# US 10,872,476 B2 · Broadcast strategy modes for autonomous vehicle operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,872,476 B2 - Document ID: US10872476B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/673,925 - Filed: 2017-08-10 - Published: 2019-02-14 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-10 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Jon Stuart Battles; James Christopher Curlander; Larry Felser; Gur Kimchi; Pragyana K. Mishra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10872476B2 ## CPC - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - G05D 1/0291: {Fleet control (monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127)} - G07C 5/08: Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time - G07C 5/0816: {Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction} - G07C 5/0825: {using optical means} - G07C 5/0833: {using audio means} - H04H 20/65: Arrangements characterised by transmission systems for broadcast - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) ## Abstract Systems and methods for broadcasting strategy modes of autonomous vehicles are described. An autonomous vehicle may include one or more notification devices that broadcast a selected strategy mode for the autonomous vehicle. The selected strategy mode may include an uncoupled strategy mode, a permissive strategy mode, an assistive strategy mode, and a preventative strategy mode. The notification devices may include visual, audio, or signal notification devices. In addition, the autonomous vehicle may broadcast other information associated with the vehicle, such as a position, a velocity, a priority, or an identity of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An autonomous ground-based vehicle, comprising: a propulsion mechanism; a steering mechanism; a broadcasting device; and a control system comprising a processor and a memory, the control system configured to: select, from a plurality of strategy modes, a strategy mode for the autonomous ground-based vehicle; and broadcast, using the broadcasting device, an indication of the selected strategy mode for the autonomous ground-based vehicle; wherein the plurality of strategy modes comprises an uncoupled strategy mode, a permissive strategy mode, an assistive strategy mode, and a preventative strategy mode; wherein the uncoupled strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous ground-based vehicle continues operation substantially independently of operations of other vehicles; wherein the permissive strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous ground-based vehicle maintains current operation while permitting operations of other vehicles; wherein the assistive strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous ground-based vehicle modifies current operation while facilitating operations of other vehicles; and wherein the preventative strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous ground-based vehicle modifies current operation while preventing operations of other vehicles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The autonomous ground-based vehicle of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting device comprises at least one of headlights, turning lights, hazard lights, or taillights of the autonomous ground-based vehicle; and wherein the indication of the selected strategy mode includes at least one of illumination or flashing of the at least one of the headlights, turning lights, hazard lights, or taillights. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The autonomous ground-based vehicle of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting device comprises a transponder that broadcasts the indication of the selected strategy mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The autonomous ground-based vehicle of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting device comprises a radiofrequency transmitter that broadcasts the indication of the selected strategy mode. ### Claim 5 An autonomous vehicle, comprising: a propulsion mechanism; a steering mechanism; a notification device; and a control system comprising a processor and a memory, the control system configured to: select, from a plurality of strategy modes, a strategy mode for the autonomous vehicle; and broadcast, using the notification device, an indication of the selected strategy mode for the autonomous vehicle; wherein the plurality of strategy modes comprises an uncoupled strategy mode, a permissive strategy mode, an assistive strategy mode, and a preventative strategy mode; wherein the uncoupled strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle continues operation substantially independently of operations of other vehicles; wherein the permissive strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle maintains current operation while permitting operations of other vehicles; wherein the assistive strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle modifies current operation while facilitating operations of other vehicles; and wherein the preventative strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle modifies current operation while preventing operations of other vehicles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The autonomous vehicle of claim 5, wherein the notification device comprises one or more lights of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The autonomous vehicle of claim 6, wherein the indication of the selected strategy mode comprises at least one of illumination or flashing of the one or more lights of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The autonomous vehicle of claim 5, wherein the notification device comprises a visual identifier on the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The autonomous vehicle of claim 8, wherein the visual identifier comprises at least one of a license plate, an alphanumeric identifier, a symbol, or a color of at least a portion of the autonomous vehicle; and wherein the visual identifier further indicates at least one of a priority associated with the autonomous vehicle, capabilities of the autonomous vehicle, an identity of the autonomous vehicle, or a vehicle type of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The autonomous vehicle of claim 5, wherein the notification device comprises an audio transmitter to emit an audio signal that indicates the selected strategy mode of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The autonomous vehicle of claim 5, wherein the notification device comprises a transponder to broadcast a signal that indicates the selected strategy mode of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The autonomous vehicle of claim 11, wherein the signal broadcast by the transponder further indicates at least one of a time of broadcast of the signal, a position of the autonomous vehicle, a velocity of the autonomous vehicle, a priority associated with the autonomous vehicle, a state of the autonomous vehicle, capabilities of the autonomous vehicle, an identity of the autonomous vehicle, or a vehicle type of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The autonomous vehicle of claim 5, wherein the notification device comprises a radiofrequency transmitter to broadcast a signal that indicates the selected strategy mode of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The autonomous vehicle of claim 13, wherein the signal broadcast by the radiofrequency transmitter further indicates at least one of a time of broadcast of the signal, a priority associated with the autonomous vehicle, capabilities of the autonomous vehicle, an identity of the autonomous vehicle, or a vehicle type of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 15 A method of operating an autonomous vehicle, comprising: selecting, from a plurality of strategy modes, a strategy mode for the autonomous vehicle; and broadcasting, using a notification device, an indication of the selected strategy mode for the autonomous vehicle; wherein the plurality of strategy modes comprises an uncoupled strategy mode, a permissive strategy mode, an assistive strategy mode, and a preventative strategy mode; wherein the uncoupled strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle continues operation substantially independently of operations of other vehicles; wherein the permissive strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle maintains current operation while permitting operations of other vehicles; wherein the assistive strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle modifies current operation while facilitating operations of other vehicles; and wherein the preventative strategy mode comprises an autonomous mode in which the autonomous vehicle modifies current operation while preventing operations of other vehicles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein broadcasting the indication of the selected strategy mode comprises at least one of illumination or flashing of one or more lights of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein broadcasting the indication of the selected strategy mode comprises displaying a visual identifier on at least a portion of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein broadcasting the indication of the selected strategy mode comprises performing defined motions of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein broadcasting the indication of the selected strategy mode comprises transmitting a signal using at least one of a transponder or a radiofrequency transmitter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: broadcasting, using the notification device, at least one of a time of broadcast of the indication of the selected strategy mode, a position of the autonomous vehicle, a velocity of the autonomous vehicle, a priority associated with the autonomous vehicle, a state of the autonomous vehicle, capabilities of the autonomous vehicle, an identity of the autonomous vehicle, or a vehicle type of the autonomous vehicle.