Systems and methods for external actor acknowledgment for automated vehicles

A method, comprising:

• determining, by one or more processors, to switch a first vehicle from a driving lane of the first vehicle into an adjacent lane of the driving lane;
• responsive to determining to switch the first vehicle into the adjacent lane, monitoring, by the one or more processors, a speed or a location of a second vehicle, the second vehicle in the adjacent lane;
• determining, by the one or more processors, the speed or the location of the second vehicle satisfies a condition;
• detecting flashing lights of the second vehicle, wherein determining the condition is satisfied is further based on detection of the flashing lights of the second vehicle, wherein detection of the flashing lights of the second vehicle indicates that the second vehicle provides space in the adjacent lane for the first vehicle to switch from the driving lane into the adjacent lane;
• responsive to determining the condition is satisfied, controlling, by the one or more processors, the first vehicle to switch from the driving lane into the adjacent lane;
• and
• activating, by the one or more processors, an acknowledgment sequence of the first vehicle responsive to determining the first vehicle has switched from the driving lane into the adjacent lane.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including one or more instructions stored thereon and executable by a processor to:

• determine to switch a first vehicle from a driving lane of the first vehicle into an adjacent lane of the driving lane;
• responsive to determining to switch the first vehicle into the adjacent lane, monitor a speed or a location of a second vehicle, the second vehicle in the adjacent lane;
• determine the speed or the location of the second vehicle satisfies a condition;
• detect flashing lights of the second vehicle, wherein determining the condition is satisfied is further based on detection of the flashing lights of the second vehicle;
• responsive to determining the condition is satisfied, control the first vehicle to switch from the driving lane into the adjacent lane;
• and
• activate an acknowledgment sequence of the first vehicle responsive to determining the first vehicle has switched from the driving lane into the adjacent lane.