Abstract: An occupant monitoring system for a vehicle comprises: a first light source to generate first infrared (IR) light illuminating at least part of the body of an occupant of a vehicle, wherein the first light source is time modulated with a duty cycle; an IR reflective surface to reflect second IR light reflected from the body of the occupant; and a first IR camera to receive at least part of the second IR light reflected by the IR reflective surface, wherein the first IR camera is time modulated with the duty cycle of the first light source.

Abstract: A system to detect and avoid spilled cargo in an automobile vehicle, includes an automobile vehicle rear cargo area including a floor to temporarily receive a storage item in the cargo area. A lift gate is moved between a closed and latched position and a fully open position inclusive to allow loading and removal of the storage item. A vision system identifies the storage item when initially loaded in the cargo area and identifies if the storage item is initially positioned in a cargo spill position or subsequently moves to the cargo spill position. A cargo stop device is releasably connected to the lift gate. An operating system releasably stores the cargo stop device when the storage item is not in the cargo spill position and deploys the cargo stop device when the storage item is in the cargo spill position.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for determining vehicle events. In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes: one or more cameras onboard a vehicle that are configured to generate camera data; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more cameras and configured to at least facilitate: identifying a change in position of one or more objects of the camera data using the camera data; and determining that a vehicle event has occurred, based on the change in position of the one or more objects of the camera data.

Abstract: An alarm system and method of protecting a property from intrusion is disclosed. The property can be a vehicle that includes the alarm system. The alarm system includes an exterior camera for obtaining an exterior camera image data, an interior camera for obtaining an interior camera image data, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine first threat indicator for a potential intruder from the exterior camera image data, determine a second threat indicator for the potential intruder from the interior camera image data, determine a fused threat estimate indicative of an intention of the potential intruder from the first threat indicator and the second threat indicator, determine a consolidated threat estimate from the fused threat estimate and a contextual information for the property, and provide an alarm to protect the property from intrusion based on the consolidated threat estimate.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes an internal camera, one or more external systems, a display system, and a processor. The internal camera is configured to obtain internal camera data pertaining a gaze of a driver inside a vehicle. The one or more external systems are configured to obtain external data as to a region of interest outside the vehicle corresponding to the gaze of the driver. The processor is coupled to the internal camera and the one or more external systems, and is configured to at least facilitate providing feedback pertaining to the region of interest to a driver of the vehicle via the display system based on the internal camera data and the external data.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for determining vehicle events. In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes: one or more cameras onboard a vehicle that are configured to generate camera data; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more cameras and configured to at least facilitate: identifying a change in position of one or more objects of the camera data using the camera data; and determining that a vehicle event has occurred, based on the change in position of the one or more objects of the camera data.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body supporting at least one camera. The at least one camera is positioned to collect images of objects outside of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a selectively operable vehicle system and a controller operatively connected to the at least one camera and the selectively operable vehicle system. The controller includes a gesture recognition system operable to process a gesture made by a person associated with the vehicle collected by the at least one camera and activate the selectively operable vehicle system associated with the gesture.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes an internal camera, one or more external systems, a display system, and a processor. The internal camera is configured to obtain internal camera data pertaining a gaze of a driver inside a vehicle. The one or more external systems are configured to obtain external data as to a region of interest outside the vehicle corresponding to the gaze of the driver. The processor is coupled to the internal camera and the one or more external systems, and is configured to at least facilitate providing feedback pertaining to the region of interest to a driver of the vehicle via the display system based on the internal camera data and the external data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for aiding an operator in operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to, by a processor, determine a scene of the environment based on the sensor data, memorize a shape of at least one feature in the scene, modify video data based on the memorized shape, and present the modified video data for display to the operator.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for aiding an operator in operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to, by a processor, generate a bowl view image of the environment based on the sensor data, identify at least one of a double object and a missing object in the bowl view image, generate a second bowl view image of the environment by re-stitching the sensor data based on the at least one of double object and missing object, and generate display data based on the second bowl view image.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for aiding an operator in operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to, by a processor, generate a bowl view image of the environment based on the sensor data, identify at least one of a double object and a missing object in the bowl view image, generate a second bowl view image of the environment by re-stitching the sensor data based on the at least one of double object and missing object, and generate display data based on the second bowl view image.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a combined rearview image of an area behind a vehicle that is towing a trailer, the method including: capturing a first image from a vehicle camera that is installed on the vehicle, the first image being comprised of an area behind the vehicle; capturing a second image from a trailer camera that is installed on the trailer, the second image being comprised of an area behind the trailer; determining an obstructed viewing region within the first image, the obstructed viewing region being a region of the first image in which the trailer resides; overlaying the second image on the first image and at least partially within the obstructed viewing region; and inserting graphics in the first image, in the second image, and/or in a patch region within the obstructed viewing region and between the second image and the first image.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a cabin, an optical sensor arranged to capture images of the cabin, a light control system operable to modify an intensity or direction of incident light in the cabin, and a controller. The controller is configured to automatically, in response to an object detection request, control the optical sensor to capture a first image of the cabin with a first incident light configuration, control the light control system to modify an intensity or direction of incident light in the cabin to a second incident light configuration, control the optical sensor to capture a second image of the cabin with the second incident light configuration, detect a change in a shadow between the first image and the second image, infer the presence of an object in the cabin based on the change in shadow, and perform a corrective action based on the presence of the object.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to modify an image feed from a second camera of a vehicle, the system includes a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to receive a first image feed from a first camera located on the vehicle; monitor one or more image characteristics of the first image feed; receive the second image feed from the second camera located on the vehicle; and based on the monitored one or more image characteristics of the first image feed, modify the second image feed such that one or more image characteristics of the second image feed are substantially similar to the monitored one or more image characteristics of the first image feed.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to remove a vehicle shadow from image information, the method includes the steps of—determining a location of the vehicle shadow in an environment surrounding the vehicle, (based on the outcome of step) selecting one or more cameras installed on the vehicle, and removing the vehicle shadow from the image information produced by the one or more cameras.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to remove a vehicle shadow from image information, the method includes the steps of—determining a location of the vehicle shadow in an environment surrounding the vehicle, (based on the outcome of step) selecting one or more cameras installed on the vehicle, and removing the vehicle shadow from the image information produced by the one or more cameras.

Abstract: A method to automatically activate at least one cold weather feature of a vehicle includes determining if the vehicle is in a state for activating at least one cold weather feature, and then determining at least one cold weather condition exists for activating at least one cold weather feature. When it is determined that at least one cold weather condition exists the at least one cold weather feature is automatically activated.

Abstract: A system to detect and avoid spilled cargo in an automobile vehicle, includes an automobile vehicle rear cargo area including a floor to temporarily receive a storage item in the cargo area. A lift gate is moved between a closed and latched position and a fully open position inclusive to allow loading and removal of the storage item. A vision system identifies the storage item when initially loaded in the cargo area and identifies if the storage item is initially positioned in a cargo spill position or subsequently moves to the cargo spill position. A cargo stop device is releasably connected to the lift gate. An operating system releasably stores the cargo stop device when the storage item is not in the cargo spill position and deploys the cargo stop device when the storage item is in the cargo spill position.

Abstract: A method for vehicle tracking and localization includes receiving, by a controller, odometry data from a sensor of the first vehicle; geospatial data from a Global Positioning System (GPS) device of the first vehicle; inertial data from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) of the first vehicle; estimating an estimated-current location of the first vehicle and an estimated-current trajectory of the first vehicle using the odometry data from the sensor, the geospatial data from the GPS device, and the inertial data from the IMU of the first vehicle; inputting the inertial data into a Bayesian Network to determine a predicted location of the first vehicle and a predicted trajectory of the first vehicle, and updating the Bayesian Network using the estimated-current location and the estimated-current trajectory of the first vehicle using the odometry data and the geospatial data.

Abstract: A parking assist system and method for aligning a capture resonator mounted on a vehicle with a source resonator, charging pad, disposed on a ground surface is disclosed. The parking assist system includes a vehicle GPS receiver, a vehicle external sensor, an ultra-wide band (UWB) sensor, a controller; and a display device. The controller is configured to process information collected from the vehicle GPS receiver, the vehicle external sensor, and the UWB sensor to determine the location of the source resonator and to calculate a path to park the vehicle such that the capture resonator is aligned with the source resonator. A rendering of a trajectory path is displayed on a display device. The calculated path may be communicated to an autonomous driving system to autonomously maneuvering the vehicle into a parking space such that the capture resonator is aligned with the source resonator.