In the race to bring autonomous vehicles to the masses, Google has filed a patent application for efficiently determining pickup and destination locations.

The technology allows the passenger to give some initial input, such as a destination, before providing a set of suggested locations where an autonomous vehicles can pick them up.

Google hopes the technology will increase the availability, safety and usefulness of the services of autonomous vehicles.

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Google has filed a patent application for efficiently determining pickup and destination locations. The technology allows the passenger to give some initial input, such as a destination, before providing a set of suggested locations where an autonomous vehicles can pick them up

HOW DOES IT WORK? Google is aiming to operate its self-driving cars in a fully autonomous mode, where passengers provide some initial input, and then the car manoeuvres itself there. But not all locations are safe or accessible for passenger pick up or drop off. For example, cities may have restricted zones for autonomous vehicles. Additionally, road conditions at the time of the journey, such as construction, speed limits and emergency services activity could pose complications to the journey. The new patent looks to overcome these challenges. When the passenger provides a location, a centralised dispatch system will use Google Maps to provide a list of suggested locations that an autonomous vehicle is able to easily access. This could include the destination suggested by the passenger, or more convenient nearby locations. Advertisement

The patent was published in December, and has recently been revealed by Patent Yogi, who describe it as an 'Uber-killer'.

Google is aiming to operate its self-driving cars in a fully autonomous mode, where passengers provide some initial input, and then the car manoeuvres itself there.

But not all locations are safe or accessible for passenger pick up or drop off.

For example, cities may have restricted zones for autonomous vehicles.

Additionally, road conditions at the time of the journey, such as construction, speed limits and emergency services activity could pose complications to the journey.

The new patent looks to overcome these challenges.

When the passenger provides a location, a centralised dispatch system will use Google Maps to provide a list of suggested locations that an autonomous vehicle is able to easily access.

This could include the destination suggested by the passenger, or more convenient nearby locations.

The patent states: 'Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform a task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off the passenger.'

Last week, Waymo, Google's self-driving car division, announced that it will start testing its new fleet of minivans on public roads in California and Arizona later this month.

Last week, Waymo, Google's self-driving car division, announced that it will start testing its new fleet of minivans on public roads in California and Arizona later this month

The minivans, built in collaboration with Fiat Chrysler, are Chrysler Pacifica hybrids outfitted with Waymo's own suite of sensors and radar.

It is unclear whether the new patented technology will be included in the self-driving minivans.

Uber is also bringing a small number of self-driving cars to its ride-hailing service in San Francisco — a move likely to excite the city's tech-savvy population and certain to antagonize California regulators.

The testing lets regular people experience the cars as Uber works to identify glitches before expanding the technology's use in San Francisco and elsewhere.

Uber's self-driving tests in San Francisco will begin with a 'handful' of Volvo luxury SUVs - the company would not release an exact number - that have been tricked out with sensors so they can steer, accelerate and brake, and even decide to change lanes.

The cars will have an Uber employee behind the wheel to take over should the technology fail.