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: 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: 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: 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 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: At least one transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive data from a source node that is external to a vehicle, the data including a unique identifier (ID) of the source node and at least one of: a first location of the source node; a first heading of the source node; a first speed of the source node; and a first object type of the source node. At least one of a camera and a sensor is configured to identify objects located around the vehicle. An anomaly module is configured to selectively indicate that an anomaly is present in the data. A distributed ledger includes a list of unique IDs associated with not-trusted source nodes. A ledger management module is configured to, in response to an indication that an anomaly is present in the data received from the source node, add the unique ID of the source node to the list.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for unlocking vehicle engine cover. Method comprising: acquiring an action signal transmitted from an action sensor, and executing an action signal judging step; executing an unlocking step if the received action signal matches a preset unlock action signal, otherwise not executing the unlocking step, the unlock action signal is a combination of a signal or a plurality of consecutive signals; unlocking step: sending an unlock signal to an engine cover lock, wherein the unlock signal is used to control the engine cover lock to perform an unlock operation on a vehicle engine cover. The present invention detects an action signal from an action sensor, and controls whether or not to unlock the vehicle engine cover by matching the action signal with a preset unlock action signal. So users do not need to enter into the passenger compartment for unlocking. The operation is both convenient and rich sense of technology.

Abstract: A vehicle backend system and a method of using the backend system to determine availability of a cellular connection between the backend system and a vehicle prior to the backend system attempting to establish the cellular connection. The method includes: determining at the backend system that a vehicle service is to be provided to the vehicle; based on the determination, transmitting from the backend system to a wireless service provider (WSP) or a WSP server a query associated with the connection status of the vehicle; in response to transmitting the query, receiving at the backend system a response to the query, wherein the response indicates that the vehicle is either in a connected state or an un-connected state; and when the vehicle is in the connected state: attempting to establish the cellular connection between the backend system and the vehicle; and when the cellular connection is established, providing the vehicle service.

Abstract: A system and method of carrying out a teletypewriter (TTY) call at a vehicle, the method being carried out by vehicle electronics of the vehicle, wherein the method includes: receiving a TTY configuration request at the vehicle electronics of the vehicle; configuring the vehicle to operate based on the TTY configuration request, wherein the configuring includes storing TTY configuration data at the vehicle; receiving a telephone call initiation request at the vehicle, the telephone call initiation request corresponding to a telephone call with an end user; determining whether TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle, wherein the determination of whether the TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle includes inspecting the TTY configuration data; and when it is determined that the TTY functionality is enabled at the vehicle, carrying out a TTY call at the vehicle.

Abstract: At least one transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive a unique identifier (ID) of a source node that is external to a vehicle. A distributed ledger includes a list of unique IDs associated with trusted source nodes. An ID comparison module is configured to compare the unique ID of the source node with the list. The at least one transceiver is configured to, in response to a determination that the unique ID of the source node is not within the list, wirelessly transmit the unique ID of the source node the trusted source nodes of a connected network for execution of a consensus algorithm. A ledger management module is configured to, in response to a determination to trust the source node via execution of the consensus algorithm, add the unique ID of the source node to the list.

Abstract: At least one transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive data from a source node that is external to a vehicle, the data including a unique identifier (ID) of the source node and at least one of: a first location of the source node; a first heading of the source node; a first speed of the source node; and a first object type of the source node. At least one of a camera and a sensor is configured to identify objects located around the vehicle. An anomaly module is configured to selectively indicate that an anomaly is present in the data. A distributed ledger includes a list of unique IDs associated with not-trusted source nodes. A ledger management module is configured to, in response to an indication that an anomaly is present in the data received from the source node, add the unique ID of the source node to the list.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a plurality of vehicle messages, wherein the method comprises: receiving a plurality of vehicle messages from a plurality of vehicles; generating a key n-tuple including a key and a time indicator for each of the vehicle messages; storing each of the vehicle messages in a data structure that comprises a priority queue for each key; storing each of the key n-tuples in a timer queue; obtaining a key n-tuple from the timer queue; recalling a vehicle message from a corresponding priority queue; and sending the vehicle message to at least one of a plurality of compute nodes.

Abstract: A system and method of power management of a telematics unit in a vehicle is provided. An exemplary method includes determining that the vehicle is unpowered; determining that the vehicle is in a fringe region of a cellular network; and based the determining steps, entering a power-saving mode at the telematics unit.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling vehicle functionality based on a geopolitical region of the vehicle, the method including the steps of: monitoring a geographical location of the vehicle; resolving the geographical location of the vehicle to a geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; obtaining permitted vehicle function information for the geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; and disabling or enabling one or more vehicle functions based on the obtained permitted vehicle function information.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a plurality of vehicles. The method includes receiving route information from a plurality of telematics units installed into each of the vehicles. The information may be collected as the vehicles are traveling along a vehicle route. The method further includes determining an eligibility of the vehicle route for use with a semi-autonomous driving system of the vehicles from at least the received route information. The method may also include communicating the eligibility of the vehicle route to the vehicles. The system includes a plurality of telematics units configured to collect route information as the vehicles are traveling along a vehicle route. The system further includes a database in communication with the plurality of telematics units. The database includes an eligibility of the vehicle route for use with a super cruise system of the vehicles.