Abstract: A type of a waste item is identified at a waste collection location using at least a drone-based system. The drone-based system characterizes one or more properties of the waste item. Based on the identified type and the one or more properties, the drone-based system performs a risk assessment based on human health of content of the waste item. One or more actions are taken by one or more drones of the drone-based system based on the risk assessment of the content of the waste item.

Abstract: A type of a waste item is identified at a waste collection location using at least a drone-based system. The drone-based system characterizes one or more properties of the waste item. Based on the identified type and the one or more properties, the drone-based system performs a risk assessment based on human health of content of the waste item. One or more actions are taken by one or more drones of the drone-based system based on the risk assessment of the content of the waste item.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hybrid electric vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrical system, which electrical system includes at least one electronic control unit, an engine-driven electric machine (operable as a motor for driving the vehicle or as a generator for supplying power to one or more electrical loads via a high voltage traction bus, and a high voltage battery pack coupled to the high voltage traction bus by at least one contactor arranged to connect the battery pack to the high voltage traction bus. If it is determined that the at least one parameter indicates a condition preventing the battery pack from being connected to the high voltage bus, the electric machine is operated in voltage control mode during operation of the vehicle until the condition is eliminated, whereafter the high voltage bus is pre-charged and the high voltage battery pack reconnected.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system includes a vehicle mounted device equipped to a vehicle, a mobile device carried by a user and performing a wireless communication with the vehicle side communication unit, a mobile terminal carried by the user and performing a wireless communication with the mobile device. The mobile terminal acquires a parking position of the vehicle when the user gets off the vehicle, detects a position of the mobile terminal, and calculates a distance between the parking position and the mobile terminal based on the parking position and the position of the mobile terminal. When the calculated distance falls within a predetermined range, the mobile terminal transmits, to the mobile device, distance information including the calculated distance. When receiving the distance information, the mobile device transmits, to the vehicle mounted device, approach information including the distance information.

Abstract: Wireless sensors are included within zones of a physical space. A memory stores feature description data. A processor, in communication with the memory and the wireless sensors, is programmed to send, to a mobile device connected to one of the wireless sensors, a subset of the feature description data applicable to one of the zones in which the mobile device is located. The processor also is programmed to receive a request to update a feature of the one of the zones based on the feature description data, and apply the setting update when the mobile device has permission. The zones of a physical space may be seating zones of a vehicle, and the wireless sensors may be included within doors to the seating zones of the vehicle. The mobile device may determine a seating zone of the vehicle in which the mobile device is located using the wireless sensors.