Methods and devices for safe operation of undersize autonomous vehicles on public roads

A system for operating an autonomous vehicle comprising:

• an autonomous vehicle operable in ordinary traffic on public roads,
• a structure with an extended and a retracted position wherein
• when the structure is extended the visibility of the vehicle is enhanced and
• when the structure is retracted the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle is decreased,
• a processor controlling the position of the structure as a function of an environment in which the autonomous vehicle is operating, and
• a means for the processor to acquire information about the environment.

A method of avoiding accidents comprising:

• (a) operating a driverless first vehicle on public roads with the vehicle comprising:
• a vehicle chassis weighing less than 200 pounds,
• an elevated visibility structure with a visible marker controlled by a data processing device with a first sensor to detect the presence of a second vehicle and a second sensor to measure the speed of the base vehicle,
• a support structure of low aerodynamic resistance connecting the vehicle chassis and the elevated visibility structure with the elevated visibility structure substantially raised above the vehicle chassis,
• a data processing device with a sensor to detect a second vehicle
• (b) running a program on the data processing device to determine the presence of a second vehicle, and
• (c) modifying the visibility of the marker as a function of the determination of the presence of a second vehicle.