Bi-directional beacon information system

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle is equipped with a beacon, preferably including a transmitter and receiver, or a transceiver, for bi-directional communication, which is programmed to interact with other beacons for the exchange of contextual travel information to assist in autonomous operation of the vehicle. Beacons may be stationary and positioned along a roadway such that a signal transmitted by such a stationary beacon can be received by a passing beacon-equipped vehicle, the operation of which can be adjusted depending on instructions received from the stationary beacon. The vehicle can also transmit information to the stationary beacon, which information can be used to assess traffic conditions to thereafter adjust information and alerts sent to other beacon-equipped vehicles. Beacons located within multiple vehicles may also interact to share information that may be used by individual vehicles to adjust or maintain the autonomous operation of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for transmitting contextual travel information to vehicles on a roadway comprising:
 at least one bi-directional beacon including transmission means and receiver means for sending and receiving data relating to contextual travel information for assisting in operation of vehicles on the roadway,   wherein said at least one beacon is positioned on one of a stationary support located proximate to the roadway or a vehicle adapted for travel on the roadway.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said bi-directional beacons capable of communicating with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of beacons comprises a first bi-directional beacon positioned on a first vehicle and adapted for communication with a second bi-directional beacon positioned on one of a stationary support located proximate to the roadway or a second vehicle adapted for travel on the roadway. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first vehicle is an autonomous vehicle and the data is received by said vehicle and processed by a processor disposed on the vehicle in operative communication with the vehicle's autonomous operating systems. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of beacons comprises a first bi-directional beacon positioned on a first stationary support located proximate to the roadway and adapted for communication with a plurality of vehicles as they pass by said stationary support on the roadway, each of said plurality of vehicles being equipped with bi-directional beacons to which the first beacon can transmit data relating to travel information. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first stationary support can be moved to different locations proximate the roadway. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one beacon is remotely programmable with travel information. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data includes vehicle operation commands. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission means comprises a transmitter and the receiver means comprises a receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission means and the receiver means comprise a transceiver. 
     
     
         11 . A system for transmitting contextual travel information to vehicles on a roadway comprising:
 a plurality of autonomous vehicles each having a processor in operative communication with the respective vehicle's autonomous operating systems, and a bi-directional beacon system in operative communication with the processor,   wherein said beacon system includes transmission means and receiver means for sending and receiving data relating to contextual travel information for assisting in operation of the plurality vehicles on the roadway,   wherein data is exchanged between vehicles in the plurality of vehicles, and   wherein the data received by each said vehicle is processed by the processor for assisting in operation of each said vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one stationary support located proximate to the roadway, said stationary support including a bi-directional beacon having transmission means and receiver means for sending and receiving data relating to travel information for assisting in operation of the plurality vehicles on the roadway,
 wherein data is exchanged between the beacon of the stationary support and beacons on passing or proximately located vehicles.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first stationary support can be moved to different locations proximate the roadway. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein each beacon may be remotely programmable with travel information and/or vehicle information. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the data includes vehicle operation commands. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the transmission means comprises a transmitter and the receiver means comprises a receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the transmission means and the receiver means comprise a transceiver.