One variation of a method for executing autonomous rideshare requests includes: following arrival of an autonomous vehicle proximal a pickup location specified in a rideshare request submitted by a user, setting a user arrival timer for a first duration and a depart timer for a second duration exceeding the first duration; serving a state of the user arrival timer to a mobile computing device affiliated with the user; rendering a state of the depart timer on an external display arranged on the autonomous vehicle; in response to failure of the user to arrive at the autonomous vehicle prior to expiration of the user arrival timer, departing from the pickup location without the user; and, in response to the user arriving at the autonomous vehicle prior to expiration of the user arrival timer, departing from the pickup location with the user prior to expiration of the delay timer.

Example embodiments relate to pedestrian countdown signal classification to increase pedestrian behavior legibility. An example embodiment includes a method that includes obtaining, by a computing system of a vehicle, a camera image patch. The method further includes determining, by the computing system, using the camera image patch and a pedestrian countdown signal classifier model, a state of a pedestrian countdown signal. The method also includes determining, by the computing system based on the state of the pedestrian countdown signal, a prediction of whether a pedestrian will enter a crosswalk governed by the pedestrian countdown signal. And the method includes, based on the prediction, causing, by the computing system, the vehicle to perform an invitation action that invites a pedestrian to enter the crosswalk.

Aspects of the disclosure provide for displaying notifications on a display of an autonomous vehicle 100. In one instance, a distance from the vehicle to a destination of the vehicle or a passenger may be determined. When the distance is between a first distance and a second distance, a first notification 650 may be displayed on the display. The second distance may be less than the first distance. When the distance is less than the second distance, a second notification 660 may be displayed on the display. The second notification provides additional information not provided by the first notification.

A method, computer program product, and computing system for monitoring one or more machine vision sensors to obtain perception information concerning one or more third-party vehicles proximate an autonomous vehicle; identifying one or more vehicle shapes within the perception information, thus defining one or more detected vehicles shapes; generating proximate object display information that locates the one or more detected vehicles shapes with respect to the autonomous vehicle; and rendering the proximate object display information on a visual display system, thus confirming the perception of the one or more third-party vehicles by the autonomous vehicle.

A method, system and non-transitory computer readable medium for suppressing autonomous vehicle external human machine interface (eHMI) notifications to prevent confusion or distraction of a road user. The suppression conditions are based on situations where the eHMI notification is redundant, not necessary, can be simplified or should be modified due to weather or light intensity. The eHMI notifications can be suppressed on selected displays and enhanced on others. The eHMI notifications can include text and icons, flashing lights, color or light patterns, which can be modified or suppressed based on the determination that the eHMI notification will confuse or distract the road user. At a four-way stop intersection, the eHMI notification can be suppressed until the autonomous vehicle has the right-of-way. The autonomous vehicle can form a mesh network with connected vehicles at the intersection and broadcast a group eHMI while requesting that the connected vehicles suppress their eHMIs.

A system for implementing adaptive light distributions for an autonomous vehicle (comprises the autonomous vehicle, a control device, and a headlight associated with the autonomous vehicle. The control device receives sensor data from sensors of the autonomous vehicle, where the sensor data comprises an image of one or more objects on a road traveled by the autonomous vehicle. The control device determines that a light condition level on a particular portion of the image is less than a threshold light level. The control device adjusts the headlight to increase illumination on a particular part of the road that is shown in the particular portion of the image.

A system for communicating a driving mode of an autonomous vehicle (AV) comprises the AV, a control device, and a notification device. The control device defines a threshold region around the AV. The control device receives sensor data from sensors of the AV. The control device detects presence of a vehicle from the sensor data. The control device determines a distance between the vehicle and the AV. The control device determines that the vehicle is within the threshold region based on determining that the distance between the vehicle and the AV is within the threshold region. While the AV is operating in the autonomous mode, the control device triggers the notification device to notify the vehicle that the AV is operating in the autonomous mode, where notifying that the AV is operating in the autonomous mode comprises presenting a visual notification and/or communicating a data message to other vehicles.

Devices, systems and methods for controlling an exterior and dashboard lights of an autonomous vehicle are described. One example of a method for controlling one or more exterior lights includes receiving, from an autonomous driving system (ADS) of the vehicle, an input to control one or more exterior lights that are part of a lighting system of the vehicle, and transmitting, based on the input, a message to a controller area network (CAN) bus of the lighting system, the message being further based on a driver command upon a determination that a driver-initiated message is received. In an example, the lighting system of the vehicle further comprises a plurality of dashboard lights.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a hybrid backup lamp having a backup light and a laser or LED warning light integrated therewith.

A light-emitting window element includes a transparent first carrier layer, a transparent second carrier layer, a substrate with a plurality of light-emitting semiconductor chips arranged thereon, and an optical layer having an adjustable transparency. The substrate with the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor chips and the optical layer are arranged between the first and second carrier layers, and the first and second carrier layers, the substrate with the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor chips and the optical layer form a laminate composite.