| CPC B60Q 1/507 (2022.05) [B60Q 1/2696 (2013.01); B60Q 1/547 (2022.05); B60Q 2400/20 (2013.01)] | 23 Claims |
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1. A method for warning approaching vehicles of an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
sensing a stopped condition of the autonomous vehicle;
activating a warning indicator of the autonomous vehicle based on the stopped condition;
sensing a start condition of the autonomous vehicle; and
deactivating the warning indicator of the autonomous vehicle based on the start condition,
wherein the warning indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs or an LED panel coupled to or formed within a sensor pod coupled to the autonomous vehicle,
wherein activating the warning indicator comprises causing the plurality of LEDs or the LED panel to display one or more caret arrows oriented in a direction facing outward from the autonomous vehicle, and
wherein the one or more caret arrows comprises a plurality of caret arrows that increase in a size along a connecting assembly coupling the sensor pod to the autonomous vehicle and along a width of the sensor pod housing, wherein a first caret arrow at a location nearest to the autonomous vehicle is the smallest of all of the plurality of caret arrows and a second caret arrow at a location farthest from the autonomous vehicle is the largest of all of the plurality of caret arrows.
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