Abstract: A method of estimating an orientation of a camera relative to a surface includes providing a first image and a subsequent second image captured by the camera; selecting a first point from the first image and a second point from the second image, where the first and second points represent the same object; defining a first optical flow vector connecting the first point and the second point; carrying out a first estimation step comprising estimating two components of the normal vector in the camera coordinate system by using the first optical flow vector and restricting parameter space to only the two components of the normal vector, wherein a linear equation system derived from a homography matrix that represents a projective transformation between the first image and the second image is provided and the two components of the normal vector in the camera coordinate system are estimated by solving the linear equation system; and determining the orientation of the camera relative to the surface using the results

Abstract: A navigation system for use on an automated vehicle includes a global-positioning-system-receiver (GPS-receiver), a vehicle-to-vehicle-transceiver (V2V-transceiver), an object-detector, and a controller. The GPS-receiver indicates a receiver-coordinate of a host-vehicle. The receiver-coordinate is characterized by a receiver-error. The V2V-transceiver receives a GPS-coordinate from each of a plurality of other-vehicles proximate to the host-vehicle. The object-detector determines a distance and a direction relative to the host-vehicle to each of the plurality of other-vehicles. The controller is in communication with the GPS-receiver, the V2V-transceiver, and the object-detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector including a first connector housing with a wall arranged substantially perpendicular to the connecting axis. The wall has an opening for insertion of a second connector housing. A first collar extends from the wall concentrically around the opening. A second collar extends from the wall concentrically around the first collar. The first collar and the second collar are spaced apart. A sleeve-shaped coding element is attached with a first end to the free end of the first collar. The first collar and the sleeve-shaped coding element are arranged concentrically around the opening. A sealing element is arranged in a sealing area between the first collar and the second collar. The sleeve-shaped coding element includes a supporting feature at its first end which is suitable for holding the sealing element in its position.

Abstract: A braking system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a ranging-sensor, a braking-actuator, and a controller. The ranging-sensor detects reflections indicative of objects present in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle. The braking-actuator controls movement of the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the ranging-sensor and the braking-actuator. The controller determines a region-of-interest within the field-of-view and defines an occupancy-grid that segregates the field-of-view into an array of grid-cells. The controller further determines a repeatability-of-detection of each of the grid-cells based on reflections detected by the ranging-sensor. The controller further determines that a rigid-object is present in the field-of-view when each of a string of the grid-cells are characterized by the repeatability-of-detection greater than a repeatability-threshold. The controller activates the braking-actuator when the string intersects the region-of-interest.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes male and female connector bodies formed with a plurality of terminal cavities in which electrical cables are disposed with the terminals secured against removal from the cavities by flexible lances engaging walls within the terminal cavities. A seal on the cables closes and seals the cavities in which they are installed. At least one of the cavities is unoccupied by a cable and is closed by a non-electrically conductive locking cavity plug. The locking cavity plug has a flexible lance that engages a wall within the unoccupied cavity in which it is installed to secure the plug against removal and carries a seal which engages and seals the unoccupied cavity.

Abstract: A cross-traffic detection system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes an object-detector and a controller. The object-detector is used to determine locations of a moving-object relative to a host-vehicle. Each of the locations is indicated by a lateral-distance and a longitudinal-distance of the moving-object from the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector. The controller is configured to accumulate a plurality of first-longitudinal-distances of a first-vehicle at a plurality of predetermined-lateral-distances, and determine a path-history of the first-vehicle based on linear-interpolation between successive instances of the plurality of first-longitudinal-distances at corresponding instances of the plurality of predetermined-lateral-distances.

Abstract: An electrical connection system having a male terminal and female terminal configured to receive the male terminal. The female terminal has a resilient contact defining a ridge extending vertically from a top surface of the resilient contact and extends longitudinally along the resilient contact. The ridge is configured to provide a contact point between the female terminal and the male terminal. A leading edge of the ridge forms a ramp having an angle that is greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees relative to the top surface of the resilient contact.

Abstract: A method of closing a spatial gap between a first mating surface of a first snap locking feature defined by a first part and a second mating surface of a second snap locking feature defined by a second part. This method includes the steps of attaching the first and second parts to one another by sliding the first and second snap locking features over one another until the first mating surface is proximate the second mating surface and deforming a portion of the first part to fabricate a protrusion that contacts the second part and urges the second part in a direction effective to place the first and second mating surfaces into direct contact with one another.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a first-housing, a second-housing, a slideable-skirt, and a terminal-lock. The second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing along a longitudinal-mating-axis. The second-housing defines a slot in a top-side of the second-housing extending along a lateral-axis orthogonal to the longitudinal-mating-axis. The slideable-skirt is mounted to the second-housing and is moveable from a pre-stage position to a seated-position along the longitudinal-mating-axis. The slideable-skirt overlays a portion of a perimeter of the second-housing and defines cam-slots on a first-side and a second-side of the slideable-skirt. The terminal-lock is disposed within the slot and is moveable from a terminal insertion position to a locking position. The terminal-lock includes cam-posts extending from a first-end and a second-end of the terminal-lock disposed within the cam-slots.

Abstract: A lane-control system suitable for use on an automated vehicle comprising a camera, a lidar-sensor, and a controller. The camera captures an image of a roadway traveled by a host-vehicle. The lidar-sensor detects a discontinuity in the roadway. The controller is in communication with the camera and the lidar-sensor and defines an area-of-interest within the image, constructs a road-model of the roadway based on the area-of-interest, determines that the host-vehicle is approaching the discontinuity, and adjusts the area-of-interest within the image based on the discontinuity.

Abstract: An object detection system for an automated vehicle includes a radar, a camera, and a controller. The radar detects a cluster of targets characterized by a radar-distance (x) from the host-vehicle. The camera renders an image of an object and a lane-marking present in the area.

Abstract: A cooperative-vehicle system suitable to operate an automated vehicle in a courteous or cooperative manner includes an object-detector and a controller. The object-detector is used by the host-vehicle to detect an other-vehicle attempting to enter a travel-lane traveled by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector. The controller is configured to control motion of the host-vehicle. The controller is also configured to adjust a present-vector of the host-vehicle to allow the other-vehicle to enter the travel-lane. The decision to take some action to allow the other vehicle to enter the travel-lane may be further based on secondary considerations such as how long the other-vehicle has waited, a classification of the other-vehicle (e.g. an ambulance), an assessment of how any action by the host-vehicle would affect nearby vehicles, the intent of the other-vehicle, and/or a measure traffic-density proximate to the host-vehicle.

Abstract: An object-detection system suitable for an automated vehicle includes a lidar and a controller. The lidar is used to detect a point-cloud that is organized into a plurality of scan-lines. The controller is in communication with the lidar. The controller is configured to classify each detected point in the point-cloud as a ground-point or a non-ground-point, define runs of non-ground-points, where each run characterized by one or multiple instances of adjacent non-ground-points in a scan-line separated from a subsequent run of one or more non-ground-points by at least one instance of a ground-point, define a cluster of non-ground-points associated with the object. The cluster is characterized by a first run from a first scan-line being associated with a second run from a second scan-line when a first point from the first run is displaced less than a distance-threshold from a second point from the second run.

Abstract: A sealing element for sealing a housing opening in a housing, wherein the sealing element comprises at least one through-opening for the passage of an electrical cable into the housing. The sealing element is formed of a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent, the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent having a different hardness and the two subcomponents are made of silicone.

Abstract: A system for monitoring 3D space in front of an output unit for the control of the output unit comprises a 3D imaging unit, a processing and control unit coupled to the 3D imaging unit and an output unit comprising a display area and coupled to the processing and control unit. The 3D imaging unit is configured to monitor an interaction zone in front of the display area of the output unit. The processing and control unit is configured to predict where a finger of a hand that approaches the display area of the output unit and is monitored by the 3D imaging unit will touch the display area and to control the output unit to modify content displayed on the display area based on the predicted touch position.

Abstract: An illustrative example camera device includes a sensor that is configured to detect radiation. A first portion of the sensor has a first field of vision and is used for a first imaging function. A distortion correction prism directs radiation outside the first field of vision toward the sensor. A lens element between the distortion correcting prism and the sensor includes a surface at an oblique angle relative to a sensor axis. The lens element directs radiation from the distortion correcting prism toward a second portion of the sensor that has a second field of vision and is used for a second imaging function. The sensor provides a first output for the first imaging function based on radiation detected at the first portion of the sensor. The sensor provides a second output for the second imaging function based on radiation detection at the second portion.

Abstract: A bussed electrical center includes an electrical-assembly and a single fastening feature. The electrical-assembly includes a lower-housing, a printed-circuit-board, an upper-housing, and electrical-devices. The lower-housing engages an outer-housing that retains electrical-connectors having a plurality of electrical-terminals. The printed-circuit-board has a plurality of corresponding-electrical-terminals configured to mate with the plurality of electrical-terminals of the electrical-connectors. The electrical-assembly defines a guide-hole that passes through the upper-housing, the printed-circuit-board, and the lower-housing, wherein the guide-hole defines a shoulder in the upper-housing. The single fastening feature consists of one first-fastener element positioned within the guide-hole that has a flange and a shank. The shank is operable to engage one second-fastener element in the outer-housing.

Abstract: A safe-stop-zone identification system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle includes a digital-map, a transceiver, and a controller. The digital-map indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle, wherein the digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path. The transceiver is operable to broadcast information about the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the digital-map and the transceiver. The controller navigates the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs, and then operates the transceiver to broadcast that the safe-stop-zone is occupied by the host-vehicle.

Abstract: A cross traffic detection system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes an object-detector, an alert-device, and a controller. The object detector is used to determine locations of moving objects relative to a host vehicle. The alert device is used to alert an operator of the host vehicle to the location of the moving objects. The controller is in communication with the object detector and the alert device. The controller determines a first trail of a first moving object based on the locations of the first moving object, and determines a road model based on a polynomial of the first trail. The controller also determines a second trail of a second moving object, assigns a lane number to the second moving object based on the road model, and activates the alert device when the path of the second moving object resides in the lane-number overlain by a conflict zone.

Abstract: A sensor-control system for operating an automated vehicle includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor is used to detect objects proximate to a host-vehicle. The first sensor is characterized by a first-sensing-technology. The second sensor is used to detect objects proximate to the host-vehicle. The second sensor is characterized by a second-sensing-technology different from the first-sensing-technology. The controller is in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor. A location of an object detected by the first-sensor is used to select a field-of-view of the second-sensor.