Abstract: A method for optimizing climate control in an autonomous vehicle. The method includes receiving a ride request for an autonomous vehicle from a customer. A desired temperature for an interior of the autonomous vehicle may be determined based on the ride request. The current temperature of the vehicle interior may then be adjusted such that the current temperature substantially matches the desired temperature when the autonomous vehicle reaches the customer. The temperature of the vehicle interior may be allowed to deviate from the desired temperature, within a pre-determined temperature deviation range, when the autonomous vehicle is unoccupied. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to a collaborative relationship between a UAV and an automobile. In a first exemplary method, a data capture system is provided in a UAV. The data capture system may be used to capture data when the UAV is in flight. A first computer in the UAV determines one or more limitations associated with wirelessly transmitting some or all of the data from the UAV to an automobile. The first computer may be further used to withhold wireless transmission of a portion of the data to the automobile due to the one or more limitations. The portion of data is transferred to a second computer in the automobile after landing the UAV on the automobile. In a second exemplary method, the UAV includes a communication relay system for relaying to an automobile, signals received from a satellite or a cellular base station.

Abstract: A server includes a memory storing a shared pool of user defined vehicle settings packages and may determine, from the shared pool, one or more settings packages meeting a search request. For each determined settings package, the server may determine compatibility of the determined settings package with configurable systems of a vehicle associated with the search request. The server may also present a selectable list of determined settings packages that are also determined to have a predefined minimum level of compatibility with the vehicle and download a selected settings package to the vehicle, responsive to selection of the selected settings package from the selectable list.

Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to predict failures for each of a plurality of vehicle components by processing vehicle data with one or more recurrent neural networks, wherein vehicle data includes engineering test data, vehicle control data, vehicle service data, and vehicle environment data and wherein predicting the respective failures includes determining a remaining useful life for each of the plurality of vehicle components. The instructions can include further instructions to determine a vehicle optimization strategy by optimizing remaining useful life for one or more of the plurality of vehicle components to avoid the vehicle component failure and download the vehicle optimization strategy to a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle powered by a traction battery includes one or more controllers, programmed to measure a vehicle load, responsive to identifying a road climb having a grade greater than a predefined threshold on a route, calculate a required power and a minimum speed for the vehicle to complete the road climb with the vehicle load, predict an operating state of charge (SoC) and an operating temperature of the traction battery upon arriving at the road climb, predict an available battery power using the operating SoC and the operating temperature of the traction battery, estimate an available wheel power using the available battery power, and responsive to verifying the available wheel power is greater than the required power, output an autonomous driving instruction such that the vehicle enters and traverses the road climb with the minimum speed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to a collaborative relationship between a UAV and an automobile. In a first exemplary method, a data capture system is provided in a UAV. The data capture system may be used to capture data when the UAV is in flight. A first computer in the UAV determines one or more limitations associated with wirelessly transmitting some or all of the data from the UAV to an automobile. The first computer may be further used to withhold wireless transmission of a portion of the data to the automobile due to the one or more limitations. The portion of data is transferred to a second computer in the automobile after landing the UAV on the automobile. In a second exemplary method, the UAV includes a communication relay system for relaying to an automobile, signals received from a satellite or a cellular base station.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery. The vehicle includes a controller configured to inhibit battery charge. The charge inhibition is responsive to state of charge (SOC) of the battery achieving a cascading ceiling threshold during grid charge that decreases each day of a multiday period such that each day an SOC increase during the grid charge to achieve the ceiling threshold is same and the SOC achieves a floor threshold upon completion of a final day drive cycle of the multiday period.

Abstract: A server includes a memory storing a shared pool of user defined vehicle settings packages and may determine, from the shared pool, one or more settings packages meeting a search request. For each determined settings package, the server may determine compatibility of the determined settings package with configurable systems of a vehicle associated with the search request. The server may also present a selectable list of determined settings packages that are also determined to have a predefined minimum level of compatibility with the vehicle and download a selected settings package to the vehicle, responsive to selection of the selected settings package from the selectable list.

Abstract: A method for optimizing climate control in an autonomous vehicle. The method includes receiving a ride request for an autonomous vehicle from a customer. A desired temperature for an interior of the autonomous vehicle may be determined based on the ride request. The current temperature of the vehicle interior may then be adjusted such that the current temperature substantially matches the desired temperature when the autonomous vehicle reaches the customer. The temperature of the vehicle interior may be allowed to deviate from the desired temperature, within a pre-determined temperature deviation range, when the autonomous vehicle is unoccupied. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery. The vehicle includes a controller configured to inhibit battery charge. The charge inhibition is responsive to state of charge (SOC) of the battery achieving a cascading ceiling threshold during grid charge that decreases each day of a multiday period such that each day an SOC increase during the grid charge to achieve the ceiling threshold is same and the SOC achieves a floor threshold upon completion of a final day drive cycle of the multiday period.

Abstract: A vehicle control method includes, by a controller, while an engine is auto-stopped and an electric parking brake is engaged, auto-starting the engine without releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of an accelerator pedal less than a predefined amount, and auto-starting the engine and releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of the accelerator pedal greater than the predefined amount. The method also includes comprising auto-stopping the engine and engaging the electric parking brake responsive to vehicle speed being less than a predefined threshold speed.

Abstract: A system includes an elongate member having a connection end electrically coupleable to an attachment point at an external surface of a vehicle. The system includes a motion sensor arranged to detect motion of the elongate member. The system includes a computer that is programmed to actuate one or more subsystems in the vehicle including at least one of steering, braking, and a powertrain, based on received motion data from the motion sensor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for charging a vehicle battery based on whether a vehicle is in an enclosed area or an unenclosed area. An example method includes determining a vehicle battery state of charge (SOC). The method also includes, responsive to comparing the SOC to a threshold, determining, based on data from a vehicle sensor, whether the vehicle is in an enclosed or unenclosed area. And the method further includes responsively providing an alert to a computing device corresponding to the vehicle.

Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle, programmed to predict a collision risk by comparing an acquired occupant facial expression to a plurality of stored occupant facial expressions, and, brake a vehicle based on the collision risk. The computing device can be programmed to predict a collision risk by determining a number of seconds until a negative event, including a collision, a near-miss, or vehicle miss-direction, is predicted to occur at a current vehicle trajectory.

Abstract: A system includes an elongate member having a connection end electrically coupleable to an attachment point at an external surface of a vehicle. The system includes a motion sensor arranged to detect motion of the elongate member. The system includes a computer that is programmed to actuate one or more subsystems in the vehicle including at least one of steering, braking, and a powertrain, based on received motion data from the motion sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle control method includes, by a controller, while an engine is auto-stopped and an electric parking brake is engaged, auto-starting the engine without releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of an accelerator pedal less than a predefined amount, and auto-starting the engine and releasing the electric parking brake responsive to application of the accelerator pedal greater than the predefined amount. The method also includes comprising auto-stopping the engine and engaging the electric parking brake responsive to vehicle speed being less than a predefined threshold speed.

Abstract: An energy level for each vehicle in a convoy is determined. A following vehicle is assigned as a new lead vehicle when the energy level of a current lead vehicle is below the energy level of the following vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing selection of battery electric vehicles to perform delivery tasks. Within a group of battery electric vehicles (“BEVs”), a BEV is selected to perform a delivery task based on battery charge status. The BEV can be selected based on one or more of: proximity to a requested pick up location, battery state-of-charge (“SOC”), charging station proximity to a requested delivery location, and charging station port availability (e.g., wait time to access a charging port). BEV selection can be optimized such that a BEV arrives at a charging station with optimal remaining SOC. Thus, the distance to charging stations can be optimized while meeting the needs of customer requests to get a delivery from a pickup location to delivery location. In some aspects, autonomous vehicle technology is used to operate BEV's.