Abstract: Methods and systems for opening an access point of a vehicle. A system and a method may involve receiving wirelessly a signal from a remote controller carried by a user. The system and the method may further involve receiving audio or video data indicating the user approaching the vehicle. The system and the method may also involve determining an intention of the user to access an interior of the vehicle based on the audio or video data. The system and the method may also involve opening an access point of the vehicle responsive to the determining of the intention of the user to access the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting hazards in anticipation of opening vehicle doors. Vehicle sensors (e.g., rear viewing cameras) can be used to detect and classify traffic, for example, as pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, roller skaters, wheel chair, etc., approaching on the side of a vehicle. When there is a possibility of a vehicle occupant opening a door into approaching traffic, a warning can be issued in the vehicle cabin to alert vehicle occupants of the approaching traffic. In one aspect, a vehicle prevents a door from opening if opening the door would likely cause an accident.

Abstract: Example lane detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives an image from a front-facing vehicle camera and applies a geometric transformation to the image to create a birds-eye view of the image. The method analyzes the birds-eye view of the image using a neural network, which was previously trained using side-facing vehicle camera images, to determine a lane position associated with the birds-eye view of the image.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting physical threats approaching a vehicle. External sensors on a vehicle capture the environment around the vehicle. Approaching targets detected by the external sensors can be fed into a neural network to recognize and/or classify approaching targets as potential threats. Tracking mechanisms (e.g., Kalman filters, Particle filters, etc.) can leverage temporal information to determine if a threat is approaching a vehicle. When an approaching threat is detected, a vehicle can activate one or more counter measures to deter the threat. When a vehicle includes autonomous driving capabilities, counter measures can include automatically attempting to drive away from an approaching threat.

Abstract: Example accident attenuation systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method determines a speed of a second vehicle approaching from behind a first vehicle and determines a distance between the first and second vehicles. The method also determines whether the second vehicle can stop before colliding with the first vehicle. If the second vehicle cannot stop before colliding with the first vehicle, the method takes action to attenuate the potential collision by applying full brake force, tightening seat belts, and/or turning the front wheels of the first vehicle to direct the first vehicle away from oncoming traffic.

Abstract: Methods and systems for opening an access point of a vehicle. A system and a method may involve receiving wirelessly a signal from a remote controller carried by a user. The system and the method may further involve receiving audio or video data indicating the user approaching the vehicle. The system and the method may also involve determining an intention of the user to access an interior of the vehicle based on the audio or video data. The system and the method may also involve opening an access point of the vehicle responsive to the determining of the intention of the user to access the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for opening an access point of a vehicle. A system and a method may involve receiving wirelessly a signal from a remote controller carried by a user. The system and the method may further involve receiving audio or video data indicating the user approaching the vehicle. The system and the method may also involve determining an intention of the user to access an interior of the vehicle based on the audio or video data. The system and the method may also involve opening an access point of the vehicle responsive to the determining of the intention of the user to access the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: Example inductive loop detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives image data from a camera of a vehicle and determines a geographic position of the vehicle. Based on the image data and the geographic position of the vehicle, the method determines a location of an inductive loop in a roadway proximate the vehicle. The data associated with the location of the inductive loop is stored in a storage device within the vehicle.