Patent ID: 9718471
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B60K,B60W,G05D,G08G

Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method for automatically providing spatial separation between self-driving vehicles (SDVs) operating in an autonomous mode and vehicles being operating in a manual mode on a roadway, the computer-implemented method comprising: interrogating, by one or more processors, a driving mode module on a first SDV operating on the roadway, wherein the first SDV is capable of being operated in autonomous mode by a first SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a first SDV on-board computer on the first SDV, wherein the first SDV control mechanisms controller controls a first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV, wherein the driving mode module selectively controls whether the first SDV is operated in the autonomous mode or in manual mode, and wherein the first SDV is controlled by a first human driver of the first SDV if the first SDV is in the manual mode; determining, by the one or more processors and based on a response from the driving mode module, that the first SDV is operating in the autonomous mode; receiving, by one or more processors, a control mode signal from a second vehicle operating on the roadway, wherein the control mode signal describes whether a second set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode by a second human driver of the second vehicle or in the autonomous mode by a second SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a second SDV on-board computer on the second vehicle; and issuing, by one or more processors, spatial separation instructions to the first SDV, wherein the spatial separation instructions direct the first SDV control mechanisms controller to direct the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV to provide a predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle based on whether the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode or in the autonomous mode.