SENSOR POD WITH USER INTERFACE
An autonomous vehicle includes a sensor pod having a mirror, a connecting assembly extending between the sensor pod and the autonomous vehicle, and a user interface provided on the sensor pod. The user interface is configured to provide two-way communication between a local user and a remote user.
1 . An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
a sensor pod having a mirror;
a connecting assembly extending between the sensor pod and the autonomous vehicle; and
a user interface provided on the sensor pod,
wherein the user interface is configured to provide two-way communication between a local user and a remote user.
2 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the sensor pod further comprising a lidar extending from a lower end of the sensor pod.
3 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the mirror is a side-view mirror.
4 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the user interface comprising a camera, a microphone, a speaker, and a display surface.
5 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the sensor pod has a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface, and wherein each of the camera, the microphone, the speaker, and the display surface are provided on the rearward facing surface.
6 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the display surface is provided on the mirror.
7 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor pod is configured to provide autonomous operation of the autonomous vehicle and the two-way communication through the user interface.
8 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the mirror comprises a mirrored surface and a display surface such that the mirrored surface is configured as a side-view mirror and the display surface is configured to display an image.
9 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the user interface and the mirror are both located on a rearward facing surface of the sensor pod.
10 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor pod is coupled to a driver's side of the autonomous vehicle.
11 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor pod is configured to automatically initiate the two-way communication upon detection of the local user.
12 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the local user initiates the two-way communication by activating a call button.
13 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the call button is located on a display surface of the user interface or on a rearward facing surface of the sensor pod.
14 . A sensor pod configured to be coupled to a vehicle, the sensor pod comprising:
a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface;
a mirror located on the rearward facing surface; and
a user interface having a display surface, the display surface located on the rearward facing surface,
wherein the user interface is configured to provide two-way communication between a local user and a remote user.
15 . The sensor pod of claim 14 , the user interface further comprising a microphone, a speaker, and a camera.
16 . The sensor pod of claim 15 , wherein each of the microphone, the speaker, and the camera are provided on the rearward facing surface.
17 . The sensor pod of claim 15 , wherein the camera provides autonomous navigation of the vehicle and provides a visual image of the local user to the remote user.
18 . The sensor pod of claim 14 , wherein the display surface is located on the mirror such that the mirror comprises the display surface and a mirrored surface.
19 . The sensor pod of claim 14 , further comprising a lidar located on a bracket extending from a lower end of the sensor pod.
20 . The sensor pod of claim 14 , wherein the sensor pod is configured to provide autonomous operation of the vehicle and the two-way communication through the user interface.
21 . The sensor pod of claim 14 , wherein the sensor pod is configured to automatically initiate the two-way communication upon detection of the local user.
22 . The sensor pod of claim 14 , wherein the local user initiates the two-way communication by activating a call button.
23 . The sensor pod of claim 22 , wherein the call button is located on the display surface of the user interface or on the rearward facing surface of the sensor pod.