Systems and methods for a first autonomous vehicle to identify and utilize a unique LIDAR projected pattern of a second autonomous vehicle

A system comprising a first vehicle that is operable to detect a second vehicle using a LIDAR pattern projected by the second vehicle, the system comprising:

• at least one sensor operable to detect a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) pattern projected onto a surface of an environment by a LIDAR device of second vehicle being followed by the first vehicle;
• at least one position detecting mechanism operable to detect a current position of the first vehicle;
• a memory storing a first set of data, the first set of data comprising a plurality of unique LIDAR patterns and, for each unique LIDAR pattern in the first set of data, corresponding identifying information indicative of the LIDAR device that projects said LIDAR pattern;
• and
• a first controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the memory, the first controller comprising one or more first processors and first non-transitory computer readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the first controller to:
• (a) detect, via the at least one position detecting mechanism, a current position of the passive follower vehicle at a first point in time, thereby determining self-position data for the first point in time;
• (b) detect, at the first point in time and via the at least one sensor, a second data being emitted by the second vehicle,
• wherein the second data comprises at least a first LIDAR pattern being projected by a LIDAR device of the second vehicle as it travels along a route through the environment;
• (c) match, using the first set of data, the first LIDAR pattern to one of the plurality of unique LIDAR patterns;
• and
• (d) infer, using the match, identification data defining a LIDAR system that is projecting the first LIDAR pattern, thereby inferring identification data for the second vehicle.