Facilitating lane-splitting by motorcycles

1. A controller for an autonomous vehicle comprising:

one or more processing devices programmed to—

receive a notification from a first vehicle, the notification indicating that the first vehicle is lane-splitting along a lane boundary defined by markings on a road surface; and

transmit acknowledgment to the first vehicle of the notification;

wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to transmit acknowledgment to the first vehicle by flashing lights located on a side of the autonomous vehicle facing the lane boundary;

wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to forward the notification to one or more other vehicles adjacent the autonomous vehicle and located on either side of the lane boundary; and

wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to coordinate flashing the lights with the one or more other vehicles to define a lane-splitting zone along the lane boundary.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to transmit acknowledgment to the first vehicle by transmitting a wireless signal to the first vehicle.

3. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to refrain from performing lane-changes across the lane boundary in response to the notification.

4. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to move the autonomous vehicle away from the lane boundary in response to the notification.

5. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to:

detect a lane change across the lane boundary invoked by one of a driver of the autonomous vehicle and the controller;

in response to detecting the lane change, transmit a second notification to the first vehicle over a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication protocol, the second notification indicating that the autonomous vehicle is going to perform the lane change.

6. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing devices are coupled to at least one of a steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator; and

wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to limit movement of the autonomous vehicle toward the lane boundary by activating one or more of the steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator to limit movement toward the lane boundary.

7. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the one or more processing devices are further coupled to one or more sensing devices; and

wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to:

receive one or more outputs from the one or more sensing devices;

identify a set of potential obstacles from the outputs of the one or more sensing devices;

evaluate possible collisions between the autonomous vehicle and the set of potential obstacles; and

activate at least one of the steering actuator, the accelerator actuator, and the brake actuator of the autonomous vehicle effective to avoid collisions with the set of potential obstacles and the first vehicle.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller of an autonomous vehicle, a notification from a first vehicle, the notification indicating that the first vehicle is lane-splitting, the controller including one or more processing devices;

transmitting, by the controller, acknowledgment to the first vehicle of the notification;

wherein transmitting acknowledgment to the first vehicle comprises activating, by the controller, flashing lights located on a side of the autonomous vehicle facing a lane boundary defined by marking on a road surface;

wherein the method further comprises:

forwarding the notification to one or more other vehicles adjacent the autonomous vehicle and located on either side of the lane boundary; and

coordinating, by the controller, flashing the lights with the one or more other vehicles to define a lane-splitting zone along the lane boundary.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transmitting the acknowledgment to the first vehicle by transmitting a wireless signal to the first vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising refraining from performing lane-changes in response to the notification.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising slowing performing of lane-changes in response to the notification relative to a speed of lane changes without the notification.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a lane change invoked by one of a driver of the autonomous vehicle and the controller;

in response to detecting the lane change, transmitting, by the controller, a second notification to the first vehicle over a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication protocol, the second notification indicating that the autonomous vehicle is going to perform the lane change.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the controller is coupled to at least one of a steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator, the method further comprising:

activating one or more of the steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator to limit movement toward the land boundary.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving, by the controller, one or more outputs from one or more sensing devices;

identifying, by the controller, a set of potential obstacles from the one or more outputs of the one or more sensing devices;

evaluating, by the controller, possible collisions between the autonomous vehicle and the set of potential obstacles; and

activating, by the controller, at least one of the steering actuator, the accelerator actuator, and the brake actuator of the autonomous vehicle effective to avoid collisions with the set of potential obstacles and the first vehicle.