Deactivating or disabling various vehicle systems and/or components when vehicle operates in an autonomous mode

1. A computing system for a vehicle, the computing system comprising one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

determine if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle;

if the vehicle is operating without at least one occupant inside the vehicle, disable and/or deactivate user pre-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components,

wherein the user pre-selected ones of the driver-usage systems/components include one or more of headlights, head-up displays, dashboard lights, satellite navigation system displays, and other displays.

2. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle, determine if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle; and

if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disable and/or deactivate user pre-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

3. The computing system of claim 2 wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle, determine if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode; and

if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disable and/or deactivate user pre-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

4. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the user pre-selected ones of the passenger-usage systems/components include one or more of dome lights and overhead lights.

5. A vehicle including a computing system in accordance with claim 1 .

6. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising steps of:

determining if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle;

if the vehicle is operating without at least one occupant inside the vehicle, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and/or passenger-usage systems/components;

if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle, determining if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle;

if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disabling and/or deactivating the selected ones of driver-usage systems/components;

if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle, determining if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode;

if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of the driver-usage systems/components; and

if the vehicle is not operating in a driverless driving mode, leaving the driver-usage systems/components active or enabled.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle, determining if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle; and

if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle, determining if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode; and

if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the selected ones of the driver-usage systems/components include one or more of headlights, head-up displays, dashboard lights, satellite navigation system displays, and other displays.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the selected ones of the passenger-usage systems/components include one or more of dome lights and overhead lights.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components are user-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components.

12. A computing system for a vehicle, the computing system comprising one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

determine if the vehicle is operating with a vehicle occupant in a driver seat of the vehicle;

if the vehicle is operating with a vehicle occupant in a driver seat of the vehicle, determine if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode; and

if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disable and/or deactivate selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

13. The computing system of claim 12 wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disable and/or deactivate selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

14. The computing system of claim 12 wherein the selected ones of driver-usage systems/components are user-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

15. A vehicle including a computing system in accordance with claim 12 .