Abstract: A method of notifying an owner of a lost item in a vehicle having a vehicle compartment is provided. The method comprises providing at least one sensor to sense the lost item in the vehicle compartment. The method further comprises sensing the lost item on a point relative to a spherical coordinate system to define a sensed item data and determining a position of the lost item in cartesian coordinates based on the sensed item data to define a position data. The method further comprises translating the sensed item data and the position data for visualization of the lost item to define an item image of the lost item relative to the vehicle compartment, and updating an inventory list of lost objects to include the lost item with the item image. The method further comprises identifying the owner of the lost item by way of a perception algorithm, providing notification to the owner of the lost item, and providing viewable access of the item image such that the image is viewed by the owner of the lost item.

Abstract: A system for managing a fleet of electric vehicles and respective fleet drivers includes a command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to obtain input variables, including respective fleet tasks and their priority status. Route data for the respective fleet tasks is obtained. The command unit is adapted to obtain an objective function defined by a plurality of influence factors having respective weights. The command unit is adapted to obtain optimal charging schedules respectively for the electric vehicles and match the respective fleet tasks to the electric vehicles and the respective fleet drivers, based in part on the objective function, input variables and the route data. The influence factors may include energy cost optimization, timeliness of task completion and minimizing range anxiety. In some embodiments, the respective weights of the influence factors are designated by a fleet manager.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a driver in an autonomous vehicle includes monitoring, with a driver monitoring system, a driver of a vehicle, collecting, with a data processor, data from the driver monitoring system related to gaze behavior of the driver, classifying, with the data processor, the driver as one of a plurality of driver statuses based on the data from the driver monitoring system, and sending, with the data processor, instructions to at least one vehicle system based on the classification of the driver.

Abstract: A method of notifying an owner of a lost item in a vehicle having a vehicle compartment is provided. The method comprises providing at least one sensor to sense the lost item in the vehicle compartment. The method further comprises sensing the lost item on a point relative to a spherical coordinate system to define a sensed item data and determining a position of the lost item in cartesian coordinates based on the sensed item data to define a position data. The method further comprises translating the sensed item data and the position data for visualization of the lost item to define an item image of the lost item relative to the vehicle compartment, and updating an inventory list of lost objects to include the lost item with the item image. The method further comprises identifying the owner of the lost item by way of a perception algorithm, providing notification to the owner of the lost item, and providing viewable access of the item image such that the image is viewed by the owner of the lost item.

Abstract: A method of retrieving a lost item from a compartment to an owner of the lost item is provided. The method comprises detecting the lost item in the compartment to define an item image of the lost item relative to the compartment, updating an inventory list of lost objects, and identifying at least one potential user of the lost item. The method further comprises providing notification to the at least one potential user and providing viewable access of the item image. The method further comprises verifying ownership of the lost item to define the owner of the lost item, determining a preferred pickup location for the owner, storing the lost item at the preferred location defining a stored item, and confirming identity of the owner for retrieval of the stored item at the preferred location. The method further comprises allowing access to the stored item from the preferred location.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a driver in an autonomous vehicle includes monitoring, with a driver monitoring system, a driver of a vehicle, collecting, with a data processor, data from the driver monitoring system related to gaze behavior of the driver, classifying, with the data processor, the driver as one of a plurality of driver statuses based on the data from the driver monitoring system, and sending, with the data processor, instructions to at least one vehicle system based on the classification of the driver.

Abstract: A method of managing operator take-over of autonomous vehicle. The method includes gathering information on an external surrounding of the autonomous vehicle; analyzing the gathered information on the external surrounding of the autonomous vehicle to determine an upcoming traffic pattern; gathering information on an operator of the autonomous vehicle; analyzing the gathered information on the operator of the autonomous vehicle to determine an operator behavior; predicting an operator action based on the determined upcoming traffic pattern and the determined operator behavior; and initiating a predetermined vehicle response based on the predicted operator action. The predicting the operator action includes comparing the determined upcoming traffic pattern with a similar historic traffic pattern and retrieving a historical operator action in response to the similar historical pattern.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer-readable medium for authenticating a user and selectively providing access to a computer service are described herein. In some embodiments, a) a user input is solicited; b) a voice response to the input soliciting; is received on or from a client device, c) if a determination is made, in accordance with one or more speech delivery features of the voice response, that the voice response is a live human voice response, the client device is permitted to access a computer service; and d) otherwise, client device access to the computer service is denied. Optionally, the access may be permitted only to a pre-determined gender or a pre-determined age group.