Abstract: Acoustic touch and/or force sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch and/or force sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface and an amount of force applied to the surface by the object. The position and/or an applied force can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a deformable material. The location of the object and the applied force can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating a vehicle driver model. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating a vehicle driver model for a particular vehicle based on vehicle interior image data.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for detecting various actions of a vehicle operator. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for detecting various actions of a vehicle operator based on digital image data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, the operating status and/or configuration of autonomous operation features of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be determined, such as via an on-board computer system or mobile device, and/or then directly or indirectly wirelessly communicated via data transmission from the vehicle computer system or mobile device to a remote server. An adjustment to one or more risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may also be determined, and an auto insurance policy, premium, or discount may be adjusted based upon the adjustment to the risk levels and presented to the customer for their review and approval. As a result, insurance cost savings may be passed onto risk averse customers that opt into to a rewards program.

Abstract: According to certain aspects, a computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be provided. With the customer's permission, an identity of a vehicle operator may be identified and a vehicle operator profile may be retrieved. Operating data regarding autonomous operation features operating the vehicle may be received from vehicle-mounted sensors. When a request to disable an autonomous feature is received, a risk level for the autonomous feature is determined and compared with a driver behavior setting for the autonomous feature stored in the vehicle operator profile. Based upon the risk level comparison, the autonomous vehicle retains control of vehicle or the autonomous feature is disengaged depending upon which is the safer driver—the autonomous vehicle or the vehicle human occupant. As a result, unsafe disengagement of self-driving functionality for autonomous vehicles may be alleviated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating alternate navigation directions for vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, image sensor data of a vehicle operator may be used to determine the emotional state of vehicle operators in a plurality of vehicles in proximity to each other. The plurality of vehicles in proximity to each other may be considered to be a group of vehicles. If it is determined that more than one vehicle operator in the group of vehicles is frustrated, the electronic device of a vehicle operator of an approaching vehicle may notify the vehicle operator that there is a nearby group of vehicles with frustrated vehicle operators. The electronic device of the vehicle operator of the vehicle approaching the group of vehicles with frustrated vehicle operators may generate and provide alternate navigation directions to the vehicle operator in order to avoid the group of vehicles with frustrated vehicle operators.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining vehicle driver distractions. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining distracted drivers associated with vehicle driving routes based on postures of vehicle occupants.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing vehicle operation are provided. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may receive and analyze image data depicting an individual located within a vehicle. The electronic device may also access and compile certain data related to an environment of the vehicle, and specifically to the vehicle's position relative to the sun. According to embodiments, the electronic device may determine, based on the accessed data, whether the vehicle is traveling into a direction of the sun, and may generate and record an indication of the same.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for providing a notification that includes a traverse classification. The method includes determining, at a computing system including one or more processors, a contact region based on information indicative of a location of vehicle contact and a location of a person associated with the vehicle contact. The method also includes performing, by the one or more processors, an assessment of one or more aspects of one or more routes associated with the contact region and the contact region. The method also includes based on the assessment, determining, by the one or more processors, one or more traverse classifications corresponding to the one or more routes associated with the contact region. The method also includes providing, by the computing system, a notification that includes a traverse classification of the one or more traverse classifications to one or more vehicle operators approaching the contact region.

Abstract: A polarizer disposed between a transducer and a surface in which acoustic waves propagate can be used to filter out certain types of acoustic energy. For example, the polarizer can be used with a shear-polarized transducer to pass shear waves and filter out compressional waves that may interact with water, thereby improving water rejection. In some examples, the polarizer can include one or more layers of piezoelectric material with a poling direction different than (e.g., orthogonal to) the poling direction of the transducer. Energy of compressional waves may be extracted by one or more external electric circuits. In some examples, the polarizer can be a magneto-elastic polarizer. In some examples, the polarizer can be a mechanical polarizer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and communicating notifications indicating risks associated with vehicular operation are provided. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may access and analyze image data that depicts a vehicle operator in a certain state. The electronic device may determine, based on the state of the vehicle operator, whether a risk exists as well as information that may be helpful to communicate to additional vehicle operators. The electronic device may generate a notification that indicates the information and transmit the notification to at least one additional vehicle and/or to an infrastructure component.

Abstract: This relates to system architectures, apparatus and methods for acoustic touch detection (touch sensing) and exemplary applications of the system architectures, apparatus and methods. In some examples, the acoustic touch sensing techniques described herein can be used on a glass surface of a display or touch screen. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be configured to be insensitive to contact on the device surface by water, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that are likely to become wet or fully submerged in water.

Abstract: A system for isolating signals from individual vehicles. An array of sensors generates a plurality of time records. The time records are transformed into spectrogram structures, and for each time-frequency point in the spectrogram structures, a bearing is calculated, to form a movement structure. A Hough transform is used to fit a movement model to the movement structure, to form a Hough transform structure. Peaks in the Hough transform structure correspond to vehicles and their position in the Hough transform structure correspond to motion parameters, such as the velocity of the vehicle, and the time of closest approach of the vehicle to the array of acoustic sensors. A model of the motion of a vehicle is then used to associate, with the vehicle, points (e.g., structure elements in the spectrogram structures) from the data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, the operating status of the features, the identity of a vehicle operator, risk levels for operation of the vehicle by the vehicle operator, or damage to the vehicle may be determined based upon sensor or other data. According to further aspects, decisions regarding transferring control between the features and the vehicle operator may be made based upon sensor data and information regarding the vehicle operator. Additional aspects may recommend or install updates to the autonomous operation features based upon determined risk levels. Some aspects may include monitoring transportation infrastructure and communicating information about the infrastructure to vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, an identity of a vehicle operator may be determined and a vehicle operator profile and/or operating data regarding autonomous operation features of the vehicle may be received after the vehicle operator opts into a rewards program and agrees to share their data. Autonomous operation and vehicle operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be determined. Based upon the risk levels and/or comparison thereof, one or more autonomous operation features may be disengaged. A preparedness level of the vehicle operator to assume or reassume control of operating the vehicle is determined prior to disengagement. If satisfactory, an alert is presented to the vehicle operator prior to disengagement of the autonomous operation features.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing sensor data to determine an inferred emotional state of a vehicle operator and generate a recommendation based on the inferred emotional state are disclosed. According to embodiments, an electronic device may analyze image data depicting a vehicle operator to identify a behavior. The electronic device may also compare vehicle dynamics data to baseline vehicle dynamics data to determine if the vehicle dynamics data differs from the baseline vehicle dynamics data by a threshold amount. Based on the identified behavior and the vehicle dynamics data, the electronic device may determine an inferred emotional state of the vehicle operator. The electronic device may generate a recommendation for the vehicle operator based on the inferred emotional state.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating a vehicle driver rating. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining vehicle driver ratings based on vehicle interior image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating vehicle operation logs are provided. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may receive and analyze image data depicting an individual located within a vehicle. The electronic device may also interface with a set of sensors to retrieve or access relevant data related to the operation of the vehicle, such as time and date information, location information, and other data. The electronic device may generate a vehicle operation log that associates the individual depicted in the image data with the vehicle operating parameters.

Abstract: A system and method captures various gestures or movements made by a driver of a vehicle while driving. Based on the captured gestures or movements, the system and method determines driver gesture behaviors which relate to the driver's driving behaviors. The system and method then performs risk assessment by correlating the driver gesture behaviors with potential recognizable losses involving the driver and/or vehicle. Based on the risk assessment, the system and method assigns ratings for the driver which may be used for insurance rating purposes.