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 system and method are provided and include a light source projector with a positional actuator mounted on a subject vehicle that projects a laser line on a roadway upon which the subject vehicle is traveling. A controller is in communication with a platoon vehicle traveling in front of or behind the subject vehicle in a platoon and controls the positional actuator to project the laser line on the roadway between the subject vehicle and the at least one platoon vehicle.

Aspects of the disclosure provide for displaying notifications on a display of an autonomous vehicle. 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 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 may be displayed on the display. The second notification provides additional information not provided by the first notification.

In a method of operating a motor vehicle driven electrically, at least temporarily, on a roadway, the motor vehicle is moved fully autonomously by a control unit in response to a command for automatic operating mode. After a charging arm of the motor vehicle has been extended, a lateral control of the motor vehicle is executed to bring the extended charging arm into electric contact with a charging line arranged at or on the roadway. As a result, electric energy provided from the charging line to the charging arm is used for charging an energy accumulator of the motor vehicle and/or operating a drive device of the motor vehicle for moving the motor vehicle. A longitudinal control of the motor vehicle is executed to thereby maintain a predefined longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle until a distance of the motor vehicle reaches a predefined minimum distance to a leading vehicle.

A platooning controller, a vehicle system including the same, and a method thereof perform control during platooning. The platooning controller includes a processor that, when an outside vehicle cuts in a platooning line, performs platooning control depending on an intention of a user to perform the platooning control and a driving situation with the cut-in vehicle that cuts in the platooning line. The platooning controller also includes a storage that stores the result of performing the platooning control performed by the processor and information about the driving situation.

A connected vehicle configured to detect presence of people near the connected vehicle via one or more proximity sensors is disclosed. The connected vehicle may be configured to reproduce one or more audio advertisements via external displays and/or external speakers of the connected vehicle. The one or more advertisements may be reproduced in such a way that the one or more advertisements reproduced may provide the people with an alert message informing them of the presence of the connected vehicle, in place of imaginary engine sounds, for safety of people outside the connected vehicle.

By way of example, novel systems and methods for reproducing advertisements on connected vehicles are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a system of connected vehicles parked near in a parking lot and each delivers advertisement and participates in an advertisement event. Each of the connected vehicles is configured to reproduce one or more advertisements when one of the connected vehicles is determined to receive a signal from a remote controller associated with the one of the connected vehicles.

The current embodiments include a method and a system in which a variable-configuration powertrain and trailer airbag inflation pressure can be controlled to maintain a desired following distance. By controlling a vehicle transmission, a final drive status, and/or a trailer airbag inflation pressure, a following distance can be maintained in anticipation of deceleration events to enhance vehicle deceleration capabilities. While applicable to vehicle platooning, particularly tractor trailers, the method and the system are equally applicable to essentially any autonomous following vehicle(s) which may or may not be communicatively coupled to a lead vehicle.

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.

An object is to provide a light-irradiation technique that are capable of making the driver of a vehicle around a vehicle platoon aware of changes in the vehicle configuration of the vehicle platoon. During no changes in the vehicle configuration of a vehicle platoon, a controller performs control in such a manner that an irradiation device of the vehicle casts light in a steady-state mode common in the vehicle platoon. In a process where the vehicle merges with another of the vehicle alone or another of the vehicle platoon, the controller performs control in such a manner that the irradiation device of the merging vehicle casts light in a transition mode. In a process where the vehicle leaves the vehicle platoon, the controller performs control in such a manner that the irradiation device of the leaving vehicle casts light in the transition mode.