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features, comprising:
 determining, by one or more processors, a risk profile associated with operation of the vehicle (i) under operating environment conditions with the one or more autonomous operation features engaged, and (ii) under the operating environment conditions with the one or more autonomous operation features disengaged;   receiving, at the one or more processors or an associated transceiver, a log of usage data regarding previous use of the one or more autonomous operation features by a vehicle operator during the operating environment conditions;   determining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of expected use levels of the vehicle during the operating environment conditions, wherein the expected use levels indicate whether or not the vehicle operator is expected to engage or disengage the one or more autonomous operation features during the operating environment conditions as determined from processor analysis of the log of usage data;   determining, by the one or more processors, a risk level associated with operation of the vehicle based upon (a) the determined risk profile, and (b) the determined expected use levels; and   causing the one or more processors to automatically perform an action based upon the determined total risk level, wherein the actions include one or more of: adjust an insurance policy associated with the vehicle, determine a coverage level associated with the insurance policy, present information regarding the determined risk level to a reviewer via a display.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , the method comprising:
 estimating future usage or operation of the vehicle during the operating environment conditions and with the one or more autonomous operation features engaged or disengaged; and   adjusting, via the one or more processors, the risk level for the vehicle based upon (1) the determined risk profile, (2) the determined expected use levels, and (3) an amount of time or miles that the vehicle is operated in the operating environment conditions with the one or more autonomous operation features engaged or disengaged indicated by the log of usage data.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , the method comprising:
 estimating future usage or operation of the vehicle, either by time or mileage, during the operating environment conditions; and   adjusting, via the one or more processors, the risk level for the vehicle based upon (1) the determined risk profile, (2) the determined expected use levels, and (3) the amount of time or miles that the vehicle is expected to be operated in the future in the operating environment conditions.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the risk profile associated with autonomous operation of the vehicle is based upon test result data generated from test units corresponding to the one or more autonomous operation features;   the test result data include responses of the test units to test inputs corresponding to test scenarios, the test scenarios including vehicle operation with an autonomous feature engaged during the operating environment conditions; and   the test result data are generated and recorded by the test units disposed within one or more test vehicles in response to sensor data from a plurality of sensors, and video recording devices, within the one or more test vehicles.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the risk profile associated with autonomous operation of the vehicle is based upon actual losses associated with insurance policies covering a plurality of other vehicles having at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features, the actual losses incurred through vehicle operation in the operating environment conditions. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the log of usage data regarding comprises receiving the log via wireless communication from a mobile device of the vehicle operator in communication with an on-board computer of the vehicle, wherein the mobile device generates the log of usage data from the data received from the on-board computer during a vehicle trip, the log of usage data including: a timestamp indicating a beginning of the vehicle trip, a timestamp indicating an end of the vehicle trip, one or more timestamps associated with engagement or disengagement of the one or more autonomous operation features, and configuration data associated with the one or more autonomous operation features when engaged, and wherein the log of usage data further includes current operating environment conditions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the one or more processors or an associated transceiver, a request for a quote of a premium associated with a vehicle insurance policy via wireless communication;   determining, by one or more processors, a premium associated with the vehicle insurance policy based upon the risk level; and   presenting, by one or more processors, an option to purchase the vehicle insurance policy to the customer associated with the vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising:
 receiving, via the one or more processors or an associated transceiver, information regarding a type and version of the one or more autonomous operation features; and   updating the total level associated with autonomous operation of the vehicle, via the one or more processors, based upon the type and version of the one or more autonomous operation features.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the autonomous operation feature is a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication capability, and the method comprises:
 receiving, via one or more vehicle-mounted processors or associated transceiver, telematics data from other vehicles; and   generating and displaying alternate routes, via the one or more vehicle-mounted processors, based upon the telematics data.   
     
     
         20 . A computer system for monitoring usage of a vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features, the system comprising one or more processors and one or more program memories storing executable instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a risk profile associated with operation of the vehicle (i) under a plurality of operating environment conditions with the one or more autonomous operation features engaged, and (ii) under the operating environment conditions with the one or more autonomous operation features disengaged;   receive a log of usage data regarding previous use of the one or more autonomous operation features during the operating environment conditions;   determine from analysis of the log of usage data a plurality of expected use levels of the vehicle during the operating environment conditions, wherein the expected use levels indicate whether or not the vehicle operator is expected to engage or disengage the one or more autonomous operation features during the operating environment conditions;   determine from analysis of the log of usage data, or from analysis of other vehicle or telematics data received from the vehicle or mobile device, an average amount of time or miles that the vehicle operator operates the vehicle during the operating environment conditions for a period of time;   determine a risk level associated with operation of the vehicle based upon (a) the determined risk profile, (b) the determined expected use levels, and (c) the average amount of time or miles that the vehicle operator operates the vehicle during the operating environment conditions for the period of time; and   cause the one or more processors to automatically perform an action based upon the determined total risk level, wherein the action includes one or more of: adjust an insurance policy associated with the vehicle, determine a coverage level associated with the insurance policy, present information regarding the determined total risk level to a reviewer via a display.