A method includes determining that an autonomous vehicle is in a zone associated with one or more zone rules; causing, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone, the autonomous vehicle to operate in a controlled mode of operation associated with the zone rules; determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone; and releasing, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone, the autonomous vehicle from the controlled mode of operation.

A display system for use on the exterior of a vehicle having a display and a processor. The processor is configured to determine when the vehicle is stopped or in motion, such that the processor directs the display system to display an image based on that determination.

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.

An occupant protection apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes a contact sensor, an occupant detector, an electromagnetic wave sensor, a control processor, and a protection processor. The contact sensor detects contact of the vehicle. The occupant detector detects whether there is an occupant who is wearing a medical device in the vehicle when the contact sensor detects the contact of the vehicle. The electromagnetic wave sensor detects an electromagnetic wave. The control processor controls the vehicle to reduce the electromagnetic wave inside the vehicle based on a detection result of the electromagnetic wave sensor. The protection processor performs a protection process of protecting the occupant who is wearing the medical device, based on a detection result of the electromagnetic wave sensor after the control processor has controlled the vehicle.

A lamp, for a vehicle, that includes at least one light source configured to generate light; a transparent display configured to allow at least a portion of the light to pass through the transparent display; and a processor configured to control the transparent display to display, on a projection surface using the light, information related to the vehicle or driving conditions for the vehicle is disclosed.

Systems, methods, and devices for indicating a status of a vehicle or a seat in a vehicle are disclosed herein. A system includes a plurality of seats in a vehicle, a light-diffusing fiber optic light source attached to at least one of the seats, a receiver configured to receive a status of at least one of the seats, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine an illumination scheme based on the status of at least one of the seats and illuminate the light-diffusing fiber optic light source according to the illumination scheme.

A seat includes a seat body and a sensor configured to acquired information on an occupant seated on the seat body. The seat includes a coating as a location marker that marks a location of the sensor to render the location visually recognizable from outside the seat body.

A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of types of light output units having different illumination functions, a light emission drive unit configured to cause the plurality of types of light output units to output lights, and a monitoring sensor. The vehicle lamp is arranged at an upper part of a vehicle.

Techniques pertaining to vehicle occupancy indication and utilization thereof are described. A method may involve determining occupancy information regarding a number of occupants in a vehicle. The method may also involve indicating the occupancy information in either or both of a human-perceivable way and a machine-perceivable way.

One or more noxious gas detectors disposed within a cabin of a vehicle are used by an analyzer to determine that a rate of increase of measured noxious gas exceeds a first threshold, or that a level of measured noxious exceeds a second threshold, or both; and to generate an alert output responsive to the determination. Optionally, the analyzer may take remediation actions by emitting or transmitting commands to the vehicle's control computer to stop or start the engine, start the air conditioning or heater, roll down windows, unlock doors, activate horns and lights, and even transmit alert messages to one or more recipients. In one embodiment, a window clip-on sign is provided with one or more sensors on an interior portion of the unit, and one or more alert means on an exterior portion to provide a portable and easy-to-use safety device.