Abstract: A rain sensor in a vehicle includes a transmitter to implement a pseudorandom modulation of a timing of emission of infrared transmissions toward a windshield of the vehicle. The rain sensor also includes a receiver to be active for only a specified period of time following each emission of the infrared transmissions and to receive a reflection based on the infrared transmission encountering any substance on the windshield.

Abstract: A method for coordinating a discharge session in which direct current power is offloaded from a power supply, e.g., of an electric vehicle (EV), to a bidirectional offboard charging station includes, in response to connection of the power supply to the charging station via a charging cord set, exchanging charging data between the EV and charging station. This occurs over a low-voltage communication line, with charging data including power and current limits of the EV and charging station. In response to the limits being indicative of negative limits, with the negative limits representing a request for the discharge session, the method includes transmitting the EV power and current limits to the charging station to confirm the request. The discharge session is initiated in response to confirming the request through an exchange of a unique identifier indicating support for the discharge session.

Abstract: A light inspection system positions an autonomous vehicle (AV) in a field of view of a camera such that the camera captures an image of a light of the AV. The light inspection system instructs a camera to capture an image of the light while the light is switched on. The light inspection system receives the captured image, determines a luminance of the light based on the image, and determines to service the light in response to the luminance of the light being below a threshold luminance.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for generating accurate virtual representations of real-world environments. A process of the disclosed technology can include steps for: processing image sensor data to identify one or more images of road paint; identifying a geographic location that is associated with the one or more images of road paint; and generating, within a simulated environment corresponding to the geographic location, at least one road paint mesh object that is based on the one or more images of road paint.

Abstract: A hairpin conductor includes two wire segments each having respective first and second ends and a respective middle region. The segments are disposed in a side-by-side orientation such that their first ends are proximate each other and their second ends are proximate each other. The first ends are welded to each other and the second ends are welded to each other, or the middle regions are welded to each other, thereby providing a welded wire assembly, which is bent such that the two wire segments are bent equally to form the hairpin conductor. The hairpin conductor has a primary bend in the middle regions to form an apex thereat and first and second secondary bends in the two wire segments nearer to the apex than to the first and second ends to form respective first and second shoulders thereat. A method of forming the hairpin conductor is also presented.

Abstract: Technologies disclosed herein facilitate identification of a trip route from an origin of a user to a desired destination of the user, wherein the trip route includes multiple transportation modalities, at least one of which is an autonomous vehicle (AV), and dispatching of the AV to a pickup location for the user in connection with providing transportation to the user along a portion of the identified trip route.

Abstract: A system for displaying information for a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle sensors, a display, and a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of vehicle sensors and the display. The controller is programmed to detect a relevant traffic signal in an environment surrounding the vehicle using the plurality of vehicle sensors, receive information about the relevant traffic signal using the plurality of vehicle sensors, determine a status of the relevant traffic signal based on the received information, and display a graphic based on the status of the relevant traffic signal using the display.

Abstract: The navigation of an AV in an environment may be planned based on a model of a restricted traffic zone in the environment. Information of the environment (e.g., a vector map, information of one or more objects, a temporal sequence of semantic grids, a query grid, etc.) may be input into a neural network. The neural network may include a CNN and a GNN. The map and tracks may be input into the GNN. The temporal sequence of semantic grids or query grid may be input into the CNN. The neural network may output edges of the restricted traffic zone. The neural network may output a grid of points representing locations in the environment and information indicating drivability of each respective point. The neural network may output one or more polylines dividing the environment into regions and information indicating whether the AV can drive to or in each respective region.

Abstract: Patterns in lane data and traffic signal data around intersections are used to detect potential errors in map databases and automatically generate data for map databases. Groups of lanes inbound into intersections and/or outbound from intersections can be categorized, and these categories may be used to compare lanes around an intersection, or at multiple intersections along a roadway or in a region. Deviations from expected patterns of these intersection categories may be used to identify errors. Patterns of internal lanes based on external lanes and traffic signal data may be used to automatically generate internal lane data for intersections.

Abstract: An electrical system having a plurality of power converters each having an input in electrical communication with a power source and an output in electrical communication with a load. A controller is configured to receive an output power request for the plurality of power converters. The controller can then select at least one power converter of the plurality of power converters to satisfy the output power request based on an efficiency of power conversion of each of the plurality of power converters and an operating lifespan of each of the plurality of power converters and direct the at least one power converter to produce power to satisfy the output power request.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle having a trailer pivotally coupled thereto for towing of the trailer. The system may include a steering system including a steering wheel for controlling front wheels of the vehicle, a sensor system configured to sense a steering wheel angle of the steering wheel, and a computer system onboard the vehicle and operatively coupled to the steering system and the sensor system, the computer system configured to, by a processor: monitor the steering wheel angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle while the vehicle is operated to move the vehicle and the trailer in a reverse direction relative thereto, and adjust front wheels of the vehicle in a direction relative to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle such that the trailer turns in an opposite direction as a direction of rotation of the steering wheel about the axis thereof.

Abstract: Tandem charging for electric vehicles (EVs) electrically interconnected with each other. The tandem charging may include determining a plurality of EVs requesting to be charged with electrical power available from a charging station, determining charging parameters for the EVs, scheduling charging of the EVs according to the charging parameters, and/or authorizing a pecuniary charge to billing accounts of the EVs in recompense for the charging.

Abstract: An interaction monitoring system for a subject vehicle includes: a spatial monitoring system including a video camera, a microphone, and an audio speaker; a telematics system; a vehicle monitoring system; and a controller. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to periodically determine, via the vehicle monitoring system, operating parameters for the subject vehicle, and detect occurrence of a vehicle stopping event being commanded by a security person. The operating parameters are captured for a predetermined period of time immediately preceding the vehicle stopping event. During the stopping event, the video camera and the microphone monitor an interaction between a vehicle operator and the security person. The interaction between the vehicle operator and the security person is evaluated, and a third-party advisor is engaged based upon the interaction between the vehicle operator and the security person.

Abstract: A method is provided for offloading autonomous vehicle (AV) data to a download pole. The AV may include a transceiver. The download pole may include a transceiver. The method may include identifying, by the AV, the download pole in a parking spot that is close to the AV. The method may also include establishing short range wireless link between the AV and the download pole. The method may also include positioning the AV so that the transceiver of the AV is aligned with the transceiver of the download pole based on instructions received over the Bluetooth connection from the download pole. The method may further include establishing a first link between the transceiver of the AV and the transceiver of the download pole.

Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to: receive safety messages from a plurality of vehicles in communication with the edge server, determine an uplink frequency recommendation for transmitting safety messages from at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles based on at least one of a position error or a collision risk, determine a downlink frequency recommendation for transmitting safety messaging to at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles based on at least one of a position error or a collision risk, and transmit the frequency recommendations to the at least one vehicle.

Abstract: A method for adjusting state of charge (SOC) limits aboard a motor vehicle having a propulsion battery pack includes receiving a pre-drive information set via a host computer and identifying, from the pre-drive information set, a probability that the motor vehicle is about to embark on a road trip. The road trip is a drive event in which the motor vehicle will travel outside of a predetermined area. The method further includes expanding the SOC limits of the propulsion battery pack when the motor vehicle is about to embark on the road trip, such that a total SOC window of the propulsion battery pack is increased for a duration of the road trip.

Abstract: A sequence of images and a vehicle location associated with each of the images is received at a traffic light ROI management system. At least one traffic light is detected in each image. A ECS traffic light ROI is defined for each image. The ECS traffic light ROI encloses the detected traffic lights. A visual feature template is generated for each image. The visual feature template is based on the ECS traffic light ROI for the image. Each visual feature template is mapped to the vehicle location associated with the image to a HD map. The HD map is transmitted to an autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous vehicle to identify a real-time traffic light ROI in a real-time image based on a match between a first visual feature template and real-time visual features of the real-time image at the vehicle location associated with the first visual feature template.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for measuring seal characteristics and in particular, for precisely measuring frictional characteristics of a rotary seal. In some aspects, a seal testing apparatus of the disclosed technology can include a motor coupled to a proximal end of a shaft, a rotator coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and a housing disposed around an exterior surface of the rotator, wherein the housing is configured to removably receive at least one seal. In some aspects the seal-testing apparatus can further include a torque transducer coupled to the shaft, wherein the torque transducer is configured to measure a torque output of the motor.