Waymo patents self-driving car logic for handling cars trying to pass before turns
This patent describes how a self-driving car uses sensors to detect when another vehicle is behind it and trying to pass before an intersection. The system identifies the position of the object and adjusts the car's movement in the lane to handle the situation safely.
In the filing’s own words
The technology relates to maneuvering a vehicle prior to making a turn from a current lane of the vehicle. As an example, a route that includes making the turn from the lane is identified. An area of the lane prior to the turn having a lane width of at least a predetermined size is also identified. Sensor data identifying an object within the lane is received from a perception system of a vehicle. Characteristics of the object, including a location of the object relative to the vehicle, are identified from the sensor data. The vehicle is then maneuvered through the area prior to making the turn using the identified characteristics.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method comprising: receiving, by one or more processors of a vehicle, from a perception system of the vehicle, sensor data identifying an object in an environment of the vehicle; determining, using the sensor data, by the one or more processors, that the object is behind the vehicle and the object is attempting to pass the vehicle within an area prior to an intersection; and maneuvering, by the one or more processors, the vehicle based on the determining.
Facts
- Company
- Google (WAYMO LLC)
- Official title
- PREPARING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FOR TURNS
- Publication number
- US20260307681A1
- Application number
- 19712209
- Filed
- Jun 18, 2026
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
B60W 60/0016 Operations & transportB60W 30/18154 Operations & transportG08G 1/166 Physics & computingG08G 1/167 Physics & computingB60W 2420/403 Operations & transportB60W 2420/408 Operations & transportMore from Google in Cars & transport
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.