EV maker Rivian has filed a US patent application describing a specialized low-speed automated-driving mode for drive-thru lanes at restaurants and other service locations.
The application is titled ‘Drive Thru Pilot Feature’ and details a vehicle platform that can switch into a designated low-speed automated mode inside mapped, navigable areas such as drive-thrus.
The US Patent & Trademark Office publication, dated this Thursday, was first reported by Rivian owner Chris Hilbert on X.
Once activated, the vehicle would autonomously inch through the queue, stop at ordering and pickup points, and exit the lane, handling interactions “associated with location centric features,” including ordering and services, the abstract says.
The patent’s illustration depicts a site layout with an entrance, queue, ordering kiosk, restaurant building and exit, showing how vehicles would proceed through predefined segments.
It remains unclear whether Rivian intends to develop its own drive-thru facilities as part of the concept, similar to Tesla’s efforts with its Tesla Diner in West Hollywood.
The site opened in July after being first mentioned by Musk in 2018.
The Elon Musk-led company is currently scouting new sites worldwide for additional Tesla Diners, which combine a Supercharging station with a classic American diner and a drive-in theater.
Cantor Fitzgerald’s Andres Sheppard met with Rivian’s Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough last month, and in a note to clients highlighted the company’s focus on autonomy.
The EV maker’s management “continued to highlight its Rivian Autonomy Platform and emphasized that Autonomy will be a big focus over the next few years,” Sheppard wrote.
Rivian in September introduced a hands-free, eyes-on driver assistance system for highway use on its second-generation vehicles.
Cantor said it expects Rivian to hold an Autonomy Day in December.
The company is expected to outline its technology roadmap as rivals such as Tesla continue to roll out more advanced assisted driving features.
The Full Self Driving (Supervised) V14 is planned to begin rollout later this week, according to Elon Musk’s X post. The chief executive described last week as “the second biggest update ever”
Rivian earlier this week published video of its upcoming R2 SUV fording a water crossing at one of its proving grounds, underscoring the company’s continued emphasis on durability testing.
The video comes as Rivian produces “hundreds” of “production-intent builds” for the R2 model, which it says are undergoing real-world testing and final validation.
