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 and one or more sensors, the sensor pod being external to the autonomous vehicle;
a connecting assembly extending between the sensor pod and the autonomous vehicle; and
a user interface provided on the sensor pod,
wherein the sensor pod is configured to:
detect a presence of a local user in front of the user interface of the sensor pod external to the autonomous vehicle with at least one of the one or more sensors, the local user being a human;
upon detecting the presence of the local user in front of the user interface of the sensor pod external to the autonomous vehicle, initiate, with the user interface, two-way communication between the local user and a remote user;
provide access to one or more systems of the autonomous vehicle to the remote user through the two-way communication; and
interrogate the one or more systems of the autonomous vehicle through the two-way communication.
2 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include 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 , wherein 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 sensor pod includes a call button that is configured to initiate the two-way communication upon activation of the 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 an exterior of a vehicle, the sensor pod comprising:
a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface;
a mirror located on the rearward facing surface;
one or more sensors; and
a user interface having a display surface, the display surface located on the rearward facing surface,
wherein the sensor pod is configured to:
detect a presence of a local user in front of the user interface of the sensor pod external to the vehicle with at least one of the one or more sensors, the local user being a human; and
upon detecting the presence of the local user in front of the user interface of the sensor pod external to the vehicle, initiate, with the user interface, two-way communication between the local user and a remote user;
provide access to one or more systems of the vehicle to the remote user through the two-way communication; and
interrogate the one or more systems of the vehicle through the two-way communication.
15 . The sensor pod of claim 14 , wherein the user interface further comprises 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 , wherein the one or more sensors include 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 sensor pod includes a call button that is configured to initiate the two-way communication upon activation of the 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.