CRITICAL STOP HANDLING FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE

1 . A method of operating an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

activating, by a processor on the autonomous vehicle, a first set of lights in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has come to a stop due to a critical situation,

wherein the first set of lights have an illumination intensity brighter than a second set of lights used in a non-critical situation,

wherein the first set of lights form a pattern indicative of a size of the autonomous vehicle,

wherein the first set of lights are disposed on a base that is detachable from the autonomous vehicle.

2 . The method of operating an autonomous vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the activating includes:

transmitting a first signal by a transmitter of the autonomous vehicle; and

receiving the first signal, by a receiver of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are disposed at physically separate positions on the autonomous vehicle.

3 . The method of operating an autonomous vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the activating includes:

transmitting a second signal indicating the second set of lights to be turned off; and

turning off the second set of lights based on the second signal.

4 . The method of operating an autonomous vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the activating includes:

transmitting a signal on a wire connecting the second set of lights.

5 . The method of operating an autonomous vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination intensity of the first set of lights is adjustable depending on the critical situation.

6 . The method of operating an autonomous vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the pattern comprises the first set of lights positioned at corners of a surface of the autonomous vehicle.

7 . The method of operating an autonomous vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the pattern comprises the first set of lights positioned along sides of a surface of the autonomous vehicle.

8 . The method of operating an autonomous vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the base is magnetically attached to at least one surface of the autonomous vehicle.

9 . A system for autonomous driving operation, comprising:

an autonomous vehicle comprising a plurality of subsystems configured to:

activate, by at least one of the plurality of subsystems, a first set of lights in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has come to a stop due to a critical situation,

wherein the first set of lights have an illumination intensity brighter than a second set of lights used in a non-critical situation,

wherein the first set of lights forms a pattern indicative of a size of the autonomous vehicle,

wherein the first set of light are disposed on a base that is detachable from the autonomous vehicle.

10 . The system for autonomous driving operation according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of subsystems are further configure to.

transmit a first signal, by at least one of the plurality of subsystems; and

receive the first signal, by at least one of the plurality of subsystems.

11 . The system for autonomous driving operation according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of subsystems are further configure to:

transmitting, by at least one of the plurality of subsystems, a second signal indicating the lights to be turned off; and

turn off, by at least one of the plurality of subsystems, the lights based on the second signal.

12 . The system for autonomous driving operation according to claim 9 , wherein the critical situation comprises a sharp stop on a middle of a road.

13 . The system for autonomous driving operation according to claim 9 , wherein the critical situation comprises a gradual stop on a middle of a road.

14 . The system for autonomous driving operation according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one subsystem comprises a controller located at the base.

15 . A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

activate a first set of lights in response to determining that an autonomous vehicle has come to a stop due to a critical situation,

wherein the first set of light have an illumination intensity brighter than a second set of lights used in a non-critical situation,

wherein the first set of lights forms a pattern indicative of a size of the autonomous vehicle,

wherein the first set of lights are disposed on a base that is detachable from the autonomous vehicle.

16 . The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium according to claim 15 , wherein the first set of lights are LED lights.

17 . The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium according to claim 15 , wherein the first set of lights generate warning signals through changing lighting color, lighting strength, or flashing pattern.

18 . The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium according to claim 15 , wherein the base covers at least one surface of the autonomous vehicle.

19 . The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium according to claim 18 , wherein the surface is a back surface of the autonomous vehicle.

20 . The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium according to claim 18 , wherein the surface is a side surface of the autonomous vehicle.