A vehicle light module, a headlight assembly, and a method for communicating information are provided. The vehicle light module includes a panel having a transparent state and an opaque state; and a projector operable to project a visual representation toward the panel. The visual representation is displayed on the panel when in an opaque state and on a second surface when in a transparent state.

There is provided an unmanned roadside signage vehicle comprising an autonomous, semiautonomous and/or remotely controllable roadside signage vehicle for various roadside signage, emergency response and maintenance applications. In accordance with one aspect, the unmanned roadside signage vehicle comprises drive motors operably coupled to driven wheels; steering coupled to the driven wheels; a controller for controlling the drive motors and steering; at least one electronic signage board for displaying roadside signage; and a data interface for receiving at least remote control instructions, the data interface operably coupled to the controller and wherein the controller is configured for controlling the drive motors and steering in accordance with the remote control instructions.

Systems, apparatus and methods may be configured to implement actively-controlled light emission from a robotic vehicle. A light emitter(s) of the robotic vehicle may be configurable to indicate a direction of travel of the robotic vehicle and/or display information (e.g., a greeting, a notice, a message, a graphic, passenger/customer/client content, vehicle livery, customized livery) using one or more colors of emitted light (e.g., orange for a first direction and purple for a second direction), one or more sequences of emitted light (e.g., a moving image/graphic), or positions of light emitter(s) on the robotic vehicle (e.g., symmetrically positioned light emitters). The robotic vehicle may not have a front or a back (e.g., a trunk/a hood) and may be configured to travel bi-directionally, in a first direction or a second direction (e.g., opposite the first direction), with the direction of travel being indicated by one or more of the light emitters.

In connection with a ground transportation vehicle light head (86) powered by a battery-based voltage source (20) supplying positive (76) and reference (i.e., ground) (78) voltages that define a voltage difference (22) applied across a number of multiple series-connected high-power light-emitting diodes (HP LEDs) (12) and current regulator circuitry (80) electrically connected to them, ultra-low dropout circuit techniques are disclosed for increasing a portion of the voltage difference available from the battery-based voltage source to forward bias and thereby maximize the number of the multiple series-connected HP LEDs emitting light by maintaining a low voltage drop (82) across the current regulator circuitry. By maintaining the low voltage drop and making available from the battery-based voltage source an increased portion of the voltage difference, at least one additional HP LED is capable of being forward biased to thereby maximize the number of multiple series-connected HP LEDs emitting light from the light head.

In connection with a ground transportation vehicle light head (86) powered by a battery-based voltage source (20) supplying positive (76) and reference (i.e., ground) (78) voltages that define a voltage difference (22) applied across a number of multiple series-connected high-power light-emitting diodes (HP LEDs) (12) and current regulator circuitry (80) electrically connected to them, ultra-low dropout circuit techniques are disclosed for increasing a portion of the voltage difference available from the battery-based voltage source to forward bias and thereby maximize the number of the multiple series-connected HP LEDs emitting light by maintaining a low voltage drop (82) across the current regulator circuitry. By maintaining the low voltage drop and making available from the battery-based voltage source an increased portion of the voltage difference, at least one additional HP LED is capable of being forward biased to thereby maximize the number of multiple series-connected HP LEDs emitting light from the light head.

Systems and methods of automatically operating a vehicle's hazards lights are provided. The speed of vehicle can be determined. When the speed of the vehicle is compared to an expected speed of the vehicle given various operating conditions, e.g., the output of the vehicle's engine (engine RPM) or motor (motor rotation), is slower than expected, it is assumed that the vehicle is towing a load. When the vehicle is towing a load and is also traveling at a speed that is substantially slower than the flow of traffic, a current speed limit, etc., a determination can be made to automatically activate the vehicle's hazard lights. Alternatively, even if the vehicle is towing a load, but is traveling at a speed that does not warrant activation of the vehicle's hazard lights, the hazard lights may be automatically deactivated.

Systems and methods of automatically operating a vehicle's hazards lights are provided. The speed of vehicle can be determined. When the speed of the vehicle is compared to an expected speed of the vehicle given various operating conditions, e.g., the output of the vehicle's engine (engine RPM) or motor (motor rotation), is slower than expected, it is assumed that the vehicle is towing a load. When the vehicle is towing a load and is also traveling at a speed that is substantially slower than the flow of traffic, a current speed limit, etc., a determination can be made to automatically activate the vehicle's hazard lights. Alternatively, even if the vehicle is towing a load, but is traveling at a speed that does not warrant activation of the vehicle's hazard lights, the hazard lights may be automatically deactivated.

An evacuation control apparatus includes a decrease detecting unit, a rear monitoring unit, and an evacuation control unit. The decrease detecting unit detects decrease in a consciousness level of a driver of an own vehicle. The rear monitoring unit monitors a state behind the own vehicle. The evacuation control unit outputs control information for making the own vehicle perform an emergency evacuation based on monitoring results of the rear monitoring unit, when the decrease detecting unit detects decrease in the consciousness level of the driver.

An evacuation control apparatus includes a decrease detecting unit, a rear monitoring unit, and an evacuation control unit. The decrease detecting unit detects decrease in a consciousness level of a driver of an own vehicle. The rear monitoring unit monitors a state behind the own vehicle. The evacuation control unit outputs control information for making the own vehicle perform an emergency evacuation based on monitoring results of the rear monitoring unit, when the decrease detecting unit detects decrease in the consciousness level of the driver.

A method for vehicle control includes receiving data associated with one or more wearable computing devices. Each of the one or more wearable computing devices are associated with one or more vehicle occupants in the vehicle. The method includes determining a health state of each of the one or more vehicle occupants based on the data and determining a location relative to the vehicle of each of the one or more vehicle occupants based on the data. The method includes controlling one or more vehicle systems based on the health state of each of the one or more vehicle occupants and the location relative to the vehicle of each of the one or more vehicle occupants.