Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.

A method for adjusting a switch position includes adjusting a position of a changeover switch for changing over a travel mode of a vehicle between an automated driving mode in which travel of the vehicle is controlled in an automated manner and a manual driving mode in which travel of the vehicle is operated by a driver is adjusted according to a state of the driver seat.

A method for displaying a trajectory course in front of a transportation vehicle or object. The trajectory course is shown on a display unit and is represented in grid format. The points of the grid are represented by symbols, wherein only the border thereof or the completely filled-in symbols are represented based on the environmental features. The size and/or color of the symbols is adjustable.

A method is intended to assist the driver of a vehicle (VA) capable of being driven in an automated manner and in a manual manner, by means of a steering wheel (VV), in a traffic lane (VC1). This method comprises a step that involves determining an optimum trajectory of the vehicle (VA) in the event of automated driving, an actual current trajectory of the vehicle (VA) in the traffic lane (VC1), and a value of a parameter representative of a manual intervention being carried out by the driver on the steering wheel (VV), and representing these determined optimum and actual current trajectories on a medium (EA) with an aspect that depends on this determined value of the parameter.

A plurality of sections in a planned travel route include a first basic section for a first automatic driving level, a second basic section for a second automatic driving level lower than the first automatic driving level, and a change preparation section and a main section in the first basic section. An information output control device controls an information output system so as to perform information output in accordance with an output structure allowed in a current section, among a plurality of types of output structures each determined by a combination of output information, an output format, and an output destination device. Allowed output structures for the change preparation section include part of not-allowed output structures for the main section and also include at least part of allowed output structures for the second basic section.

Systems and methods directed to recognizing, displaying, identifying, and labeling of an object along a direction of motion of the autonomous along a road is disclosed. In some embodiments, an autonomous vehicle with a light projector is disclosed, where the light projector is on a top surface of an autonomous vehicle. Additionally, in some embodiments, the autonomous vehicle may include an electronic control unit for controlling an operation of the light projector, where the electronic control unit detects whether the autonomous vehicle is turned on. In further embodiments, the electronic control unit receives data of an environmental condition surrounding the autonomous vehicle and receives an upcoming trajectory path of the autonomous vehicle. The electronic control unit may also project a light from the light projector onto a surface of a road indicating an adjusted direction of motion of the autonomous vehicle based on confirmation by the occupant of the identifying and the labeling of the object utilizing one or more autonomous vehicle actions.

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for executing an event pertaining to a vehicle and a user of the vehicle are presented. In some embodiments, a includes (a) detecting that a motion state of the vehicle is in a first state, (b) detecting a condition that warrants a change in the motion state of the vehicle to a second state, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in an activity that potentially impairs the user from performing an action to change the motion state of the vehicle to the second state. The method also includes, detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, executing an event to facilitate the change in the motion state of the vehicle to the second state.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for presenting an Augmented Reality (AR) visualization of an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). A viewing device integrated into a vehicle gathers sensor data from one or more sensors. The sensor data describes a speed and trajectory of the vehicle and a geographic location of a physical object in relation to the vehicle. The viewing device determines, based on the sensor data, that a threat level of the vehicle colliding with the physical object meets or exceeds a threshold threat level. In response to determining that the threat level of the vehicle colliding with the physical object meets or exceeds the threshold threat level, the viewing device determines an automated movement of the vehicle to avoid colliding with the physical object. The viewing device then presents, on a heads up display of the vehicle, virtual content depicting the automated movement, and executes the automated movement.

A method for having an occupant of a vehicle that is in a highly automated driving mode take over a driving task includes the steps of determining that the occupant has taken over the driving task and, in response thereto, automatically actuating a handle element, which can change its shape, in order to affect the haptics of a rim of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

An on-board computing system for a vehicle is configured to generate and selectively present a set of autonomous-switching directions within a navigation user interface for the operator of the vehicle. The autonomous-switching directions can inform the operator regarding changes to the vehicle's mode of autonomous operation. The on-board computing system can generate the set of autonomy-switching directions based on the vehicle's route and other information associated with the route, such as autonomous operation permissions (AOPs) for route segments that comprise the route. The on-board computing device can selectively present the autonomy-switching directions based on locations associated with anticipated changes in autonomous operations determined for the route of the vehicle, the vehicle's location, and the vehicle's speed. In addition, the on-board computing device is further configured to present audio alerts associated with the autonomy-switching directions to the operator of the vehicle.