Vehicle trim panel including actuatable reflector

Abstract

A reflector unit may act as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may include a plurality of reflector elements having a first side configured to reflect light of a first color and a second side configured to reflect light of a second color. In response to receiving a signal (e.g., indicating that the bidirectional vehicle has changed direction of travel), the reflector unit may rotate the reflector element and expose different sides of the reflector element according to the direction of travel. In some examples, the reflector unit may have a shielding element that may be actuated to cover or expose the reflective element.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This PCT international application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. application No. 18 / 435,298, filed on February 7, 2024, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63 / 444,873, filed on February 10, 2023, and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. application No. 18 / 240,946, filed on August 31, 2023, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Background Art

[0003] Vehicles can have a variety of different types of lights and reflectors to illuminate the exterior of the vehicle and communicate with pedestrians or other vehicles in the environment. These lights and reflectors allow the vehicle to be conspicuous and visible in terms of its presence, location, and other aspects. The lights and reflectors on the front of the vehicle are typically different from those on the rear. However, current reflector designs may not function properly in non-traditional vehicles, such as those capable of traveling equally in any of multiple directions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The specific embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. The same reference numbers in different drawings indicate similar or identical items.

[0005] Figure 1 A perspective view of an example vehicle including various reflector units is shown. An excerpted view shows an example reflector element changing from a first state to a second state according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0006] Figure 2 An enlarged detail view of an example reflector unit comprising a reflector element transitioning from a first state to a second state is shown.

[0007] Figure 3A A perspective view of the internal components of an example reflector unit is shown.

[0008] Figure 3B A perspective view of an example reflector unit is shown in association with a vehicle fascia.

[0009] Figure 3C A cross-sectional view of an example reflector unit coupled to a vehicle is shown, illustrating the curved profile of the reflector unit.

[0010] Figure 4A A perspective view of another example reflector unit is shown.

[0011] Figure 4B Shown Figure 4A A front view of an example reflector unit.

[0012] Figure 4C Shown Figure 4A Rear view of an example reflector unit.

[0013] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of another example reflector unit is shown. The extracted view shows another example reflector element having three sides, one of which comprises a display.

[0014] Figure 6 A block diagram of an example system for implementing various reflector units as described herein is shown.

[0015] Figure 7 A flow chart outlining an example process for transitioning a reflector element from a first state to a second state using the techniques described herein is shown.

[0016] Figure 8A A perspective view of an example vehicle including various actuator systems is shown. An excerpted view shows an actuator system according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 8B A perspective view of an example vehicle including various actuator systems is shown. An excerpted view shows another example actuator system in a first state and a second state according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 9A A top, front, left side perspective view of a vehicle fascia including an indicator portion is shown.

[0019] Figure 9B A front view of a vehicle fascia including an indicator portion is shown.

[0020] Figure 9C A right side view of a vehicle fascia including an indicator portion is shown.

[0021] Figure 9D A rear view of a vehicle fascia is shown, including an actuator system for operably exposing or covering an indicated portion of the vehicle fascia.

[0022] Figure 9E Shown is a top, rear, right side perspective view of a vehicle fascia including an actuator system for operably exposing or covering an indicated portion of the vehicle fascia.

[0023] Figure 10A A front view of a vehicle fascia is shown illustrating a first state of control of a shielding member by an actuator system, wherein the first state exposes an indicator portion.

[0024] Figures 10A-10CA front view of a vehicle fascia is shown illustrating a first portion and a second portion transitioning from a first state to a second state of control of a shade member by an actuator system.

[0025] Figure 10D A front view of a vehicle fascia is shown illustrating a second state of control of the shielding member by the actuator system, wherein the second state covers the indicator portion.

[0026] Figure 11A A perspective view of another example actuator system is shown.

[0027] Figure 11B Shown in the first state Figure 11A Front view of an example actuator system.

[0028] Figure 11C Shown in the second state Figure 11A Front view of an example actuator system.

[0029] Figure 12 A flow chart outlining an example process for transitioning a shield element associated with an actuator system from a first state to a second state using the techniques described herein is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Example vehicle safety features may include white reflectors on the front of the vehicle and red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle so that operators of other vehicles can quickly obtain the vehicle's direction of travel. For bidirectional vehicles, for example, the vehicle described in U.S. Patent 11,242,972, filed on September 11, 2019 (the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes), this may pose a problem because, depending on the configuration of the vehicle, either end of the vehicle may be the front end (head end) or the rear end (tail end) of the vehicle. Such bidirectional vehicles may be equipped with lighting that changes to indicate the directionality of the vehicle. For example, an autonomous vehicle may be equipped with a system that controls the vehicle's lights so that in a first state, a first set of lights associated with one side of the vehicle is illuminated with a white hue to indicate the front of the vehicle, and a second set of lights associated with the other side of the vehicle is illuminated with a red hue to indicate the rear of the vehicle. The reverse may occur when the vehicle changes its operating direction by "changing the lighting system to a second state, illuminating the first set of lights with a red hue and illuminating the second set of lights with a white hue." Despite this lighting change, additional safety features may be desired or required, such as a front retroreflector (or retroreflector) of a first color and / or a front reflector and a rear reflector of a second color. Federal motor vehicle safety standards currently require vehicles to have colored reflectors that indicate the front or rear end of the vehicle. For vehicles capable of symmetrical operation (e.g., bidirectional operation), it is impossible to meet these requirements using traditional fixed reflectors.

[0031] The present invention relates to reflector units for vehicles and techniques for controlling reflector units. Herein, in some examples, the term "reflector" may refer to a retroreflector, which is an optical device or optical surface that reflects electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light) back to its source with minimal scattering. The design of the retroreflector causes the wavefront of the radiation to be reflected directly back to the wavefront source over a relatively wide range of incident angles. Retroreflectors are commonly used on vehicles and road signs. However, any material that is reflective to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), including EMR in the visible spectrum, may be used. As used herein, the term "reflector" refers to a passive reflector that does not require power to reflect light, such as a retroreflector. In some examples, other non-passive components, such as lights, displays, etc., may be coupled to, placed adjacent to, used in conjunction with, or otherwise associated with one or more reflectors.

[0032] Each reflector unit can be operated to reflect light of one or more selected colors. Here, the color of a reflector refers to the color of the light exiting the reflector. In some examples, the color of the reflector can be imparted by a tinted lens or filter within the reflector. For example, in some examples, a reflector unit can include a reflector element having multiple sides (e.g., two sides, three sides, four sides, etc.), each side including one or more reflectors configured to reflect, transmit, or display an image, light of a specific color, or the like into the environment. For example, a first side of the reflector element can have a reflector configured to emit light of a first color, and a second side of the reflector element, opposite the first side, can have a reflector configured to emit light of a second color. In other words, the reflector element can be configured to receive incident light (e.g., sunlight, headlights, etc.) and reflect back light of the first or second color depending on which side of the reflector element is exposed to the environment. The unexposed side of the reflector element faces inward, toward the vehicle interior, and prevents light from being reflected or transmitted into the environment. In this manner, the reflector unit reflects incident light as either the first or second color. In other words, the reflector unit can behave as a reflector having a first color or as a reflector having a second color, this selection being based on which side of the reflector element is exposed to the environment.

[0033] A reflector unit (or retroreflector system) provided on a vehicle may include one or more reflector elements (or retroreflector elements). A controller associated with the reflector unit may receive a signal indicating a change in vehicle state (e.g., a change in direction of travel or an indication of a change in heading, direction of travel, distance traveled, etc.). As used herein, direction of travel may refer to one of two available directions of travel for a bidirectional vehicle. The controller may cause an actuator (e.g., a motor, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, etc.) to actuate a connecting rod coupled to the reflector element and cause the reflector element to rotate. In other words, the reflector element may be configured to change which side of the reflector element is exposed to the environment based on the vehicle's direction (or the vehicle's most recent direction of travel when the vehicle is parked, stationary, or experiencing a malfunction, etc.).

[0034] In an example, the reflector element may include multiple sides or surfaces, and each of the multiple sides / surfaces may include a red, amber (or tan), or white / transparent reflector. However, any number of colors are contemplated and may be implemented based on the placement of the reflector unit around the vehicle (interior, exterior, front, rear, roof, side, near a window, etc.) or the desired or intended function (e.g., indicating the vehicle's direction of travel or configuration, communicating with pedestrians or vehicles, providing an alarm, indicating a fault or emergency, etc.). For example, a reflector unit at the front or rear of the vehicle may change between red and white, while a reflector unit on the side of the vehicle may change between white and amber. In some examples, the reflector unit(s) at the front and / or rear of the vehicle may switch between two states or colors, while a reflector unit located on the side of the vehicle (e.g., near a passenger door) may switch between three or four states. In some examples, the reflector element can be configured to transition between two or more states based on a period of time (e.g., every 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, etc.) to indicate an emergency or malfunction associated with the vehicle in any combination (e.g., a reflector can individually change the state of other reflectors in the same unit). Alternatively, the controller can cause the reflector element to oscillate by sending a signal to an actuator to partially transition or rotate the reflector element (e.g., repeatedly between approximately 10 and 45 degrees left and right). In some examples, causing the reflector element to oscillate may be based in part on receiving an indication or signal of a malfunction associated with one or more components of the vehicle.

[0035] In some examples, one or more sides of the reflector element can include an active display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an electronic ink display, or other devices configured to change their display images (e.g., multi-segment displays, quantum dot displays, electroluminescent displays, etc.). The display can be used to communicate with pedestrians or other vehicles (e.g., display a passenger's order number, provide an alert, indicate vehicle status, etc.). Each of the multiple elements can display a portion of an image or message (e.g., a single letter or number), so that a complete image or message can be presented on the multiple elements. In at least one example, one or more sides of the reflector element can include a light emitter, a projector, a steerable light, etc.

[0036] The technology discussed herein also includes actuator systems that are operable (e.g., mechanically, electrically, electromechanically, programmatically) to expose or conceal an indicator portion of a vehicle fascia based on the vehicle's direction of travel (e.g., a reversal of direction of travel). The indicator portion may include, for example, a retroreflector, a transmitter, a license plate, an RFID tag, a permit (e.g., a parking permit, a location access permit), a display (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, an active-matrix light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display, an electronic ink display, an LED display, a micro-LED, etc.), an identification number (e.g., a vehicle identification number (VIN), a registration number, etc.), a machine-readable code (e.g., a code that can be scanned or read by a machine for tracking, identification, providing information, etc.), and the like, although the discussion herein uses a retroreflector as an example. In some examples, the actuator system may expose the retroreflector in a first state and conceal the retroreflector in a second state. Of course, the above examples are not meant to be limiting and are merely for illustrative purposes. The technology discussed herein may also be applied to conventional vehicles or other vehicles.

[0037] The example actuator system can be replicated on both quarter panels on the same side of the vehicle and / or can be replicated on opposite sides of the vehicle, such as in the bidirectional autonomous vehicle example described above. In some examples, the retroreflectors on opposite sides and / or longitudinal ends of the vehicle can be maintained in opposite states. For example, a first retroreflector associated with one longitudinal end of the vehicle, such as a retroreflector associated with the direction of travel, can be exposed, while the retroreflector on the opposite longitudinal end of the vehicle (e.g., the rear end) can be covered. Note that it is contemplated that in some examples, the states of opposite sides and / or longitudinal ends of the vehicle may be the same. In some examples, an actuator system according to the present disclosure may include a controller, an actuator, a linkage, a shielding element, and an indicating portion (e.g., a retroreflector). In some examples, the actuator system may also include a seal. In some examples, the actuator system may include a controller configured to receive signals from one or more systems and / or subsystems associated with the vehicle (e.g., a perception system (e.g., a system that collects environmental data), a sensor system (LiDAR, radar, camera, ultrasonic, etc.), a positioning system (e.g., a system that determines the vehicle's location), a mapping system (e.g., a system that provides a map of a road network, including lane information, traffic signs, road geometry, etc.), a control system (e.g., a system that generates and / or executes a planned trajectory by controlling the vehicle's acceleration, braking, steering, and other driving functions), and a communication system (e.g., a system that enables the vehicle to communicate or interact with other vehicles on the road, infrastructure, cloud-based services, etc.), a diagnostic and monitoring system (e.g., a system that monitors the health and performance of various components and provides feedback for maintenance and / or troubleshooting), or any other system associated with the vehicle. Again, this is just one example, and the techniques described herein can be applied to various parts of a vehicle to change status indications.

[0038] In some examples, the motor can be coupled to the shield element via a linkage, such that operation of the motor alternately retracts the shield element to expose the retroreflector in a first state, or positions the shield element in a second state to cover the retroreflector. The motor can be coupled to the shield element via one or more linkages and / or components such that the shield element transitions between the first state and the second state in response to actuation of the motor. In some examples, the motor can be any motor suitable for providing force to the linkage, such as an electromechanical actuator, a servo motor, an electric motor, a brushless motor, a stepper motor, an electro-hydraulic system, a linear actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a belt drive system, and the like.

[0039] In some examples, the fascia may include an outer side and an inner side, and the motor may be located on the inner side of the fascia, i.e., behind the fascia. In some examples, the connecting rod may also be located on the inner side of the fascia, although in some examples, at least a portion of the fascia may be located on the outer side. In the latter example, the exposed portion of the connecting rod may be concealed by a cover and / or seal.

[0040] The connecting rod may include a hydraulic piston, pin, arm, etc., which may be configured to transfer the force generated by the motor to a portion of the shielding element, which is configured to be coupled to the connecting rod to receive the force generated by the motor. In some examples, the connecting rod may include a plurality of connecting rod components coupled together between the motor and the shielding element. In some examples, the connecting rod may be combined with various connecting rods or components that may be coupled to the motor, the shielding element, the vehicle body, the frame, and / or any combination thereof. For example, the motor may be a stepper motor, and the connecting rod may include a rack and / or pinion to enable the shielding element to slide on a track or other guide rail. In another example, the connecting rod may include a cam and / or a rotary mechanical linkage.

[0041] The shielding element can be constructed of the same or similar materials as the vehicle's fascia, such as polymers, carbon fiber, metals, composite materials, etc., but in other examples, can be constructed of a different material than the vehicle's fascia. In another or alternative example, the shielding element can also include an indication adhered or otherwise attached to or constituting the shielding element, such that covering the first indication with the shielding element reveals a second indication associated with the shielding element. For example, the shielding element can include a red retroreflector that can slide over a white retroreflector and can retract to reveal the white retroreflector based on the direction of travel of bidirectional vehicles. In another example, the shielding element can be an elongated strip that includes two indications, such as a white retroreflector and a red retroreflector. Depending on the direction of travel, a motor can be actuated to slide the elongated strip to reveal the appropriate portion (i.e., the white retroreflector portion or the red retroreflector portion). In such an example, the elongated strip can cover the third indication, or can be used alone without covering any other indications. The shielding element can be positioned in channels in the fascia that are configured to constrain the movement of the shielding element along a plane or shape defined by the fascia. The channel may be formed directly (e.g., molded or machined) in the indicator, or may be coupled to the trim (e.g., in the form of a rail, track, or other guide coupled to the trim). In another or alternative example, the channel in which the shielding element resides may be provided in the seal.

[0042] The shielding element can be placed in a first position, such as in a storage position, so that it fits or matches the exterior shape and / or configuration of the vehicle. The shielding element can be repositioned by a motor and a connecting rod to move from the first position to a second position. In the first position, the shielding element can expose or reveal a retroreflector, indicator, light or other feature on the vehicle. In the second position, the shielding element can alternately cover or hide the retroreflector, indicator, light or other feature (in whole or in part). In this way, the shielding element can be configured to alternately hide and / or reveal one or more features on the visible exterior surface of the vehicle. The shielding element can be configured to hide and / or reveal the element based on the actuation of the motor and the connecting rod.

[0043] In some examples, the shielding element may additionally or alternatively include a switchable component, such as a switchable glass, such as privacy glass, to change the opacity of the shielding element in response to a command from a controller. In these examples, the motor and / or linkage may instead correspond to an electrical and / or electromechanical connection to the switchable glass, which is configured to switch the switchable glass from an opaque state to a transparent state in response to a signal from the controller. The shielding element can be configured between an opaque state, in which the shielding element prevents light from passing through the shielding element, thereby concealing a vehicle component located behind the shielding element and / or preventing light from emanating from the vehicle component, and a transparent state, in which the vehicle component can be viewed and / or interacted with, such as by revealing a retroreflector, a vehicle indicator, or allowing light from the vehicle component to be transmitted.

[0044] In some examples, the controller may receive instructions from a planning component of the autonomous vehicle. The planning component may include one or more machine learning models to generate a trajectory for controlling the movement of the autonomous vehicle based, at least in part, on sensor data. In additional or alternative examples where the vehicle is controlled by a driver, the instructions may be received from a component that indicates the vehicle's direction of travel. Regardless, according to normal traffic regulations, the instructions may indicate the vehicle's directionality, designating one longitudinal end of the vehicle as the front (i.e., the front end) and the opposite longitudinal end of the vehicle as the rear (i.e., the rear end). The controller may receive these instructions and, based at least in part on these instructions, change the state of the actuator system. For example, when the instructions indicate a first driving configuration of the vehicle, the controller may signal or control actuation of a first motor to retract a first shielding element to expose a first retroreflector associated with the first longitudinal end of the vehicle (i.e., the front in the first driving configuration), and cause a second motor to actuate and position a second shielding element to cover a second retroreflector associated with the second longitudinal end of the vehicle (i.e., the rear in the first driving configuration). In a second driving configuration, this process may be reversed. The controller may actuate the corresponding motor to cover the first retroreflector and expose the second retroreflector.

[0045] In some examples, the controller may additionally or alternatively receive sensor data indicating a location of the vehicle and may determine, based at least in part on regulatory data stored in memory or retrieved via a network, regulations that may alter controller operation, such as by operating a motor to override all retroreflectors when the controller determines, based at least in part on the sensor data, that the location is associated with a jurisdiction identified in the regulatory data as not requiring retroreflectors.

[0046] Note that although this discussion involves retroreflectors, the concept can be extended to light emitters, license plates, RFID tags, permits (e.g., parking permits, location access permits), displays (e.g., liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, active-matrix light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays, electronic ink displays, LED displays, micro-LED displays, etc.), identification numbers (vehicle identification numbers (VINs), registration numbers, etc.), machine-readable codes (e.g., codes that can be scanned or read by a machine for tracking, identification, providing information, etc.), etc.) disposed on a vehicle.

[0047] In some examples, the actuator system may further include a seal disposed around the retroreflector to provide a surface that protects the internal components from intrusive materials (such as water or dust) and / or to wipe clean the shielding element when the shielding element is retracted to expose the retroreflector. In such examples, the seal may be made of a flexible material, such as rubber, silicone, a polymer, the like, and / or combinations thereof. In some examples, the seal may be treated with a hydrophobic or weather-resistant coating.

[0048] Figure 1 Depicted are front and side views of an example vehicle 100 including various reflector units 102A, 102B, 102C, and 102D (collectively, "reflector units"). The figure depicts reflector unit 102A changing from a first state reflecting a first color or first color pattern into the environment to a second state reflecting a second color or second color pattern into the environment.

[0049] For example, vehicle 100 is depicted as a passenger car having four wheels / tires. Other types and configurations of vehicles are contemplated, such as vans, sport utility vehicles, crossovers, trucks, buses, agricultural vehicles, trains, and construction vehicles. Vehicle 100 may be powered by one or more internal combustion engines, electric motors powered by one or more power sources (e.g., batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, etc.), or any combination thereof. Furthermore, while vehicle 100 is shown as having four wheels / tires, the systems and methods described herein may be incorporated into vehicles having fewer or more wheels, tires, and / or tracks. Vehicle 100 in this example is a bidirectional vehicle with four-wheel steering and may operate with substantially equal performance characteristics in all directions, such as Figure 1 As shown, when traveling in a first direction, the first end 108 of the vehicle 100 is the front end of the vehicle, and when traveling in an opposite second direction, the first end 108 becomes the rear end of the vehicle. Similarly, when the vehicle is traveling in a second direction, the second end 110 of the vehicle is the front end of the vehicle, and when traveling in the second direction, the first end 108 becomes the rear end of the vehicle. These example features may help improve maneuverability, such as in small spaces or crowded environments, such as parking lots and urban areas. Thus, due to the bidirectionality of the vehicle 100, each reflector unit may sometimes operate as a red reflector or indicator (e.g., red associated with the rear of the vehicle) and at other times operate as a white reflector or indicator (e.g., white associated with the front of the vehicle).

[0050] In some examples, vehicle 100 may be an autonomous vehicle configured to operate in accordance with the Level 5 classification published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2016, which describes a vehicle capable of performing all safety-critical functions throughout a trip without the driver (or passenger) being required to control the vehicle at any time. In this case, the vehicle may be unoccupied, as it may be configured to control all functions from start to stop, including all lighting functions. However, this is merely an example, and the systems and methods described herein can be incorporated into any ground vehicle, including those manually driven by a human and partially autonomously controlled vehicles, such that they can autonomously control themselves without driver attention or assistance under certain driving conditions, such as when traveling on limited-access highways, but require driver attention and / or assistance under other driving conditions, such as when traveling on city streets in urban areas or during at least some parking functions. Of course, these technologies need not be implemented in a vehicle at all and can be implemented in a variety of systems and devices.

[0051] The first reflector unit can be placed at the first end of a two-way vehicle, and the second reflector unit can be placed at the second end (i.e., the opposite end) of the two-way vehicle. If the first end of the vehicle is located in front of the second end when the vehicle is traveling, the first reflector unit can be used as a white reflector at the front of the vehicle. In addition, the second reflector unit can be used as a red reflector at the rear of the vehicle. On the other hand, if the vehicle is traveling so that the second end of the vehicle is located in front of the first end, the first reflector unit can be used as a red reflector at the rear of the vehicle, and the second reflector unit can be used as a white reflector at the front of the vehicle.

[0052] One or more reflector units can be positioned around the vehicle 100. In some examples, one or more reflector units can be incorporated into headlights, turn signals, other lamps on the vehicle, bumpers, etc. A first reflector unit can be located in a first portion of the vehicle and a second reflector unit can be located in a second portion of the vehicle. For example, two reflector units (102A and 102B) can be placed on the first end 108 of a bidirectional vehicle and two other reflector units ( Figure 1 A reflector unit (not visible in FIG) may be placed on the second end 110 of a bidirectional vehicle. Additional reflector units, such as reflector unit 102C and reflector unit 102D, may be provided on one side of the vehicle.

[0053] although Figure 1 Only four reflector units are shown in Figure 1 Four additional reflector units are present on the second end 110 and opposite side of the vehicle, not visible in the figure. Furthermore, a greater or fewer number of reflector units may be used in other examples. Depending on the desired functionality, the reflector units may be coupled to components of the vehicle 100, including one or more fascia, fenders, wheels, doors, roof, body, bumper, underside, interior, exterior, etc. For example, the reflector units may be duplicated on both fenders on the same side of the vehicle 100 and / or may be duplicated on opposite sides of the vehicle, such as in the bidirectional vehicle example described above.

[0054] The reflector units provided on the vehicle may vary depending on the location of the reflector units. For example, reflector units 102A and 102B provided at one end of vehicle 100 may be configured to switch between a first color (e.g., red) and a second color (e.g., white / transparent), while reflector units 102C and 102D may be provided on side 112 of vehicle 100 near the door and may be configured to switch between a first color (e.g., red or white) and a third color (e.g., amber) that may be different from the second color. In some examples, reflector units 102A and 102B may include two sides, while reflector units 102C and 102D may include three or four sides due to being provided on sides other than the front or rear of the vehicle.

[0055] The reflector unit can include one or more reflector elements 114 configured to passively reflect light and one or more side marker lights 104 configured to actively emit light into the environment. In some examples (not shown), the side marker lights 104 can surround the perimeter of the reflector unit (e.g., forming a ring, oval, rectangle, etc.), while in the illustrated example, the side marker lights 104 include circular dots or lights disposed on the surface or border of the reflector unit near the reflector elements 114. In some examples, depending on applicable rules, regulations, and laws, the side marker lights may be included in reflector units located at the front and / or rear end of the vehicle, rather than in reflector units located on the sides of the vehicle. The reflector unit can provide the functionality of a retroreflector having a specific color. Here, the color of the retroreflector refers to the color of the light emitted from the retroreflector. For example, the retroreflector can include a colored material (e.g., plastic, glass, etc.) that reflects a portion of the spectrum of incident white light, where this portion corresponds to the color of the reflector. In some examples, one or more sides of the reflector element 114 can include a reflector that does not introduce color to the incident white light, but (or in addition) one or more color filters can be provided in front of the side of the reflector unit to introduce color to the reflected incident white light. In some examples, a reflector element can reflect red, white, or amber, but any color or color combination is also contemplated. In the case of white (or transparent) color, one side of the reflector element 114 can include a transparent material that does not introduce color so that the incident white light remains white when reflected by the retroreflector.

[0056] The first side of the reflector element 114 can be configured to reflect light of a first color 116A (e.g., red, amber, white, etc.), and the second side can be configured to reflect light of a second color 116B that is different from the first color. As described above, this allows the reflector unit to assume multiple states and communicate the vehicle's direction of travel to other vehicles. Retroreflector units located on opposite ends or sides of the vehicle can be maintained in different or opposite states. For example, a first retroreflector unit located on the first end 108 (e.g., the front end) of the vehicle 100 can be associated with a first state and reflect a first color (e.g., white or amber), while a second retroreflector unit associated with the second end 110 of the vehicle can be associated with a second state and reflect a second color (e.g., red). In at least one example, it is contemplated that the states of the reflector units on opposite sides of the vehicle 100 can be the same. Of course, in any of the examples listed herein, the colors or color combinations may vary depending on applicable rules, regulations, laws, and other considerations.

[0057] The controller can be configured to receive signals from various systems or components. For example, the controller can receive an electrical signal from a planner component of the vehicle that indicates a change in the state of the vehicle (e.g., a change in direction or configuration related to the direction of travel, or an indication that the vehicle is about to change direction of travel) and can cause the reflector element to transition from a first state to a second state. In some examples, the reflector element can transition between the first state and the second state based on a period of time (e.g., 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, etc.) to indicate a fault or emergency situation. In at least one example, the controller can partially transition or rotate the reflector element (e.g., repeatedly between approximately 10 and 45 degrees left and right) by sending a signal to an actuator, thereby causing the reflector element to oscillate. In some examples, causing the reflector element to oscillate may be based in part on receiving an indication or signal of a fault associated with one or more components of the vehicle. The controller can also receive signals from other components or systems, including a locator system, a sensor system, a perception system, one or more safety systems, and other systems of the vehicle. In some examples, the controller can be configured to receive signals from a source external to the vehicle, such as from an autonomous vehicle service platform, a fleet manager, or a remote computing device (e.g., a teleoperator computing device). In some examples, different reflector systems can be configured to communicate with or receive signals from different systems or components associated with the vehicle.

[0058] When the vehicle is turned off or parked, the vehicle's most recent direction of movement may determine which side of the reflector element faces the environment. This ensures that the retroreflector unit is always able to passively reflect light, particularly at night when visibility may be reduced. In some examples, the reflector unit can be a bi-stable device and typically consumes power only when changing from one state to another. Once power is removed, the state of a bi-stable reflector unit can be maintained for a relatively long time (e.g., indefinitely). For example, if the reflector unit is bi-stable, the reflector unit does not need to consume power to maintain the state (e.g., positioning the reflector element so that a first side is exposed and not the other side). In such an example, a bidirectional vehicle may continue to comply with functional safety requirements despite the loss of power.

[0059] The vehicle 100 is shown to also include dual function lamp units 106A and 106B that can be used as headlights when traveling in a first direction and can be switched to function as taillights when traveling in a second direction. The lamp units 106A and 106B can be located on a different side of the vehicle 100 than on the vehicle 100. Figure 1 In some examples, the reflector unit may be located on the vehicle 100 above, below, and / or beside the light units 106A and 106B of the vehicle 100 .

[0060] Figure 2An enlarged detail view of an example reflector unit 200 is shown, which includes one or more reflector elements 202 that transition from a first state to a second state. The example reflector unit 200 is useful for Figure 1 An example of a reflector unit 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D is shown in FIG. The reflector unit 200 may include one or more individual reflector elements 202. The reflector unit 200 may be covered by a protective transparent or translucent cover 204. Although Figure 2 Although eight reflector elements 202 are depicted in FIG, any number of reflector elements 202 may be included in a reflector unit (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 15, 20, ... N reflector elements, etc.). The reflector elements may be positioned and oriented relative to each other so that the plurality of reflector elements appear as a single uniform reflector to an observer.

[0061] The cover 204 can be configured to be coupled to the exterior of the vehicle and / or a housing (not shown) associated with the reflector unit 200. The cover 204 can serve as a protective cover, preventing rain, dirt, debris, etc. from entering the reflector unit 200 and damaging internal components, such as the connecting rod 216 (e.g., the pinion gear). In examples, the cover 204 can be formed from a transparent, translucent, and / or weather-resistant material, including, for example, plastic, polycarbonate, a plastic polymer, acrylic (PMMA), polybutylene terephthalate (PTB), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), glass, etc. The cover 204 can have tapered edges to provide an unobstructed view of the reflector elements. In some examples, the cover 204 can be treated with a hydrophobic or other weather-resistant coating. In accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and / or laws, a cover, lens, or housing surrounding the reflector elements can be used to indicate to an observer that the multiple reflector elements appear as a single, integrated reflector or unit.

[0062] Reflector element 202 may include various sizes, shapes, widths, and / or lengths. In examples, reflector element 202 may have a generally rectangular, square, spherical, pill-shaped (e.g., an elongated shape with rounded corners), etc. In some examples, the reflector element 202 may have a shape similar to Figure 2 The dimensions shown in FIG, width 220, length 222, and / or thickness 218 (or depth) can be uniform. In at least one example, the length of the reflector element can vary, but can have a uniform width. A reflector element having a uniform width 220 enables the reflector element 202 to be aligned along an axis (e.g., Figure 2In some examples, the thickness 218 or depth of the reflector elements 202 within the reflector unit can vary. In some examples, the reflector elements toward the center of the reflector unit can have a greater length (e.g., 10 cm), while the reflector elements toward the ends of the reflector unit can taper to a shorter length (e.g., 8 cm, 6 cm, etc.) than the center reflector elements, thereby forming a diamond shape, although many different shapes and combinations are possible.

[0063] The reflector elements 202 may be spaced apart from each other in a uniform or non-uniform manner. Figure 2 In the example shown, the reflector elements are aligned in a uniform manner relative to each other. In at least one example, the reflector elements can be staggered relative to each other. For example, the reflector elements can have equal width and length, but be aligned in a non-parallel manner relative to each other (e.g., forming a wavy or curved design). The reflector elements can be coupled to one or more linkages (e.g., racks, pinions, gears, connecting rods, etc.). For example, the reflector elements 202 can rotate about parallel axes (parallel to the x-axis). The pinion can be fixedly coupled to one end of each reflector element 202. In this way, multiple reflector elements 202 can be connected by a single rack (e.g., as described below with respect to Figure 3A The rack 306 is actuated by the reflector element 202, which meshes with the pinions of multiple reflector elements 202 and allows the reflector elements 202 to be shifted in coordination simultaneously.

[0064] Figure 2 A reflector element 202 is shown having two sides. However, more sides are contemplated (e.g., three sides, four sides, etc.). It should be understood that the sides of a reflector element as described herein can include planar and / or non-planar surfaces (e.g., a side of a cylindrical reflector element represents the portion of the cylindrical element exposed to the external environment). Each side of the reflector element 202 can be associated with the same or different colors, color combinations, patterns, surface types (e.g., reflective surface, non-reflective surface, blank surface, active display), materials (e.g., reflective or non-reflective material), etc. For example, a first side 210 of the reflector element can have a first color, and a second side 212 opposite the first side can have a second color different from the first color, have a blank or non-reflective surface, have an active surface including a display, etc. This allows incident light 206 to reach and reflect 208 from one of the two sides but not the other, depending on which side is exposed to the environment.

[0065] The reflector element 202 can transition or switch between two states based on the orientation or configuration of the vehicle, effectively communicating to other vehicles which end of the vehicle is the front and which is the rear. That is, the reflector element reflects 208 incident light as a first color or a second color depending on which side of the reflector element is exposed to the environment. In some examples, the reflector element can transition between two or more states based on other signals received from various components on the vehicle.

[0066] In some examples, one or more sides of the reflector element can be "blank," or a non-reflective surface that is not intended to function as a reflector. For example, the blank sides of the reflector element can be constructed of the same or similar material as the vehicle, such as a polymer, carbon fiber, metal, or composite material, but in some examples can be constructed of a different material than the vehicle, such as plastic, polycarbonate, or acrylic.

[0067] The surface area of ​​the sides of each reflector element (eg, first side 210 and / or second side 212) may be approximately 10 cm 2 to about 40cm 2 In at least one example, the sides of each retroreflector may have a width within about 20 cm. 2 to about 30cm 2 In some examples, the surface area is about 25 cm 2 In some examples, the reflector elements of a reflector unit can have different surface areas due to different lengths of the reflector elements. In some examples, the surface area of ​​each reflector element or the total surface area of ​​the plurality of reflector elements can depend on minimum and / or maximum reflective surface areas required by applicable rules, regulations, and / or laws. In at least one example, the outer surface or outer lens of the cover 204 can be used to determine the total reflective surface area of ​​the reflective element.

[0068] The first side 210 and the second side 212 of the reflector element can be separated by a barrier 214. The barrier 214 can be configured to prevent or block the photometric element (or color) from the first side 210 from penetrating to the second side 212 and changing the color reflected into the environment. That is, the barrier acts as a light-blocking element, preventing light from reaching the adjacent or opposite (i.e., unexposed) side of the reflector element. In some examples, the barrier can be flat, concave, convex, etc. The curvature of the convex barrier can change the dynamics of light reflected from the retroreflector (i.e., by changing the angle of incidence and / or the angle of refraction).

[0069] In some examples, each reflector element can be associated with a linkage 216. The linkage 216 can include a mechanical linkage, such as a pinion, a hydraulic piston, a pin, a connecting rod, an arm, etc. For example, the linkage 216 can be a pinion configured as follows: Figure 2As shown, it rotates about the x-axis (or an axis parallel to the x-axis) and responds to the movement of the track or rack, as described below with respect to Figure 3A discussed in further detail.

[0070] Figure 3A A perspective view of an example reflector unit 300 is shown. The reflector unit 300 (or reflector system) may include one or more individual reflector elements 302, one or more linkages 304 in contact with a rack 306 and / or gear coupled to an actuator 310 in communication with a controller (not shown).

[0071] In an example, the reflector element 302 may correspond to a Figure 2 The reflector element 202 described above. Each reflector element 302 can be coupled to a respective connecting rod 304. As described above, the connecting rod 304 can be a pinion, a hydraulic piston, a pin, an arm, etc. Figure 3A In the particular example shown, the connecting rod 304 can be a pinion gear that is configured to rotate about an axis (e.g., an x-axis) in a first direction and a second direction in response to the movement of a track or rack coupled to the connecting rod. In other examples, the connecting rod 304 can include a cam and / or a rotating mechanical connecting rod or a belt drive system. In some examples, the connecting rod 304 can extend from the reflector elements 302 at equal lengths so that each reflector element 302 is aligned parallel to each other. In at least one example, the length of the connecting rod 304 can vary so that the reflector elements are not aligned with each other, forming a curved, s-shaped, or wavy design while still maintaining contact with the rack 306 and moving in unison.

[0072] The rack 306 may have a flat or curved profile. For example, Figure 3A A rack 306 is depicted having a non-planar profile (e.g., an arc 307). In an example, the rack 306 can have a non-planar profile that follows the curve of a vehicle's body or fascia. For example, the reflector unit 300 can be positioned on a non-planar portion of a vehicle, and the curved profile of the rack 306 can correspond to or follow the curve of the vehicle's body or fascia. The curved rack can cause one or more links 304 (e.g., pinions) to rotate the reflector element along a barrel curve. In an example, the curved rack can cause multiple reflector elements to be positioned off-plane (e.g., at slightly different angles) relative to each other.

[0073] In some examples, the rack 306 and the linkage 304 contact one another such that upon actuation, the reflector elements 302 rotate in unison (i.e., rotate together at the same or similar rate) while being able to deviate from one another in plane due to the curved profile of the rack 306. In at least one example, the reflector elements can transition or rotate sequentially rather than in unison (e.g., where each reflector element is independently controlled by a respective actuator and / or controller).

[0074] The rack 306 may be in contact with a gear 308 coupled to an actuator 310. In an example, the actuator 310 may be any motor suitable for providing force to the rack 306, such as a servo motor, an electric motor (brushed or brushless), a stepper motor, a hydraulic actuator, an electro-hydraulic system, a linear actuator, a pneumatic actuator, etc. Figure 3A , the actuator is shown as a motor. Operation or actuation of the actuator 310 causes the gear 308 to rotate or spin. Rotating (or actuating) the gear 308 causes the rack 306 to move in a first direction or a second direction. That is, the force transmitted from the actuator 310 to the link 304 can cause the reflector element 302 to rotate about an axis (e.g., Figure 3A In one embodiment, the reflector element 302 is rotated in a first direction or a second direction in response to actuation of the actuator 310. The reflector element 302 is rotated in response to actuation of the actuator 310, causing the reflector element to switch from a first state (e.g., a first color) to a second state (e.g., a second color). In at least one example, each reflector element can be controlled via individual actuators (e.g., individual motors). This enables the reflector elements to be controlled independently of each other. For example, separate actuators and / or controllers can implement more customizable control of each reflector element, including various states of the reflector element (e.g., switching a portion of multiple reflector elements while maintaining the states of other reflector elements), switching speeds (e.g., rotating the reflector element at various rates), sequential or non-sequential switching and / or switching directions (e.g., rotating the right half of the reflector element to the left and the left half of the reflector element to the right, although any combination is contemplated).

[0075] The actuator 310 may be disposed within the interior of the vehicle (e.g., behind the trim panel and / or within the housing of the reflector unit 300 (e.g., behind the trim panel and / or within the housing of the reflector unit 300). Figure 3C ). In examples, one or more connecting rods 304 may also be disposed on the inside of the trim or housing, although in some examples, at least a portion of one or more of the connecting rods 304 may be disposed on the outside of the trim or housing. In the latter example, the exposed portion of the connecting rod may be concealed by a cover, trim, decorative piece, and / or seal.

[0076] Figure 3B A perspective view of an example reflector unit 300 coupled to a fascia 314 of a vehicle, such as vehicle 100 , is shown. Figure 3C A cross-sectional view of an example reflector unit 300 coupled to a fascia 314 of a vehicle is shown. The reflector unit 300 can include a cover 312 or lens. The cover 312 can be transparent or translucent to allow light to reach and reflect from the retroreflector element. In some examples, a portion of the cover 312 can be coupled to or against the body of the vehicle.

[0077] The reflector unit 300 can be disposed within a housing 316. The housing 316 can surround one or more individual reflector elements 302, one or more linkages 304, the rack 306, the gear 308, and / or the actuator 310. The housing 316 can be sealed so as to be substantially waterproof. As described above, the housing 316 can be constructed of the same or similar material as the vehicle fascia, such as a polymer, carbon fiber, metal, a composite material, etc., but in some examples, the housing 316 can also be constructed of a different material than the vehicle fascia. In examples, the housing 316 can be fixed or disposed on the inside of the fascia (i.e., behind the fascia), or can protrude through the fascia, with the edge or frame of the housing and the lens or cover 312 of the reflector unit 300 disposed on the outside of the fascia, and the remaining portions of the reflector unit disposed behind or inside the vehicle fascia.

[0078] One or more portions of the reflector unit (e.g., rack 306) can be non-planar and / or conform to a curved portion of the vehicle. For example, curved portion 318 can be positioned above, below, to the side of, or on a headlamp, a turn signal lamp, a bumper, near a corner of the vehicle, on or near a tire or wheel, on or near a passenger door, near a vehicle window, or any other portion of the vehicle. In some examples, the reflector unit can be built into the body or housing of the headlamp.

[0079] Figure 4A Depicted is a perspective view of the internal components of another example reflector unit 400. The reflector unit 400 may include one or more housings 402, a plurality of reflector elements 404, a plurality of linkages 406, an earpiece 408, an actuator 410, a jumper harness 412, side marker lights 414, an inner enclosure 416, and / or an outer lens 418.

[0080] The housing 402 can be constructed of the same or similar material as a component of the vehicle (e.g., a fascia), such as a polymer, carbon fiber, metal, composite material, etc., but in some examples, can be a different material than the vehicle fascia. In an example, the housing 402 can be positioned or disposed on the inside of the vehicle component (i.e., behind the fascia). In an example, the housing 402 can be attached to the body of the vehicle. In an example, the plurality of reflector elements 404 can be similar to those described with respect to Figures 1-3C The one or more reflector elements. The reflector element 404 can be repositioned from a first position to a second position by an actuator (e.g., a motor) and a linkage (e.g., a pivot arm) such that different sides of the reflector element are exposed to the environment. In the first position, a first side of the reflector element can be exposed to the environment, and in the second position, a second side of the reflector element can be exposed to the environment. Although Figure 4AWhile eight reflector elements 404 are depicted with two sides, any number of reflector elements may be used (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 15, 20, ... N reflector elements, etc.), and may have more sides (e.g., three sides, four sides, etc.).

[0081] Each reflector element 404 can be coupled to a respective link 406 or reflective pivot arm that is configured to move in a first direction and a second direction (i.e., from side to side). Multiple links 406 or pivot arms are coupled to a carrier 408. Carrier 408 can be an actuator carrier arm that is configured to transmit the force generated by actuator 410 to multiple links 406. Links 406 can then pivot or move and cause the reflector element to change from a first position to a second position, thereby transitioning from a first state to a second state (e.g., by pivoting 180 degrees). In an example where the reflector element has three sides (i.e., three states), the reflector element can rotate 120 degrees. In an example where the reflector element has four sides (i.e., four states), the reflector element can rotate 90 degrees.

[0082] Actuator 410 can be used to start and / or control the movement of multiple reflector elements 404. Actuator 410 can be, for example, any motor suitable for providing force to carrier 408, such as a servo motor, an electric motor (brushed or brushless), a stepper motor, a hydraulic actuator, an electro-hydraulic system, a linear actuator, a pneumatic actuator, etc. Operation or actuation of actuator 410 causes carrier 408 to move connecting rod 406, and thereby causes reflector element 404 to change from a first state (e.g., a first color) to a second state (e.g., a second color). In at least some examples, actuator 410 can be controlled at least in part based on a signal indicating a change in vehicle state, such as a change in direction of travel. In at least some examples, such a reflector unit can allow vehicles employing these technologies to still comply with lighting requirements in the event of a loss of control.

[0083] Jumper harness 412 may be used to connect actuator 410 to a vehicle's electrical circuit (not shown). Jumper harness 412 may include a plurality of electrical conductors and connectors. In some examples, wires, cables, flexible printed circuit boards, or other electrical connectors may be used in addition to or in place of the jumper harness.

[0084] Side marker lights 414 may be disposed within or adjacent to housing 402. In some examples, the side marker lights may additionally or alternatively be disposed elsewhere on the vehicle (e.g., a bumper, fender, rear fender, etc. of the vehicle). As described above, the side marker lights may be configured to actively emit light into the environment. In some examples, the color of the light that the side marker is configured to emit may depend on the location of the side marker on the vehicle or the orientation of the vehicle (e.g., a side marker disposed on the side of the vehicle may emit an amber color). In some examples (not shown), the side marker lights 414 may surround the perimeter of the reflector unit 400 (e.g., forming a ring, oval, rectangle, etc.), while in the example shown, the side marker lights 414 include rectangular dots or lights disposed on the surface of the reflector unit 400 proximate the reflector element 404. The side marker may be a light (e.g., an LED) intended to enhance visibility of the vehicle, particularly at night or in low light conditions. In some examples, multiple side markers may be used to indicate the length or width of the vehicle. Although Figure 4A Only one side marker is shown, but any number of side markers can be used. In some examples, multiple side markers can be used around the perimeter or outline of the housing 402, reflector element 404, outer lens 418, and / or inner envelope 416 to form a ring or other design.

[0085] In some examples, the inner encapsulant 416 can be opaque and cover or conceal various non-reflective components within the housing 402. For example, an opaque inner encapsulant can be used to cover, in whole or in part, the connecting rod 406, the carrier 408, the actuator 410, the jumper harness 412, and / or other components within the housing 402. In an example, the inner encapsulant 416 can be connected to the outer lens 418 (e.g., via an adhesive).

[0086] In some examples, outer lens 418 can be a transparent or translucent cover that allows light to reflect from reflector element 404. In some examples, a portion of outer lens 418 can be coupled to a portion of the vehicle. In some examples, a seal (not shown) can be provided between various components in the retroreflector unit (e.g., between outer lens 418 and housing 402) to protect the internal components of reflector unit 400 from water, dust, debris, etc. The seal can be made of a flexible material such as rubber, silicone, a polymer, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the seal can be treated with a hydrophobic or weather-resistant coating.

[0087] Figure 4B A front view of the assembled reflector unit 400 is shown without the inner envelope or the transparent outer lens. Figure 4B and Figure 4CThe example shown in demonstrates how the reflector unit 400 can have multiple sides or surfaces, and each of the multiple sides / surfaces can include reflectors of different colors. For example, a first side 420 of the reflector element 404 can have a first color (e.g., white or transparent), and a second side 422 opposite the first side 420 can have a second color that is different from the first color (e.g., red, amber, etc.). Whether the first side or the second side is exposed to the environment may depend on the direction in which the vehicle (e.g., bidirectional vehicle) is traveling, as described above (e.g., which can be received from a controller). Incident light originating from outside the housing 402 (e.g., sunlight, headlights, etc.) is reflected back as light of the first color or the second color, depending on which side of the reflector element is exposed to the environment (e.g., Figure 4B The first side 420 depicted in FIG. 4 can reflect white light. If a color filter is used, the reflected light takes on the color of the filter. Due to the barrier disposed between the first and second sides, incident light is blocked from reaching the unexposed or opposite side of the reflector element.

[0088] Figure 4C 4 shows a rear view of the reflector unit 400. The arrows indicate the direction in which the link 406 moves when actuated by the actuator 410 and the carrier 408. The actuator 410 can be used to simultaneously activate and / or control the movement of the link 406 via the carrier 408. Figure 4C As shown in FIG, the second state or second side 422 of the reflector element 404 is a second color (or second pattern) that is different from the first color (or first pattern) of the first side 420.

[0089] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of another example reflector unit 500 is depicted. The excerpted view shows another example reflector element 504 having three sides, one of which (e.g., second side 518) includes a display. In some examples, reflector unit 500 can include a housing 502, a reflector element 504, a link 506, a rack 508, an actuator 510, a controller 512, and / or a lens 514.

[0090] The housing 502 may be made of the same material as described above. Figure 4A The housing 502 may be constructed of the same or similar materials as the housing 402 described above. In an example, the housing 502 may be positioned or disposed on the interior side of a vehicle component (i.e., behind a fascia). The housing 502 may include a reflector element cavity having a depth that accommodates the rotational sweep of a single reflector element when rotated parallel to the axis. The reflector element cavity may be covered by a transparent or translucent lens 514 or a cover (e.g., similar to the cover 204 described above).

[0091] Reflector element 504 can be coupled to a connecting rod 506. Connecting rod 506 can be a pinion, a hydraulic piston, a pin, a connecting rod, an arm, etc., configured to rotate about an axis. Connecting rod 506 can be pinned at one or both ends so that it can rotate fixedly about the axis in response to movement of a track or rack 508. Rack 508 can be coupled to an actuator 510. Actuator 510 can be the same as or similar to actuators 310 or 410 described above. Actuation of actuator 510 causes rack 508 to move in a first direction or a second direction. Movement of rack 508 can cause connecting rod 506 and reflector element 504 to rotate about the axis. Reflector element 504 can rotate about the axis in the first direction or the second direction and transition from a first state to a second state or from a first state to a third state.

[0092] Actuator 510 can be configured to receive signals from one or more controllers. Controller 512 can be a printed circuit board (PCB) or other electromechanical device for receiving input or control signals. Controller 512, which can be located inside or outside housing 502, can receive instructions (e.g., electronic signals) from a planner component of the vehicle. The planner component can generate a trajectory for controlling the movement of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on sensor data. In examples where the vehicle is controlled by a driver, instructions can be received from a component that indicates the direction of travel of the vehicle. According to normal traffic regulations, these instructions may indicate the direction of the vehicle, distinguishing one side of the vehicle as the front (or front end) and the opposite side as the rear (or rear end). The controller can receive the instructions and, based on the instructions, change the state or position of components within the reflector unit. For example, if the instructions indicate a first driving configuration for the vehicle, the controller can send a signal or control the activation of a motor to rotate one or more reflector elements (e.g., 180 degrees, 120 degrees, 90 degrees, etc.) and expose different sides of one or more retroreflector elements. In some examples, controller 512 can be used to control the speed or rate at which the reflector elements rotate and change from a first state to a second state.

[0093] In some examples, the controller 512 may additionally or alternatively receive sensor data indicating the location of the vehicle and may determine, based at least in part on regulatory data stored in memory or retrieved via a network, regulations that may alter the operation of the reflector units. For example, the controller may maintain the status or position of one or more retro-reflective units when in a location associated with a jurisdiction identified in the regulatory data as not requiring retro-reflectors.

[0094] Reflector element 504 can have three sides (e.g., first side 516, second side 518, and third side 520), where each of the three sides can be associated with the same or different functionality (e.g., reflecting a different color, color combination, display, etc.). In some examples, barrier 522 can be disposed between first side 516, second side 518, and third side 520 to prevent the photometric element (or color) from penetrating from each side and altering the color or image reflected into the environment. In some examples, at least one side can be a passive retroreflector and at least one side can be an active display. The active display can present an image or message to pedestrians in the environment. In some examples, the display can be any type of electronic device capable of displaying content, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a cathode ray tube (CRT), an e-link display, or other devices configured to alter their display image (e.g., a multi-segment display, a quantum dot display, an electroluminescent display, etc.). In the case of an LCD, light may be emitted and / or reflected from the colored pixels of the LCD itself, thereby providing passive / reflected light in addition to or instead of emitted light, or the LCD may display images or messages.

[0095] In some examples, displays on one or more sides of a reflector element can help passengers identify a carpool vehicle. To help passengers identify the arrival of their requested transportation, the vehicle can be configured to notify or otherwise alert passengers to the presence of the vehicle using displays on one or more sides of the reflector element as the vehicle approaches the passenger. For example, the vehicle can send a signal to a controller of the reflector unit to activate displays on the sides of one or more reflector elements in the reflector unit (e.g., reflector units located near the vehicle doors) and present information about the vehicle's status to the passenger. Specific messages can be generated so that the passenger can easily perceive that the vehicle is reserved to meet the passenger's transportation needs. For example, the vehicle can generate various patterns or messages on the displays of the reflector unit that the passenger can perceive. For example, the vehicle can display the passenger's initials, the order number of the requested transportation, an identification message, the vehicle's status (available or unavailable / booked transportation), etc.

[0096] In some examples, when one or more sides of the reflector element are associated with an active display, the reflector element can be configured to rotate or transition from one state to another based on various environmental signals or changes in vehicle state. For example, a reflector unit provided on a vehicle may include one or more reflector elements that include one or more sides with an active display. The active display can be used to present messages or images (e.g., advertisements, alerts or warning messages, or other messages related to the operation or operating intent of the vehicle) as the vehicle moves through the environment. The reflector unit can be programmed to rotate the elements (individually or in unison) between states, which can include displays based on the passage of time (e.g., every 10 seconds, 15 seconds, ... N seconds, etc.), based on travel distance (50 meters, every mile, 5 miles, ... N miles, etc.), specific location or map data, time of day, detection of objects in the environment (detection of pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicles, etc.), etc. In an example, the controller 512 can cause the elements of the reflector unit to display an image or message across multiple elements so that a complete image or message is displayed in the multiple elements as a whole. For example, Figure 5 The second side 518 in the image depicts the letter "H," which may represent a portion of the word "HELLO."

[0097] As described above, multiple reflector units (or reflector systems) can be positioned and arranged on different parts of a vehicle. In some examples, a first portion of the reflector units (e.g., the retroreflector units arranged at the front and / or rear end of the vehicle) can be controlled by a first controller, and a second portion of the reflector units (e.g., the retroreflector units arranged on the side of the vehicle near the passenger door) can be controlled by another controller (e.g., a second controller). In some examples, the first portion of the reflector units can be configured to switch between two states (e.g., having two sides), while the second portion of the reflector units arranged around the vehicle can be configured to switch between three or four states (e.g., three or four sides). That is, any combination of the reflector units described in this application can be used and arranged around a vehicle.

[0098] Figure 6 6 is a block diagram of a system 600 including a vehicle 602 for implementing various reflector units and active light systems as described herein. System 600 can be configured to control the operation of the vehicle, which can be an autonomous vehicle, and control various lighting functions. In some examples, system 600 can include a processor 604 and / or a memory 606. These elements are described in detail in the accompanying drawings. Figure 6 Although shown combined in FIG, it should be understood that in some examples they may be separate elements of system 600 and that components of the system may be implemented as hardware and / or software.

[0099] The processor 604 may include a single processor system having one processor, or a multiprocessor system including multiple processors (e.g., two, four, eight or another suitable number). The processor 604 may be any suitable processor capable of executing instructions. For example, in various implementations, the processor 604 may be a general-purpose or embedded processor that implements any of various instruction set architectures (ISAs), such as x86, PowerPC, SPARC or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitable ISAs. In a multiprocessor system, each processor 604 typically but not necessarily implements the same ISA. In some examples, the processor 604 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an FPGA, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a combination thereof. In some examples, the classifier and / or one or more detectors discussed herein may be implemented using any of these processor architectures. For example, the classifier and / or one or more detectors may be an FPGA.

[0100] The system 600 may include a memory 606. In some examples, the memory 606 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium that is configured to store executable instructions / modules, data, and / or data items accessible to the processor 604. In various implementations, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may be implemented using any suitable storage technology, such as static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), non-volatile / flash memory, or any other type of memory. In the illustrated example, program instructions and data (as described above) that implement the desired operations are shown as being stored within the non-transitory computer-readable memory. In other implementations, the program instructions and / or data may be received, sent, or stored on different types of computer-accessible media, such as non-transitory computer-readable media, or similar media separate from the non-transitory computer-readable media. In general, the non-transitory computer-readable memory may include a storage medium or memory medium, such as flash memory (e.g., solid-state memory), magnetic or optical media (e.g., disk) coupled to the system 600. Program instructions and data stored via non-transitory computer-readable media can be transmitted via transmission media or signals (such as electrical, electromagnetic or digital signals), which can be transmitted via communication media (such as a network and / or wireless link), for example, via a network interface.

[0101] In addition, despite Figure 6 604 and memory 606 may be distributed among multiple computing devices in the vehicle and / or among multiple vehicles, data centers, remote operations centers, etc. In some examples, processor 604 and memory 606 may perform at least some of the techniques discussed herein.

[0102] The memory 606 may include lighting control logic 608, which may include algorithms for controlling the rotation or illumination of various components / reflector elements of the reflector unit. For example, such an algorithm may correspond to a lighting profile used on a display associated with one side of the reflector element or on different models of vehicles and / or on such vehicles in different countries (e.g., with different regulations). Thus, the algorithm can be applied to the controller associated with the reflector unit as needed.

[0103] The system 600 may include a network interface configured to establish a communication link (i.e., a "network") between the system and one or more other devices. In various implementations, the network interface may support communication via a wireless general data network (e.g., a Wi-Fi network) and / or a telecommunications network (e.g., a cellular communication network, a satellite network, etc.). In some examples, sensor data, such as received signals, TDOA, depth measurements, output signals, echoes, and / or detections, etc., may be received at a first vehicle and transmitted to a second computing device. In some examples, at least some components of the LIDAR may be located on different devices. For example, a first vehicle may include a light emitter and a light sensor and may generate a received signal, but may transmit the received information to a second vehicle and / or a remote computing device.

[0104] Memory 606 may include a planning component 610 that can determine a path for vehicle 602 to travel through the environment. For example, planning component 610 can determine various routes and trajectories, as well as various levels of detail. For example, planning component 610 can determine a route from a first location (e.g., a current location) to a second location (e.g., a target location). For purposes of this discussion, a route can be a series of waypoints for traveling between the two locations. Waypoints include, by way of non-limiting example, streets, intersections, Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, etc. Furthermore, planning component 610 can generate instructions for guiding the autonomous vehicle along at least a portion of the route from the first location to the second location. In at least one example, planning component 610 can determine how to guide the autonomous vehicle from a first waypoint in a sequence of waypoints to a second waypoint in the sequence of waypoints. In some examples, the instructions can be a trajectory or a portion of a trajectory. In some examples, multiple trajectories can be generated substantially simultaneously (e.g., within technical tolerances) using a horizontal fallback technique, with one of the multiple trajectories selected for navigation by vehicle 602.

[0105] Planning component 610 can generate a direction signal indicating the vehicle's direction of travel. A reflector unit controller can receive the direction signal and, based on the signal, control the position or state of various components associated with the reflector units. For example, if vehicle 602 is traveling so that the first end of the vehicle is ahead of the second end, the reflector units on the first end of the vehicle can function as white reflectors, while the reflector units on the second end of the vehicle can function as red reflectors. On the other hand, if the vehicle is traveling so that the second end of the vehicle is ahead of the first end, the reflector units can operate in the opposite manner based on the direction signal from planning component 610.

[0106] System 600 may include one or more drive components 612. In some cases, a vehicle may have only a single drive component. In some cases, drive component 612 may include one or more sensors to detect the condition of drive component 612 and / or the vehicle's surroundings. Drive component 612 may include many vehicle systems, including a high-voltage battery, an electric motor for propulsion of the vehicle, an inverter that converts the battery's DC power to AC power for use by other vehicle systems, a steering system including a steering motor and a steering rack (which may be electric), a braking system including hydraulic or electric actuators, a suspension system including hydraulic and / or pneumatic components, a stability control system for distributing braking force to mitigate traction loss and maintain control, an HVAC system, lights (e.g., lights such as headlights / taillights and / or one or more lighting units and light units for signaling or illuminating the vehicle's surroundings), and one or more other systems (e.g., a cooling system, a security system, an onboard charging system, other electrical components such as a DC / DC converter, high-voltage connectors, high-voltage cables, a charging system, a charging port, etc.).

[0107] The drive assembly 612 may include a reflector unit controller 614, an actuator system controller 616, and a light / reflector unit 618. The reflector unit controller 614 may include a portion of (or be identical to) the controller 512 described above, and may include one or more separate light controllers. The reflector unit controller 614 may be communicatively coupled to one or more other reflector unit controllers, which in turn may be communicatively coupled to a vehicle controller that at least partially manages various vehicle operations.

[0108] Actuator system controller 616 may include one or more separate controllers. Actuator system controller 616 may be communicatively coupled to one or more other actuator system controllers, which in turn may be communicatively coupled to a vehicle controller that at least partially manages various vehicle operations. In some embodiments, control of the lights, reflector units, and / or actuator systems of vehicle 602 may be shared between two or more such actuator system controllers. In some examples, some actuator systems of the vehicle may be controlled by a first actuator system controller, while other actuator systems of the vehicle may be controlled by a second actuator system controller.

[0109] The one or more light / reflector units 618 may include one or more reflector unit controllers and light units. The one or more light / reflector units 618 may also include various other lights, such as license plate lights, side marker lights, etc. The lighting of the vehicle 602 may be configured to operate in a manner that allows for redundancy of lighting on both ends of the vehicle, as described above. Thus, in some embodiments, control of the lights and reflector units of the vehicle 602 may be shared between two or more such reflector unit controllers. For example, some of the vehicle's reflector units may be controlled by a first reflector unit controller, while other reflector units of the vehicle may be controlled by a second reflector unit controller.

[0110] In addition, one or more drive components 612 may include a vehicle controller 620 that can receive and pre-process data from one or more sensors and control the operation of various vehicle systems. In some cases, the vehicle controller 620 may include one or more processors and a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. The memory may store one or more components to perform the various functions of the drive component 612. In addition, the drive component 612 may also include one or more communication connections that enable the corresponding drive component to communicate with one or more other local or remote computing devices.

[0111] System 600 may include sensors 622 configured to locate vehicle 602 within an environment, to detect one or more objects in the environment, to sense the vehicle's motion within its environment, to sense various optical properties of incident light (e.g., intensity and spectrum), to sense environmental data (e.g., ambient temperature, pressure, and humidity), and / or to sense conditions within the vehicle's interior (e.g., number of passengers, interior temperature, noise level). Sensors 622 may include, for example, one or more LIDAR sensors, one or more cameras (e.g., RGB cameras, intensity (grayscale) cameras, infrared cameras, depth cameras, stereo cameras), one or more magnetometers, one or more radar sensors, one or more sonar sensors, one or more microphones, one or more inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes), one or more GPS sensors, one or more wheel encoders, one or more drivetrain sensors, speed sensors, photoelectric sensors, and / or other sensors related to vehicle operation.

[0112] Figure 7 A flowchart outlining an example process 700 for transitioning a rotatable reflector element from a first state to a second state using the techniques described herein is shown. Example process 700 can represent a sequence of operations that can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In the context of software, an operation represents computer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer-readable storage media that, when executed by one or more processors, perform the described operation. Generally, computer-executable instructions include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform specific functions or implement specific abstract data types. The order in which the operations are described should not be construed as limiting, and the processes can be implemented in any order and / or in combination with any number of the described operations.

[0113] In operation 702, a system or component of the vehicle (e.g., a planning component, a drive component, a sensor, etc.) may generate a control signal. In an example, the control signal may indicate a state or operation of the vehicle, a planned state or operation of the vehicle (the vehicle is about to change direction of travel) or a change in direction of travel (i.e., which end of a two-way vehicle is the front end and which end is the rear end), a detection of a fault in a vehicle system or component, etc. In some examples, the control signal may be a signal indicating that the vehicle has arrived at a destination or is approaching a destination. In some examples, the control signal may be associated with the passage of time (e.g., 10 seconds, 15 seconds, ... N seconds, etc.), distance (50 meters, 1 mile, 5 miles, ... N miles, etc.), location or map data, time of day, or any other change in vehicle status. In an example, the control signal may indicate which image or message to display on an active display associated with a reflector unit.

[0114] In operation 704, a controller associated with the retroreflector unit may receive a control signal. The controller may control the position or state of various components associated with the reflector unit based on the received control signal. For example, if the first end of the vehicle is ahead of the second end when the vehicle is traveling, the reflector unit on the first end of the vehicle may be used as a white or amber reflector, and the reflector unit on the second end of the vehicle may be used as a red reflector. On the other hand, if the vehicle is traveling so that the second end of the vehicle is ahead of the first end, the reflector unit may operate in the opposite direction based on the control signal from the planning component. In some examples, the controller may be configured to receive signals from a source external to the vehicle, such as from an autonomous vehicle service platform, a remote computing device (e.g., a remote operator computing device), etc. In some examples, different reflector units or systems may be configured to communicate or receive signals from different systems or components associated with the vehicle.

[0115] In operation 706, an actuator associated with the reflector unit can cause the retro reflector element to transition from a first state to a second state. The actuator (e.g., a servo motor, an electric motor, a brushed or brushless motor, a stepper motor, a hydraulic actuator, an electro-hydraulic system, a linear actuator, a pneumatic actuator, etc.) can be coupled to the plurality of reflector elements via one or more connecting rods (e.g., a rack, a gear, a pinion, a hydraulic piston, a pin, a connecting rod, an arm, etc.). In at least one example, a single (or multiple) actuators can be coupled to a single reflector element. When activated, the actuator can be configured to cause the plurality of reflector elements to transition from a first state to a second state. For example, the first state of the reflector element can be associated with a first side that is configured to reflect light of a first color or a first light pattern, while the second state of the reflector element can be associated with a second side (or unexposed side) that is configured to reflect light of a second color or a second light pattern.

[0116] At operation 708, a controller associated with the reflector unit may receive a transition signal from the reflector unit. In some examples, the transition signal may represent a confirmation signal indicating that the reflector element has transitioned from the first state to the second state. In some examples, the transition signal may include a time when the reflector element of the reflector unit has begun a transition process and / or a time when the reflector element has completed a transition process. The transition signal may be stored in a memory associated with the vehicle and / or in some other memory, such as a remote memory associated with a remote computing device.

[0117] Figure 8A A perspective view of an example vehicle 800A including various actuator systems 802A, 802B, 802C, and 802D (collectively referred to as "actuator systems") is depicted. The excerpted view shows an example actuator system including an actuator 814, a linkage 816, a coupler 818, and a shielding element 820. Figure 11A Additional details regarding the operation of an example actuator system are discussed.

[0118] For example, vehicle 800A is depicted as a passenger car having four wheels / tires 804. Other types and configurations of vehicles are contemplated, such as vans, sport utility vehicles, crossovers, trucks, buses, agricultural vehicles, trains, and construction vehicles. Vehicle 800A may be powered by one or more internal combustion engines, electric motors powered by one or more power sources (e.g., batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, etc.), or any combination thereof. Furthermore, while vehicle 800A is shown as having four wheels / tires, the systems and methods described herein may be incorporated into vehicles having a fewer or greater number of wheels, tires, and / or tracks. In this example, vehicle 800A is a bi-directional vehicle with four-wheel steering and may operate with substantially equal performance characteristics in all directions, e.g., such that a first longitudinal end 808 of vehicle 800A is the front end of the vehicle when traveling in a first direction, and such that first longitudinal end 808 is the rear end of the vehicle when traveling in an opposite, second direction, as Figure 8A Similarly, when the vehicle is traveling in the second direction, the second longitudinal end 810 of the vehicle is the front end of the vehicle, while when traveling in the second direction, the first longitudinal end 808 is the rear end of the vehicle. These exemplary features may help improve maneuverability, for example, in small spaces or crowded environments such as parking lots and urban areas. Therefore, due to the bidirectional nature of vehicle 800A, each actuator system can be configured to expose or conceal an indicated portion of the vehicle's fascia based on the direction of travel.

[0119] In some examples, vehicle 800A may be an autonomous vehicle configured to operate in accordance with the Level 5 classification published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2016, which describes a vehicle capable of performing all safety-critical functions throughout a trip without the driver (or passenger) being required to control the vehicle at any time. In this case, the vehicle may be unoccupied, as it may be configured to control all functions from start to stop, including all lighting functions. However, this is merely an example, and the systems and methods described herein may be incorporated into any ground vehicle, including vehicles manually driven by a human and partially autonomously controlled vehicles, such that they can autonomously control themselves without driver attention or assistance under certain driving conditions, such as when traveling on limited-access highways, but require driver attention and / or assistance under other driving conditions, such as when traveling on city streets in urban areas or during at least some parking functions. Of course, these techniques need not be implemented only in vehicles and may be implemented in a variety of systems and devices.

[0120] A first actuator system can be positioned at a first longitudinal end of a bidirectional vehicle, and a second actuator system can be positioned at a second longitudinal end (i.e., the opposite end) of the bidirectional vehicle. If the vehicle is traveling such that the first longitudinal end of the vehicle leads the second longitudinal end, the first actuator system can be configured in a second state, which conceals a retroreflector configured to reflect red light into the environment. In other words, the red retroreflector is covered so that the front end cannot be mistaken for the rear end. In some examples, the shielding element covering the retroreflector can be associated with a retroreflector that is a different color (e.g., white or amber) than the covered retroreflector. The second actuator system can be configured in a first state, which exposes a red retroreflector indicating the rear (or tail end) of the vehicle. On the other hand, if the vehicle is traveling such that the second end of the vehicle leads the first end, the first actuator system can be configured in the first state (e.g., by exposing the red retroreflector) and the second actuator system can be configured in the second state (e.g., by concealing the red retroreflector using a shielding element). It will be appreciated that the same effect can be achieved by reversing which component is shielded or exposed.

[0121] One or more actuator systems may be located around the vehicle 800A. In some examples, the actuator system may be located below the headlights, such as Figure 8A In some examples, one or more actuator systems can be incorporated into headlights, turn signals, other lights on the vehicle, bumpers, etc. A first actuator system can be positioned in a first portion of the vehicle and a second actuator system can be positioned in a second portion of the vehicle. For example, two actuator systems (802A and 802B) can be positioned at a first longitudinal end 808 of a bidirectional vehicle (e.g., on a fascia) and two other actuator systems (802A and 802B) can be positioned at a second longitudinal end 808 of the bidirectional vehicle (e.g., on a fascia). Figure 8A 802C and 802D can be disposed on one side of the vehicle. In some examples, one or more actuator systems can be disposed near, below, above, etc., windows and / or doors of the vehicle.

[0122] although Figure 8A Only four actuator systems are shown, but there may be four actuator systems on the second longitudinal end 810 (ie, the opposite longitudinal end) of the vehicle. Figure 8A 800A. Furthermore, a greater or lesser number of actuator systems may be used in other examples. Depending on the desired functionality, the actuator systems may be coupled to components of vehicle 800A, including one or more fascia, rear fenders, wheels, doors, roof, body, bumpers, underside, interior, exterior, etc. For example, the actuator systems may be replicated in both rear fenders on the same side of vehicle 800A and / or may be replicated on opposite longitudinal ends of the vehicle, such as in the bidirectional vehicle example described above.

[0123] The actuator systems provided on a vehicle may vary depending on the location of the actuator systems. For example, actuator systems 802A and 802B, which are provided on longitudinal ends of vehicle 800A, may be configured to expose a first color retroreflector (e.g., red) when in a first state and cover the retroreflector when in a second state, while actuator systems 802C and 802D are provided on side 812 of vehicle 800A near a door and may be configured to expose and cover different types of indicator portions (e.g., configured to expose and cover an RFID tag, a license plate, etc.). In some examples, actuator systems provided on a first longitudinal end (e.g., the front end) and a second longitudinal end opposite the first end (e.g., the rear end) may be associated with actuator systems including linear actuators, while actuator systems provided on one or more sides of the vehicle may include rotary actuators or other types of actuators, and vice versa.

[0124] In at least one example, the actuator system may include a retroreflector configured to passively reflect light and a shielding element configured to expose or conceal the retroreflector. In some examples, depending on applicable rules, regulations, or laws, side marker lights may be included in actuator systems located at the front and / or rear end of the vehicle, rather than in actuator systems located on the sides of the vehicle. The actuator system may be configured to expose a retroreflector having a specific color when in a first state (e.g., an open state). Here, the color of the retroreflector refers to the color of light emitted from the retroreflector. For example, the retroreflector may include a colored material (e.g., plastic, glass, etc.) that reflects a portion of the incident white light spectrum, where the portion corresponds to the color of the reflector. In some examples, the shielding element 820 of the actuator system may be opaque so that ambient light cannot reach the indicator portion behind the shielding element 820. In some examples, the shielding element 820 may be associated with a retroreflector that reflects light of a different color (e.g., amber or white). That is, the opaque surface of the shielding element exposed to the environment can be associated with a retroreflector configured to reflect light of different colors without interfering with the indicating portion. In some examples, the shielding element can reveal or hide active lighting components or other forms of information displays.

[0125] Actuator systems located at opposite ends (or longitudinal ends) of the vehicle can be maintained in different or opposite states. For example, a first actuator system located at a first longitudinal end 808 (e.g., the front end) of the vehicle 800A can be associated with a first state (e.g., the shielding element is in a position covering the indicator portion), and a second actuator system associated with a second longitudinal end 810 of the vehicle can be associated with a second state (e.g., the shielding element is in a position exposing the indicator portion). In at least one example, it is contemplated that the states of the actuator systems on opposite sides of the vehicle 800A can be the same, depending on applicable rules, regulations, laws, and other considerations.

[0126] The controller can be configured to receive signals from various systems or components. For example, the controller can receive an electrical signal from a planner component of the vehicle that indicates a change in the vehicle state (e.g., a change in direction or configuration related to the direction of travel, or an indication that the vehicle is about to change direction of travel) and can cause the actuator system to transition the shielding element from a first state to a second state. The controller can also receive signals from other components or systems, including a locator system, a sensor system, a perception system, one or more safety systems, a light emitter system, and other systems or subsystems of the vehicle. In some examples, the controller can be configured to receive signals from a source external to the vehicle, such as from an autonomous vehicle service platform, a fleet manager, or a remote computing device (e.g., a remote operator computing device). In some examples, different actuator systems can be configured to communicate or receive signals from different systems or components associated with the vehicle. In additional or alternative examples, the actuator can be coupled to one or more additional components or subcomponents of the vehicle so that the signal includes one or more of the data or power connections shared by the actuator and other components. As a non-limiting example thereof, the wiring that powers the brake lights may be used to power the actuator such that when a signal is sent to power the brake lights, the actuator will also engage.

[0127] When the vehicle is closed or parked, the vehicle's most recent direction of movement may indicate which state the shielding elements are in. This ensures that at least some of the shielding elements expose retroreflectors that can passively reflect light, particularly at night when visibility may be reduced. In some examples, the actuator system can be a bi-stable device and typically consumes power only when changing from one state to another. Once power is removed, the state of a bi-stable actuator system can be maintained for a relatively long time (e.g., indefinitely). For example, if the actuator system is bi-stable, the actuator system does not need to consume power to maintain the state (e.g., positioning the shielding element so that the indicated portion is exposed). In such an example, a bidirectional vehicle may continue to comply with functional safety requirements despite the loss of power.

[0128] Vehicle 800A is shown to also include dual function light units 806A and 806B that can be used as headlights when traveling in a first direction and can be switched to function as taillights when traveling in a second direction. Light units 806A and 806B can be located on a different side of vehicle 800A than on the vehicle 800A. Figure 8A In some examples, the actuator system can be located on vehicle 800A above, below, and / or beside light units 806A and 806B of vehicle 800A.

[0129] Figure 8B A perspective view of an example vehicle 800B including various actuator systems 802E, 802F, 802G, and 802H is depicted. The excerpted view shows another example actuator system in a first state 822A and a second state 822B. The figure shows actuator system 802E changing from a first state in which an indicator portion (e.g., retroreflector 824) is exposed to the environment to a second state in which the indicator portion is shielded or hidden using a shielding element 826. Figure 9D Additional details regarding the operation of an example actuator system are discussed.

[0130] Figure 9A A top, front, left side perspective view of a vehicle fascia 900 including indicator portions 902A, 902B, 902C, and 902D is depicted. Figure 9A , but any number of indicator portions may be associated with the trim and / or vehicle. In at least one example, a first controller may be configured to control a shielding element that exposes or covers indicator portion 902A and indicator portion 902B, and a second controller (or additional controllers) may be configured to control a shielding element that exposes or covers indicator portion 902C and indicator portion 902D.

[0131] Figure 9BA front view of a vehicle trim panel 900 including indicator portions 902A, 902B, 902C, and 902D is shown. In some examples, the indicator portions may be covered by a protective, transparent, or translucent cover (shown). In some examples, the cover may be configured to be attached to the exterior of the vehicle. The cover may serve as a protective cover to prevent rain, dirt, debris, etc. from entering the actuator system and damaging internal components such as the connecting rods and actuators. In examples, the cover may be formed from a transparent, translucent, and / or weather-resistant material, including, for example, plastic, polycarbonate, plastic polymer, acrylic (PMMA), polybutylene terephthalate (PTB), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), glass, etc. The cover may have tapered edges so that the view of the indicator portions is unobstructed. The cover may be treated with a hydrophobic or other weather-resistant coating. In some examples, the cover may be surrounded by a seal (a first seal 904A and a second seal 904B) that further prevents rain, dirt, debris, etc. from entering the actuator system and / or the vehicle trim.

[0132] Figure 9C A right side view of a vehicle fascia 900 including an indicator portion 902A is shown.

[0133] Figure 9D A rear view of a vehicle fascia 900 is depicted, comprising a first actuator system 906A for operably exposing or covering an indicator portion 902A and a second actuator system 906B for operably exposing or covering an indicator portion 902B. In some examples, actuator system 906A may include a controller (not shown), an actuator 908, a linkage 910, a shielding element 912, and an indicator portion (e.g., a retroreflector). Actuator system 906B may include the same or similar components as actuator system 906A. In at least one example, a single controller and / or motor may be configured to cause the shielding element to cover and shield multiple indicator portions such that the indicator portions are exposed / covered substantially simultaneously. In some examples, the actuator system may be integrated into the vehicle fascia. In other examples, the actuator system may be a self-contained assembly that includes the retroreflector and shielding element in a single sealed unit.

[0134] The actuator 908 can be connected to the shield element 912 via a linkage 910, such that operation of the actuator alternately retracts the shield element 912 to expose the retroreflector in a first state, or positions the shield element 912 in a second state to cover the retroreflector. The actuator 908 can be coupled to the shield element 912 via one or more linkages 910, couplings, and / or components to transition the shield element 912 between the first state and the second state in response to actuation of the actuator 908. In some examples, the actuator 908 can be a motor (e.g., a servo motor, an electric motor, a brushed or brushless motor, a stepper motor, a hydraulic actuator, an electro-hydraulic system, a linear actuator, a pneumatic actuator, etc.) configured to provide a force to the linkage 910. In some examples, the actuator can be a linear actuator configured to generate and transmit a linear translational motion or force (e.g., in the form of electrical energy, hydraulic energy, or pneumatic energy) in response to an input signal. For example, a linear actuator may be configured to extend or retract a link coupled to a shielding element in a linear motion.

[0135] In some examples, connecting rod 910 can be coupled to shielding element 912 via coupling 914. Connecting rod 910 can comprise the slender linear rod that actuator is coupled to shielding element. Connecting rod 910 can comprise hydraulic piston, pin, arm etc., and it can be configured to the force that actuator 908 produces is transferred to the part of shielding element 912. In some examples, connecting rod can comprise a plurality of connecting rod parts that are coupled together between actuator 908 and shielding element 912. In some examples, connecting rod 910 can combine various connecting rods or parts together (for example, connecting rod 910 and coupling 914), and these connecting rods or parts can be coupled to actuator 908, shielding element 912, vehicle body, vehicle frame and / or its any combination. In some examples, coupling 914 can be configured to shielding element 912 is coupled to connecting rod 910, makes shielding element deviate from connecting rod 910 and actuator 908. In other words, actuator 908 and connecting rod 910 can be positioned on a first spatial plane, and shielding element 912 can be positioned on a second plane that deviates from the first plane, so that shielding element 912 is closer to the environment outside the vehicle (that is, relative to actuator 908 and connecting rod 910 that are closer to the vehicle). Coupler 914 can be configured to promote the force transmission between connecting rod and shielding element 912, although there is spatial separation along different planes. In some examples, coupler 914 can be coupled to shielding element in any suitable manner (for example, mechanical connection such as adhesive, screw and / or bolt). In some examples, a part of shielding element can be configured to fit into the groove associated with coupler 914.

[0136] In at least one example, the actuator 908 includes a stepper motor and the linkage 910 includes a rack and / or pinion to slide the shielding element 912 on a track or other guide. In another example, the linkage 910 can include a cam and / or a rotating mechanical linkage.

[0137] The shielding element 912 can be made of the same or similar material as the vehicle's trim 900. For example, the shielding element 912 can include a polymer, carbon fiber, metal, a composite material, etc. In some examples, the shielding element 912 can be the same color as the vehicle. In some examples, the shielding element 912 can also include an indication (e.g., a second retroreflector) that is adhered or otherwise attached to or constitutes a part of the shielding element, covering the first indication. In such an example, the shielding element can display a second indication associated with the shielding element that is different from the first indication. For example, the shielding element can include a colorless (i.e., white) or amber retroreflector that can slide over a red retroreflector and can be retracted to reveal the red retroreflector based on the direction of travel of two-way vehicles. In another example, the shielding element can include a red retroreflector that can slide over a colorless or amber retroreflector and can be retracted to display a retroreflector of colorless or amber light.

[0138] In at least one example, the shielding element can include an elongated strip that includes two indicators, such as an amber retroreflector and a red retroreflector. Depending on the direction of travel, a motor can be actuated to slide the elongated strip to expose the appropriate portion (i.e., the amber retroreflector or the red retroreflector). In such an example, the elongated strip can cover the third indicator, or can be used alone without covering any other indicators. In some examples, the shielding element can be housed in a channel (or housing) in the trim that is configured to constrain the movement of the shielding element along a plane or shape defined by the trim. In another or alternative example, the channel or housing in which the shielding element is housed can be provided in a seal.

[0139] The shielding element 912 can be placed in a first position, such as in a storage position, so that it fits or matches the exterior shape and / or configuration of the vehicle. The shielding element 912 can be repositioned by an actuator and a linkage and moved from the first position to a second position. For example, when in the first position, the shielding element 912 can expose a retroreflector, an indicator, a light, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a license or other identification number, a display, a machine-readable code, active lighting, information about the vehicle (such as a vehicle number), or other features on the vehicle. When in the second position, the shielding element can alternatively cover a retroreflector, an indicator, a light, an RFID tag, or other features on the vehicle. In this manner, the shielding element 912 can be configured to alternately hide and / or expose one or more features on the exterior surface of the vehicle. Alternatively, the shielding element can be associated with a red retroreflector and the indicating portion can be associated with a non-reflective surface, an amber retroreflector, a white retroreflector, etc., such that the shielding element moves over the indicating portion. Although Figure 9D The shielding element in is depicted and described as being configured to move horizontally (left / right), but the shielding element and / or actuator system can be configured to move the shielding element vertically (up / down) from above or below the retroreflector or in any other direction.

[0140] In some examples, the shielding element 912 may additionally or alternatively include a switchable component, such as a switchable glass (e.g., privacy glass), to change the opacity of the shielding element in response to a command from a controller, in these examples a motor and / or a linkage.

[0141] Figure 9E A top, rear, right side perspective view of a vehicle fascia 900 is depicted, including an actuator system 906A for operable exposing or covering an indicated portion of the vehicle fascia.

[0142] Figures 10A-10D A vehicle trim 1000 is depicted that includes two indicator portions and two shielding elements, wherein the shielding elements are switched from a first state to a second state (e.g., from Figure 10A Sequentially convert to Figure 10D ) or transition from the second state to the first state (e.g. Figure 10D Sequentially convert to Figure 10A ).

[0143] Figure 10A A front view of a vehicle fascia 1000 is depicted showing a first state of a covering component associated with an actuator system, wherein the first state exposes an indicating portion 1002A (eg, a first retroreflector) and an indicating portion 1002B (eg, a second retroreflector).

[0144] Figure 10B-10CA front view of a vehicle fascia 1000 is depicted, illustrating first and second portions of a transition from a first state to a second state of a shielding component. Specifically, one or more motors associated with an actuator system can be activated based at least in part on receiving a signal indicating a change in direction of travel. Based at least in part on the received signal, the motors can be activated to cause first shield element 1004A to transition to first indicating portion 1002A and second shield element 1004B to transition to second indicating portion 1002B.

[0145] Figure 10D A front view of the vehicle fascia 1000 is depicted showing a second state of the first shield element 1004A and the second shield element 1004B, wherein the second state covers the indicator portion.

[0146] Figure 11A A perspective view of another example actuator system 1100A is depicted. The example actuator system 1100A may include a shielding element 1102, a retroreflector 1104, a retroreflector housing 1106, an actuator 1108, and one or more couplers 1110A, 1110B, 1110C, 1110D.

[0147] In some examples, shielding element 1102 can include an opaque material that prevents light from reaching retroreflector 1104. In some examples, shielding element 1102 can include the same or similar material (in whole or in part) as the vehicle or vehicle trim. For example, shielding element 1102 can include carbon fiber, a polymer (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), thermoplastic olefin (TPO), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or other composite materials), fiberglass, aluminum, a polymer-based composite material, or any combination thereof. In some examples, shielding element 1102 can include a switchable component, such as switchable glass (e.g., privacy glass), to change the opacity of shielding element 1102 in response to a command from a controller.

[0148] The shielding element 1102 can be coupled to the retroreflector housing 1106 in a manner that enables the shielding element 1102 to rotate about an axis and expose or cover the retroreflector 1104. For example, the shielding element 1102 can be associated with a linkage 1112 that is configured to be coupled to the actuator 1108. That is, the linkage 1112 can be driven by the actuator as a source of rotational motion. When the linkage rotates, the shielding element 1102 rotates along with the linkage 1112. In some examples, the actuator can rotate the linkage and shielding element in a first direction to cover the retroreflector, and can rotate the linkage and shielding element in a second direction opposite the first direction to expose the retroreflector. In some examples, a second retroreflector (e.g., an amber or white retroreflector) can be coupled to the shielding element, the second retroreflector being different from the first retroreflector coupled to the rear retroreflector housing 1106.

[0149] The retroreflector 1104 can include an optical device configured to reflect light back toward its source, regardless of the angle at which the light strikes the optical device. The retroreflector is configured to improve visibility and enhance detection of vehicles. In some examples, the retroreflector can include a glass sphere coated with a reflective material. In such an example, light enters the glass sphere, reflects off the internal reflective coating, and then reflects back through the glass, retroreflecting the light. In some examples, the retroreflector 1104 can include a series of prisms (e.g., a prismatic reflector). In some examples, the retroreflector can be encased in a protective cover, such as a glass or plastic cover, to protect the reflective surface from dirt, moisture, and / or physical damage. The retroreflector 1104 can be mounted or coupled (e.g., via an adhesive) to a retroreflector housing 1106. In some examples, the retroreflector housing 1106 can include the same or similar material as the shielding element 1102. The retro reflector housing 1106 may be coupled to the actuator 1108 in any suitable manner (eg, via mechanical means such as screws, bolts, rivets, clamps, and / or adhesives, etc.).

[0150] The actuator 1108 may include a servo motor, an electric motor, a brushed or brushless motor, a stepper motor, a hydraulic actuator, an electro-hydraulic system, a rotary actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or any other actuator described herein. The actuator 1108 may be controlled based at least in part on a signal indicating a change in vehicle state, such as a change in direction of travel. In at least one example, the actuator 1108 may be a rotary actuator configured to rotate about a fixed axis (e.g., a fixed axis). Figure 11AThe actuator can be a rotary actuator configured to impart a rotational motion to the connecting rod and the shield element. The rotational motion or force can be applied to the connecting rod 1112 and cause the shield element to rotate in a first direction to cover the retro reflector 1104 and in a second direction to expose the retro reflector 1103 to the environment.

[0151] One or more couplers 1110A, 1110B, 1110C, 1110D can be configured to couple to the actuator 1108, the retroreflector housing 1106, and / or the shield element. The one or more couplers can include, for example, mechanical devices such as screws, bolts, rivets, clamps, etc. In some examples, the actuator 1108 can be coupled to the retroreflector housing via an adhesive (e.g., epoxy), a snap-fit ​​connection, etc.

[0152] Figure 11B Depicted in a first state 1100B Figure 11A 1 , wherein in a first state, the shield element 1102 can be positioned such that the retroreflector 1104 is exposed to light from the environment. In some examples, the shield element can be disposed or positioned within a slot (not shown) associated with the actuator system, the vehicle, the vehicle trim, etc. In some examples, the slot can be configured to prevent the shield element 1102 from sliding further back into the actuator system (e.g., a stopper or other mechanical component or obstacle).

[0153] ] Figure 11C Depicted in a second state 1100C Figure 11A 1 , wherein in the second state, the shielding element 1102 is configured to cover the retroreflector 1104. In some examples, a second retroreflector (e.g., an amber or white retroreflector) or an indicator portion can be coupled to the shielding element 1102 such that in the second position, the second retroreflector element is exposed to the environment. In at least one example, the shielding element 1102 partially covers the indicator portion.

[0154] Figure 12A flowchart outlining an example process 1200 for transitioning a shield element associated with an actuator system from a first state to a second state is shown. Example process 1200 can represent a sequence of operations that can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In the context of software, an operation represents computer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer-readable storage media that, when executed by one or more processors, perform the described operation. Generally, computer-executable instructions include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform specific functions or implement specific abstract data types. The order in which the operations are described should not be construed as limiting, and the processes can be implemented in any order and / or in combination with any number of the described operations.

[0155] At operation 1202, a system or component of the vehicle (e.g., a planning component, a drive component, a sensor, a light emitter system, a steering component, and / or other components or subsystems) may generate a control signal. In examples, the control signal may indicate a vehicle state or operation, a planned vehicle state or operation (the vehicle is about to change direction of travel) or a change in direction of travel (i.e., which end of a bidirectional vehicle is the front and which end is the rear), the detection of a fault in a vehicle system or component, etc. In at least one example, the actuator may be coupled to one or more additional components or subcomponents of the vehicle such that the signal includes one or more of the data or power connections shared by the actuator and the other components. As a non-limiting example, the wiring that powers the brake lights may be used to power the actuator, such that when a signal is sent to power the brake lights, the actuator also engages. In some examples, the control signal may be associated with the passage of time (e.g., 10 seconds, 15 seconds, ... N seconds, etc.), distance (50 meters, 1 mile, 5 miles, ... N miles, etc.), location or map data, time of day, or any other change in vehicle state.

[0156] At operation 1204, a controller associated with the actuator system may receive a control signal. The controller may control the position or state of various components associated with the actuator system based on the received control signal. For example, if the vehicle is traveling such that a first end of the vehicle leads a second end, the actuator system on the first end of the vehicle may be configured in a first state (e.g., a closed state) such that a white or amber retroreflector is visible, while a second actuator system on the second end of the vehicle may be configured in a different state (e.g., an open state) such that a red retroreflector is visible. On the other hand, if the vehicle is traveling such that the second end of the vehicle leads the first end, the actuator systems may operate in opposite directions based on the control signal from the planning component. In some examples, the controller may be configured to receive signals from a source external to the vehicle, such as from an autonomous vehicle service platform, a remote computing device (e.g., a teleoperator computing device), etc. In some examples, different actuator systems may be configured to communicate or receive signals from different systems or components associated with the vehicle. As described above, such signals may additionally or alternatively be coupled to one or more components or subcomponents of the vehicle as a common signal or source.

[0157] In some examples, the operation of the actuator can be based at least in part on receiving a signal generated by at least one of a transmitter system or a steering system. That is, the actuator system can be connected to and / or configured to receive a signal from a light transmitter system (e.g., a headlight / brake light system or component, a turn signal system or component, etc.), which generates a signal indicating a change in state (e.g., a change in function or color). The signal generated by the light transmitter system can then be used to control the change in state of the shielding element. This enables the actuator system to work effectively with existing components and systems of the vehicle. As another non-limiting example, the operation of the actuator system can be based at least in part on receiving a signal generated by the vehicle's steering system. That is, when a bidirectional vehicle changes direction of travel (e.g., reverses direction of travel), the steering system can generate and / or receive signals that control wheel behavior, steering angle, etc. These signals can be configured to also control the operation of the actuator system, eliminating the need to generate additional (or separate) control signals specific to the actuator system. In some examples, the signal can be any type of signal generated by a component or system associated with the vehicle (e.g., a communication signal, a power signal, a voltage change signal, a braking signal, an acceleration signal, a speed signal, a fuel level signal, an airbag deployment signal (or other safety feature signal), a door open / close signal, a turn signal, etc.).

[0158] In operation 1206, an actuator associated with the actuator system can cause the shielding element to transition from a first state to a second state. The actuator (e.g., a servo motor, an electric motor, a brushed or brushless motor, a stepper motor, a hydraulic actuator, an electro-hydraulic system, a linear actuator, a rotary actuator, a pneumatic actuator, etc.) can be coupled to the shielding element via one or more connecting rods (e.g., a rack, a gear, a pinion, a hydraulic piston, a pin, a connecting rod, an arm, etc.). In at least one example, a single (or multiple) actuators can be coupled to the shielding element. The actuator, when activated, can be configured to transition the shielding element from a first state to a second state. For example, the first state of the shielding element can be associated with a first position (e.g., an open position) that exposes an indicator portion (e.g., a retroreflector license plate, an RFID tag, a license, etc.). The second state of the shielding element can be associated with a second position (e.g., a closed position) that hides or shields the indicator portion. In at least one example, in response to receiving a signal indicating that a bidirectional vehicle has changed direction of travel, the actuator system can cause a first group of one or more actuator systems located at a first end of the vehicle to transition from a first state to a second state, and cause a second group of one or more actuator systems located at a second end opposite the first end of the vehicle to transition from the second state to the first state.

[0159] In operation 1208, the actuator system can generate a conversion signal. The conversion signal can represent a confirmation that the shielding element has been converted to a different state. In some examples, the conversion signal can indicate feedback of a state associated with the actuator system (e.g., a voltage change, a rotary encoder message, an angle of rotation, etc.). For example, the actuator system can provide a feedback signal indicating that the actuator system has changed the state of the shielding element. In some examples, a controller associated with the actuator system can transmit the conversion signal to a component and / or system of the vehicle (e.g., a planning component, a sensor system, a memory, etc.). In some examples, the conversion signal can include the time when the shielding element of the actuator system has begun the conversion process and / or the moment when the shielding element has completed the conversion process. The conversion signal can be stored in a memory associated with the vehicle and / or some other memory, such as a remote memory associated with a remote computing device.

[0160] Sample Clauses

[0161] Any example clause in this section may be used in conjunction with any other example clause and / or any other examples described herein.

[0162] A. A two-way vehicle, comprising: a trim panel disposed at a first end of the two-way vehicle; and a reflector unit coupled to the trim panel, the reflector unit comprising: a reflector element comprising a first side and a second side, the first side being configured to reflect light of a first color and the second side being configured to reflect light of a second color different from the first color; a link coupled to the reflector element; an actuator mechanically coupled to the link; and a controller configured to: receive a signal indicating a change in the direction of travel of the two-way vehicle; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the actuator to apply a force to the link and cause the reflector element to switch from the first side to the second side.

[0163] B. A bidirectional vehicle according to paragraph A, wherein the connecting rod includes a pinion coupled to a rack.

[0164] C. A bidirectional vehicle according to paragraph B, wherein a rack associated with the linkage has a curved profile such that the reflector elements are disposed out of plane relative to one another.

[0165] D. A two-way vehicle according to any one of paragraphs A to C, wherein the reflector unit is a first reflector unit, and the two-way vehicle further includes: a second reflector unit connected to a lateral side of the two-way vehicle, the second reflector unit including: a second group of reflector elements having a first state and a second state, the first state being configured to reflect light of a first color, and the second state being configured to reflect light of a third color different from the second color; and a second actuator connected to the second group of reflector elements, wherein the controller or another controller is configured to cause the second group of reflector elements to transition from the first state to the second state upon actuation.

[0166] E. A reflector system configured to operate on a vehicle, the reflector system comprising: an element including at least a first side and a second side, the first side being configured to reflect light of a first color and the second side being different from the first side; an actuator coupled to the element; and a controller configured to: receive a signal indicating a change in a vehicle state; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the actuator to transition the element from a first position in which the first side faces outside the vehicle to a second position in which the second side faces outside the vehicle.

[0167] F. The reflector system of paragraph E, wherein the second side is configured to reflect light of a second color different from the first color.

[0168] G. The reflector system of paragraph E or F, wherein the actuator is mechanically coupled to one or more linkages, the one or more linkages comprising a pinion coupled to a rack.

[0169] H. A reflector system according to any of paragraphs E to G, wherein the elements are arranged out of plane relative to each other.

[0170] I. A reflector system according to any of paragraphs E to H, wherein the change in vehicle state is a change in direction of travel.

[0171] J. A reflector system according to any of paragraphs E to I, wherein the actuator is mechanically connected to the element via one or more links, the one or more links comprising: a plurality of pivot arms configured to pivot 180 degrees; and a carrier connected to the actuator and configured to transfer the force generated by the actuator to the plurality of pivot arms when actuated.

[0172] K. The reflector system of any of paragraphs E to J, wherein the element is disposed within the housing.

[0173] L. The reflector system of any of paragraphs E to K, further comprising: a marker light disposed in or on the housing proximate the component.

[0174] M. The reflector system of any of paragraphs E to L, wherein at least one of the elements further comprises a third side, the third side being different from the first side and the second side.

[0175] N. The reflector system of any of paragraphs E to M, wherein the surface area of ​​the first side is about 10 cm 2 and about 40cm 2 between.

[0176] O. A reflector unit comprising: reflector elements, wherein each reflector element comprises a first side and a second side, the first side being associated with a first state and being configured to reflect light of a first color, and the second side being associated with a second state different from the first state; and an actuator coupled to the reflector elements, the actuator being configured to transition the reflector elements from the first state to the second state.

[0177] P. A reflector unit according to paragraph O, wherein the reflector element includes a third side associated with the third state.

[0178] Q. A reflector unit according to paragraph O or P, wherein the third state presents an active display configured to output an image or message.

[0179] R. A reflector unit according to any of paragraphs O to Q, wherein the actuator is configured to cause the reflector element to transition from the first state to the second state, and from the second state to the first state, based on a period of time.

[0180] S. A reflector unit according to any of paragraphs O to R, wherein the first state is associated with a first color filter and the second state is associated with a second color filter different from the first color filter.

[0181] T. A reflector unit according to any of paragraphs O to S, wherein the actuator is coupled to the reflector element via one or more linkages comprising a plurality of pinions coupled to a rack.

[0182] U. A bidirectional vehicle, comprising: a trim having a first side and a second side; and an actuator system connected to the trim, the actuator system comprising: an indicator portion; a shielding element that exposes the indicator portion in a first state and covers the indicator portion in a second state; and a connecting rod connecting the shielding element to the actuator; wherein operation of the actuator applies a force to the shielding element via the connecting rod to cause the shielding element to switch between the first state and the second state.

[0183] V. A bidirectional vehicle according to paragraph U, wherein operation of the actuator is based at least in part on a determination that the bidirectional vehicle is changing direction of travel.

[0184] W. A bidirectional vehicle according to paragraph U or V, wherein the indicator portion is a first indicator portion and the shielding element includes a second indicator portion different from the first indicator portion.

[0185] X. A two-way vehicle according to any one of paragraphs U to W, wherein the actuator system is a first actuator system arranged on a first longitudinal end of the two-way vehicle, and the two-way vehicle further includes: a second actuator system, which is arranged on a second longitudinal end of the two-way vehicle opposite to the first longitudinal end, the second actuator system including: a second indication portion; and a second shielding element, which exposes the second indication portion in a first state and covers the second indication portion in a second state; wherein the second shielding element is in the first state and the first shielding element is in the second state.

[0186] Y. The bidirectional vehicle of paragraph U, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator configured to impart linear translational motion to the shielding element.

[0187] Z. The bidirectional vehicle of paragraph U, wherein the actuator comprises a rotary actuator configured to impart rotational motion to the shielding element.

[0188] AA. The bidirectional vehicle of any of paragraphs U to Z, wherein the actuator system further comprises: a coupler configured to couple the shield element to the linkage such that the shield element is offset in a longitudinal direction relative to the linkage and the actuator.

[0189] BB. A bidirectional vehicle according to any of paragraphs U to AA, wherein the indicator portion comprises one of a retroreflector, a transmitter, a license plate, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a permit, a display, an identification number, or a machine-readable code.

[0190] CC. A bidirectional vehicle according to any of paragraphs U to BB, wherein the shielding element comprises a reflective element.

[0191] DD. A system configured to operate on a vehicle, the system comprising: an actuator system coupled to the vehicle, the actuator system comprising: an indicator portion; a shielding element that exposes the indicator portion in a first state and covers the indicator portion in a second state; and a link coupling the shielding element to the actuator; wherein operation of the actuator applies a force to the shielding element via the link to cause the shielding element to transition between the first state and the second state.

[0192] EE. A system according to paragraph DD, wherein the actuator system is a first actuator system and is configured to operate on a first longitudinal end of the vehicle, the system further comprising: a second actuator system disposed on a second longitudinal end of the vehicle, the second actuator system comprising: a second indicator portion; and a second shielding element that exposes the second indicator portion in a first state and covers the second indicator portion in a second state; wherein the second shielding element is in the first state and the first shielding element is in the second state.

[0193] FF. A system according to paragraph DD or EE, wherein operation of the actuator is based at least in part on a signal generated by at least one of a transmitter system or a steering system associated with the vehicle.

[0194] GG. The system of any of paragraphs DD to FF, wherein the indicator portion is a first indicator portion and the shielding element includes a second indicator portion different from the first indicator portion.

[0195] HH. The system of any of paragraphs DD to GG, wherein the actuator system further comprises: a coupler configured to couple the shield element to the linkage such that the shield element is offset in a longitudinal direction relative to the linkage and the actuator.

[0196] II: An actuator system includes: an indicating portion; a shielding element that exposes the indicating portion in a first state and covers the indicating portion in a second state; and a connecting rod connecting the shielding element to the actuator; wherein operation of the actuator applies a force to the shielding element via the connecting rod to cause the shielding element to switch between the first state and the second state.

[0197] JJ: An actuator system according to paragraph II, wherein the actuator includes a linear actuator configured to apply linear translational motion to the shielding element.

[0198] KK. The actuator system of paragraph II, wherein the actuator comprises a rotary actuator configured to impart a rotational motion to the shielding element.

[0199] LL. The actuator system of any of paragraphs II to KK, wherein the actuator system further comprises: a coupler configured to couple the shield element to the linkage such that the shield element is offset in a longitudinal direction relative to the linkage and the actuator.

[0200] MM. The actuator system of any of paragraphs II to LL, wherein the indicator portion is a first indicator portion and the shield element includes a second indicator portion different from the first indicator portion.

[0201] NN. The actuator system of any of paragraphs II to MM, wherein the actuator system is coupled to a vehicle, and wherein operation of the actuator is based at least in part on a determination that the vehicle is changing direction of travel.

[0202] in conclusion

[0203] While one or more examples of the technology described herein have been described, various alterations, additions, permutations, and equivalents thereof are included within the scope of the technology described herein.

[0204] In the description of the examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this document and show specific examples by way of illustration. It should be understood that other examples can be used and that modifications or changes, such as structural changes, can be made. Such examples, modifications or changes do not necessarily depart from the scope of the intended subject matter. Although the steps herein may be presented in a certain order, in some cases the order may be changed so that certain inputs are provided at different times or in a different order without changing the functionality of the described systems and methods. The disclosed procedures may also be performed in a different order. In addition, the various calculations herein need not be performed in the order disclosed, and other examples using alternative orders of calculations can be easily implemented. In addition to reordering, calculations can also be decomposed into sub-calculations with the same result.

Claims

1. A bidirectional vehicle comprising: a fascia disposed at a first end of the bidirectional vehicle; as well as a reflector unit coupled to the trim panel, the reflector unit comprising: a reflector element comprising a first side configured to reflect light of a first color and a second side configured to reflect light of a second color different from the first color; a connecting rod coupled to the reflector element; an actuator mechanically coupled to the connecting rod; and The controller is configured as follows: receiving a signal indicating a change in direction of travel of the bidirectional vehicle; and In response to receiving the signal, the actuator is caused to apply a force to the linkage and cause the reflector element to transition from the first side to the second side.

2. The bidirectional vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The connecting rod includes a pinion coupled to a rack.

3. The bidirectional vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: The toothed rack associated with the connecting rod has a curved profile such that the reflector elements are arranged out of plane relative to each other.

4. The bidirectional vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The reflector unit is a first reflector unit, and the bidirectional vehicle further comprises: a second reflector unit coupled to a lateral side of the bidirectional vehicle, the second reflector unit comprising: a second set of reflector elements having a first state configured to reflect light of a first color and a second state configured to reflect light of a third color different from the second color; and a second actuator coupled to the second set of reflector elements, Wherein the controller or another controller is configured to, upon actuation, cause the second set of reflector elements to transition from the first state to the second state.

5. A reflector system configured to operate on a vehicle, the reflector system comprising: an element comprising at least a first side and a second side, the first side being configured to reflect light of a first color, the second side being different from the first side; an actuator coupled to the element; as well as The controller is configured as follows: receiving a signal indicating a change in vehicle status; as well as In response to receiving the signal, the actuator is caused to transition the element from a first position with the first side facing outside the vehicle to a second position with the second side facing outside the vehicle.

6. The reflector system according to claim 5, wherein: The second side is configured to reflect light of a second color different from the first color.

7. The reflector system according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein: The actuator is mechanically coupled to one or more linkages including a pinion coupled to a rack.

8. The reflector system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein: The elements are arranged out of plane relative to each other.

9. The reflector system according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein: The change in the vehicle state is a change in the direction of travel.

10. The reflector system according to claim 5, wherein: The actuator is mechanically coupled to the element via one or more linkages, the one or more linkages comprising: a plurality of pivot arms configured to pivot 180 degrees; and A carrier is coupled to the actuator and is configured to transfer a force generated by the actuator to the plurality of pivot arms upon actuation.

11. The reflector system according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein: The elements are disposed within the housing.

12. The reflector system according to claim 11, further comprising: A marker light is arranged in or on the housing close to the component.

13. The reflector system according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein: At least one of the elements further includes a third side that is different from the first side and the second side.

14. The reflector system according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein The surface area of ​​the first side is about 10 cm 2 and about 40cm 2 between.

15. A reflector unit comprising: reflector elements, wherein each reflector element includes a first side associated with a first state and configured to reflect light of a first color, and a second side associated with a second state different from the first state; and An actuator is coupled to the reflector element, the actuator being configured to cause the reflector element to transition from the first state to the second state.

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