Abstract: A control command is provided to a vehicle control module that identifies one or more vehicle actions to be performed by the vehicle control module to control a position of an autonomous vehicle (AV) with respect to an external environment. Whether one or more conditions pertaining to the position of the AV with respect to the external environment are satisfied is determined. Responsive to determining that the one or more conditions pertaining to the position of the AV with respect to the external environment are satisfied, a first instruction is provide to the vehicle control module that permits the vehicle control module to deviate from the one or more vehicle actions identified in the control command and to perform an energy saving action with respect to the AV.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus configured to support a driving of a vehicle at a time of pulling out of the vehicle, the driving assistance apparatus including: a control section configured to determine a movement path from a parking space to a predetermined position of a road region, and run the vehicle along the movement path on a basis of surroundings information of the vehicle when pulling out the vehicle from the parking space to the road region, wherein the control section leaves an accelerator operation for the vehicle to a user while automatically controlling a steering operation for the vehicle at least in a section in the movement path, and switches from an automated driving mode to a manual driving mode in response to the steering operation that is performed by the user when the vehicle travels in the section.

Abstract: A notification controller that controls a notification apparatus that gives a notification to a driver of an electrically powered vehicle includes a receiver, a first determination unit, and a first notification unit. When the receiver receives a prescribed leveling signal, the first determination unit determines whether or not the electrically powered vehicle can participate in power leveling at a prescribed participation spot, based on at least one of timing of start and timing of end of power leveling indicated by the prescribed leveling signal, a position of the electrically powered vehicle, and a remaining amount of power stored in the vehicle. When the first determination unit determines that the electrically powered vehicle can participate, the first notification unit causes the notification apparatus to perform first notification processing for inviting the electrically powered vehicle to go to the prescribed participation spot.

Abstract: A processing unit includes a first communication interface that is designed for communication with a server device and/or a mobile device. The processing unit also has a second communication interface, which is designed for communication with the mobile device. The processing unit further has an internal communication interface of the processing unit, which is designed for communication with a vehicle bus network of the vehicle. The processing unit is designed to receive vehicle access data, which is representative of an access authorization of a driver to the vehicle via the second communication interface. The processing unit is also designed to determine depending on the vehicle access data a release signal for enabling a use of the vehicle and to provide it to the internal communication interface. The processing unit is also designed to receive vehicle analysis data via the internal communication interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods to perform behavioral planning in an autonomous vehicle from a reference state involve generating a set of actions of a fixed size and fixed order according to a predefined methodology. Each action is a semantic instruction for a next motion of the vehicle. A set of trajectories is generated from the set of actions as an instruction indicating a path and a velocity profile to generate steering angles and accelerations for implementation by the vehicle. A trajectory filter is applied to filter the set of trajectories such that unfiltered trajectories are candidate trajectories. Applying the trajectory filter includes assessing the path and velocity profile indicated by each of the set of trajectories. A selected trajectory is used to control the vehicle or the action that corresponds to the selected trajectory is used in trajectory planning to generate a final trajectory that is used to control the vehicle.

Abstract: A computer-implement method for operating an ADV is disclosed. A first trajectory for the ADV to drive along is planned. The ADV is to autonomously drive along the first trajectory. An obstacle in an affected region of the ADV is detected based on sensor data obtained from a plurality of sensors mounted on the ADV. An expected residence time of the obstacle in the affected region is determined. Whether to plan a second trajectory or to wait for the obstacle to leave the affected region is determined based on the expected residence time of the obstacle in the affected region. A second trajectory for the ADV to drive along is planned and the ADV is to autonomously drive along the second trajectory, or the ADV is to wait for the obstacle to leave the affected region and to autonomously drive along the first trajectory afterwards.

Abstract: Systems and methods to perform behavioral planning in an autonomous vehicle from a reference state involve generating a set of actions of a fixed size and fixed order according to a predefined methodology. Each action is a semantic instruction for a next motion of the vehicle. A set of trajectories is generated from the set of actions as an instruction indicating a path and a velocity profile to generate steering angles and accelerations for implementation by the vehicle. A trajectory filter is applied to filter the set of trajectories such that unfiltered trajectories are candidate trajectories. Applying the trajectory filter includes assessing the path and velocity profile indicated by each of the set of trajectories. A selected trajectory is used to control the vehicle or the action that corresponds to the selected trajectory is used in trajectory planning to generate a final trajectory that is used to control the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic system and method includes connecting a vehicle interface device to a diagnostic port of a vehicle to be in communication with an electrical system of the vehicle for diagnosing the vehicle, and running a selected one of multiple available diagnostic application scan programs via the vehicle interface device to generate a scan log file of the electrical system of the vehicle, where the scan log file is generated in one of a plurality of possible native file formats depending on the selected diagnostic application program. A diagnostic evaluation tool program extracts diagnostic data from the scan log file, where the diagnostic evaluation tool program is configured to extract diagnostic data from scan log files in each of the plurality of possible native file formats, and outputs the diagnostic data to a scan database in a common format from which detailed diagnostic reports are generated.

Abstract: A pick-up and drop-off area, which is a predetermined area in which an automated driving vehicle stops to pick up or drop off a user, includes a downstream area existing downstream of a standard stop space and an upstream area existing upstream of the standard stop space. An automated driving system controls the automated driving vehicle so as to stop in a target stop space in the pick-up and drop-off area. When the standard stop space is available, the standard stop space is set as the target stop space. When the standard stop space is not available for the automated driving vehicle to stop to drop off the user, the automated driving system searches for an upstream available space in the upstream area and preferentially sets the upstream available space as the target stop space.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a foldable accelerator pedal device in manual driving mode of an autonomous driving vehicle includes: when an autonomous driving vehicle provided with a foldable accelerator pedal device is driven in manual driving mode and the speed of the autonomous driving vehicle exceeds the driving speed limit of a road, a safety mode, which includes a haptic mode and a pedal pad protrusion reducing mode, and a pedal pad hiding mode, is activated using an actuator provided for a folding function of a pedal pad.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing the wear on vehicles. For instance, a vehicle may include a bidirectional vehicle that operates in a first mode at which a first end of the vehicle operates as a front of the vehicle and a second mode at which a second end of the vehicle operates as the front of the vehicle. As such, the vehicle may store data representing a first distance that the vehicle has traveled while operating in the first mode and a second distance that the vehicle has traveled while operating in the second mode. The vehicle may then detect the occurrence of an event. Based on the occurrence of the event, the vehicle may select a mode for operating the vehicle using the first distance and the second distance. For example, the vehicle may select the mode that is associated with the shortest distance.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a vehicle sensor configured to detect a vehicle state; a first control device connected to the vehicle sensor and provided with a first recording area; a first power supply device configured to supply electric power to the first control device; a second control device connected to the first control device and provided with a second recording area; and a second power supply device configured to supply electric power to the second control device. The first control device is configured to record vehicle data including the vehicle state in the first recording area at a prescribed timing and to transmit the vehicle data to the second control device on a prescribed cycle. The second control device is configured to record the vehicle data received from the first control device in the second recording area at a prescribed timing.

Abstract: In an autonomous driving control apparatus, a control unit controls autonomous driving that causes a vehicle to travel along a scheduled travel route. A storage unit stores driving-operation modules. Each of the driving-operation modules is comprised of a modularized set of a sequence of input/output operations used by a corresponding driving operation carried out by the autonomous driving. The control unit determines the scheduled travel route, and determines, in accordance with the scheduled travel route, at least one selected driving-operation module from the driving-operation modules stored in the storage unit. The control unit performs the at least one selected driving-operation module to thereby cause the vehicle to perform the autonomous driving.

Abstract: An integrated control apparatus for an autonomous vehicle includes a mobile control device 10, which is a portable device manipulated by a user, configured to perform steering, speed change, acceleration and braking of the vehicle, and a touch-type stationary display device 20 manipulated in a touch manner by the user and configured to perform functions other than the steering, the speed change, the acceleration and the braking of the vehicle when the vehicle is shifted from an autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode. A steering dial switch and a speed change slide switch of the mobile control device are manipulated in a manner different from that in which an acceleration button switch and a braking button switch of the mobile control device are manipulated.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle is provided. While the vehicle is at a commanded destination the method may be responsive to an absence of an ingress/egress of a passenger for a predetermined period. The predetermined period may depend on whether the vehicle is in arrival mode or departure mode. The method may include commanding the vehicle to travel to a predetermined location selected to have measures of cellular-wireless signal strength that are greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: State estimation and sensor fusion switching methods for autonomous vehicles thereof are provided. The autonomous vehicle includes at least one sensor, at least one actuator and a processor, and is configured to transfer and transport an object. In the method, a task instruction for moving the object and data required for executing the task instruction are received. The task instruction is divided into a plurality of work stages according to respective mapping locations, and each of the work stages is mapped to one of a transport state and an execution state, so as to establish a semantic hierarchy. A current location of the autonomous vehicle is detected by using the sensor and mapped to one of the work stages in the semantic hierarchy, so as to estimate a current state of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for predictive maintenance of a vehicle component. One method involves mapping a current instance of a component of a vehicle to one of plurality of degradation groups of prior lifecycles for other instances of the component based on a relationship between performance measurement data for the current instance and historical performance measurement data associated with that respective degradation group, obtaining contextual data associated with operation of the vehicle, and determining a maintenance recommendation for the current instance of the component based on the contextual data using a predictive maintenance model associated with the mapped degradation group.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system which may be used for remote vehicle diagnostic and programming. Such a system may provide a high-speed wireless connection between an OBD-II compliant vehicle's OBD-II port and a remote vehicle diagnostic and programming control interface, with connectivity and feature availability rivaling direct wired connections between vehicle and control interface. Such a system may provide benefits in vehicle repair and tuning, remote diagnosis of vehicle issues, fleet management, and improved availability and access to professional vehicle service in remote locations.

Abstract: A device for operating a braking system of a motor vehicle, including a first control unit for operating an ABS unit of the braking system and including a second control unit for operating a brake booster unit of the braking system. The control units are designed as application-specific integrated circuits and are connected to a microprocessor for their control, the microprocessor including a separate shut-off path for each of the circuits.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system includes: an autonomous driving system device that is mounted in a vehicle and implements autonomous driving of the vehicle; an autonomous driving controller that is configured to control the autonomous driving system device to perform a control related to the autonomous driving of the vehicle; a first network that connects the autonomous driving system device and the autonomous driving controller with a protocol conversion unit interposed therebetween so as to perform communication with each other by using a plurality of different protocols; and a second network that connects the autonomous driving system device and the autonomous driving controller without the protocol conversion unit interposed therebetween so as to perform communication with each other by using a single protocol.