Google Patents Turn Signal Recognition System for Self-Driving Cars

Google Inc. has received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a system that enables self-driving cars to detect when nearby vehicles have switched on a turn signal or hazard lights, Autoblog.com reports.  

Using images from a forward-facing camera, the Google system identifies bright light sources. Then its software looks for color changes and light oscillation at the corners of detected vehicles to determine if the flashing pattern matches that of a turn signal or emergency warning light.

Google filed for the turn-signal detection patent in June 2013, according to the car enthusiast Web site. The tech giant also has a similar patent that would allow autonomous vehicles to monitor traffic lights.