Autonomous vehicle signaling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11188094-B2
Application number	US-201916399086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2019
Priority date	Apr 30, 2019
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

A visual indicator system includes a sensor system, a visual indicator, a processing system coupled to the sensor system and the visual indicator, and a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a visual indicator module. The visual indicator module receives first sensor data via the sensor system and determines based on the first sensor data that a first condition is satisfied. In response to the first condition being satisfied and via a first portion of the visual indicator, the visual indicator module provides a first visual indication that is associated with the first condition to a physical environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by an autonomous vehicle comprising a processor, first sensor data;
determining, by the autonomous vehicle, based on the first sensor data that a first condition is satisfied; and
presenting, by the autonomous vehicle in response to the first condition being satisfied, via a first visual indicator, a first visual indication that is associated with the first condition to a physical environment external to the autonomous vehicle, wherein the first condition comprises a first rate of motion of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the first visual indication comprises a display pattern in motion that comprises a spinning visual indication, wherein a second rate of spinning of the spinning visual indication provides an indication of the first rate of motion of the autonomous vehicle, wherein a first direction of spinning of the spinning visual indication indicates acceleration of the autonomous vehicle, wherein a second direction of the spinning indicates deceleration of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor data comprises first actor data of a first actor that is associated with the first visual indicator and the first actor data indicates that the first actor is performing a first action, and wherein the first condition further comprises the first actor performing the first action.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first sensor data comprises second actor data of a second actor that is in the physical environment and the second actor data indicates that the second actor is performing a second action.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first condition further comprises the second actor performing the second action.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second action causes the first action.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second actor data comprises a second visual indication provided by a second visual indicator associated with the second actor, and wherein the second visual indication is associated with the second action.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the autonomous vehicle, second sensor data subsequent to the first sensor data;
determining, by the autonomous vehicle based on the second sensor data, that a second condition is satisfied; and
presenting, by the autonomous vehicle in response to the second condition being satisfied and via the first visual indicator, a second visual indication to the physical environment that is different than the first visual indication.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the autonomous vehicle, second sensor data subsequent to the first sensor data;
determining, by the autonomous vehicle based on the second sensor data, that no condition is satisfied; and
presenting, by the autonomous vehicle in response to no condition being satisfied and via the first visual indicator, a second visual indication to the physical environment that is different than the first visual indication and the second visual indication.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the autonomous vehicle, second sensor data subsequent to the first sensor data;
determining, by the autonomous vehicle based on the second sensor data, that a second condition is satisfied; and
presenting, by the autonomous vehicle in response to the second condition being satisfied and via a second visual indicator, a second visual indication to the physical environment that is different than the first visual indication provided by the first visual indicator.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the autonomous vehicle, an action based on a second visual indication that is included in the first sensor data.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the action comprises facilitating an output from a user output device included in a user input/output system.

12. A visual indicator system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
receiving sensor data via a sensor system that comprises a light detector that distinguishes light of visual indicators from other light sources;
determining, based on at least the sensor data, that a condition is satisfied; and
generating, in response to the condition being satisfied and for display via a visual indicator, a first visual indication that is associated with the condition and is presented to a physical environment external to a vehicle, wherein the condition comprises a first rate of motion of the vehicle, wherein the first visual indication comprises a display pattern in motion that comprises a spinning visual effect, wherein a second rate of spinning of the spinning visual effect provides an indication of the first rate of motion of the vehicle, wherein a first direction of spinning of the spinning visual effect indicates an acceleration of the vehicle, wherein a second direction of the spinning indicates a deceleration of the vehicle, and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

13. The visual indicator system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
performing an action based on a second visual indication that is included in the sensor data.

14. The visual indicator system of claim 12 , wherein the visual indicator system is housed in a portable device.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
receiving first sensor data associated with a vehicle in which the device is located;
determining, based on the first sensor data, that a first condition is satisfied; and
providing, in response to the first condition being satisfied and via a first visual indicator, a first visual indication that is associated with the first condition to physical environment external to the vehicle, wherein the first condition comprises a first rate of motion of the vehicle, wherein the first visual indication comprises a display pattern in motion that comprises a spinning visual effect, wherein a second rate of spinning of the spinning visual effect provides an indication of the first rate of motion of the vehicle, wherein a first direction of spinning of the spinning visual effect indicates acceleration of the vehicle, wherein a second direction of the spinning indicates deceleration of the vehicle, and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
performing an action based on another visual indication that is included in the sensor data.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving second sensor data subsequent to the first sensor data;
determining, based on the second sensor data, that a second condition is satisfied; and
providing, in response to the second condition being satisfied and via a second visual indicator, a second visual indication to the physical environment that is different than the first visual indication.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first condition further comprises the deceleration of the vehicle without brakes of the vehicle being applied, and wherein the first visual indication further provides an additional indica

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Mcenroe Martin Patrick
• Boehm John
• Zavesky Eric

Classifications

• B60Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B60Q1/507

  specific to autonomous vehicles · CPC title

• B60Q1/543

  for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle (indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045) · CPC title

• G08G1/166

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• G08G1/091

  Traffic information broadcasting (broadcasting communication H04H) · CPC title