Abstract: An environment awareness system includes a memory and first and second modules. The memory is configured to store environmental data, one or more music composition templates, and one or more maps, where the environmental data is indicative of at least one of a state, condition, or change in an environment in which the environment awareness system is located. The first module is configured to receive and store the environmental data in the memory. The second module is configured to: based on the one or more music composition templates and the one or more maps, convert the environmental data to a music signal including modifying variables in the one or more music composition templates based on the environmental data; and based on the music signal, play out a musical composition via an audio system to audibly indicate the at least one of the state, condition, or change in the environment.

Abstract: A system comprises a processor and a memory storing instructions. The processor receives an image for processing using a reinforcement learning based agent comprising a neural network trained using a reward function. The image includes N lane lines of a roadway, where N is a positive integer. The instructions configure the processor to traverse the image using the agent at least N times from a first end of the image to a second end of the image by: incrementally moving the agent from a first side of the image to a second side of the image after each traversal; and maximizing rewards for the agent using the reward function during each traversal of the image using the agent. The instructions configure the processor to identify the N lane lines of the roadway as a single cluster of lane lines after traversing the image using the agent at least N times.

Abstract: Networks, systems and displays for providing derived data and predictive information for use in multivariable component systems and activities; and in particular for use in motor racing such as in NASCAR®, Indy Car, Grand-Am (sports car racing), and/or Formula 1® racing. More particularly, there are systems equipment and networks for the monitoring and collecting of raw data regarding races, both real time and historic. This raw data is then analyzed to provide derived data, predictive data, virtual data, and combinations and variations of this data, which depending upon the nature of this data may be packaged, distributed, displayed and used in various setting and applications.

Abstract: A dual multi-level inverter topology with reduced switch count and small DC-link capacitor is provided. The inverter topology provides multi-level inverter operation without requiring a neutral point connection that is commonly present in a stacked capacitor topology (for example, a topology including two capacitors).

Abstract: A method of surveying roads includes generating a dynamic flight plan for a drone using a vehicle traveling on a road as a target. The dynamic flight plan includes instructions for movement of the drone. The method includes controlling the drone as a function of position of the vehicle based on the dynamic flight plan. The method includes maintaining, based on the controlling, line of sight with the drone while the drone with an onboard camera follows the vehicle and captures images of the road being traveled by the vehicle using the onboard camera.

Abstract: A vehicle sharing system for use with a vehicle. The vehicle sharing system comprises: i) a lockbox mounted on an exterior of the vehicle, the lockbox including a vehicle key that opens a door of the vehicle; and ii) a vehicle sharing control module disposed in the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle sharing control module communicates with the lockbox in order to open a door associated with the lockbox in response to a first command message received from a mobile device associated with a user. The lockbox is mounted on a license plate holder of the vehicle and the license plate is mounted on the door of the lockbox.

Abstract: A decoding system for an optical identifier includes a feature detection module configured to locate an optical identifier on an item in a captured image. The optical identifier contains encoded data, the encoded data includes information about the item, the optical identifier includes a plurality of cells, and each of the plurality of cells has one of a first state and a second state. An enhancement module configured to generate an enhanced optical identifier by selectively mapping each of the plurality of cells to one of the first state and the second state based on states of neighboring ones of the plurality of cells. A decoder module is configured to decode the encoded data contained in the enhanced optical identifier to output the information about the item.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to initiate remote control of a vehicle, the method including: receiving, via a processor, an indication that a manual drive sequence should be initiated by a remotely located data center; and based on the indication, via the processor, initiating the manual drive sequence such that the data center can remotely control the vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems of an edge server communicating with vehicles by continuously receiving messages which include data of state transitions of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) contained in each vehicle; monitoring in real-time the streamed message data from each vehicle for detection of updates of data about state transitions of ECUs used in the vehicular operations; crowdsourcing in real-time the state transition data of the ECUs during the vehicular operations to group together state transition data having commonality as crowdsource transition data; processing, using a machine learning model, the crowdsource transition data, to classify the crowdsource transition data of an anomaly event; and transmit in advance to an identified vehicle an alert of the anomaly event in order for a driver or ADAS to execute a response.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a vehicle during a peer-to-peer (P2P) reservation of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is a part of a P2P vehicle sharing network, the method including: establishing a vehicle reservation between a vehicle renter and a vehicle manager; sending an indication to the vehicle of the vehicle reservation; after sending the indication to the vehicle of the vehicle reservation, receiving vehicle monitoring information that includes information used to determine a quality of care of the vehicle renter during the vehicle reservation; and generating reporting information based on the vehicle monitoring information, wherein the reporting information reflects the quality of care of the vehicle renter during the reservation.

Abstract: A method and system for use in performing a vehicle usage assessment for a first driver of a vehicle participating in a car sharing service based on a vehicle condition assessment of the vehicle by a second, subsequent driver. The method carried out by the system includes the steps of providing a user assessment interface that enables the second driver to provide one or more quantified assessments for one or more corresponding characteristics of the vehicle; receiving the one or more quantified assessments; associating the one or more quantified assessments with an immediately preceding first driver of the vehicle; and generating an overall assessment for the first driver using at least one of the one or more quantified assessments. The overall assessment may be used to rank the first driver relative to other drivers participating in the car sharing service.

Abstract: Vehicle navigation systems and methods may generally provide navigation instructions in a vehicle. A navigation guidance session to a destination may be initiated at a telematics unit installed to the vehicle. Upon determination that the vehicle has been parked, example methods and systems may facilitate continuing the navigation guidance session when a park time duration is less than a pedestrian travel time associated with pedestrian travel from the vehicle parking location to the destination. Alternatively, terminating the navigation guidance session may be facilitated when the park time duration is at least equal to the pedestrian travel time.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to tint at least a portion of a vehicle window, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to: monitor ambient light in a surrounding vehicle environment; and based on the ambient light, dim at least a portion of an OLED window located at a vehicle.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, vehicle systems, and communication systems are provided, that include: obtaining location data for a vehicle while the vehicle is travelling, via a positioning system built into the vehicle; determining when the vehicle has entered a geo-fence associated with a regulated roadway, via a processor built into the vehicle; monitoring the vehicle, using the processor along with the positioning system, one or more sensors built into the vehicle, or both, generating vehicle data, while the vehicle is within the geo-fence, the vehicle data pertaining to a vehicle's usage of, compliance with, or both, of the regulated roadway; determining when the vehicle has exited the geo-fence, via the processor disposed onboard the vehicle; and transmitting the vehicle data, for use in determining a fee associated with the vehicle's travel along the regulated roadway, after the vehicle has exited the geo-fence, via a transceiver disposed onboard the vehicle.

Abstract: In an example, a system is disclosed. The system includes an event classification module that is configured to determine whether a vehicle event is an emergency event or a non-emergency event based on vehicle sensor data. The system also includes a determination module that is configured to determine a driving mode of a vehicle at the time of the vehicle event in response to a determination that the vehicle event is the emergency event. The determination module is configured to determine the driving mode by comparing a driving mode timestamp to an emergency timestamp corresponding to the vehicle event.

Abstract: A method for capturing video and/or images for a mapping system includes, in a vehicle, wirelessly receiving a request from a remote server for videos and/or images. The request specifies a location and a heading for the videos and/or images. The method includes comparing a vehicle location and a vehicle heading to the location and heading of the request. If a match occurs, recording a video and/or an image corresponding to the location and heading and uploading the video and/or image to the remote server.

Abstract: A system and method of providing augmented reality (AR) remote assistance to a vehicle user of a vehicle. The method includes: sending live video data to a remote assistant application at a remote computer from a portable wireless device (PWD) that is local to the vehicle; receiving the annotation information at the mobile device from the remote assistant application, wherein the annotation information includes annotation graphic information and annotation location information, wherein the annotation graphic information identifies an annotation graphic; and displaying on the electronic display an AR video that includes the annotation graphic located at the annotation display location and over a portion of the live video data, wherein the AR video is updated as the field of view of the electronic camera changes so that the annotation graphic as displayed within the AR video appears fixed to a location within the field of view of the electronic camera.

Abstract: A system for authorizing temporary access and operation of a vehicle via a mobile computing device, the system includes a processor and a memory device. The system also includes a SRWC module configured to communicate with the mobile computing device; and a CNG module being in communication with the SRWC module, the CNG module includes a NAD, configured to communicate with one or more remote entities over a wireless carrier system; a GPS module, configured to generate vehicle position information and communicate that position data to the one or more remote entities; a CGM, configured to monitor and control incoming communications from the SRWC module, NAD, and GPS module. The CGM further configured to establish communications across a CAN; and a CMS, configured to encrypt the communications established by CGM as well as store the communications in the memory device.

Abstract: A system to alter a phone number assigned to a telematics unit in which a server of a data center retrieves a phone call log that includes the call transmissions of a telematics unit made over a time period. Moreover, upon retrieval, the server will extract certain criteria from the phone call log, compile the extracted criteria, and then determine whether or not to alter the phone number based on the compiled criteria. When it is determined to do so, the server may alter the phone number by changing the phone number's area code or exchanging the phone number assigned to the telematics unit with another phone number.

Abstract: A system and method for producing vision data that is embedded with a blockchain hash stored on a blockchain, the method including: detecting a vehicle event at a vehicle using vehicle electronics included in the vehicle; sending a vehicle event report message to a blockchain domain server in response to the detected vehicle event, the vehicle event report message including information pertaining to the detected vehicle event, and wherein the blockchain domain server is configured to record the detected vehicle event as a part of a blockchain based on the vehicle event report message; receiving a blockchain hash at the vehicle from the blockchain domain server; and embedding the blockchain hash within vision data at the vehicle using the vehicle electronics, wherein the vision data is captured by a vision sensor that is mounted on the vehicle and included as a part of the vehicle electronics.