Autonomous vehicle signaling system

Abstract

A visual indicator system includes a sensor system, a visual indicator, a processing system coupled to the sensor system and the visual indicator, and a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a visual indicator module. The visual indicator module receives first sensor data via the sensor system and determines based on the first sensor data that a first condition is satisfied. In response to the first condition being satisfied and via a first portion of the visual indicator, the visual indicator module provides a first visual indication that is associated with the first condition to a physical environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by an autonomous vehicle comprising a processor, based on sensor data, that a condition related to the autonomous vehicle satisfies a criterion; and   providing, by the autonomous vehicle, an indication of the condition to a recipient outside of the autonomous vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication is a visual indication. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication is an audio indication. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication is communication to a device associated with the recipient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition relates to a relationship between the autonomous vehicle and the recipient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the criterion relates to a potential harm to the recipient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication further indicates an action being performed by the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 determining, based on sensor measurements, that a state of the autonomous vehicle meets a criterion; and 
 generating, by the autonomous vehicle, an indication of the state to be directed to an environment outside of the autonomous vehicle. 
   
     
     
         9 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the indication is a visual indication. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the indication is an audio indication. 
     
     
         11 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the indication is communication to a device associated with individual in the environment. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the state relates to a relationship between the autonomous vehicle and an object in the environment. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the criterion relates to a safety threshold for an individual in the environment. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the indication further indicates an autonomous action being performed by the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of an autonomous vehicle, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 determining, based on an observation of an environment of the autonomous vehicle, that a condition related to the autonomous vehicle satisfies a threshold; and   providing an indication of the condition to an individual identified in the observation.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the indication is a visual indication. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the indication is an audio indication. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the indication is communication to a device associated with the individual. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the condition relates to a relationship between the autonomous vehicle and the individual. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the threshold relates to a potential harm to the individual.