Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automation of a side mirror of a vehicle. In one example, a side mirror is disposed on a side of the vehicle, and a camera is mounted on the side mirror. A processor is configured to at least facilitate determining whether a condition has been satisfied with respect to a vehicle having a side mirror, and providing instructions for automatic movement of the side mirror from a first position to a second position, when it is determined that the condition has been satisfied. An actuator is coupled to the processor, and is configured to move the side mirror from the first position to the second position based on the instructions provided by the processor when it is determined that the condition has been satisfied.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes an estimated hitch angle module, a measured hitch angle module, a corrected hitch angle module, and at least one of a driver assist module and an actuator control module. The estimated hitch angle module estimates a hitch angle, which is an angle between a longitudinal axis of a vehicle and a longitudinal axis of a trailer that is attached to the vehicle. The measured hitch angle module determines a measured hitch angle based on an input from a sensor. The corrected hitch angle module determines a corrected hitch angle based on the estimated and measured hitch angles. The driver assist module controls a user interface device to assist a driver of the vehicle based on the corrected hitch angle. The actuator control module controls an actuator of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer based on the corrected hitch angle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a sensor unit, a body, a camera, a display, and a controller. The sensor unit obtains sensor data pertaining to conditions pertaining to the vehicle. The camera is mounted on the body, and includes a lens. The display is disposed within the body, and provides images from the camera. The controller is configured to at least facilitate rotating the lens, based at least in part on the one or more conditions, between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the lens has a first focal length, resulting in images for the display with a first field of view. When in the second position, the lens has a second focal length that is shorter than the first focal length, resulting in images for the display with a second field of view that is wider than the first field of view.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically controlling a vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes an actuator configured to control one or more vehicle driving characteristics, at least one vehicle sensor configured to measure a vehicle characteristic, a remote assistant in communication with the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the actuator, the at least one vehicle sensor, and the remote assistant, the controller being programmed with an automated driving system control algorithm and configured to determine whether a failsafe condition has occurred based on sensor data from the at least one vehicle sensor, receive a control signal from the remote assistant, and automatically control the actuator based on the control signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transmitting video data associated with a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle processor determines a vehicle safety event based on one or more safety sensors, activates one or more vehicle cameras that capture video data in response to the determined vehicle safety event, records the video data in a vehicle data storage device, and, if the vehicle processor determines that a suitable connection to a telecommunications network is available when the video data is being captured, then transmits the video data over the telecommunications network in substantially real time.

Abstract: A product may include a lens and a shade. A field of view may be defined through the lens. An actuator may selectively position the shade within the field of view.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an expected trajectory module and an electronic display. The expected trajectory module determines an expected forward drive trajectory of a vehicle and determines an expected forward drive trajectory of a trailer being towed by the vehicle. The electronic display displays the expected forward drive trajectories of the vehicle and the trailer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transmitting video data associated with a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle processor determines a vehicle safety event based on one or more safety sensors, activates one or more vehicle cameras that capture video data in response to the determined vehicle safety event, records the video data in a vehicle data storage device, and, if the vehicle processor determines that a suitable connection to a telecommunications network is available when the video data is being captured, then transmits the video data over the telecommunications network in substantially real time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transmitting video data from a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more vehicle cameras capture video data, a vehicle processor transmits the video data from the vehicle at least partly over a telecommunications network, the vehicle processor receives one or more control commands that have been transmitted by at least one of a remote server and a remote user device at least partly over the telecommunications network, and the vehicle processor responds to the one or more control commands to implement the one or more control commands.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transmitting video data from a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle processor receives a video transmission command that has been generated in response to a user selection of a video transmission input device, and the vehicle processor transmits video data captured by one or more vehicle cameras in response to the received video transmission command, wherein transmission of video data is at least partly over a telecommunications network to a remote server.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating an adaptive cruise control system of a host vehicle. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, wherein the measured data relates to one or more target vehicles in the host vehicle's field of view. The method further includes generating a following score for each target vehicle based on the measured data and controlling the host vehicle response based on the following score.

Abstract: A product may include a lens and a shade. A field of view may be defined through the lens. An actuator may selectively position the shade within the field of view.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating an adaptive cruise control system of a host vehicle. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, wherein the measured data relates to one or more target vehicles in the host vehicle's field of view. The method further includes generating a following score for each target vehicle based on the measured data and controlling the host vehicle response based on the following score.

Abstract: An augmented reality based interactive troubleshooting and diagnostic system and related operating methods are presented here, including a diagnostic communication method for a vehicle having an onboard diagnostics subsystem. An exemplary embodiment of the method uses a mobile user device to obtain self-diagnostic information generated by the onboard diagnostics subsystem. The method continues by sending a query to a solution database system, wherein the query includes the obtained self-diagnostic information and vehicle configuration data descriptive of the vehicle. The mobile user device receives solution data provided by the solution database system in response to the query. The solution data addresses at least one topic associated with the obtained self-diagnostic information. The method continues by operating the camera and the display element in response to the received solution data to perform an augmented reality procedure associated with the at least one topic.

Abstract: An augmented reality based interactive troubleshooting and diagnostic system and related operating methods are presented here, including a diagnostic communication method for a vehicle having an onboard diagnostics subsystem. An exemplary embodiment of the method uses a mobile user device to obtain self-diagnostic information generated by the onboard diagnostics subsystem. The method continues by sending a query to a solution database system, wherein the query includes the obtained self-diagnostic information and vehicle configuration data descriptive of the vehicle. The mobile user device receives solution data provided by the solution database system in response to the query. The solution data addresses at least one topic associated with the obtained self-diagnostic information. The method continues by operating the camera and the display element in response to the received solution data to perform an augmented reality procedure associated with the at least one topic.