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: 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: 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: 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 configured to provide energy to a building is disclosed. The vehicle may include a transceiver configured to receive a set point temperature, historical building load consumption information and current building load consumption information associated with the building. The vehicle may further include a processor configured to obtain a trigger signal, and transmit a command signal to cause an activation of a building component to the set point temperature responsive to obtaining the trigger signal. The processor may further compare the current building load consumption information with the historical building load consumption information responsive to activating the building component, and determine a building component load profile based on the comparison and the set point temperature. The processor may then control a building component operation based on the building component load profile.

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.

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.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to prevent trailer sway are disclosed. An example apparatus to prevent trailer sway of a trailer coupled to a vehicle includes prediction circuitry to predict, based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, whether a trailer sway condition associated with the vehicle is likely to occur, and control activation circuitry to, in response to the prediction that the trailer sway is likely to occur, activate at least one vehicle control of the vehicle to prevent the trailer sway condition from occurring, the at least one vehicle control to include applying torque to at least one of one or more trailer wheels of the trailer or one or more vehicle wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system to enable energy transfer from a vehicle to a building is disclosed. The system may include a memory, a transceiver and a processor. The memory may be configured to store a load profile associated with a building component. The transceiver may be configured to receive temperature information and vehicle information associated with the vehicle. The processor may obtain the temperature information, the load profile and the vehicle information. The processor may further determine an estimated amount of energy required to operate the building component based on the temperature information and the load profile. Furthermore, the processor may estimate a vehicle range based on the estimated amount of energy and the vehicle information and output the vehicle range on a user interface.

Abstract: A vehicle for assisting a docking operation for a marine vessel. The vehicle includes a position sensor operable to detect a position of the marine vessel. A first controller is communicatively coupled with the position sensor. The first controller is operable to receive a first instruction from a second controller corresponding to the marine vessel to monitor the position sensor. The first controller is further operable to receive positional data corresponding to the position of the marine vessel relative to a dock. The first controller is further operable to communicate the positional data to the second controller to assist with the docking operation.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a brake assembly for applying negative torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle, a grill shutter assembly that directs airflow over the brake assembly when opened, and prevents airflow toward the brake assembly when closed, and a controller that calculates a target brake temperature, the controller being operably coupled to the grill shutter assembly to control positioning of the grill shutter assembly based on a comparison between a current brake temperature to the target brake temperature.

Abstract: Vehicle trailer hitch systems may include integrated features for increasing the functionality of the vehicle. A bottle opener feature may be integrated as part of a hitch plate of the trailer hitch system. The integrated bottle opener feature is therefore conveniently packaged on the vehicle for use during outdoor social gatherings when the vehicle is stationary.

Abstract: A vehicle control system may include a mode selector for enabling selection of an operating mode of the vehicle among a plurality of selectable operating modes, where at least one of the selectable operating modes includes an off-road driving assistance mode that controls propulsive torque and braking torque application when the off-road driving assistance mode is active. The system may further include a torque control module to generate both a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on a target speed set in association with the off-road driving assistance mode, a sensor network operably coupled to components of the vehicle to obtain tractive information associated with an operating context of the vehicle, and a controller operably coupled to the sensor network to receive the tractive information and modify operation of the torque control module responsive to the tractive information indicating a trigger event.

Abstract: A vehicle having an air compressor, an air storage tank and a sensor is disclosed. The air compressor may supply compressed air to the air storage tank, and the air storage tank may supply the compressed air to an external tool. The sensor may be configured to receive information associated with the external tool and send the information to a vehicle processor. The processor may determine tool specification and expected tool usage characteristics based on the information associated with the external tool. The processor may further calculate a target pressure of compressed air in the air storage tank based on the tool specification and the expected tool usage characteristics. Furthermore, the processor may cause air compressor operation to fill the air storage tank with the compressed air at the target pressure.

Abstract: A system and method to control operation of an air compressor of a vehicle is disclosed. The system may include a transceiver and a processor communicatively coupled with each other. The transceiver may be configured to receive vehicle information from a vehicle control unit. The vehicle information may include a vehicle type and real-time vehicle operational parameters. The processor may obtain the vehicle information from the transceiver and determine that a predefined condition may be met based on the vehicle type and the real-time vehicle operational parameters. The processor may further control an air compressor operation based on the vehicle type and the real-time vehicle operational parameters, responsive to determining that the predefined condition may be met.