Abstract: Example embodiments described herein relate to enhancing vehicle connectivity using a modular telematics control unit (TCU) that includes antennas, radios, and other components positioned internally within a housing configured to couple to a vehicle. The TCU may include a first cellular radio configured to establish a wireless connection with a first cellular network using a first cellular transmission antenna and a first cellular reception antenna and a second cellular radio configured to establish a wireless connection with a second cellular network using a second cellular transmission antenna and a second cellular reception antenna. The TCU also includes a Wi-Fi radio coupled to a set of antennas and configured to provide a Wi-Fi network for passenger devices located inside the vehicle when the housing is coupled to the vehicle and one or more Bluetooth low energy (BLE) radios coupled to an antenna.

Abstract: A Satellite Radio Access Network includes a base station for communicating with standard compliant user equipment (UE) via a satellite having a field of view. A network broadcasting signal is provided via an inactive or access beam covering a plurality of cells in the field of view. An access request is detected from a user device, such as a smartphone, within an area covered by the inactive beam. In response to the access request, a beam is transitioned from inactive to active to provide network access to the user device. Once the user device is out of range, the active beam is transitioned back to an inactive beam. An inactivity timer is used to detect an idle active cell that should be transitioned to an inactive cell.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, a current state of a traffic light may be determined. One of a plurality of yellow light durations may be selected based on the current state of the traffic light. When the traffic light will turn red may be predicted based on the selected one. The prediction may be used to control the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode can obtain sensor data from one or more sensors observing one or more aspects of an environment of the vehicle. At least one aspect of the environment of the vehicle that is not observed by the one or more sensors could be inferred based on the sensor data. The vehicle could be controlled in the autonomous mode based on the at least one inferred aspect of the environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: Example embodiments described herein relate to a modular telematics control unit (TCU) with directional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and techniques for using the modular TCU with directional BLE. A modular TCU may include a housing configured to couple to a vehicle and a set of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radios. Each BLE radio is coupled to a corresponding BLE antenna configured for omnidirectional operation. The set of BLE radios and BLE antennas are located within the housing. The modular TCU also includes a heat sink located within the housing and positioned proximate the BLE antennas such that the heat sink limits operation for each BLE antenna to a particular direction extending away from the housing. In some instances, a vehicle computing system may use BLE to detect a device and perform operations based on the location of the device relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure address shortcomings of the existing technology by enabling Doppler-assisted segmentation of points in a point cloud for efficient object identification and tracking in autonomous vehicle (AV) applications, by: obtaining, by a sensing system of the AV, a plurality of return points comprising one or more velocity values and one or more coordinates of a reflecting region that reflects a signal emitted by the sensing system, the one or more velocity values and the one or more coordinates obtained for the same instance of time, identifying that the set of the return points is associated with an object in an environment, and causing a driving path of the AV to be determined in view of the object.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein include methods, systems, and other techniques for training, in a first phase, an object classifier neural network with a first set of training data, the first set of training data including a first plurality of training examples, each training example in the first set of training data being labeled with a coarse-object classification; and training, in a second phase after completion of the first phase, the object classifier neural network with a second set of training data, the second set of training data including a second plurality of training examples, each training example in the second set of training data being labeled with a fine-object classification.

Abstract: A method for operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device is provided. The method includes driving, by an LLC resonant power converter, a wireless power signal at a primary winding of a transformer disposed on a first platform. The method includes transmitting the wireless power signal across a gap separating the first platform and a second platform. The second platform is configured to rotate relative to the first platform. The method includes receiving the wireless power signal at a secondary winding of the transformer. The secondary winding is disposed on the second platform. The method includes operating, by the LLC resonant power converter at a unity gain operating point and in an open loop mode without feedback control, a device mounted on the second platform based on the secondary winding receiving the wireless power signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for displaying notifications on a display of an autonomous vehicle 100. In one instance, a distance from the vehicle to a destination of the vehicle or a passenger may be determined. When the distance is between a first distance and a second distance, a first notification 650 may be displayed on the display. The second distance may be less than the first distance. When the distance is less than the second distance, a second notification 660 may be displayed on the display. The second notification provides additional information not provided by the first notification.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle for maneuvering a passenger to a destination autonomously. The vehicle includes one or more computing devices that receive a request for a vehicle from a client computing device. The request identifies a first location. The one or more computing devices also determine whether the first location is within a threshold outside of a service area of the vehicle. When the location is within the threshold distance outside of the service area of the vehicle, the one or more computing devices identify a second location within the service area of the vehicle where the vehicle is able to stop for a passenger and based on the first location. The one or more computing devices then provide a map and a marker identifying the position of the second location on the map for display on the client computing device.

Abstract: To operate an autonomous vehicle, a rail agent is detected in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle using a detection system. One or more tracks are determined on which the detected rail agent is possibly traveling, and possible paths for the rail agent are predicted based on the determined one or more tracks. One or more motion paths are determined for one or more probable paths from the possible paths, and a likelihood for each of the one or more probable paths is determined based on each motion plan. A path for the autonomous vehicle is then determined based on a most probable path associated with a highest likelihood for the rail agent, and the autonomous vehicle is operated using the determined path.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate light detection and ranging operations. An example method includes determining, for at least one light-emitter device of a plurality of light-emitter devices, a light pulse schedule. The plurality of light-emitter devices is operable to emit light along a plurality of emission vectors. The light pulse schedule is based on a respective emission vector of the at least one light-emitter device and a three-dimensional map of an external environment. The light pulse schedule includes at least one light pulse parameter and a listening window duration. The method also includes causing the at least one light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices to emit a light pulse according to the light pulse schedule. The light pulse interacts with an external environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber encapsulation mechanism for energy dissipation in a fiber amplifying system. One example embodiment includes an optical fiber amplifier. The optical fiber amplifier includes an optical fiber that includes a gain medium, as well as a polymer layer that at least partially surrounds the optical fiber. The polymer layer is optically transparent. In addition, the optical fiber amplifier includes a pump source. Optical pumping by the pump source amplifies optical signals in the optical fiber and generates excess heat and excess photons. The optical fiber amplifier additionally includes a heatsink layer disposed adjacent to the polymer layer. The heatsink layer conducts the excess heat away from the optical fiber. Further, the optical fiber amplifier includes an optically transparent layer disposed adjacent to the polymer layer. The optically transparent layer transmits the excess photons away from the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology employ sensors having high speed rotating mirror assemblies. For instance, the sensors may be Lidar sensors configured to detect people and other objects in an area of interest. A given mirror assembly may have a triangular or other geometric cross-sectional shape. The reflective faces of the mirror assembly may connect along edges or corners. In order to minimize wind drag and torque issues, the corners are rounded, filleted, beveled, chamfered or otherwise truncated. Such truncation may extend the length of the mirror side. The mirror assembly may employ one or more beam stops, light baffles and/or acoustic/aerodynamic baffles. These sensors may be employed with self-driving or manual driven vehicles or other equipment. The sensors may also be used in and around buildings.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining a sign type of an unfamiliar sign. The system may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to receive an image and identify image data corresponding to a traffic sign in the image. The image data corresponding to the traffic sign may be input in a sign type model. The processors may determine that the sign type model was unable to identify a type of the traffic sign and determine one or more attributes of the traffic sign. The one or more attributes of the traffic sign may be compared to known attributes of other traffic signs and based on this comparison, a sign type of the traffic sign may be determined. The vehicle may be controlled in an autonomous driving mode based on the sign type of the traffic sign.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to a scanning laser system configured to emit laser light and an interlock circuit communicatively coupled to the scanning laser system. The interlock circuit may carry out certain operations. The operations include, as the scanning laser system emits laser light into one or more regions of an environment around the scanning laser system, determining a respective predicted dosage amount for each region based on the emitted laser light. The operations further include detecting an interlock condition. The interlock condition includes a predicted dosage amount for at least one region being greater than a threshold dose. In response to detecting the interlock condition, the operations include controlling the scanning laser system to reduce a subsequent dosage amount in the at least one region.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an autonomous vehicle that may detect other nearby vehicles and designate stationary vehicles as being in one of a short-term stationary state or a long-term stationary state. This determination may be made based on various indicia, including visible indicia displayed by the detected vehicle and traffic control factors relating to the detected vehicle. For example, the autonomous vehicle may identify a detected vehicle as being in a long-term stationary state based on detection of hazard lights being displayed by the detected vehicle, as well as the absence of brake lights being displayed by the detected vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may then base its control strategy on the stationary state of the detected vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for advanced trip planning for an autonomous vehicle service. For instance, an example method may include determining a potential pickup location for a user, determining a set of potential destination locations for a user, and determining a set of potential trips. For each potential trip a vehicle of a fleet of autonomous vehicles of the service may be assigned and trip information, including an estimated time of arrival for the assigned vehicle of the potential trip to reach the destination location of the potential trip, may be determined. The trip information for each potential trip may be provided for display to the user. Thereafter, confirmation information identifying one of the set of potential trips may be received, and the assigned vehicle for one first of the set of potential trips may be dispatched to pick up the user.