Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of facilitating communications from an autonomous vehicle to a user. For instance, a method may include, while attempting to pick up the user and prior to the user entering an vehicle, inputting a current location of the vehicle and map information into a model in order to identify a type of communication action for communicating a location of the vehicle to the user; enabling a first communication based on the type of the communication action; determining whether the user has responded to the first communication from received sensor data; and enabling a second communication based on the determination of whether the user has responded to the communication.

A lighting control system of the type including an electronic device with a processor, memory, wireless communication capability and a user interface may be used. A controller may be used with a receiver to receive wireless communication from the electronic device and an output terminal with at least one lighting array in electrical communication with the output terminal of the controller. A power supply may be provided in electrical communication with the controller thereby providing electrical power to the controller and the lighting array. Software on the electrical device may be used providing a graphical interface with a user to actuate the controller to provide an electrical output to the lighting array. The combination may be placed on a building, vehicle or any object to allow a plurality of lighting themes and palettes. Music may also be used to control the lighting output as well as speed or acceleration.

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a computing device of a first vehicle, a message, from a second vehicle, to be presented to an entity within proximity of the first vehicle. The method includes determining, by the computing device of the first vehicle, a location of the entity relative to the first vehicle. The method includes selecting, by the computing device of the first vehicle, a notification device of the first vehicle based on the location of the entity relative to the first vehicle. The method includes causing, by the computing device of the first vehicle, the message from the second vehicle to be presented to the entity by the selected notification device.

Various technologies described herein pertain to controlling an autonomous vehicle to provide indicators to distinguish the autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a notification system, and a computing system. The notification system outputs an indicator that is perceivable external to the autonomous vehicle. The computing system receives data specifying an identity of a passenger to be picked up by the autonomous vehicle. Moreover, the computing system controls at least one of the vehicle propulsion system or the braking system to stop the autonomous vehicle for passenger pickup. Further, the computing system controls the notification system to output the indicator; a characteristic of the indicator outputted by the notification system is controlled based on the identity of the passenger to be picked up and whether the autonomous vehicle is stopped for passenger pickup.

A vehicle includes a horn, a plurality of exterior lights, and at least one controller. The at least one controller is configured to grant vehicle system access to a nomadic device paired to the vehicle, and in response to receiving a message that contains data identifying a source of the message while the vehicle is in a key-off state from a nomadic device not paired to the vehicle, activate the horn and exterior lights according to respective patterns.

A lighting control system of the type including an electronic device with a processor, memory, wireless communication capability and a user interface may be used. A controller may be used with a receiver to receive wireless communication from the electronic device and an output terminal with at least one lighting array in electrical communication with the output terminal of the controller. A power supply may be provided with the controller thereby providing electrical power to the controller and the lighting array. Software on the electrical device may be used providing a graphical interface with a user to actuate the controller to provide an electrical output to the lighting array. The combination may be placed on a building, vehicle or any object to allow a plurality of lighting themes and palettes. Music may also be used to control the lighting output as well as speed or acceleration.

A parking assistance device includes at least one electronic control unit configured to execute parking assistance according to an operation from a user, such that a vehicle is automatically parked at a target position. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to determine whether or not the vehicle is in a predetermined environment which is darker than a predetermined brightness level. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to, when the at least one electronic control unit determines that the vehicle is in the predetermined environment, control a lighting device which is provided in the vehicle such that the lighting device is lighted without performing lighting with a high beam, while the parking assistance is executed.

Various technologies described herein pertain to controlling an autonomous vehicle to provide indicators to distinguish the autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a notification system, and a computing system. The notification system outputs an indicator that is perceivable external to the autonomous vehicle. The computing system receives data specifying an identity of a passenger to be picked up by the autonomous vehicle. Moreover, the computing system controls at least one of the vehicle propulsion system or the braking system to stop the autonomous vehicle for passenger pickup. Further, the computing system controls the notification system to output the indicator; a characteristic of the indicator outputted by the notification system is controlled based on the identity of the passenger to be picked up and whether the autonomous vehicle is stopped for passenger pickup.

The present invention provides a vehicle light emitting assembly, the vehicle light emitting assembly includes a plurality of light guide plates, each light guide plate includes a light emitting surface, the plurality of light guide plates being combined into a hollow pyramidal structure and the hollow pyramidal structure having a polygonal bottom surface shape, a shell structure disposed outside the hollow pyramidal structure, and the shell structure disposed on an outer surface of a vehicle, and at least one light source element disposed at one terminal of the hollow pyramidal structures. The developed vehicle light emitting assembly emits uniform light to enhance the visual effects, and has the advantages of easy production.

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a computing device of a first vehicle, a message, from a second vehicle, to be presented to an entity within proximity of the first vehicle. The method includes determining, by the computing device of the first vehicle, a location of the entity relative to the first vehicle. The method includes selecting, by the computing device of the first vehicle, a notification device of the first vehicle based on the location of the entity relative to the first vehicle. The method includes causing, by the computing device of the first vehicle, the message from the second vehicle to be presented to the entity by the selected notification device.