Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to heat a passenger cabin of a vehicle, suppress a climate control limiter that prevents an air blower of a climate control component from operating when an engine coolant temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, and actuate a motor on an air pump to introduce air external to the vehicle to the passenger cabin.

Abstract: A system includes a camera aimed externally to a vehicle, a window of the vehicle, a projector positioned to project on the window, and a computer communicatively coupled to the camera and the projector. The computer is programmed to, upon receiving data from the camera indicating a first person outside the vehicle, instruct the projector to project an image on the window depicting a second person inside the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle having powered door assist includes a plurality of powered doors, each powered door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open door positions, and a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing objects proximate to the vehicle including one or more potential passengers expected to enter the vehicle and for sensing an obstacle within or proximate to a swing path of at least one of the plurality of powered doors. The vehicle also includes a controller determining an estimated weight of the one or more potential passengers, detecting expected height of the plurality of powered door with the estimated weight added to the vehicle, detecting height of a sensed obstacle within the swing path of one of the powered doors and determining whether the expected height of the one powered door will interfere with the sensed obstacle in the swing path.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a wireless transceiver; and one or more controllers, programmed to receive, via the wireless transceiver, a hailing instruction that identifies a user to ride in the vehicle, the hailing instruction including an identifier of a mobile device of the user, responsive to receiving a key from the mobile device via a wireless connection between the mobile device and the wireless transceiver, associate the key with the identifier, and send the key and the identifier as an associated pair to a server via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for calibrating a handheld device used for controlling a partially autonomous vehicle. An example method to calibrate the handheld device may include entering a remote-control command into the handheld device for controlling a first action performed by the partially autonomous vehicle. A time-delay associated with one or more operations executed in the handheld device in response to entering the remote-control command are then measured. The time-delay is conveyed to a cloud computing device, which evaluates the time-delay and returns a diagnostic result to the handheld device. Evaluation of the time-delay by the cloud computing device may be carried out by comparing the time-delay in the handheld device to time-delay values obtained via crowdsourcing from other handheld devices. The diagnostic result provided by the cloud computing device may be used by the handheld device for calibration purposes.

Abstract: A vehicle having park assist includes a plurality of powered closure doors, each door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open positions, a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing objects relative to the vehicle and generating sensed signals indicative of the sensed objects, and a transceiver for communicating with a parked vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller processing the sensed signals, determining a distance and location of the sensed objects relative to the doors, and determining a parking location for the vehicle in a garage where the closure doors are free from contact with an object in the garage when in an open position and are free of contact with powered closure doors on the parked vehicle. An output is provided to assist a driver of the vehicle to park the vehicle in the garage in the determined parking location.

Abstract: A central computer includes a first processor and a first memory. A portable computer includes a second processor and a second memory. The portable computer is programmed to: obtain an identifier of a vehicle via a scanner included in the portable computer, and transmit the identifier and first validation data to the central computer, and transmit a message to the central computer for a destination computer. The central computer is programmed to receive the identifier and the first validation data from the portable computer, determine second validation data; identify a destination computer based on the identifier, and upon determining that a comparison of the first validation data and the second validation data meets a specified criterion, transmit the message from the portable computer to the destination computer.

Abstract: A powered latch system for motor vehicles includes at least one powered latch that can be controlled based, at least in part, on vehicle operating conditions. The system may be configured to control unlatching of the vehicle doors utilizing data relating to the vehicle speed and/or the existence of a crash event. The powered latch system can be configured as required for various vehicles, and to accommodate specific operating requirements with respect to child locks in various geographic jurisdictions.

Abstract: A central computer includes a first processor and a first memory. A portable computer includes a second processor and a second memory. The portable computer is programmed to: obtain an identifier of a vehicle via a scanner included in the portable computer, and transmit the identifier and first validation data to the central computer, and transmit a message to the central computer for a destination computer. The central computer is programmed to receive the identifier and the first validation data from the portable computer, determine second validation data; identify a destination computer based on the identifier, and upon determining that a comparison of the first validation data and the second validation data meets a specified criterion, transmit the message from the portable computer to the destination computer.

Abstract: Chionophobia intervention systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting snowfall from a vehicle sensor of a vehicle or a service provider, displaying a prompt on a human machine interface (HMI) to query a user regarding additional assistance in response to the detection of the snowfall, activating a first stage response after detecting the snowfall, determining when the first stage response is insufficient based on feedback received from the user, and activating a second stage response when the feedback received from the user indicates that the first stage response is insufficient.

Abstract: A method for a secure Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) authentication protocol measures the walking gait of a user approaching a related vehicle using a passive key device carried by the user. The method also includes measuring the user's gait from the perspective of the vehicle using a vehicle perception system to compare the two and validate the security of an unlock request, authenticate the unlocking session, and protect against relay attacks. The two-factor authentication protocol validates the physical presence and temporal state of the key fob or mobile phone relative to the vehicle using detected key gait measurement (key G-gait) and a vehicle perception-based gait (C-gait) measurement by comparing the independent gaits and generating control commands responsive to consistent and inconsistent measurements.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that defines an aperture. A closure panel is coupled to the body and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure panel covers the aperture when the closure panel is in the closed position. A support member has a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the body. The second end is coupled to the closure panel. The support member is operable between a compressed position and an extended position. The extended position of the support member corresponds with the open position of the closure panel. A collapsible member is coupled to the body and the support member. The collapsible member is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The collapsible member includes a first section and a second section. The collapsible member also includes a fluid drainage system.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an input device configured to send an activation signal responsive to an input to start the vehicle. The system further includes a vehicle body controller, programmed to, responsive to the input and a lack of presence of a phone operating as a key, send an activation signal to activate a power source within a cabin of the vehicle for up to a predefined time period since a last vehicle start.

Abstract: Interference-avoiding distance measurement is provided. A controller of a first wireless device is configured for wireless communication over a first transmission protocol with a second wireless device. One or more occupied channels of a second transmission protocol are identified, the first and second transmission protocols having overlapping frequency spectrums. A channel plan is constructed according to the occupied channels, the channel plan using a set of channels of the first transmission protocol that do not overlap in frequency with the one or more occupied channels of the second transmission protocol. Phase-based ranging is performed using data scanned via the channel plan. A distance measurement is indicated based on the phase-based ranging.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automotive computer in communication with a mobile device using an authentication manager to increase and/or reduce user privileges that determine a level of vehicle control or feature access that is granted to the user. The authentication manager may increase or decrease the user privilege to standard rider status until the authentication manager has confirmed elevated status for that user via a cloud security challenge question or via a local identification method such as using the mobile device authentication features. This process may be additionally triggered based on environmental or context-based use cases, such as a high traffic condition, local cyber-attack, or transportation of sensitive goods. The system may utilize the authentication to perform out of band pairing of the mobile device and the vehicle, which may add additional security.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior and comprising a front row of seats and a rear row of seats, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, and a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet or passenger within the cabin interior. The vehicle also includes a movable center console positioned between a pair of the forward row of seats and forward of the rear row of seats and comprising a holder for holding a drink container, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the detected pet or passenger on the rear row of seats based on the processed signals, the controller further controlling the movable console between a forward first position and a rearward second position closer to the rear row of seats.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises user inputs, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the vehicle, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals. The controller controls activation of the user input controls based on the determined location of the pet to disable an operating mode of one or more of the user inputs when the pet is detected proximate to the user inputs.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, each seat having an adjustable seat base and an adjustable seat back, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the cabin interior, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals, the controller further controlling at least one of the adjustable seat base and adjustable seat back of a seat based on the determined location of the pet so that the seat is configured to accommodate the pet.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to remotely-controlled automated vehicle parking operations. A driver of a vehicle stands on a curb and launches a software application on a handheld device. The software application uses a camera of the handheld device to capture images of the vehicle that can be observed by the driver. The software application then attempts to obtain a visual lock between the camera and the vehicle. In some cases, obtaining the visual lock may be hampered due to adverse lighting conditions. Light may be transmitted from the handheld device to illuminate the vehicle for better image capture. Alternatively, a command can be transmitted from the handheld device to a controller in the vehicle for turning on a light in the vehicle. After obtaining visual lock, various techniques such as vehicle path prediction and interpolation, can be used for effectively tracking the vehicle.

Abstract: A plurality of transducers positioned at respective specified locations in a vehicle are actuated to generate a plurality of respective tones. A plurality of respective time differences are determined between times that each respective tone is generated by the respective transducer and the tone is detected by a portable device. A location of the portable device is determined based at least in part on the time differences.