Abstract: A system for managing a fleet of electric vehicles and respective fleet drivers includes a command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to obtain input variables, including respective fleet tasks and their priority status. Route data for the respective fleet tasks is obtained. The command unit is adapted to obtain an objective function defined by a plurality of influence factors having respective weights. The command unit is adapted to obtain optimal charging schedules respectively for the electric vehicles and match the respective fleet tasks to the electric vehicles and the respective fleet drivers, based in part on the objective function, input variables and the route data. The influence factors may include energy cost optimization, timeliness of task completion and minimizing range anxiety. In some embodiments, the respective weights of the influence factors are designated by a fleet manager.

Abstract: An assistance system includes: a perception module configured to collect sensor data including data tracking behavior of a vehicle occupant in a host vehicle, and to determine perception information describing a current situation warranting initiation of an interactive dialog with the vehicle occupant; an interactive goal module configured to determine an interactive goal based on the determined perception information; an interaction timing module configured to determine timing for initiating the interactive dialog based on the interactive goal; a dialog module configured to, based on the perception information and the timing, initiate the interactive dialog to provide at least one of a suggestion and an offer to the vehicle occupant; and a vehicle control module configured to control operation of at least one of a device and a system of the host vehicle in response to the vehicle occupant accepting the at least one of the suggestion and the offer.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for camera-based vehicle navigation includes at least one vehicle camera configured to capture an image of a front view from a vehicle, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to obtain a current location of the vehicle, a vehicle user interface including a display, and a vehicle control module. The vehicle control module is configured to obtain the current location of the vehicle via the GPS receiver, identify a sequence of vehicle navigation steps to a target destination, capture the image via the at least one vehicle camera, process the image with a machine learning model to detect multiple objects in the image, rank the multiple objects according to landmark scoring criteria indicative of an object recognition likelihood by a driver of the vehicle, and display a highest ranked one of the multiple objects in association with a next vehicle navigation step.

Abstract: A system for vehicle trajectory planning. The system may include a polarized camera system configured to generate polarized images of a roadway to be driven over with a vehicle, a prior controller configured to generate a prior for the roadway based at least in part on the polarized images, and a driving assistance system configured to provide a driving assistance according to the prior.

Abstract: A system for optimizing ownership cost of a fleet having electric vehicles includes a command unit adapted to selectively execute a simulation module, a sampling module and an optimization module. The command unit is configured to construct a multi-agent model based at least partially on historical fleet trip data and mobility pattern data of the fleet. Route data for a set of fleet tasks is obtained, including charging infrastructure data. The command unit is configured to simulate different configurations of the electric vehicles carrying out the set of fleet tasks over a predefined period, via the simulation module, based in part on the multi-agent model and the route data. The command unit is configured to determine an optimal configuration from the different configurations of the electric vehicles, via the optimization module. The optimal configuration minimizes investment and operational costs of the fleet.

Abstract: A system and method for resource sharing among vehicle fleets using a bidding mechanism is presented. A fleet scheduler generates a bidding proposal for one or more unassigned tasks associated with a first fleet of vehicles, where the bidding proposal is associated with a second fleet of vehicles associated with an excess quantity of resources. An online platform receives the bidding proposal for the one or more unassigned tasks and determines, using the bidding proposal and based on an auctioning scheme, one or more winning bids. The one or more winning bids includes assigning the one or more unassigned tasks from the first fleet of vehicles to the second fleet of vehicles with the excess quantity of resources.

Abstract: A method of reducing traffic congestion for a road network. The method includes predicting future traffic congestion levels for the road network based on historical traffic congestion levels for the road network. An individual contribution to the future traffic congestion levels for each of a plurality of drivers is predicted based on future routes corresponding to each of the plurality of drivers with the future routes including at least one road segment through the road network. At least one congested road segment is identified based on the future traffic congestion levels for the road network and the plurality of drivers with a highest individual contribution to the at least one congested road segment are identified. The plurality of drivers with the highest individual contributions to the at least one congested road segment are provided a first offer to avoid operating a vehicle on the road network.

Abstract: A system for control of an automated device includes a control system configured to operate a device during an operating mode corresponding to a first state in which the control system automatically controls operation, the operating mode prescribing that a user monitor the device operation during automated control, and a scheduling module configured to, during the operating mode, receive a request for the user to temporarily stop monitoring in order to perform a task unrelated to the device operation, allocate a time period during which automated control is maintained and the user stops monitoring, the time period including a non-monitoring period having a duration based on a minimum amount of time for the task, and put the device into a temporary state at initiation of the allocated time period during which the user stops monitoring and automated control is maintained.

Abstract: A system for vehicle trajectory planning. The system may include a polarized camera system configured to generate polarized images of a roadway to be driven over with a vehicle, a prior controller configured to generate a prior for the roadway based at least in part on the polarized images, and a driving assistance system configured to provide a driving assistance according to the prior.

Abstract: A system and method for determining driver assignments based on fleet trips history logs is presented. The system and method include receiving, at a server or online platform, a set of fleet driver requirements from a fleet owner. The server receives fleet trip data from a vehicle with an integrated communication device where a weighted trip score for a driver based on a particular fleet owner is determined. The server also ranks one or more drivers, based on the weighted trip score, that best matches the fleet driver requirements. The weighted trip score is determined based on the fleet trip data received from the integrated communication device in the vehicle where the fleet trip data includes at least a start trip information, a trip log, an event trigger, and an end of trip data.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for off-road driving incident prediction and assistance, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles networking with such systems. A method for operating a motor vehicle includes a system controller receiving geolocation data indicating the vehicle is in or entering off-road terrain. Responsive to the vehicle geolocation data, the controller receives, from vehicle-mounted cameras, camera-generated images each containing the vehicle's drive wheel(s) and/or the off-road terrain's surface. The controller receives, from a controller area network bus, vehicle operating characteristics data and vehicle dynamics data for the motor vehicle. The camera data, vehicle operating characteristics data, and vehicle dynamics data is processed via a convolutional neural network backbone to predict occurrence of a driving incident on the off-road terrain within a prediction time horizon.

Abstract: A system for optimizing ownership cost of a fleet having electric vehicles includes a command unit adapted to selectively execute a simulation module, a sampling module and an optimization module. The command unit is configured to construct a multi-agent model based at least partially on historical fleet trip data and mobility pattern data of the fleet. Route data for a set of fleet tasks is obtained, including charging infrastructure data. The command unit is configured to simulate different configurations of the electric vehicles carrying out the set of fleet tasks over a predefined period, via the simulation module, based in part on the multi-agent model and the route data. The command unit is configured to determine an optimal configuration from the different configurations of the electric vehicles, via the optimization module. The optimal configuration minimizes investment and operational costs of the fleet.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for scheduling pre-departure charging for electric vehicles includes predicting a user-departure time based on a first machine learning prediction model. The method further includes determining a cabin temperature to be set for the user at the user-departure time based on a second machine learning prediction model. The method further includes determining a battery-temperature to be set at the user-departure time based on a third machine learning prediction model. The method further includes determining a present charge level of a battery of the electric vehicle. The method further includes computing a charging start-time to start charging the battery based on one or more attributes of a charging station to which the electric vehicle is coupled, and based on the user-departure time, the cabin temperature, and the battery-temperature. The method further includes initiating charging the battery at the charging start-time.

Abstract: A system for managing a fleet of electric vehicles and respective fleet drivers includes a command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to obtain input variables, including respective fleet tasks and their priority status. Route data for the respective fleet tasks is obtained. The command unit is adapted to obtain an objective function defined by a plurality of influence factors having respective weights. The command unit is adapted to obtain optimal charging schedules respectively for the electric vehicles and match the respective fleet tasks to the electric vehicles and the respective fleet drivers, based in part on the objective function, input variables and the route data. The influence factors may include energy cost optimization, timeliness of task completion and minimizing range anxiety. In some embodiments, the respective weights of the influence factors are designated by a fleet manager.

Abstract: An operating system for a vehicle having an electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain and a plurality of electrically-powered accessories is described. A controller determines, via a navigation system, a target off-road trail segment, and characterizes the subject vehicle, ambient conditions, and the target off-road trail segment to determine an estimated consumption of electric energy for the vehicle to operate over the target off-road trail segment. The EV drivetrain and the electrically-powered accessories are controlled during operation of the vehicle on the off-road trail segment based upon the estimated consumption of electric energy for the subject vehicle. This is done to minimize a likelihood of a low SOC event for the DC power source for the trail segment and to avoid a low battery state at a location that is distal from a charging station.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for off-road driving incident prediction and assistance, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles networking with such systems. A method for operating a motor vehicle includes a system controller receiving geolocation data indicating the vehicle is in or entering off-road terrain. Responsive to the vehicle geolocation data, the controller receives, from vehicle-mounted cameras, camera-generated images each containing the vehicle's drive wheel(s) and/or the off-road terrain's surface. The controller receives, from a controller area network bus, vehicle operating characteristics data and vehicle dynamics data for the motor vehicle. The camera data, vehicle operating characteristics data, and vehicle dynamics data is processed via a convolutional neural network backbone to predict occurrence of a driving incident on the off-road terrain within a prediction time horizon.

Abstract: An operating system for a vehicle having an electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain and a plurality of electrically-powered accessories is described. A controller determines, via a navigation system, a target off-road trail segment, and characterizes the subject vehicle, ambient conditions, and the target off-road trail segment to determine an estimated consumption of electric energy for the vehicle to operate over the target off-road trail segment. The EV drivetrain and the electrically-powered accessories are controlled during operation of the vehicle on the off-road trail segment based upon the estimated consumption of electric energy for the subject vehicle. This is done to minimize a likelihood of a low SOC event for the DC power source for the trail segment and to avoid a low battery state at a location that is distal from a charging station.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an intelligent vehicle navigation (IVN) system includes a system controller receiving path plan data for a desired route of a vehicle and, using this path plan data, identifying a low/no-connectivity (LNC) area with limited/no wireless service within the desired route. The IVN system retrieves historical trip data containing time durations to cross the LNC area for a statistically significant number of prior trips across the LNC area; the IVN system constructs a probability distribution of these trip durations. The IVN system tracks a time lapse during which no wireless signal is received from the vehicle after output of the vehicle's last wireless signal before entering the LNC area. A driving incident is predicted responsive to the no-signal time lapse exceeding a predefined threshold within the probability distribution. The system controller responds to the predicted driving incident by transmitting an alert to a third-party entity.

Abstract: Methods and systems involve obtaining information from one or more sources to determine a real-time context. A method includes determining a situational awareness score indicating a level of vigilance required based on the real-time context, obtaining images of eyes of a driver to detect a gaze pattern of the driver, determining a relevant attention score indicating a level of engagement of the driver in the real-time context based on a match between the gaze pattern of the driver and the real-time context, and obtaining images of the driver to detect behavior of the driver. A driver readiness score is determined and indicates a level of readiness of the driver to resume driving the vehicle based on the behavior of the driver. An off-road glance time is obtained based on using the situational awareness score, the relevant attention score, and the driver readiness score.

Abstract: A system for control of an automated device includes a control system configured to operate a device during an operating mode corresponding to a first state in which the control system automatically controls operation, the operating mode prescribing that a user monitor the device operation during automated control, and a scheduling module configured to, during the operating mode, receive a request for the user to temporarily stop monitoring in order to perform a task unrelated to the device operation, allocate a time period during which automated control is maintained and the user stops monitoring, the time period including a non-monitoring period having a duration based on a minimum amount of time for the task, and put the device into a temporary state at initiation of the allocated time period during which the user stops monitoring and automated control is maintained.