摘要 |
A system for controlling vehicles ( 20 ) to provide transportation services without need for human intervention. A database ( 10 ) stores records each documenting needed transportation services. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) performs a dispatching process ( 26 ) which reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate transportation service, and instructs vehicles to provide the service. The processing circuitry also performs a monitoring process ( 28 ) which monitors vehicle activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained vehicle activity information, to identify transportation services which are not being adequately provided, and refer these to human dispatchers ( 16 ) for special attention. A variety of methods for obtaining and updating vehicle activity information are disclosed, as are various applications for the system.
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