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 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: A system includes a memory device, and one or more processors for detection, characterization, and presentation of charging stations for electric vehicles. The processors determine that a charging station is an undocumented charging station; a documented charging station is one that is part of a dataset of known charging stations. A confidence score is computed to indicate whether the charging station is a public charging station. In response to the confidence score being greater than a first predetermined threshold, the undocumented charging station is documented as a public charging station. In response to the confidence score being lesser than the first predetermined threshold and greater than a second predetermined threshold, the undocumented charging station is added to a list of charging stations to investigate. In response to the confidence score being lesser than the second predetermined threshold, the undocumented charging station is documented as a private charging station.

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: Battery thermal preconditioning includes scheduling thermal preconditioning in accordance with user presets, preferences and battery and/or vehicle conditions and profiles. Thermal preconditioning in advance of charging events may optimize charge time, battery health and range. Manual and predictive intelligence methods may be employed to attain and maintain a predetermined range of battery pack temperatures.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle having one or more batteries. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, data from at least two of a user of the vehicle, the vehicle, one or more charging stations, and one or more vehicle services; determining, by the processor, optimization criteria based on the received data; computing, by the processor, a charging route solution based on the optimization criteria; and generating, by the processor, interface data for presenting the charging route solution to the user of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method of tracking energy usage in a vehicle. The method, in one implementation, involves building an energy usage prediction model, obtaining a planned route for a vehicle that contains one or more planned route segments, applying the energy usage prediction model to each planned route segment of the one or more planned route segments of the planned route to obtain an energy usage plan, receiving onboard data from the vehicle, constructing an actual route based on the onboard data, and performing a match analysis between the planned route and the actual route based on the onboard data.

Abstract: A system and method of tracking energy usage in a vehicle. The method, in one implementation, involves building an energy usage prediction model, obtaining a planned route for a vehicle that contains one or more planned route segments, applying the energy usage prediction model to each planned route segment of the one or more planned route segments of the planned route to obtain an energy usage plan, receiving onboard data from the vehicle, constructing an actual route based on the onboard data, and performing a match analysis between the planned route and the actual route based on the onboard data.

Abstract: A system including an input group that, when executed by a processing unit, obtains contextual input data for use in determining a contextual mode, wherein the contextual input is based on at least one type of context. Example contexts include an environmental context; a user state; a user driving destination; a profile of the user; and a profile of another user. The system also includes a deliberation group that, when executed by the processing unit, determines, based on the contextual input data, a contextual mode for use in controlling a vehicle function. The system also includes an output group that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, initiates implementation, at a vehicle of transportation, of the contextual mode determined to control the vehicle function.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for predicting demand for battery services in an electric vehicle network. The predicted demand may be used for managing the electric vehicle network, for example, by adjusting battery policies in order to provide improved battery services to users of electric vehicles. The battery policies can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing battery charging rates within the electric vehicle network, and recommending alternative battery service locations to users of vehicles who might otherwise choose a congested battery service location.

Abstract: The object based navigation is an intelligent user interface that uses a source object to determine which target information is to be presented to the user. This is done by associating an object to one or more operations, so that selection of a given source object would result in a predefined operation to be activated. The role of the user may also affect the predefined operation that is activated. If multiple operations are associated with a given source object, these operations may be prioritized, so that the one with the highest priority is performed as a default operation.

Abstract: A system and method for managing energy usage in an electric vehicle. A charge level of at least one battery of the electric vehicle is received. A current location of the electric vehicle is received. A theoretical maximum range of the electric vehicle is determined based on the current location of the electric vehicle and the charge level of the at least one battery of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: There are provided methods and system for providing business ratings in an e-commerce marketplace. For example, in one embodiment, there is provided a computerized method including compiling a plurality of business attributes associated with a business entity to create a business profile for the business entity, compiling transaction information associated with the business entity to create a business grading for the business entity, identifying a match between the business entity and a service provider based on the business profile and the business grading of the retailer, publishing the match to the retailer, and initiating a business relationship between the business entity and the service provider.

Abstract: There are provided methods and system for facilitating relationships in an e-commerce marketplace. For example, in one embodiment, there is provided a computerized method for suggesting new products to a marketplace player, the method Including receiving an indication of one or more purchases by a marketplace player, comparing the received indication with a database of purchase trends to determine an item associated with the purchases by the marketplace player, locating one or more suppliers for the determined item, and communicating the identity of the item and at least one of the suppliers to the marketplace player.

Abstract: There are provided methods and system for facilitating relationships in an e-commerce marketplace. For example, in one embodiment, there is provided a computerized method for providing virtual consignment in an e-commerce system, including receiving a request to establish a virtual consignment for an item, transmitting an offer price from a first party to the consignment and a second party to the consignment, determining if the offer price is acceptable to the second party, and automatically adding the item to an e-commerce site in if the offer price is acceptable.