Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a retractable harness mounted within the vehicle and extendible through an opening in the vehicle body, such as a sun roof. The harness may include a retainer, such as an electromagnet, for engaging a docking structure on an aerial drone. On take-off, the vehicle may reach a desirable take-off speed of the aerial drone, activate the aerial drone, and release the retainer. On landing, the aerial drone and vehicle may synchronize their speeds and locations. The retractable harness may extend and align itself with the aerial drone, which descends and docks with the retractable harness.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, a cylindrical sensor window fixed to the base, and a helical cleaning member movable between a retracted position in the base and an extended position extending around the sensor window. The cleaning member includes an outlet directed at the sensor window when the cleaning member is in the extended position.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photodiode sensors spaced from one another and mounted to a reflective surface, a transparent layer spaced from and substantially parallel to the reflective surface, and a plurality of photodiode transmitters at least one of mounted to the reflective surface and disposed between the reflective surface and the transparent layer.

Abstract: A device may determine driving routes and transit times for vehicles and drivers. The device may include memory and processing to determine one or more indications of desired departure times and routes for a first user and a second user of a group of users, the routes including a road segment used by the first user and the second user. The device may determine a first signal received from a computer of a first vehicle and a second signal received from a computer of a second vehicle, wherein the first signal indicates traffic associated with the first vehicle, and wherein the second signal indicates traffic associated with the second vehicle. The device may determine a first suggested departure time associated with the first user and a second suggested departure time associated with the second user The device may to send indications of the first and second suggested departure times.

Abstract: Example pedestrian management systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method identifies a pedestrian approaching a known pedestrian crossing location. A pedestrian management system notifies an approaching vehicle that the pedestrian wants to cross a road in front of the approaching vehicle. The approaching vehicle determines whether the pedestrian has sufficient time to cross the road ahead of the vehicle. The pedestrian management system then notifies the pedestrian whether they can cross the road ahead of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, a cylindrical sensor window fixed to the base, and a helical cleaning member movable between a retracted position in the base and an extended position extending around the sensor window. The cleaning member includes an outlet directed at the sensor window when the cleaning member is in the extended position.

Abstract: A device may determine driving routes and transit times for vehicles and drivers. The device may include memory and processing to determine one or more indications of desired departure times and routes for a first user and a second user of a group of users, the routes including a road segment used by the first user and the second user. The device may determine a first signal received from a computer of a first vehicle and a second signal received from a computer of a second vehicle, wherein the first signal indicates traffic associated with the first vehicle, and wherein the second signal indicates traffic associated with the second vehicle. The device may determine a first suggested departure time associated with the first user and a second suggested departure time associated with the second user The device may to send indications of the first and second suggested departure times.

Abstract: Upon entry to an indoor parking structure, a vehicle may establish communication with a computer system of the parking structure. The vehicle may receive a path to an available parking spot, the path including checkpoints which may broadcast signals. The vehicle may travel the path autonomously to the parking spot. The vehicle further detects the checkpoints and uses their signals to calibrate the vehicle's position.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a retractable harness mounted within the vehicle and extendible through an opening in the vehicle body, such as a sun roof. The harness may include a retainer, such as an electromagnet, for engaging a docking structure on an aerial drone. On take-off, the vehicle may reach a desirable take-off speed of the aerial drone, activate the aerial drone, and release the retainer. On landing, the aerial drone and vehicle may synchronize their speeds and locations. The retractable harness may extend and align itself with the aerial drone, which descends and docks with the retractable harness.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to detect water on a ground surface, actuate a vehicle exterior light to illuminate a grid pattern on the ground surface, detect a depression at a location of the detected water based on received reflections of the grid pattern, and move a vehicle based on the detected depression.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a vehicle diagnostic report from a vehicle. The processor is also configured to determine that additional information is required to diagnose a problem indicated by the report. The processor is further configured to compile instructions for a user to gather the additional information and send the instructions to the vehicle in response to determining the additional information is required.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photodiode sensors spaced from one another and mounted to a reflective surface, a transparent layer spaced from and substantially parallel to the reflective surface, and a plurality of photodiode transmitters at least one of mounted to the reflective surface and disposed between the reflective surface and the transparent layer.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a vehicle diagnostic report from a vehicle. The processor is also configured to determine that additional information is required to diagnose a problem indicated by the report. The processor is further configured to compile instructions for a user to gather the additional information and send the instructions to the vehicle in response to determining the additional information is required.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to detect water on a ground surface, actuate a vehicle exterior light to illuminate a grid pattern on the ground surface, detect a depression at a location of the detected water based on received reflections of the grid pattern, and move a vehicle based on the detected depression.