Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to techniques for detecting proper use of a seatbelt in a vehicle. A process of the disclosed technology can include steps for receiving, from a sensor, image data of one or more portions of a seatbelt. The process can further include steps for determining a length of the seatbelt that is dispensed based on the image data and determining if the seatbelt is buckled in front of a passenger's body based on the length of the seatbelt that is dispensed. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: For one embodiment of the present invention, a method of object detection and part segmentation is described. The method includes generating a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud including a plurality of points in a volume of a space of the point cloud based on receiving point cloud dat. The method further includes obtaining, with a global transformer, a set of global feature tokens and local feature points of the 3D point cloud, enforcing with an attention mechanism information flow across the set of global feature tokens and local feature point, and generating, with the global transformer, a set of new global feature tokens and new local feature points with modeled global context information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creation of custom behavior zones for autonomous vehicles, providing a more tailored experience for passengers as well as businesses. Custom behavior zones allow passengers to request or select a specific pick-up/drop-off location on private property. In some examples, custom behavior zones are created in private gated communities, on residential properties with long driveways, on government property, and at businesses that have multiple entrances and/or offer different services at various locations on the business property.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to variable gain amplification for a sensor application. A multistage variable gain amplifier system provides variable gain amplification of an input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system includes a plurality of amplification stages. The multistage variable gain amplifier system further includes a power detector configured to detect a power level of an input signal received by the multistage variable gain amplifier system. The multistage variable gain amplifier system also includes a controller configured to control the amplification stages based on the power level of the input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system can output an output signal such that the amplification stages are controlled to adjust a gain applied to the input signal by the multistage variable gain amplifier system to output the output signal.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for creating a velocity grid using a simulated environment for use by an autonomous vehicle. The method may include simulating a road scenario with simulated objects. The method may also include recording image data collected from a camera sensor, the image data comprising a first 2D image frame comprising the simulated objects made up of a plurality of pixels. The method may also include identifying a first 3D point on the first simulated object in a 3D view of the simulated road scenario, wherein the first 3D point corresponds to the first pixel in the first 2D image frame. The method may also include generating a velocity of the first point based upon a velocity of the first simulated object, and projecting the velocity back into the first 2D image frame.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for diagnosing faults in a software stack by running a subset of processes of the software stack. An existence of a fault associated with running a software stack is determined. The software stack includes a plurality of dependent processes. An incrementing larger subset of the software stack is run according to one or more error thresholds associated with executing corresponding dependent processes in the incrementing larger subset. The incrementing larger subset includes an increasing number of processes of the plurality of dependent processes. One or more sources of the fault are diagnosed based on the running of the incrementing larger subset of the software stack.

Abstract: A method for a video communication system for a rideshare system includes conducting at least a portion of a video communication session involving a passenger using at least one exterior audio/video component on an exterior surface of an AV dispatched to a designated location; and transferring the video communication session to at least one interior audio/video component on an interior of the AV.

Abstract: A method for communication between autonomous vehicles and personnel can include receiving a signal from a remote computing system, the signal based upon a position of an autonomous vehicle and a first position of a mobile device, wherein the signal identifies that the mobile device is located in a path of the autonomous vehicle, responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote computing system, stopping the autonomous vehicle, receiving an updated signal from the remote computing system, the updated signal based upon a second position of the mobile device, the second position effective to facilitate a determination that the mobile device is no longer within the path of the autonomous vehicle, and responsive to receiving the updated position of the mobile device, resuming operation of the autonomous vehicle along the path. An autonomous vehicle and non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provided.

Abstract: A system may include one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions, the instructions when executed to instruct one or more processors to: receive a platform-independent access binding data structure (a PIAB data structure), the PIAB data structure comprising a platform-independent representation of a subject class, a verb, an object, and a binding comprising a permission for the subject class to perform the verb on the object; convert the PIAB data structure to a first platform-specific binding for a first target platform; and cause the first platform-specific binding to be implemented on the first target platform.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing a streaming deficit round robin arbiter to provide fair utilization of a single link. In some aspects, methods and systems are provided and can include specifying a quantum size indicating how much of a link of a stream is available for use, adding the quantum size to a deficit counter indicating available bandwidth, determining whether to provide a first data packet to an autonomous vehicle system based on the deficit counter and without determining a data packet size of the first data packet, and providing the first data packet to the autonomous vehicle system based on the determining of whether to provide the first data packet to the autonomous vehicle system.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) maintenance system engages a user of an AV to assist in maintenance tasks. A sensor interface receives data captured by a sensor of the AV. An issue detector processes the sensor data to detect an issue in the AV. A user interface module instructs a user to perform a maintenance task addressing the detected issue. A verification module verifies that the user successfully completed the maintenance task.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising: a wiper assembly and a sensor assembly. The wiper assembly may include: a linkage assembly; a wiper blade removably attached to the linkage assembly; and a actuator coupled to the linkage assembly and configured to enable rotation of the linkage assembly around a shaft. The sensor assembly may include: a plurality of optical sensors arranged along a linear axis; and a window between the plurality of optical sensors and the wiper assembly. The wiper blade is longitudinally oriented parallel to the linear axis, and the wiper blade is configured to translate in a direction perpendicular to the linear axis while maintaining contact with the window during translation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include receiving, by a computing system on an autonomous vehicle, local weather data and routing data of the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle including a sensor platform mounted on the autonomous vehicle. The method may include based on the local weather data and the routing data, predicting, by the computing system using a thermal model, a thermal loading and a temperature of a component(s) of a sensor platform at one or more future times, the thermal loading and the temperature being during an operation of the autonomous vehicle. The method may include sending an overheating warning to a controller of the autonomous vehicle based on a determination that the thermal loading or the temperature of the component(s) exceeds a threshold. The method may include reporting a degraded state of the autonomous vehicle to park prior to a predicted overheating of the component(s).

Abstract: An example method for assisting autonomous vehicle (AV) riders reach their destination after drop-off can include navigating the AV to a drop-off location associated with a user in the AV, receiving sensor data from sensors associated with the AV, determining, based on the sensor data, an orientation of the user in the AV and a location of the AV relative to a final destination of the user, generating a recommendation for how to exit the AV at the drop-off location based on the orientation of the user in the AV and the location of the AV relative to the final destination of the user, and providing the recommendation via a display, a speaker, a light-emitting device, and/or a client device, the recommendation including a visual indication of an exit direction or an AV door to use to exit the AV, audio instructions for exiting the AV, and/or visual exit instructions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing private digital authentication information, known as secrets, for autonomous vehicles. In particular, systems and methods are provided for automating the acquisition of secrets by autonomous vehicles upon start-up, such that secrets are not stored on autonomous vehicles that are powered down. A secrets manager is installed on each autonomous vehicle that can request sets of secrets at start-up and provide the secrets to various modules in the vehicle. Secrets can be updated centrally and autonomous vehicles can easily access updated secrets.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein examples of a vehicle container unit that may be mounted within a vehicle. The vehicle container unit may be mounted to a seat of a vehicle and may include space for transporting items within the vehicle container unit. The vehicle container unit may mount to the seat via an anchor system of the seat.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to ways to determine a data collection surveillance cadence. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for receiving historic map data for one or more geographic regions, wherein each of the one or more geographic regions comprises one or more map features, calculating a change rate for each of the one or more map features, and determining a surveillance cadence for each of the one or more geographic regions based on the change rate for each of the one or more map features. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) uses an authentication system to verify that a person on the street attempting to control behavior of the AV is authorized to do so. An authorized person (e.g., a construction worker or a police officer) has an associated beacon that provides a beacon signal, such as a visual symbol or wireless signal. The AV perceives the beacon signal and transmits it to the authentication system. The authentication system looks up the beacon signal in a database and retrieves conditions associated with the beacon signal. If the authentication system and/or AV confirms that the beacon signal is in the database, and the conditions under which the person associated with the beacon signal is authorized to control the AV are met, the AV follows instructions from the person.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for preserving dynamic range in images. In some aspects, a process can include steps for receiving, at an autonomous vehicle system, image data from an image sensor, generating, by the autonomous vehicle system, a high dynamic range (HDR) output by performing HDR processing on the image data from the image sensor, generating, by the autonomous vehicle system, a least significant bit (LSB) output by performing LSB processing on the image data from the image sensor, and generating, by the autonomous vehicle system, an 8-bit output by performing a buffer process on the HDR output and the LSB output of the image sensor.

Abstract: A computed-implemented method is provided for creating a velocity grid using a simulated environment for use by an autonomous vehicle. The method may include simulating a road scenario with simulated objects, collecting first LiDAR data from simulated LiDAR sensors in the simulated road scenario, wherein the collected first LiDAR data comprises a first plurality of points that are representative of a first simulated object at a first 3D location and a first time. The method may also include transforming the first plurality of points from a simulated-scene frame-of-reference to a first simulated object frame-of-reference, and simulating the first simulated object to move from the first 3D location to a second 3D location within the simulated road scenario between the first time and a second time.