Zoox, Inc.

Andrew Mark Stieber

Chang Gi Samuel Hong

Da Liu

Andrew Frank Raczkowski

Goutham Shanmuga Sundaram

James Michael Eccleston

Nahuel Elias Battaglia

Kevin Mark Karol

Carter William McEathron

Evan David Cook

George William Sabet Fahmy

Sergio Angel Aguirre Contreras

Steven Matthew Schleibaum

Techniques are described for uniquely identifying a quadrant of a symmetrical vehicle, such as a symmetrical autonomous vehicle. The techniques include using service indicator lights to convey information regarding the status and operational mode of the vehicle to an observer and/or service technician. The service indicator lights may uniquely identify quadrants of the vehicle for orienting the vehicle with a representation of the vehicle to guide a technician to a particular location and component of the vehicle located within the identified quadrant.

Symmetrical autonomous vehicle direction indication

A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.

Vehicular lighting using passive and/or active optics

There is provided a vehicle and method for projecting a light pattern. The method comprises: projecting a light pattern to match a footprint of an object, wherein the object is associated with a vehicle and is moveable relative to the vehicle, and wherein the footprint is indicative of an area that the object is or will be occupying. The method further comprises modifying the projected light pattern based on a state of the object.

Vehicle projector for projecting and modifying a light pattern associated with a moving object

A system for disinfecting an autonomous vehicle includes a light assembly having LEDs configured to emit UVC light into a passenger compartment of the autonomous vehicle. The light assembly includes a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs. In examples, the heat sink is disposed in the path of forced air associated with a climate control system of the vehicle. The climate control system may be controlled based on a temperature proximate the LEDs and/or the heat sink. In some examples, the light assembly is integrated into the ceiling of the vehicle and can further include visible light emitters and/or other features.

Vehicle with UVC light emitters

Methods and system for disinfecting an autonomous vehicle includes one or more LEDs coupled to the autonomous vehicle to emit UVC light into a passenger compartment of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle can include sensors to confirm that the passenger compartment is empty and can be configured to prevent ingress of passengers into the passenger compartment while the UVC light is being emitted. Moreover, visible light indicators in the vehicle can be controlled to provide different visual indicators during the disinfecting cycle and when the vehicle is available to a passenger. In examples, the disinfecting cycle can be performed while the autonomous vehicle is in use, e.g., while the autonomous vehicle is traversing to a location to retrieve a passenger. The methods and systems can provide improved cleaning and disinfection of autonomous vehicles without the need to take the vehicles out of operation.

Growing community of inventors

Foster City, CA, United States of America

Andrew Mark Stieber