Using lighting zones to communicate pre-trip diagnostics

A system for operating indicators on an autonomous vehicle comprising:

• an autonomy computing system configured to:
• determine a status of the autonomous vehicle;
• determine an indication sequence based on the status data and transmit the indication sequence onto a bus;
• an electronic control unit coupled to the autonomy computing system via the bus and configured to:
• receive the indication sequence from the autonomy computing system;
• and
• operate at least one indicator based on the indication sequence, an output indication sequence from the autonomy computing system being machine-readable.

An electronic control unit for operating an indicator on an autonomous vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising a memory storing computer executable instructions and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor, upon execution of the computer executable instructions, configured to:

• receive data representing a status of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the data includes data representing at least one abnormality associated with the autonomous vehicle, the at least one abnormality including physical intrusion of the autonomous vehicle;
• determine an indication sequence associated with the status;
• and
• operate at least one indicator on the autonomous vehicle according to the indication sequence.