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.

A vehicle may include a conductive housing surrounding an antenna and defining an aperture having a size at least equal to a wavelength of signals radiated by the antenna. A controller may be configured to orient the conductive housing to direct the aperture at a direction of travel to guide electromagnetic radiation from the antenna. The controller may orient the conductive housing in response to receiving a cooperative adaptive cruise control signal from an established platoon of vehicles.

A utility meter device (1002) including a communications receiver (110) for receiving file fragments for the device, a processing means (150), eg microprocessor, microcontroller, and programmable non-volatile memory means (120), eg flash, EEPROM, for building and storing application and date files from the fragments, and executing a meter application of the device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions in at least one of the fragments to provide data for reconfiguring a meter through a control interface (1016).

A vehicle network transmission method and a vehicle network transmission system are provided. The vehicle network transmission method comprises the following steps. A first transmission device transmits a data signal to a second transmission device. It is determined whether the second transmission device is located in a target area. If the second transmission device is located in the target area, then a geographic location of the first transmission device is retrieved and a transmission region of the first transmission device is calculated. It is determined whether all of the third transmission devices adjacent to the second transmission device in the target area are located in the transmission region. If all of the third transmission devices adjacent to the second transmission device in the target area are located in the transmission region, then the second transmission device does not continue forwarding the data signal.

Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle to reduce idle data usage and vehicle downtime are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system can obtain data associated with autonomous vehicle(s) that are online with a service entity. The computing system can obtain data indicative of the geographic area with an imbalance in a number of vehicles associated with the geographic area. The computing system can determine a first autonomous vehicle for re-positioning with respect to the geographic area based at least in part on the data associated with the one or more autonomous vehicles and the data indicative of the geographic. The computing system can communicating data indicative of a first re-positioning assignment associated with the first autonomous vehicle. In some implementations, the computing system can generate vehicle service incentive to entice a vehicle provider to re-position its autonomous vehicles with respect to the geographic area.

An apparatus for traffic control is disclosed. A method and a system also perform the functions of the apparatus. The apparatus includes an alert module that broadcasts an alert signal to a vehicle on a roadway. The alert indicates a presence of an alert zone along the roadway. The apparatus includes an alert zone module that broadcasts a location of the alert zone, where the alert signal has a signal strength sufficient for an autonomous vehicle control system of the vehicle to receive the alert signal a predefined distance before entering the alert zone as the vehicle approaches the alert zone. The apparatus includes an instruction module that broadcasts one or more instructions regarding driving within the alert zone.

Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, an identity of a vehicle operator may be determined and a vehicle operator profile and/or operating data regarding autonomous operation features of the vehicle may be received after the vehicle operator opts into a rewards program and agrees to share their data. Autonomous operation and vehicle operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be determined. Based upon the risk levels and/or comparison thereof, one or more autonomous operation features may be disengaged. A preparedness level of the vehicle operator to assume or reassume control of operating the vehicle is determined prior to disengagement. If satisfactory, an alert is presented to the vehicle operator prior to disengagement of the autonomous operation features.

Navigation devices, services, and methods are provided for determining an average traffic speed for a path segment using probe data from a plurality of navigation devices. The method for determining an average traffic speed may include retrieving probe data from a plurality of navigation devices, each navigation device traveling over at least a portion of a defined path segment for at least a portion of a defined time interval, wherein the probe data for each navigation device comprises an instantaneous velocity of the navigation device. The method may further include calculating a total distance traveled and a total time traveled by the plurality of navigation devices over the path segment and within the time interval using the instantaneous velocities from the retrieved probe data. The average traffic speed may then be determined based on the calculated total distance traveled and total time traveled.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication cells in conjunction with MEC nodes may provide low-latency processing of vehicle movement data to generate vehicle guidance instructions for vehicles. Vehicle movement data of vehicles are received at a base station of a wireless carrier network from a UAV communication cell that is attached to the base station. The base station sends the vehicle movement data to a mobile edge computing (MEC) node that directly communicates with the base station so that the MEC node generates vehicle guidance instructions. The vehicle guidance instructions are then received by the base station from the MEC node. In turn, the base station sends the vehicle guidance instructions to the UAV communication cell for broadcasting to vehicles.

In one embodiment, a sensor unit to be utilized in an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) includes a sensor interface that can be coupled to a number of sensors mounted on a number of different locations of the ADV. The sensor unit further includes a host interface that can be coupled to a host system such as a planning and control system utilized to autonomously drive the vehicle. The sensor unit further includes a number of data transfer modules corresponding to the sensors. Each of the data transfer modules can be configured to operate in one of the operating modes, dependent upon the type of the corresponding sensor. The operating modes include a low latency mode, a high bandwidth mode, and a memory mode.