Abstract: A method and system are disclosed and include assigning a vehicle to a user. The method also includes obtaining contextual information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, and the contextual information includes at least one of location information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, route information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, and user information associated with a vehicle-sharing account corresponding to the user. The method also includes determining a cleanliness score based on the contextual information and determining whether the cleanliness score is less than a first threshold value. The method also includes transmitting, in response to (i) the cleanliness score being less than the first threshold value and (ii) a vehicle-sharing session corresponding to the vehicle-sharing request being complete, an alert that is configured to indicate that the vehicle needs to be cleaned.

Abstract: An identification system for a property includes: a mobile device including a display and configured to: selectively output a feature during execution of an application; and transmit user data stored on the mobile device; a scanning module configured to scan the feature and to generate an output based on the feature; an identity module configured to, based on the user data, determine an identity identifier indicative of an identity of a user of the mobile device; and a checking module configured to one of approve and deny an action based on: the output generated based on the feature; and the identity identifier indicative of the identity of the user of the mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for localization and passive entry/passive start (PEPS) systems for vehicles are provided. A communication gateway in a vehicle configured to establish a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication connection with a portable device. Sensors are configured to measure signal information about a communication signal sent from the portable device. A localization module is configured to receive the signal information from the sensors and determine a location of the portable device based on the signal information. A passive entry/passive start (PEPS) system is configured to receive the location of the portable device from the localization module and perform a vehicle function including at least one of unlocking a door of the vehicle, unlocking a trunk of the vehicle, and allowing the vehicle to be started based on the location of the portable device. Each of the plurality of sensors are synchronized.

Abstract: A smoking cessation system of a vehicle includes: a microphone configured to generate an output based on sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a virtual assistant module configured to identify a future smoking event within the passenger cabin of the vehicle based on the output of the microphone; and a smoking module configured to take at least one remedial action in response to the identification of a future smoking event.

Abstract: A mobile access device includes a memory, a user interface, a transceiver, and a control module. The memory stores a service application. The user interface receives an input from a user to execute the service application. The transceiver signals a vehicle to establish a connection and initiate a location determining process to determine a location of the mobile access device within the vehicle. The control module: determines whether the service application is permitted to be executed based on the location of the mobile access device; based on the location of the mobile access device, performs an identity verification process to verify identity of at least one of the user or the mobile access device; and tracks driving behavior of the user based on (i) whether the service application is permitted to be executed, and (ii) a result of the identity verification process.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) circuit is provided and includes an antenna, a printed circuit board and a RF chip. The printed circuit board includes a stack of layers. The stack of layers includes a grounded layer. The grounded layer includes a slit, a dielectric area, a first grounded area and a second grounded area. The dielectric area includes dielectric material and is disposed between the first grounded area and the second grounded area. The antenna is edge mounted to the ground layer adjacent the dielectric area and offset from a centerline of the ground layer. The second grounded area is disposed between the dielectric area and the slit. The RF chip is mounted to the stack of layers and connected to the antenna via a transmission line and configured to transmit and receive RF signals via the antenna.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving vehicle behavior planning to avoid undertaking maneuvers. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a driving context from sensor data about a surrounding environment of an ego vehicle. The driving context identifying lanes of a roadway and a position of the ego vehicle in the lanes. The method includes, in response to determining that the driving context and a state of a nearby vehicle satisfy a merge threshold, generating a trajectory for the ego vehicle that avoids undertaking the nearby vehicle. The method includes controlling the ego vehicle according to the trajectory.

Abstract: A method of guiding an operator of a vehicle includes determining, in response to a vehicle-sharing request, whether a vehicle operation condition is satisfied based on state information of the vehicle. The method includes, in response to the vehicle operation condition being satisfied, identifying a set of vehicle operation instructions from a plurality of vehicle instructions corresponding to the vehicle, where the set of vehicle operation instructions correspond to the vehicle operation condition. The method includes, in response to the vehicle operation condition being satisfied, identifying a notification system from among a plurality of notification systems based on the vehicle operation condition, and providing, using the notification system, the set of vehicle operation instructions.

Abstract: A system for generating synthetic training data may include one or processors and a memory in communication with the one or more processors and having a receiving module, a duplication module, and an insertion module. The modules have instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to receive original training data being in the form of a three-dimensional point cloud and having one or more original objects formed by at least a portion of the three-dimensional point cloud and annotated with original annotation data, duplicate one of the one or more original objects to generate a synthetic object, and insert the synthetic object within the original training data to generate the synthetic training data.

Abstract: A portable device is configured to establish a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication connection with a vehicle and to communicate with at least one sensor in the vehicle using impulse radio (IR) ultra-wide band (UWB) communication after establishment of the BLE communication connection with the vehicle is completed. A location of the portable device is determined by the vehicle based on ranging using IR UWB communication performed by the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A solenoid valve having current dependent bi-directional force includes a stator with a channel. An armature is in the stator channel. The armature is movable in a first and second direction. A projection extends from the stator into the channel. When a low current is applied, a flux is generated such that it jumps from the projection to the armature and back to the stator. Thus, the armature is pulled in the first direction. As the current is increased, the projection becomes magnetically saturated and the additional flux as a result of increased current jumps from the stator, at a thinned portion, to the armature then back to the stator. This moves the armature in the second direction, opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An HVAC case configured to heat airflow for a vehicle HVAC system. The HVAC case has a defrost outlet, a primary demist outlet, a secondary demist outlet, and an airflow control door. The airflow control door is configured to control airflow through each one of the defrost outlet, the primary demist outlet, and the secondary demist outlet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for localization and passive entry/passive start (PEPS) systems for vehicles are provided. A communication gateway in a vehicle configured to establish a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication connection with a portable device. Sensors are configured to measure signal information about a communication signal sent from the portable device. A localization module is configured to receive the signal information from the sensors and determine a location of the portable device based on the signal information. A passive entry/passive start (PEPS) system is configured to receive the location of the portable device from the localization module and perform a vehicle function including at least one of unlocking a door of the vehicle, unlocking a trunk of the vehicle, and allowing the vehicle to be started based on the location of the portable device. Each of the plurality of sensors are synchronized.

Abstract: A filter cap for a body of a refrigerant tank of an automotive HVAC device is provided. The filter cap includes a main body having a rim defining an opening for allowing flow of fluid such as refrigerant. A collar is snap-fit to the cap at the rim. In various embodiments, the collar has a flexible finger that flexes during assembly to the rim, and snaps back into position when fully pressed about the rim. The collar contains a filter membrane between the rim and the collar. The collar has an upper structure such as a plurality of spaced-apart legs. This allows the collar to protect the filter membrane from potential damaging contact while still enabling proper fluid flow through the filter membrane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided and include a communication gateway of a control module. The communication gateway establishes wireless communication connections with a plurality of user devices. A plurality of sensors are configured to, in response to the plurality of user devices being connected to the communication gateway, communicate signal information about the wireless communication connections to the control module. The signal information indicates characteristics of the wireless communication connections. The control module (i) determines a location of each user device of the plurality of user devices based on the signal information and (ii) generates a plurality of entries based on the signal information. Each entry of the plurality of entries corresponds to each of the plurality of user devices. A user settings activation module (i) determines user profiles corresponding to each entry of the plurality of entries and (ii) activates at least one vehicle function based on the user profiles.

Abstract: An inlet subassembly for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The inlet subassembly includes a divider defining a first airflow path and a second airflow path on opposite sides of the divider. The first airflow path extends from a first side of the recirculation air inlet and a first side of the fresh air inlet. The second airflow path extends from a second side of the recirculation air inlet and a second side of the fresh air inlet. A first inlet door is movable to control airflow into the first airflow path from the first side of the recirculation air inlet or the first side of the fresh air inlet. A second inlet door is movable to control airflow into the second airflow path from the second side of the recirculation air inlet or the second side of the fresh air inlet.

Abstract: A mobile access device includes a memory, a transceiver and a control module. The memory is configured to store incident information. The transceiver is configured to report the incident information to a relay station. The transceiver is at least one of ultra-wideband enabled or personal area network enabled. The control module is configured to: execute an emergency alerting application; transmit an alert signal from the mobile access device to the relay station indicating an incident has occurred; collect the incident information including at least one of (i) capturing audio or video of the incident, or (ii) receiving a descriptive comments from a user of the mobile access device; generate a report message including the incident information; and perform countermeasures including sending the report message to the relay station. At least one of the alert signal or the report message includes a unique signal identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and include a needle control module that includes a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium, a motor driver circuit in communication with the needle control module, the motor driver circuit controlling a stepper motor attached to a needle, and a housing enclosing the needle control module, the motor driver circuit, and the stepper motor, the housing being physically attached to a display of a vehicle. In response to the needle control module receiving a signal representing vehicle state information, the needle control module is configured to instruct the motor driver circuit to control movement of the stepper motor and adjust a position of the needle based on the signal.

Abstract: An HVAC assembly for a vehicle. The HVAC assembly has an HVAC case with a rear blower and an evaporator. A rear blower scroll directs airflow generated by the rear blower to a lower portion of the evaporator. An airflow conduit is configured to direct airflow generated by a front blower to an upper portion of the evaporator. An airflow divider separates airflow generated by the rear blower from airflow generated by the front blower. The airflow divider divides the HVAC case into an upper area above the divider and a lower area below the divider. A defrost outlet and a front face outlet are at the upper area of the HVAC case above the divider. A front foot outlet and a rear airflow outlet are at the lower area of the HVAC case below the divider.

Abstract: A system for classifying an object may include one or more processors, a sensor and a memory device. The memory device may include a data collection module, a starburst module, and an object classifying module. The modules have instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to obtain three dimensional point cloud data from the sensor, identify at least one cluster of points representing the object within the three dimensional point cloud data, identify a center point of the at least one cluster of points, project a plurality of rays from the center point to points of the at least one cluster of points to generate a shape, compare the shape to a plurality of candidate shapes, and classify the object when the shape matches at least one of the plurality of candidate shapes.