Patent ID: 11920938
Assignee: KIA CORPORATION
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B  H  Y | IPC B  G  H

Claim 7:
8. A computer system for automatically recharging an autonomous electric vehicle, the computer system comprising:
one or more processors disposed within the autonomous electric vehicle;
one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous electric vehicle and communicatively connected to the one or more processors; and
a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:
detect a charge level of a battery of the autonomous electric vehicle below a maximum recharging threshold;
generate a predicted use profile for the autonomous electric vehicle based upon prior vehicle use data;
determine a next predicted use of the autonomous electric vehicle based upon the predicted use profile;
cause the autonomous electric vehicle to charge at a location when a sufficient amount of time exists to charge the autonomous electric vehicle before the next predicted use;
determine a return location for the autonomous electric vehicle; and
cause the autonomous electric vehicle to return to the return location,
wherein the return location is determined based upon the predicted use profile or vehicle operator information, and is distinct from the location at which to charge the battery.