Abstract: A vehicular communication system includes a communication device in a vehicle. Responsive to the communication device receiving an input from a vehicle system indicative of a service need, the communication device requests an input from the driver of the vehicle pertaining to a desired characteristic of a service provider that can address the service need. Responsive to the communication device receiving the input from the driver, the vehicular communication system determines a plurality of service providers that (i) can address the service need and (ii) has the desired characteristic. The communication device communicates a list of the determined service providers to the driver and, responsive to the driver selecting a service provider from the list, the vehicular communication system sets a navigation system of the vehicle to navigate to the selected service provider.

Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a communication device disposed in the vehicle. Responsive to the communication device receiving an input from a vehicle system indicative of a potential service need, the communication device requests an input from the driver of the vehicle pertaining to a desired characteristic of a service provider that can address the potential service need. Responsive to the communication device receiving the input from the driver, the communication system determines a plurality of service providers that (i) can address the potential service need and (ii) has the desired characteristic. The communication device communicates a list of potential service providers to the driver and, responsive to a selection by the driver of a selected service provider, the communication system sets a navigation system of the vehicle to the selected service provider.

Abstract: A vehicular lane keeping assist system includes a camera and a control having an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera to determine lane boundaries defining a traffic lane of a road traveled by the vehicle. The control adjusts control of steering of the vehicle responsive to determination that the vehicle is traveling along a curved section of the road traveled by the vehicle. The control controls steering of the vehicle at a first degree responsive to determination that the vehicle is at or near a determined first lane boundary of the traffic lane at an inboard region of the curved section of the road, and the control controls steering of the vehicle at a second degree responsive to a determination that the vehicle is at or near a determined second lane boundary of the traffic lane at an outboard region of the curved section of the road.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle driving system includes a control that autonomously controls the vehicle. The control, upon receipt of a destination geographical location, controls the vehicle to travel to the destination geographical location, and wirelessly receives data pertaining to driving conditions relevant to the route being traveled by the vehicle. Responsive to the received driving conditions data, the control determines a geographic location ahead of the vehicle along the route where driving of the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle is desired. When the vehicle is traveling along the route and toward the determined geographic location and is within a threshold time and/or distance to the determined geographic location, the control informs the occupant of distance to and/or time of travel to the determined geographic location so the occupant is prepared to take over control of the vehicle and drive the vehicle upon the vehicle reaching the determined geographic location.

Abstract: An autonomous parking system for a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors at the vehicle and a control including a processor that processes data captured by the sensors. The control, responsive to actuation of a first user input and to processing of captured data, generates a route from a drop-off location to a designated parking area using a designated navigation map. The control autonomously navigates the vehicle from the drop-off location to the designated parking area via the generated route. The control, while navigating the designated parking area, determines whether a parking space is available at the designated parking area. The control, responsive to determining that a parking space is available, parks the vehicle in the determined available parking space. The control, responsive to actuation of a second user input remote from the vehicle, autonomously navigates the vehicle out of the parking space and to a designated pickup area.

Abstract: A vehicular lane keeping assist system includes a camera and a control having an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera to determine lane boundaries defining a traffic lane of a road traveled by the vehicle. The control adjusts control of steering of the vehicle responsive to determination that the vehicle is traveling along a curved section of the road traveled by the vehicle. The control controls steering of the vehicle at a first degree responsive to determination that the vehicle is at or near a determined first lane boundary of the traffic lane at an inboard region of the curved section of the road, and the control controls steering of the vehicle at a second degree responsive to a determination that the vehicle is at or near a determined second lane boundary of the traffic lane at an outboard region of the curved section of the road.

Abstract: A lane keeping assist system of a vehicle includes a camera and control having an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera to determine a lane boundary of a lane of a road traveled by the vehicle. The control establishes a virtual boundary line at an initial location relative to the determined lane boundary, with the initial location of the virtual boundary line at or inboard of the determined lane boundary. The control, responsive to a lateral speed of the vehicle relative to the determined lane boundary, laterally adjusts the virtual boundary line relative to the determined lane boundary. Responsive to a determination that the vehicle, when moving towards the determined lane boundary, would cross the virtual boundary line, the control at least one of (i) generates an alert to the driver of the vehicle and (ii) controls a steering system of the vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle driving system includes a control that autonomously controls the vehicle. The control, upon receipt of a destination geographical location, controls the vehicle to travel to the destination geographical location, and wirelessly receives data pertaining to driving conditions relevant to the route being traveled by the vehicle. Responsive to the received driving conditions data, the control determines a geographic location ahead of the vehicle along the route where driving of the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle is desired. When the vehicle is traveling along the route and toward the determined geographic location and is within a threshold time and/or distance to the determined geographic location, the control informs the occupant of distance to and/or time of travel to the determined geographic location so the occupant is prepared to take over control of the vehicle and drive the vehicle upon the vehicle reaching the determined geographic location.

Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a communication device disposed in the vehicle. Responsive to the communication device receiving an input from a vehicle system indicative of a potential service need, the communication device requests an input from the driver of the vehicle pertaining to a desired characteristic of a service provider that can address the potential service need. Responsive to the communication device receiving the input from the driver, the communication system determines a plurality of service providers that (i) can address the potential service need and (ii) has the desired characteristic. The communication device communicates a list of potential service providers to the driver and, responsive to a selection by the driver of a selected service provider, the communication system sets a navigation system of the vehicle to the selected service provider.

Abstract: A lane keeping assist system of a vehicle includes a camera and control having an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera to determine a lane boundary of a lane of a road traveled by the vehicle. The control establishes a virtual boundary line at an initial location relative to the determined lane boundary, with the initial location of the virtual boundary line at or inboard of the determined lane boundary. The control, responsive to a lateral speed of the vehicle relative to the determined lane boundary, laterally adjusts the virtual boundary line relative to the determined lane boundary. Responsive to a determination that the vehicle, when moving towards the determined lane boundary, would cross the virtual boundary line, the control at least one of (i) generates an alert to the driver of the vehicle and (ii) controls a steering system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A subject location tracking process is provided that includes the attachment of a system to a subject where the system includes a radiofrequency sensor integration module, an inertial tracking module, and a microprocessor. Radiofrequency signals are communicated from the radiofrequency sensor integration module to a remote radiofrequency transceiver beacon. A measured range is determined between the radiofrequency sensory integration module and the beacon. An error value E is then computed between the measured range and a predicted range. The predicted range is computed from the inertial tracking module alone based on positional data as to location and orientation of the system. The location data of the subject is determined with a microprocessor and displayed at the location.

Abstract: A distance separation tracking process is provided that includes the transmission of a periodic radio frequency original signal from a beacon transceiver. The original periodic signal from the beacon transceiver is received at a remote target transceiver as a target received periodic signal. The target retransmits the received periodic signal to the beacon transceiver as a return periodic signal. Data points of the return periodic signal are sampled and used to calculate a phase differential between the original periodic signal and the return periodic signal that correlates to the distance separation range between the beacon transceiver and the target transceiver.

Abstract: A secondary optical system for object navigation in an array of beacons is provided that includes an optical source having at least one optical emitter emitting an optical signal and that is mounted to either the moving object or a beacon of the array of beacons. The moving object in simultaneous radio frequency communication the array of beacons to determine dynamic position of the object. An optical detector is mounted to the other of a moving object or the beacon of the array of beacons and the optical detector receives the optical signal when line of sight exists between the moving object and a beacon of the array of beacons. Electronics are provided for determining the dynamic position of the moving object uses weighting factor that favors the communication and at least two beacons of the array of beacons for which a moving object-beacon optical line of sight exists.

Abstract: An inventive precision pinpoint tracking method and system is provided for devices that provide spot location measurements of objects. Embodiments of the location measuring device have a RF antenna, a tracking module in electrical communication with the RF antenna, and a tilt-compensated (TC) compass. In embodiments of the location measuring device, a measuring tip is offset at a distal end from the tracking module and the RF antenna is located at the proximal end of the tracking module. In embodiments, the TC compass provides data to calculate a translation of the position of the measuring tip with respect to the RF antenna to enable spot measurements of locations of a target object.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for position marking to register precise locations on a stationary objects in space, and to refer back to the locations that same precise location at a later time, while establishing a local coordinate system without consideration for the global location or orientation of the object, thereby ensuring the object does not need to be re-positioned or re-orientated before marking and referring to any object's locations. The problem that a local coordinate reference system based on reference beacons is not correlated to the object's reference frame is addressed through a novel calibration method. By eliminating consideration for coordinate setup and the need to physically move the object in the operating space, a more robust measurement is achieved that replaces such conventional steps with an easy to conduct calibration process that reduces the chance for human error.

Abstract: A secondary optical system for object navigation in an array of beacons is provided that includes an optical source having at least one optical emitter emitting an optical signal and that is mounted to either the moving object or a beacon of the array of beacons. The moving object in simultaneous radio frequency communication the array of beacons to determine dynamic position of the object. An optical detector is mounted to the other of a moving object or the beacon of the array of beacons and the optical detector receives the optical signal when line of sight exists between the moving object and a beacon of the array of beacons. Electronics are provided for determining the dynamic position of the moving object uses weighting factor that favors the communication and at least two beacons of the array of beacons for which a moving object-beacon optical line of sight exists.

Abstract: A subject location tracking process is provided that includes the attachment of a system to a subject where the system includes a radiofrequency sensor integration module, an inertial tracking module, and a microprocessor. Radiofrequency signals are communicated from the radiofrequency sensor integration module to a remote radiofrequency transceiver beacon. A measured range is determined between the radiofrequency sensory integration module and the beacon. An error value E is then computed between the measured range and a predicted range. The predicted range is computed from the inertial tracking module alone based on positional data as to location and orientation of the system. The location data of the subject is determined with a microprocessor and displayed at the location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the location of a target. The method includes initializing a set of base stations to determine their location relative to each other. At the target, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations Is measured. From this, the location of the target relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the location of a target. The method includes initializing a set of base stations to determine their location relative to each other. At the target, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations is measured. From this, the location of the target relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.

Abstract: A distance separation tracking process is provided that includes the transmission of a periodic radio frequency original signal from a beacon transceiver. The original periodic signal from the beacon transceiver is received at a remote target transceiver as a target received periodic signal. The target retransmits the received periodic signal to the beacon transceiver as a return periodic signal. Data points of the return periodic signal are sampled and used to calculate a phase differential between the original periodic signal and the return periodic signal that correlates to the distance separation range between the beacon transceiver and the target transceiver.