LIGHT-BASED DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OFFLOADING DATA FROM A VEHICLE

1 . A method for transmitting data from an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

disengaging each transmitter within a LIDAR system and each receiver within the LIDAR system from being operable to detect objects external to the autonomous vehicle;

rotating one or more motors to adjust a direction of at least one transmitter until at least one of a plurality of receivers external to the autonomous vehicle is located;

transmitting data stored within the autonomous vehicle to an external system using a light-based communication path established between the at least one transmitter and the at least one of the plurality of receivers; and

re-engaging each transmitter within the LIDAR system and each receiver within the LIDAR system to be operable to detect an object external to the autonomous vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: stopping the LIDAR system from providing a scan pattern of an external environment when it is determined the autonomous vehicle is positioned in a location for transmitting data.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting a status information signal from a remote system to the autonomous vehicle, wherein the status information signal is transmitted using a remote transmitter connected to the remote system.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate which one of the plurality of receivers will be used for transmitting the data from the autonomous vehicle to the remote system.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate when the data has been successfully transmitted from the autonomous vehicle to the remote system.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate whether a portion of the data has not been successfully transmitted from the autonomous vehicle to the remote system.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate that the LIDAR system should re-engage each transmitter within the LIDAR system and each receiver within the LIDAR system as being operable to detect the object external to the autonomous vehicle.

8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the remote transmitter operates using a wireless connection.

9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the remote transmitter operates using a light-based connection.

10 . A system for transmitting data from an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a LIDAR system operable to disengage each transmitter within the LIDAR system and each receiver within the LIDAR system from being operable to detect objects external to the autonomous vehicle;

a controller operable to:

adjust one or more motors operable until at least one transmitter within the LIDAR system locates at least one of a plurality of receivers external to the autonomous vehicle;

transmit data stored within the autonomous vehicle to an external system using a light-based communication path established between the at least one transmitter and the at least one of the plurality of receivers; and

re-engage each transmitter within the LIDAR system and each receiver within the LIDAR system to be operable to detect an object external to the autonomous vehicle.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further operable to: stop the LIDAR system from providing a scan pattern of an external environment when it is determined the autonomous vehicle is positioned in a location for transmitting data.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further operable to: transmit a status information signal from a remote system to the autonomous vehicle, wherein the status information signal is transmitted using a remote transmitter connected to the remote system.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate which one of the plurality of receivers will be used for transmitting the data from the autonomous vehicle to the remote system.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate when the data has been successfully transmitted from the autonomous vehicle to the remote system.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate whether a portion of the data has not been successfully transmitted from the autonomous vehicle to the remote system.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the status information signal is used to indicate that the LIDAR system should re-engage each transmitter within the LIDAR system and each receiver within the LIDAR system as being operable to detect the object external to the autonomous vehicle.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the remote transmitter operates using a wireless connection.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the remote transmitter operates using a light-based connection.

19 . A method for transmitting data from an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

disengaging a modulated active sensor from being operable to detect objects external to the autonomous vehicle, wherein the modulated active sensor includes at least one transmitter and at least one receiver;

receiving a signal from a remote system indicating a location where an external receiver is positioned;

adjusting at least one of the modulated active sensors until the at least one transmitter is in communication with the external receiver;

transmitting data stored within the autonomous vehicle to an external system using a modulated communication path established between the at least one transmitter and the external receiver;

receiving a status information signal that the data stored within the autonomous vehicle has been transmitted; and

re-engaging the modulated active sensor to detect an object external to the autonomous vehicle.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the modulated active sensor includes a sonar sensor.