Signaling Intentions in Autonomous Vehicle Systems

A system for detecting signals from other vehicles and pedestrians, determining appropriate responses, sending responsive signals, and reacting to received responses. This enables autonomous vehicles to respond to gestures, flashing lights, etc., from other road users indicating their intentions and also to initiate signaling to indicate their own intentions to others. It involves detecting signals, determining intended actions, sending response signals, and taking actions based on received responses.

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An adaptive illumination system for autonomous vehicles automatically adjusts the headlights to optimize visibility in low-light conditions. The system uses sensors to detect road conditions and determine if specific areas should be illuminated. If areas are deemed insufficiently lit, the headlights are adjusted to illuminate those areas. This adaptive illumination helps improve safety and visibility in dark environments, turns, tunnels, and bridges where sensors may not provide full coverage.

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Controlling exterior and dashboard lights of an autonomous vehicle during autonomous operation to improve safety and compliance with laws. The system allows the driver's lighting commands to take precedence over autonomous system (ADS) commands. When the ADS wants to control the lights, it sends a message to the lighting controller. But if the driver issues a lighting command, that takes priority. This ensures the driver's intent is followed while still allowing autonomous lighting control. The lighting controller verifies connections before sending commands.

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Controlling LED lights on autonomous vehicles to visibly indicate when the vehicle is in autonomous mode versus manual mode. The system uses cyan LEDs from three groups: cyan-amber, cyan-red/amber, and just cyan. When the vehicle is in autonomous mode, all the cyan LEDs are activated to provide a distinctive cyan light. This allows the cyan to stand out as an indicator light while normal vehicle lights continue in their normal colors.

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Lighting system for autonomous vehicles that enables targeted communication with other road users through customizable light signals. The lighting system has a single light module that can radiate light in different directions using a diaphragm device and a lens cone. A control unit receives surround sensor data to determine nearby road users. It then uses the light module to emit personalized light signals towards specific road users based on their positions. This allows directed light communication to supplement vehicle indicators and signals. The system reduces lighting complexity compared to vehicles with separate lights for each direction.

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Lighting system for autonomous vehicles that helps pedestrians and other vehicles recognize the autonomous driving status of the vehicle. The lighting system has a roof-mounted lighting unit that displays variations in light to indicate different autonomous driving modes. This allows pedestrians and other vehicles around the autonomous vehicle to easily see if the vehicle is autonomously driving or being manually driven. The lighting system can vary the light pattern or intensity based on the autonomous driving level to provide visual cues to external observers.

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The vehicle lighting system communicates an autonomous vehicle's operating status to other vehicles and pedestrians using the vehicle's lights. The system changes the light's color, intensity, and flash rate based on the autonomous vehicle's status. This allows the vehicle's intent to be conveyed without the driver's visual verification. The lighting behavior is determined based on the autonomous driving system's data. The system can also adapt the lighting based on proximity to events and other vehicles.

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Status indicator system for autonomous vehicles that provides visual cues to surrounding vehicles and pedestrians to communicate the autonomous vehicle's status. The indicator uses optical fiber panels or an optical signaling system around the vehicle perimeter. The indicator activates in predetermined illumination patterns based on vehicle factors like time of day, passenger count, and alerts. This allows for communicating autonomous vehicle status to other road users in a way that is distinct from traditional vehicle indicators.

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Improved communication between autonomous vehicles and surrounding people by providing visible indications of upcoming autonomous actions. The vehicle has a light ring around its circumference with multiple lights. When the vehicle is accelerating, lights sequentially turn on, starting at the front and moving backward. This intuitively communicates the acceleration to observers.

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Lighting system for autonomous vehicles with indicators to inform other road users of the vehicle's status. The system uses optical fiber panels around the vehicle that can be activated in specific patterns to convey different messages. The messages are based on factors like time of day, passenger count, and vehicle alerts. This allows other drivers and pedestrians to understand the autonomous vehicle's current situation. The indicators are designed to be visible to humans but also compatible with other autonomous vehicles. The system activates the panels using a controller that receives sensor data and determines the appropriate illumination.

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