VEHICLE COMMUNICATION USING AUDIBLE SIGNALS
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- maneuvering a vehicle, by one or more processors, in an autonomous driving mode;
while maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, determining, by the one or more processors, a time when the vehicle will begin to accelerate;
beginning to play, by the one or more processors, a first audible signal through a speaker at a time t seconds before the determined time in the future when the vehicle will begin to accelerate, where t is greater than 0, wherein the first audible signal is played such that a first object in the vehicle'"'"'s external environment is provided with an indication that the vehicle intends to accelerate;
while maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, determining, by the one or more processors, a time in the future when the vehicle will begin to decelerate; and
beginning to play, by the one or more processors, through the speaker a second audible signal, different from the first audible signal, at a time when the vehicle begins decelerating based on the determined time in the future when the vehicle will begin to decelerate, wherein the second audible signal is played such that a second object in the vehicle'"'"'s external environment is provided with an indication that the vehicle is currently decelerating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to enabling an autonomous vehicle operating in a self-driving mode to communicate information about what the vehicle is about to do or is currently doing. For example, one or more processors may maneuver a vehicle in an autonomous or self-driving mode. While maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, a time when the vehicle will begin to accelerate may be determined. A first audible signal may be played through a speaker at a time t seconds before the time when the vehicle will begin to accelerate. While maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, a time when the vehicle will begin to decelerate may also be determined. A second audible signal, different from the first audible signal, may be played through the speaker at the time when the vehicle begins decelerating.
132 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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maneuvering a vehicle, by one or more processors, in an autonomous driving mode; while maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, determining, by the one or more processors, a time when the vehicle will begin to accelerate; beginning to play, by the one or more processors, a first audible signal through a speaker at a time t seconds before the determined time in the future when the vehicle will begin to accelerate, where t is greater than 0, wherein the first audible signal is played such that a first object in the vehicle'"'"'s external environment is provided with an indication that the vehicle intends to accelerate; while maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, determining, by the one or more processors, a time in the future when the vehicle will begin to decelerate; and beginning to play, by the one or more processors, through the speaker a second audible signal, different from the first audible signal, at a time when the vehicle begins decelerating based on the determined time in the future when the vehicle will begin to decelerate, wherein the second audible signal is played such that a second object in the vehicle'"'"'s external environment is provided with an indication that the vehicle is currently decelerating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 21, 22, 24)
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6. (canceled)
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9. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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11. A system comprising one or more processors configured to:
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maneuver a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode; while maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, determine a time in the future when the vehicle will begin to accelerate; begin to play a first audible signal through a speaker at a time t seconds before the determined time in the future when the vehicle will begin to accelerate, where t is greater than 0, wherein the first audible signal is played such that a first object in the vehicle'"'"'s external environment is provided with an indication that the vehicle intends to accelerate; while maneuvering the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, determine a time in the future when the vehicle will begin to decelerate; and begin to play through the speaker a second audible signal, different from the first audible signal, at a time when the vehicle begins decelerating based on the determined future time when the vehicle will begin to decelerate, wherein the second audible signal is played such that a second object in the vehicle'"'"'s external environment is provided with an indication that the vehicle is currently decelerating. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 23)
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16. (canceled)
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19. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
Specification