Abstract: A method for dynamically matching energy demand of a population of electric vehicles (EVs) with energy supply of a population of charging stations within a geofenced perimeter includes receiving, via a cloud-based server, EV information from each respective EV, and receiving charging station information from each respective charging station. The method includes generating an SoC map and a charging station power map from the EV information and the charging station information, respectively, and predicting the energy supply and demand using the maps. The server dynamically matches the EVs to at least one of the charging stations or vice versa using a reward function, the predicted energy supply, and the predicted energy demand, including generating a rank-ordered listing for each of the EVs and/or each of the charging stations in a manner that maximizes an expected discounted future reward.

Abstract: An automatic rain response system includes microphones of a vehicle, windshield wipers, and a controller. The microphones generate acoustic signals in response to rain. The controller is configured to receive a local weather condition, extract acoustic features from the acoustic signals, form feature vectors in response to the acoustic features and the local weather condition, classify the feature vectors to determine a current class among multiple classes, activate the windshield the wipers at a high speed in response to the current class being a heavy rain on a windshield class, activate the windshield wipers at a medium speed in response to the current class being a freezing rain on the windshield class, activate the windshield wipers at a low speed in response to the current class being a light rain on the windshield class, and deactivate the windshield wipers in response to the current class being a no rain class.

Abstract: A method of providing an onboard assistant for a vehicle, comprising: receiving sensor data from sensors of the vehicle; transforming the sensor data using a trained machine learning model to provide transformed sensor data; inferring from the transformed sensor data that a special condition for the vehicle requires intervention; and contacting an operator of the vehicle to inform the operator of the special condition and receive instructions for handling the special condition.

Abstract: A system includes an assessment module and a training module. The assessment module is configured to receive event data about an event associated with a subsystem of a vehicle. The assessment module is configured to determine deviations between reference data for the subsystem indicating normal operation of the subsystem and portions of the event data that precede and follow the event. The assessment module is configured to determine whether the event data indicates a fault associated with the subsystem by comparing the deviations to a threshold deviation. The training module is configured to update a model trained to identify faults in vehicles to identify the event as a fault associated with the subsystem of the vehicle based on the event data in response to the deviations indicating a fault associated with the subsystem.

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: An apparatus for localized patterned surface hardening for light-weight alloys to increase wear resistance under lubricated contact is provided. The apparatus includes a first metallic structure and a second metallic structure. The second metallic structure includes a contact surface and is disposed in lubricated contact with the first metallic structure at the contact surface, wherein the second metallic structure is constructed with a lighter-than-steel material and wherein the contact surface includes a localized surface hardened pattern.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising identifying at least one of a characteristic and an identity of an item for delivery from an origin to a destination; identifying a plurality of possible routes between the origin and the destination using mapping information, the mapping information including for each of the plurality of possible routes, a characterization of each of a plurality of route segments comprising the possible route; evaluating the plurality of possible routes in view of the identified at least one of the item characteristic and the item identity to select one of the plurality of possible routes; and providing the selected one of the plurality of possible routes to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle delivers the item from the origin to the destination via the identified route.

Abstract: An audio notification system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) determines that the AV is within range of a user and emits a sound though a speaker of the AV to notify that the user that the vehicle has arrived. The audio notification system may include a sensor for sensing that the user has accessed the AV, and turns off the sound in response to the user accessing the AV. The audio notification may be generated according to one or more audio options, e.g., volume, pitch, or audio pattern.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is configured to estimate a change in direction of a vehicle that is on a roadway and is proximate to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle has a mechanical system, one or more sensors that generate one or more sensor signals, and a computing system in communication with the mechanical system and the one or more sensors. The autonomous vehicle is configured to detect an imminent lane change by another vehicle based on at least one of a computed angle between a wheel of the other vehicle and a longitudinal direction of travel of the other vehicle, a degree of misalignment between the wheel of the other vehicle and a body of the other vehicle, and/or an eccentricity of the wheel of the other vehicle. The mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle is controlled by the computing system based upon the detected imminent lane change.

Abstract: A trip energy estimation system includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores average traffic speed, average traffic acceleration, driver speed, and driver acceleration data. The control module executes an algorithm to estimate an amount of energy for an electric vehicle to travel between two locations. The algorithm includes: determining, based on the average traffic speed data and the average traffic acceleration data, a baseline amount of energy for the electric vehicle to travel between the two locations; determining, based on the driver speed data and the driver acceleration data, a dynamic amount of energy corresponding to at least one of stop and go events, over speeding, or under speeding; and determining a total amount of energy based on the baseline amount of energy and the dynamic amount of energy. The control module, based on the total amount of energy, performs an operation including indicating a trip estimate.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflator, and a cushion operably connected to the inflator including a plurality of sealed cushion segments interconnected by a plurality of cushion joints. The activation of the inflator dispenses a flow of inflation gas into the cushion to sequentially inflate the plurality of sealed cushion segments from a stowed state to a deployed state. A passenger compartment of a vehicle includes an instrument panel including at least an upper panel surface and a downward panel surface, and an airbag system located in the instrument panel.

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: 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: A method for manufacturing a crankshaft for an internal combustion engine with a plurality of journals having a hardened case with a first microstructure. The crankshaft is comprised of a steel comprising between about 0.3 wt % and 0.77 wt % Carbon. The first microstructure of the hardened case of the journals comprises between about 15% and 30% ferrite and a balance of martensite and the resultant subsurface residual stress between 310 MPa and 620 MPa.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising identifying at least one of a characteristic and an identity of an item for delivery from an origin to a destination and selecting one of a plurality of possible routes between the origin and the destination. For each of a plurality of route segments of the selected route, mapping information is used to characterize the route segment and one of a plurality of driving modes is selected for the route segment based on the characterization of the route segment and the at least one of the item characteristic and the item identity. A driving plan comprising a collection of the selected driving modes corresponding to the plurality of route segments comprising the selected route is provided to a vehicle and the vehicle delivers the item from the origin to the destination via the selected route using the driving plan.

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: The present technology is directed to dynamically adjusting an autonomous vehicle (AV) system based on deep learning optimizations. An AV management system can generate a downscaling signal based on a result of comparing a complexity of an environment for an AV to navigate with a predetermined complexity threshold. Further, the AV management system can perform a downscaling of a neural network associated with an AV system based on the downscaling signal and determine a scenario to test the downscaled neural network in a simulation. The AV management system can adjust one or more parameters of the AV system based on simulated outputs and perform the simulation of the AV based on the adjusted one or more parameters of the AV system and the downscaled neural network to generate simulated performance data. Furthermore, the AV management system can compare the simulated performance data with a predetermined performance threshold.

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: 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: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for detecting a pavement marking around an autonomous vehicle, comparing the detected pavement marking with a pavement marking present in a semantic data map, determining whether a change has occurred between the detected pavement marking and the pavement marking present in the semantic data map, and updating the semantic data map based on the determining of whether the change has occurred between the detected pavement marking and the pavement marking present in the semantic data map.