Autonomous vehicle operation in view-obstructed environments

A system for operating an autonomous vehicle in a view-obstructed environment while the autonomous vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, the system comprising:

• a sensor system configured to detect one or more objects located in at least a portion of an external environment of the autonomous vehicle;
• a processor operatively connected to the sensor system, the processor being programmed to initiate executable operations comprising:
• while the autonomous vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode:
• determining an occupant viewable area of the external environment;
• determining whether one or more of the detected one or more objects is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area;
• and
• responsive to determining that one or more of the detected one or more objects is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area, causing a modification to a current driving action of the autonomous vehicle,
• wherein, in the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle is configured to navigate and maneuver itself without receiving input from a human driver such that the autonomous vehicle is fully autonomous, whereby the autonomous vehicle is driverless.

A method of operating an autonomous vehicle in a view-obstructed environment while the autonomous vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, the method comprising:

• while the autonomous vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode:
• identifying an information critical area along a travel route, the information critical area being related to a future driving action;
• determining an occupant viewable area of an external environment;
• determining whether at least a portion of the information critical area is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area;
• and
• responsive to determining that at least a portion of the information critical area is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area, causing a modification to a current driving action of the autonomous vehicle,
• wherein, in the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle is configured to navigate and maneuver itself without receiving input from a human driver such that the autonomous vehicle is fully autonomous, whereby the autonomous vehicle is driverless.

A system for operating an autonomous vehicle in a view-obstructed environment while the autonomous vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, the system comprising:

• a processor, the processor being programmed to initiate executable operations comprising:
• while the autonomous vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode:
• identifying an information critical area along a travel route, the information critical area being related to a future driving action;
• determining an occupant viewable area of an external environment;
• determining whether at least a portion of the information critical area is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area;
• and
• responsive to determining that at least a portion of the information critical area is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area, causing a modification to a current driving action of the autonomous vehicle,
• wherein, in the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle is configured to navigate and maneuver itself without receiving input from a human driver such that the autonomous vehicle is fully autonomous, whereby the autonomous vehicle is driverless.