Abstract: A vehicular ladar system includes a ladar sensor with a light source configured to generate modulated light. The ladar may be configured to illuminate in one flash the entire scene in the field of view, or may include a scanning mechanism configured to intercept the light generated by the light source and selectively direct the light into a portion of the field of view. A receiving lens assembly receives light reflected off an object in the field of view. A plurality of quantum dot photodiodes are arranged in an array. Each photodiode is configured to receive light from the receiving lens assembly. A readout circuit and a bias circuit are electrically connected to each photodiode. A number of quantum dot film densification methods and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A method for determining a location of a trailer in an image includes obtaining at least one real-time image from a vehicle. The at least one real-time image is processed with a controller on the vehicle to obtain a feature patch describing at least one real-time image. A convolution is performed of the feature patch and each filter from a set of filters with the filter being based on data representative of known trailers. A location of a trailer is determined in the at least one real-time image based on the convolution between the feature patch and each filter from the set of filters.

Abstract: A LiDAR sensor includes a light emitter designed to emit light into a field of illumination. The wavelength of the light emitted by the light emitter is dependent on the temperature of the light emitter. A light detector has a field of view overlapping the field of illumination. A bandpass filter is between the light detector and the field of illumination of the light emitter. The bandpass filter is designed to pass light to the light detector in a wavelength range that is dependent on the temperature of the bandpass filter. The LiDAR sensor includes at least one temperature controller. The light emitter is coupled to a temperature controller and the bandpass filter is coupled to a temperature controller. A method of operating the LiDAR sensor includes controlling the temperatures of the bandpass filter and the light emitter.

Abstract: A method, system and software product for maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a trailer backing system is disclosed. The vehicle has a trailer hitch and a trailer is coupled to the trailer hitch thereby allowing a horizontal swivel movement of the trailer around the hitch. The trailer backing system includes an electronics control unit (ECU) and an input device communicatively coupled thereto. The method includes receiving, at the ECU, a selection of a trailer maneuver from a plurality of defined trailer maneuvers; and configuring the input device based upon the selected trailer maneuver, the input device being operable with the ECU to operate the vehicle for performing the trailer maneuver selected.

Abstract: A localization and mapping system and method for a motor vehicle is disclosed and includes at least one camera configured to obtain images of an environment surrounding the motor vehicle, at least one sensor configured to obtain location information for objects surrounding the motor vehicle and a controller configured to receive the images captured by the at least one camera and the location information obtained by the at least one sensor. The controller enhances the captured images utilizing a neural network and combines the enhanced images with the location information to localize the vehicle within the mapped environment.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle's trailer reverse assist system is disclosed, including receiving vehicle sensor system data from one or more sensors supported by the vehicle. Based upon the received vehicle sensor data, a trailer pitch angle and a trailer roll angle of a coupled trailer are estimated relative to the vehicle. Surface unevenness of a surface traversed by the vehicle and the trailer is estimated, based upon the estimated trailer pitch angle and the estimated trailer roll angle. One or more parameters of the trailer reverse assist system or of the tow vehicle are adjusted based upon the estimated road surface variance. The trailer reverse assist system of the tow vehicle is subsequently operated using the adjusted one or more parameters.

Abstract: A lidar test system includes a lensed fiber collector for receiving light pulses generated by a lidar sensor. A splitter is configured to split the light pulses received from the lensed fiber collector. A first optical fiber having a first length receives one of the split light pulses. A second optical fiber having a second length also receives one of the split light pulses. The second length of the second optical fiber is longer than the first length of the first optical fiber. A switch is configured to select light transmitted through one of the optical fibers to an optical output. A variable optical attenuator (“VOA”) is configured to regulate the intensity of the light received from the switch. The lidar test system also includes a diffuser target positioned to receive light from the VOA which may be imaged by a focal plane array of the lidar assembly.

Abstract: A method includes mounting a vehicle component to a base member of a vehicle, capturing a baseline image of a fiducial marker, capturing a subsequent image of the fiducial marker, comparing the subsequent image to the baseline image, and adjusting operation of the vehicle component in response to the identification of differences between the baseline image and the subsequent image.

Abstract: A LiDAR sensor includes a light emitter, a spatial light modulator positioned to direct light from the light emitter into a field of illumination, and a light detector having a field of view overlapping the field of illumination. The LiDAR sensor includes a controller programmed to identify an area of interest based on light detected by the light detector in a previous subframe and adjust the spatial light modulator to direct light into the field of illumination at an intensity that is greater at the area of interest than at an adjacent area of the field of view.

Abstract: A trailer maneuver assistance system and method provide for alerting a vehicle operator to possible obstacles within a predicted path of trailer. The predicted path is determined based on at least one sensor system mounted to the trailer and a determination that a detected obstacle is within the predicted path.

Abstract: A user assisted method and vehicle control system provides for identifying a drivable area for autonomous vehicle operation. The system provides for displaying an area including a potential drivable area on a display device disposed within a vehicle, a means for identifying a drivable area by a vehicle operator and for storing information indicative of a drivable area indicated by the vehicle operator in a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system utilizes the identified drivable area for generating a vehicle path with the vehicle control system.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for performing a trailer operation for a vehicle having a tow ball. The method includes receiving a first image from a rear camera disposed along a rear portion of the vehicle in a first position; and detecting a pixel position of a representation of the tow ball in the first image. Following the rear camera being moved from the first position to a second position along the rear portion of the vehicle, the method includes receiving a second image from the rear camera. The method also includes detecting a second pixel position of a representation of the tow ball in the second image; and estimating a position of the tow ball relative to the vehicle based on the first and second positions of the rear camera and the detected pixel positions of the representations of the tow ball in the first and second images.

Abstract: An automated vehicle parking system for a motor vehicle is disclosed and includes at least one camera obtaining images proximate a vehicle, at least one sensor array detecting objects proximate the vehicle, and a controller configured to generate a mask of an area proximate the vehicle from the images obtained by the at least one camera including labeled features identified within the obtained images and project the generated mask onto an occupancy grid generated with information from the at least one sensor array, wherein the controller is configured to locate a parking space responsive to open spaces defined within the generated mask.

Abstract: A method determining an angle of a trailer relative to a vehicle. The method includes generating a projection on a trailer with a projector. An image is obtained of the projection on the trailer with a camera. An angle of the trailer relative to a vehicle is determined by comparing the image of the projection with a known pattern of the projection.

Abstract: A method system for aligning an autonomous vehicle path within an enclosed parking space provides for detecting sides of an opening of an enclosed parking space with at least one sensor system disposed on a vehicle, determining a width of the opening based on a spacing between the detected sides of the opening with a controller of the vehicle, defining a target center point based on the determined spacing with the controller and aligning a vehicle path with the defined target center point.

Abstract: A LADAR sensor includes a light emitter, a lens having areas of different refraction, a beam-steering device, and a light sensor. The beam-steering device is between the light emitter and the lens to direct light from the light emitter through the lens. The beam-steering device is designed to scan the aim of light from the light emitter to different ones of the areas of different refraction. The light sensor has a plurality of photodetectors. A controller is programmed to selectively power different combinations of the photodetectors based on the aim of the beam-steering device at the areas of different refraction.

Abstract: A method of reversing a trailer along a defined path according to a disclosed exemplary embodiment includes, among other possible things, detecting a deviation from a predefined path of a trailer coupled to a tow vehicle with a sensor system disposed within the tow vehicle, determining a correction path required to move the trailer back to the predefined path, determining a dampening factor for limiting deviation from the predefined path, combining the determined correction path and the dampening factor to determine a desired curvature, wherein the desired curvature represents a path from a current position of the trailer to the predefined path, and determining a steering angle of the tow vehicle that provides the desired curvature.

Abstract: A method of planning a path for reversing a trailer along a defined path a includes defining a desired end point for a trailer path and determining a set of reversing trailer curvatures for moving the trailer between each of a plurality of possible waypoints along a possible trailer path. A steering angle is determined for each of the curvatures. The reversing trailer path to the end point is then created based on a set of waypoints selected based on the determined reversing trailer curvature at each of the plurality of possible waypoints that meets a defined path determination criteria.

Abstract: An assembly includes a base member having a fiducial marker, a vehicle component having a housing mounted to the base member, and an image sensor fixed to the housing and aimed at the fiducial marker. A method includes mounting the vehicle component to the base member of a vehicle, capturing a baseline image of the fiducial marker, capturing a subsequent image of the fiducial marker, comparing the subsequent image to the baseline image, and adjusting operation of the vehicle component in response to the identification of differences between the baseline image and the subsequent image.

Abstract: A method for determining a trailer angle between a tow vehicle and a trailer attached to the tow vehicle includes receiving images from a camera positioned on a rear portion of the tow vehicle with a data processing hardware device, determining visual features from the images, tracking the visual features while the tow vehicle and trailer are moving and calculating, at the data processing hardware, the trailer angle based on the visual features. The trailer angle is then transmitted from the data processing hardware to one or more vehicle systems.