Snapshot
Problem
Autonomous vehicles are on the road now, but that doesn’t mean human police officers, human tow-truck operators, etc. are going away any time soon. When these people take issue with something the autonomous vehicle does, these people will expect to speak with a person. An autonomous vehicle that does not have a human representative could be impounded or towed.
Solution
The solution is a system that enables a human representative to speak with the police officer, tow-truck operator, etc. when necessary. Although a human representative located in each vehicle is too inefficient, a human representative for every 100 or more vehicles is economical. This human representation will enable autonomous vehicles to integrate into a world set up for human drivers.
Intellectual Property
U.S. Patent 9,429,947
Additional patents pending
Partners
Drivent would like to integrate these helpful features into your autonomous vehicle systems.

Police Officer Stops
- The police officer mistakenly believes the vehicle has violated a traffic rule
- The vehicle is speeding due to being mistaken regarding the local speed limit
- The vehicle mistakenly interprets a roadway sign, and as a result violates a traffic rule

Tow Operator Intervention
Of course, autonomous vehicles need to park. In some cases, autonomous vehicles push parking norms by circling many times or waiting curbside for a rider to arrive. This behavior creates tension with parking enforcement personnel, and in some cases, may lead to opportunistic towing. (The towing industry is infamous for jumping at the chance to make money by towing a vehicle.) A remote human representative of the vehicle can explain the vehicle’s behavior, defuse tension with parking personnel, and reduce odds of the vehicle being towed.

Station Attendants
In the future, charging stations and fuel stations will include robotic elements that connect with the autonomous vehicle to dispense electricity or fuel. Building a nationwide network of compatible stations will take many years, and the network will likely have unserved areas for decades.
Human representation of the vehicles enables current stations to service autonomous vehicles. As a result, autonomous vehicles can be launched everywhere immediately (rather than being limited due to the lack of compatible stations).

Road Rage
While many people are excited to share the road with autonomous vehicles, some people are skeptical of autonomous vehicles and may be quickly angered by their presence. Remote human representation can help ease tensions with human drivers and thereby smooth the rollout of autonomous vehicles.
How the System Works
The vehicle includes an exterior speaker and microphone system that enables a remote representative of the vehicle to communicate with the person located outside the vehicle. Please contact us for more information regarding this system and the many options available for customization.

