Abstract: A first vehicle including a sensor unit and a processor is disclosed. The sensor unit may be configured to capture inputs associated with a first vehicle surrounding. The processor may be configured to obtain the inputs from the sensor unit, and determine a presence of a second vehicle in a suboptimal condition in proximity to the first vehicle based on the inputs. The processor may further perform a predefined action responsive to determining the presence of the second vehicle in the suboptimal condition.

Abstract: A traffic management system is disclosed. The system may include a transceiver configured to receive inputs from a sensor suite located in proximity to a first location, and a processor configured to obtain the inputs from the transceiver. The processor may be further configured to determine a count of vehicles in a vehicle queue in proximity to the first location and/or a vehicle queue length based on the inputs. The processor may further determine that a predefined condition may be met based on the count of vehicles and/or the vehicle queue length. The processor may determine a presence of a vehicle behind a point of interest in the vehicle queue based on the inputs responsive to determining that the predefined condition is met, and transmit an instruction to the vehicle to move to a second location responsive to determining the vehicle presence.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine brake pad wear are disclosed herein. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a brake, memory, and a processor to execute instructions to detect the vehicle is in operation on a road, determine a deceleration capability of the brake in response to a first brake check event, compare the deceleration capability of the vehicle to a first threshold, and in response to determining the deceleration capability of the vehicle does not satisfy the first threshold, cause the vehicle to navigate to an exit of the road prior to a portion of the road with a grade higher than a threshold grade.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an adaptive cruise control (“ACC”) that is configured to generate requests to actuate a speed reduction system of the vehicle and/or an active speed reduction system of a trailer. The actuation requests are based, at least in part, on sensor data from one or more sensors. The ACC may be configured to determine effects of an active speed reduction system of a trailer, and the ACC may adjust the speed reduction requests to the vehicle and/or the trailer based, at least in part, on measured effects of the speed reduction system of the trailer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adapting engine starting thresholds for automatic engine starting are described. In one example, one or more automatic engine starting thresholds may be adjusted to decrease a possibility of automatic engine starting. The automatic engine starting thresholds may be adjusted based on engine starts being characterized as low benefit engine starts.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control a vehicle trailer using torque vectoring are disclosed. An example apparatus to control a trailer of a vehicle includes condition determination circuitry to determine, based on data from sensors on at least one of the trailer or the vehicle, whether a condition associated with the vehicle is satisfied, and torque control circuitry to adjust, in response to the condition being satisfied, a first torque of a first motor and a second torque of a second motor, the first motor operatively coupled to a first wheel of the trailer, the second motor operatively coupled to a second wheel of the trailer.

Abstract: A system for directional communication is disclosed. The system may include an ultrasonic beamforming device, sensors, and a processor. The ultrasonic beamforming device may be configured to transmit an ultrasonic carrier wave. The processor may be configured to obtain inputs from a detection unit located in a geographical area and detect an object presence in the geographical area based on the inputs. The processor may be further configured to determine an object location in the geographical area based on the inputs. The processor may additionally determine an optimum sound frequency to modulate the ultrasonic carrier wave. Furthermore, the processor may cause the ultrasonic beamforming device to transmit the ultrasonic carrier wave modulated at the optimum sound frequency towards the object location.

Abstract: A facility management system including a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive a real-time vehicle location and facility inputs from a facility sensor unit. The processor may be configured to determine that a vehicle may be within a predefined distance from a facility door based on the real-time vehicle location. The processor may further determine a parking spot in a facility closest to the real-time vehicle location, responsive to determining that the vehicle may be within the predefined distance from the facility door. The processor may further determine an availability status associated with the parking spot based on the facility inputs, and control a facility door operation based on the availability status.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for controlling electrical power outlets in a vehicle. An example method executed by a processor of an electrical power outlet controller includes detecting a transitioning of a vehicle to a drive mode and further includes disconnecting, based on the transitioning, electrical power supplied to a first electrical power outlet in the vehicle. The transitioning of the vehicle to the drive mode may be detected based on a transition of a drive selector of the vehicle from a park position to a drive position. In another example method, the processor, detects the vehicle in motion and disconnects electrical power supplied to a second electrical power outlet in the vehicle. The first electrical power outlet and/or the second electrical power outlet are accessible from outside the vehicle, and may, for example, be located outside a cabin area of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a console having a base housing having a first compartment having an open top end, a powered cover coupled to the base housing and configured to move between an open compartment position exposing the first compartment, and a closed compartment position covering the first compartment, at least one sensor including an imaging camera located in the vehicle and orientated to capture images of the first compartment when the cover is in the open compartment position, and image processing for processing the captured images and detecting one or more objects determined to be of value located within the first compartment. A controller controls the powered cover to move the powered cover from the open compartment position to the closed compartment position when an item of value is detected located within the first compartment.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle configured to be driven by a driver is provided. The vehicle has a human-machine interface (HMI). The system includes an interior sensor suite, a processor electrically connected to the interior sensor suite and the HMI, and a memory. The memory has instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including determine, based on the interior sensor suite, if there is a passenger in the vehicle, determine, when there is a passenger in the vehicle and based on the interior sensor suite, whether the passenger or the driver is attempting to use the HMI, and permit the passenger and not the driver to use the HMI.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to transfer energy to a building is disclosed. The vehicle may include a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver may receive temperature information and demand information associated with a power grid. The processor may determine that a first predefined condition may be met based on the demand information. The processor may then calculate a first amount of energy to be transferred to the building based on the temperature information, and cause the vehicle to transfer the first amount of energy to the building. The processor may further determine that a second predefined condition may be met based on the first amount of energy and/or vehicle availability information, and determine a second amount of energy to be transferred to the building based on the temperature information. The processor may then cause the vehicle to transfer the second amount of energy to the building.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to transfer energy to a building is disclosed. The vehicle may include a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver may receive temperature information and demand information associated with a power grid. The processor may determine that a first predefined condition may be met based on the demand information. The processor may then calculate a first amount of energy to be transferred to the building based on the temperature information, and cause the vehicle to transfer the first amount of energy to the building. The processor may further determine that a second predefined condition may be met based on the first amount of energy and/or vehicle availability information, and determine a second amount of energy to be transferred to the building based on the temperature information. The processor may then cause the vehicle to transfer the second amount of energy to the building.

Abstract: A method of providing vehicle guidance for traversal of rutted terrain may include employing a sensor network to determine characteristics of ruts in the rutted terrain, and determining a proximity value between a portion of a body of the vehicle and the rutted terrain based on the determined characteristics. The method may further include, responsive to the proximity value being below a proximity threshold, defining a strategy for positioning the vehicle at a point of increased ground clearance relative to the ruts, and providing a guidance instruction to the vehicle according to the defined strategy.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The UAV may include a UAV transceiver configured to receive course information associated with a course. The UAV may further include a UAV processor that may be configured to obtain the course information from the UAV transceiver. Responsive to obtaining the course information, the UAV processor may determine a UAV position in the course, and identify a course marker, from a plurality of course markers, in proximity to the UAV position based on the course information. The UAV processor may then determine navigation instructions associated with the course marker for a vehicle to navigate the course based on the course information. The UAV may be configured to move in proximity to a vehicle front portion and display the navigation instructions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate trailer load are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises memory, instructions, and programmable circuitry to execute the instructions to determine a threshold value associated with at least one of a vehicle or a trailer, the trailer couplable to the vehicle, access an image containing an object to be placed in the trailer, divide the image into segments, at least one of the segments corresponding to the object, determine a characteristic of the object based on the at least one of the segments, compare the characteristic to the threshold value, and determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a vehicle panel that is moveable between a closed position and an open position and a viewing screen that is supported relative to an inner surface of the vehicle panel. The viewing screen is moveable between an internal viewing position and an external viewing position when the vehicle panel is in the open position.

Abstract: A heated running board for a motor vehicle includes a substrate formed by an additive manufacturing process and a pre-fabricated heater embedded within the substrate. The pre-fabricated heater is not formed by the additive manufacturing process. A system for operating a heated running board for a motor vehicle includes the heated running board, at least one sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive signals from the at least one sensor and supply power to the pre-fabricated heater to control a temperature of the pre-fabricated heater based on at least one operational characteristic from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for charging an electric energy storage device of a vehicle are described. In one example, the electric energy storage device is charged via a receiving coil that may be placed in a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation during charging of the electric energy storage device via the receiving coil.

Abstract: A vehicle having a first vehicle device configured to provide inputs to a first user device associated with a first user is disclosed. The vehicle further comprises a camera configured to capture images of the first user in the vehicle. The vehicle further comprises processor configured to obtain the images from the camera, and determine that the first user is operating the first user device in the vehicle based on the images. The processor may be further configured to determine an availability of the first vehicle device responsive to a determination that the first user is operating the first user device, and activate the first vehicle device to enable the first user to operate the first user device via the first vehicle device when the first vehicle device is available.