A method includes receiving a request for access associated with a pre-assigned parking space of a particular one of a plurality of autonomous vehicles in a parking area, determining that the pre-assigned parking space of the particular autonomous vehicle has at least one blocking parking space that is pre-assigned to another autonomous vehicle, determining a state of the at least one blocking parking space with respect to the autonomous vehicle pre-assigned to it, and accessing pre-computed coordinated movements for the autonomous vehicles corresponding to the state of the at least one blocking parking space to provide the requested access.

A method including computing coordinated movements for a plurality of autonomous vehicles to provide access to a particular one of the autonomous vehicles, wherein each of the coordinated movements is computed to avoid movement of any one of the autonomous vehicles interfering with movement of any other one of the autonomous vehicles, and the requested access comprises one or more passengers entering into or exiting from the particular one of the autonomous vehicles, and causing the autonomous vehicles to execute autonomously the coordinated movements to provide the requested access. In addition, or alternatively, the requested access may comprise cargo being loaded into or unloaded from the particular one of the autonomous vehicles.

Electronic components may be integrated in objects used by the trucking industry, such as truck, tractor trailer, cargo, and loading bay. These objects may then communicate with each other and with a gateway device to transmit or receive data or commands. The gateway may be configured to attach to the truck, such as by securing to the truck frame or securing to an interior of the truck cab. The gateway may couple to one or more input devices, and receive sensor data through the one or more input devices. The gateway may execute steps that allow the gateway to determine safety margins for operating a vehicle and communicating that information to other nearby vehicles.

A method includes receiving from a client computing device of a user, a request for access to an autonomous vehicle, determining one of a plurality of autonomous vehicles to provide the user access to in response to the request, wherein the determined autonomous vehicle is blocked by one or more other ones of the autonomous vehicles, determining locations of the determined autonomous vehicle and the blocking autonomous vehicles, and computing based on the locations of the determined autonomous vehicle and the blocking autonomous vehicles, coordinated movements to provide access to the determined autonomous vehicle as requested by the user.

A method includes causing an autonomous vehicle in a zone controlled by the zone authority to enter a controlled mode of operation according to which the autonomous vehicle follows one or more zone rules for operation of the autonomous vehicle in the zone, causing the autonomous vehicle to follow the zone rules while operating in the zone, and causing the autonomous vehicle to be released from the zone rules and to exit the controlled mode when the autonomous vehicle leaves the zone.

One variation of a method for renting a vehicle includes: receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying a current availability of the vehicle for rent; updating a visual indicator arranged on the vehicle according to the signal, the visual indicator visually detectable from outside the vehicle; receiving identification information of a user proximal the vehicle; enabling access to the vehicle for the user in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle; determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a driver's seat within the vehicle; and enabling ignition of the vehicle for the user in response to determination that the user is seated in the driver's seat.

At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a method for an autonomous vehicle (e.g., a fully autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle) to communicate with external observers. The method includes: receiving a task at the autonomous vehicle; collecting data that characterizes a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle from a sensor coupled to the autonomous vehicle; determining an intended course of action for the autonomous vehicle to undertake based on the task and the collected data; and conveying a human understandable output via an output device, the human understandable output expressly or implicitly indicating the intended course of action to an external observer.

A method includes receiving a request for access associated with a selected one of a plurality of autonomous vehicles in an array that comprises a plurality of columns, wherein the selected autonomous vehicle is in a first one of the columns and blocked by one or more other autonomous vehicles in the first column, and then computing coordinated movements for one or more of the autonomous vehicles to provide the requested access, wherein the autonomous vehicles blocking the selected autonomous vehicle in the first column are cyclically moved from the front of the first column to the back of a second one of the columns as autonomous vehicles in the second column are moved from the front of the second column to the back of the first column and the autonomous vehicles remaining in the first and second columns are moved forward.

A method includes receiving location information for each of a plurality of autonomous vehicles in a zone, wherein the location information indicates locations of the autonomous vehicles in the zone, determining a mapping of locations of each of the autonomous vehicles in the zone based on the location information, and computing a set of coordinated movements for one or more of the autonomous vehicles based on the mapping.

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.