Abstract: A vehicle including a mat, an air flow unit and a processor is disclosed. The mat may include a top wall, a bottom wall and plurality of through-holes disposed in the top wall. The air flow unit may be configured to blow pressurized air in a mat interior portion. The processor may detect a trigger event, and cause the air flow unit to blow the pressurized air in the mat interior portion responsive to detecting the trigger event. The ambient air in proximity to the top wall may be pulled towards the mat interior portion via the plurality of through-holes when the air flow unit blows the pressurized air in the mat interior portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing reverse dig mode and/or reverse drive mode. Reverse dig mode may involve determining an inner front wheel and outer front wheel relative to steering controls and simultaneously applying a forward torque to the inner front wheel of the vehicle and a reverse torque to the outer front wheel of the vehicle. Reverse drive mode may involve determining steering controls of a vehicle and applying inverted controls to the rear wheels of the vehicle that provides a simulated sense that the driver is handling the vehicle in the forward direction.

Abstract: A first vehicle including a detection unit, a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The detection unit may be configured to detect a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle located adjacent to the first vehicle. The transceiver may be configured to receive a second vehicle door dimension. The processor may be configured to compare the distance with the second vehicle door dimension, and determine that the second vehicle door dimension may be greater than the distance. Responsive to determining that the second vehicle door dimension may be greater than the distance, the processor may control an operation of a first vehicle component.

Abstract: A vehicle including a battery, a memory and a processor is disclosed. The battery may provide power to the vehicle, and the memory may store historical vehicle information. The processor may determine that a software update may be available for the vehicle. Responsive to determining that the software update may be available, the processor may determine an optimal time to initiate a software update installation in the vehicle to optimize a battery usage, based on the historical vehicle information. The processor may further transmit an installation initiation notification to a server to install the software update at the optimal time.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods that minimize walking inside a multi-level parking structure. An example method that may be performed by a processor can include determining a first walking distance between a first unoccupied parking spot on a first parking level of a multi-level parking structure and a destination located outside the multi-level parking structure and can further include determining a second walking distance between a second unoccupied parking spot on a second parking level of the multi-level parking structure and the destination located outside the multi-level parking structure. The first walking distance is compared to the second walking distance and based on a shorter of the first walking distance and the second walking distance, guidance is provided to drive to one of the first unoccupied parking spot or the second unoccupied parking spot. The guidance may be provided via an infotainment system of the vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive transportation vehicle has a passenger cabin with a plurality of seating positions for respective persons to be seated. A display system in the vehicle has a plurality of display zones, wherein each display zone is visualizable along respective vectors from one or more of the seating positions. A dominant eye is identified for a particular occupant seated in a respective seating position when there is a differential vision preference between a right eye and a left eye of the particular occupant. Display content is generated to be displayed to the particular occupant. A display zone is selected for displaying the display content wherein the selected display zone corresponds to a respective vector from the seating position of the particular occupant matching the dominant eye of the particular occupant.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to parking assistance systems and methods. An example method can include determining, by a processor of a parking assistance system in a first vehicle, a first swing out arc radius of a door of the first vehicle and/or a second swing out arc radius of a door of a second vehicle that is parked adjacent to the first vehicle. The swing out arc radius of a door may, for example, be determined based on vehicle specifications or on data provided by a distance measuring sensor. The processor may then provide to an autonomous driving system of the first vehicle and/or a driver of the first vehicle, guidance for positioning the first vehicle in a parking spot, based, on the first swing out arc radius of the door of the first vehicle and/or the second swing out arc radius of the door of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, a steering system, a sensing system, and a controller. The front wheel and the rear wheel are arranged on a first side of the vehicle. The steering system controls a directionality of the front wheel and a directionality of the rear wheel. The sensing system senses an exterior environment adjacent to the first side of the vehicle. The sensing system also senses a pitch of the vehicle. The controller controls the directionality of at least one wheel chosen from the front wheel and the rear wheel based on the sensed exterior environment, the sensed pitch of the vehicle, and the vehicle being in a parked condition.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for heating a fluid being transported in a vehicle. An example method includes identifying, by a processor, a target fluid temperature and determining, based on the target fluid temperature, a separation distance between a tank attached to an underbody of the vehicle and an inductive heating element embedded in a road. The processor lowers the tank to a heating position above the inductive heating element based on the separation distance, and retains the tank in the heating position for using the inductive heating element to heat a fluid contained in the tank. The processor may raise the tank to a retracted position upon determining that the fluid has been heated to the target fluid temperature. The processor re-lowers the tank to the heating position upon detecting a drop in temperature of the fluid when the tank is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A first vehicle including a detection unit, a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The detection unit may be configured to detect a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle located adjacent to the first vehicle. The transceiver may be configured to receive a second vehicle door dimension. The processor may be configured to compare the distance with the second vehicle door dimension, and determine that the second vehicle door dimension may be greater than the distance. Responsive to determining that the second vehicle door dimension may be greater than the distance, the processor may control an operation of a first vehicle component.

Abstract: A towing vehicle and the trailer include respective batteries and electric powertrain for propulsion. A connector system connects the vehicle and trailer via a plurality of conductors, a plug, and a socket including at least seven connector pins. Due to the wire gauge, each conductor carries no more than 20 amps. When a driving state is detected, a first switch matrix in the vehicle and a second switch matrix in the trailer enter a first configuration to connect a plurality of light sources in the trailer to a lighting signal generator in the vehicle. When a charging state is detected, a second configuration of the switch matrices is entered in order to carry a charging current which is divided in parallel among a plurality of conductors in the connector system and then recombined in order to provide a charging current greater than 20 amps.

Abstract: A method for controlling a first vehicle includes receiving based on a vehicle parking spot locator request, a solar radiance dataset indicative of historic solar radiance at a first parking location of a localized vehicle parking region, and determining, based on the solar radiance dataset, that a predicted solar energy production at the first parking location is greater than any other prediction for available parking location in the parking region during the parking duration. The method includes determining, based on the solar radiance dataset, a first vehicle orientation at the first parking location. The first vehicle orientation provides a maximized probability of solar exposure during the parking duration. The method further includes causing the processor to position the first vehicle in the first parking location and the first vehicle orientation, and charging a first vehicle battery during the parking duration.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to vehicle load balancing systems and methods. An example method executed by a processor includes receiving, from a weight sensor, a first weight measurement of a cargo item placed upon a cargo bed of a vehicle and further includes receiving a second weight measurement from the weight sensor after detecting that the vehicle is in motion. The processor then determines, based on detecting a difference between the first weight measurement and the second weight measurement that the cargo item has shifted from a first spot to a second spot on the cargo bed. The example method can further involve placing the cargo bed in a tilted configuration followed by configuring the vehicle to jerk sporadically while traveling in a first direction that is selected to shift the cargo item back from the second spot to the first spot on the cargo bed.

Abstract: A system to display liquid levels in vehicle auxiliary tanks is disclosed. The vehicle includes a plurality of auxiliary tanks disposed on a vehicle cargo bed. The vehicle further includes a first detection unit to detect a user activity associated with the plurality of auxiliary tanks, and a second detection unit to measure a vehicle weight. The vehicle further includes a control unit to identify a first auxiliary tank, from the plurality of auxiliary tanks, which is associated with the user activity. The control unit further determines a vehicle weight change based on the measurement of weight and an initial vehicle weight. In addition, the control unit correlates first auxiliary tank identification and weight change determination, and calculates a liquid level change associated with the first auxiliary tank. Responsive to the calculation, the control unit displays the liquid level change on a user interface.

Abstract: A vehicle including a mat, an air flow unit and a processor is disclosed. The mat may include a top wall, a bottom wall and plurality of through-holes disposed in the top wall. The air flow unit may be configured to blow pressurized air in a mat interior portion. The processor may detect a trigger event, and cause the air flow unit to blow the pressurized air in the mat interior portion responsive to detecting the trigger event. The ambient air in proximity to the top wall may be pulled towards the mat interior portion via the plurality of through-holes when the air flow unit blows the pressurized air in the mat interior portion.

Abstract: A system and method performed by a first vehicle may include receiving a message from a second vehicle regarding a cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle in which an object carried by the second vehicle extends beyond a perimeter or envelope of the second vehicle, and adjusting an operation of the first vehicle based upon the cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle including a sitting area, a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The sitting area may be configured to swivel about a sitting area axis. The transceiver may be configured to receive a user request to move the vehicle in a first direction. The processor may be configured to obtain the user request and determine a sitting area orientation based on the first direction responsive to obtaining the user request. The processor may further cause the sitting area to swivel to the determined sitting area orientation. The processor may be additionally configured to obtain a user input to maneuver vehicle movement in the first direction responsive to causing the sitting area to swivel to the sitting area orientation, and cause the vehicle to move in the first direction based on the user input.

Abstract: A method to determine a probability of a first vehicle crossing a traffic light in green phase is disclosed. The method may include obtaining information associated with a green light duration, first vehicle information, and second vehicle information. The first vehicle information may include historical rate of change of speed profile associated with the first vehicle, and the second vehicle information may include a first time duration required by the second vehicle to cross the traffic light. The method may further include estimating a second time duration required by the first vehicle to cross the traffic light based on the first and second vehicle information, and comparing the second estimated time duration with the green light duration. The method may include determining a probability of the first vehicle crossing the traffic light in the green light duration based on the comparison, and transmitting a notification to indicate the probability.

Abstract: Theft deterrent systems and methods using onboard weight sensors are disclosed herein. An example method can include obtaining an image of a location where a scale is located in a vehicle, the scale being used for cargo weight measurement, determining from the image, when the location of the scale is located is empty, determining a weight value output by the scale, determining an offset for the scale when the weight value is greater than a weight threshold, and adjusting the scale using the offset to zero the scale.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for combining two or more common fuel vapor storage canisters to increase storage volume for fuel vapors of a vehicle. In one example, a fuel vapor manifold is constructed to permit communication between ports of carbon filled fuel vapor storage canisters. The fuel vapor manifold is a clam shell design that permits vibration welding.