Communication between autonomous vehicle and external observers

US11619998B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• APPLIED INVENTION, LLC · US

Inventors

• W. Daniel Hillis · Calabasas, US
• Kjerstin Williams · Los Angeles, US
• Thomas A. Tombrello · Altadena, US
• James Wallace Sarrett · Highway Highlands, US
• Luke W. Khanlian · San Fernando, US
• Adrian Kaehler · Los Angeles, US
• Russel Howe · La Cañada Flintridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 2019
• Grant date: Apr 4, 2023
• Expiry date: Apr 22, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2200/24
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a method for an autonomous vehicle (e.g., a fully autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle) to communicate with external observers. The method includes: receiving a task at the autonomous vehicle; collecting data that characterizes a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle from a sensor coupled to the autonomous vehicle; determining an intended course of action for the autonomous vehicle to undertake based on the task and the collected data; and conveying a human understandable output via an output device, the human understandable output expressly or implicitly indicating the intended course of action to an external observer.