NIO Inc.
Methods and systems for providing a protect occupants mode with an autonomous vehicle

Abstract:

An autonomous vehicle or self-driving vehicle can protect persons from accidents. When the occupants of a vehicle exit the vehicle, those occupants can be endangered by the driving environment. Thus, while the occupants are outside the vehicle, the vehicle can continue to monitor the environment and provide warnings or intercept other vehicles or objects that may impact the occupants. Once all occupants have exited the vehicle, the vehicle's systems can continue to track each person around the vehicle and may engage, in limited maneuvers, to shield the pedestrians around the vehicle.