Systems, methods, and computer program products to enhance the situational competency and/or the safe operation of a vehicle, when operating at least partially in an autonomous mode, as a support vehicle for one or more on-road persons engaged in a training or competitive cycling, running, and/or walking activity on a predetermined travel route at a predetermined pace.

A platooning controller, a vehicle system including the same, and a method thereof are provided. The platooning controller includes a processor that identifies information about outside vehicles around a platooning line based on sensing information of platooning vehicles, determines whether views of the outside vehicles are obstructed by the platooning line based on the information about the outside vehicles, controls the platooning vehicles such that the views of the outside vehicles are obtained, and performs collision avoidance control and a storage storing the sensing information or a result of determination of whether a view is obstructed.

The invention relates to a method, performed by a control device (10), for controlling a vehicle lighting device (100), the vehicle lighting device (100) includes the control device (10); and at least one electronic display unit (20) arranged at one end (12, 14) of a vehicle (1), wherein the control device (10) is arranged to control the at least one display unit (20) to show various types of vehicle lights (22). The method includes: collecting (s101) data relating to the vehicle surroundings; and controlling (s102) the at least one display unit (20) to adapt at least one vehicle light (22) based on the collected data.

The disclosure relates to augmented reality vehicle identification with visual light communication. For example, a mobile device may be configured for “scanning” an area having multiple parked vehicles within visual range of the mobile device, to identify a target vehicle. The mobile device may include an application for identifying the target vehicle using visual light communication (VLC) equipment and techniques that present an augmented reality outline or other identification of the target vehicle on the smartphone screen once the vehicle is identified by the system. The encrypted communication channels with the vehicle may be established to utilize vehicle headlamps, interior lights, or another light emitting device to establish the VLC between the user's phone and the vehicle VLC system. The mobile device may emit VLC signals using an onboard light emitter while being in visual communication with the target vehicle, establish an encrypted communication channel with the vehicle, and identify the vehicle using automatic and/or user-selectable identification features.

An illumination system and method of ground and other illuminating that comprises a plurality of sensors that scan/detect the exterior area around the vehicle and at least one controller, the system selectively turning on/off a series of lighting elements placed strategically around the vehicle to allow light to be directed to at least one ground or other surface at the persons at all times or any predetermined time. A controller is provided to activate ground lighting in coordination with sensor signals identifying where an individual or object are located in predetermined proximity to the vehicle.

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.

Aspects of the disclosure provide for displaying notifications on a display of an autonomous vehicle 100. 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 650 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 660 may be displayed on the display. The second notification provides additional information not provided by the first notification.

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.

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 computer-implemented method performed for alerting the presence of one or more combination vehicles, each comprising a first vehicle unit and one or more second vehicle units and provided with a plurality of alerting units. Each respective first vehicle unit and respective one or more second vehicle units comprises a respective alerting unit out of the plurality of alerting units. The method comprises obtaining movement data indicative of one or both of a current movement or an expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles from at least one data communicating unit comprised in any one of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises determining the current movement and/or the expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises triggering a sound alert on the plurality of alerting units.