Abstract: A latch assembly for an access door of a storage compartment in a vehicle, includes a locking bar configured to move into an engaged configuration which enables the access door to be placed and held into a closed position and a disengaged configuration which permits the access door to be placed into an opened position; and an automatic locking mechanism including a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator configured to be coupled to the access door, and further including a locking feature operably coupled to a portion of the locking bar, and configured to engage and disengage the SMA actuator which is electrically energized to move into a locked position to prohibit the locking feature from moving. A latch assembly for an access door of a storage compartment in a vehicle includes an SMA actuator configured to move the locking bar into the disengaged configuration with the storage compartment.

Abstract: A vehicle includes one or more sensors arranged on at least one of a dashboard, a roof, and a center console of the vehicle, or one or more image capturing devices for capturing one or more images from a left side and a right side of the vehicle, an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to communicate with the one or more sensors or the one or more image capturing devices, and at least one of a morphing surface, a windshield display, and one or more displays configured to be controlled by the ECU, where the one or more sensors are arranged under a black panel surface.

Abstract: A latch assembly 1 for an access door 2 of a storage compartment 3 in a vehicle 4, comprises a locking bar 5 configured to be movable into an engaged configuration which enables the access door 2 to be placed and held into a closed position and into a disengaged configuration which permits the access door 2 to be placed into an opened position; and an automatic locking mechanism 8 including a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator 9 configured to be coupled to the access door 2, the automatic locking mechanism 8 further including a locking feature 10 operably coupled to at least a portion of the locking bar 5, 5?, and configured to engage and disengage the SMA actuator which is electrically energized to move into a locked position to prohibit the locking feature 10 from moving.

Abstract: A vehicle includes one or more sensors arranged on at least one of a dashboard, a roof, and a center console of the vehicle, or one or more image capturing devices for capturing one or more images from a left side and a right side of the vehicle, an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to communicate with the one or more sensors or the one or more image capturing devices, and at least one of a morphing surface, a windshield display, and one or more displays configured to be controlled by the ECU, where the one or more sensors are arranged under a black panel surface.