1. A method for an autonomous vehicle to communicate with external observers, comprising: receiving a task at the autonomous vehicle; collecting data that characterizes a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle from a sensor coupled to the autonomous vehicle; determining an intended course of action for the autonomous vehicle to undertake based on the task and the collected data; projecting a human understandable output, via a projector that manipulates or produces light, to a ground surface in proximity to the autonomous vehicle; and wherein the human understandable output indicates the intended course of action of the autonomous vehicle to an external observer; and wherein the autonomous vehicle confirms recognition of the external observer by presenting, via the projector, an image of the external observer.