Warning indicator system and related methods

A method for warning approaching vehicles of an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

• sensing a stopped condition of the autonomous vehicle;
• activating a warning indicator of the autonomous vehicle based on the stopped condition;
• sensing a start condition of the autonomous vehicle;
• and
• deactivating the warning indicator of the autonomous vehicle based on the start condition,
• wherein the warning indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs or an LED panel coupled to or formed within a sensor pod coupled to the autonomous vehicle,
• wherein activating the warning indicator comprises causing the plurality of LEDs or the LED panel to display one or more caret arrows oriented in a direction facing outward from the autonomous vehicle, and
• wherein the one or more caret arrows comprises a plurality of caret arrows that increase in a size along a connecting assembly coupling the sensor pod to the autonomous vehicle and along a width of the sensor pod housing, wherein a first caret arrow at a location nearest to the autonomous vehicle is the smallest of all of the plurality of caret arrows and a second caret arrow at a location farthest from the autonomous vehicle is the largest of all of the plurality of caret arrows.