Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is in an emotionally impaired state (e.g., aggressive or agitated) and presenting appropriate stimuli (e.g., music or sound recordings) to the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, or forces acting on the vehicle may be monitored using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors, accelerometers, or biometric sensors (e.g., skin conductivity, heart rate, or voice modulation). When the vehicle operator is determined to be in an emotionally impaired state, stimuli are selected to improve the emotional state of the vehicle operator. The selection is based on sensor data and data regarding prior responses of the vehicle operator to various stimuli. After selection, the stimuli are presented to the vehicle operator while monitoring continues.

Abstract: Techniques for a fully- or semi-autonomously operated vehicle (AV) to signal to or notify a third-party located within the vehicle's environment that the vehicle has detected the third-party's presence are provided. The third-party may be a pedestrian or a passenger in another proximate vehicle. Sensors associated with the AV may provide data via which the third-party's presence (and optionally, movement and behavior) is detected, and signaling device(s) on-board the vehicle may transmit audio, visual, and/or electromagnetic signals into the environment to indicate that the vehicle is aware of the third-party's presence. In some situations, a two-way dialog between the signaling device(s) and the third-party may be established to confirm intended behaviors or actions of the vehicle and/or of the third-party. Increased safety and decreased risk of accident or injury may be provided with AVs in a manner that is familiar to third-parties' defensive signaling with drivers of non-autonomous vehicles.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving data about vehicle operator behavior via a computer network, wherein the data about vehicle operator behavior is generated by a motion sensing device adapted to monitor movements of a vehicle operator, and clustering the data about vehicle operator behavior into a plurality of groups of data. The method further includes determining a numerical level of risk corresponding to each of the plurality of groups of data and generating an insurance rate for an insurance product, wherein the insurance rate is consistent with the numerical levels of risk corresponding to each of the plurality of groups of data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing alerts. In various aspects, sensor data is received at one or more sensors associated with a vehicle, where the sensor data defines an electronic vehicle environment that indicates an electronic location of the vehicle. An electronic pedestrian or cyclist location is identified within the electronic vehicle environment, which is determined by a mobile device associated with a pedestrian or cyclist. Where a determination is made that the pedestrian or cyclist meets predetermined alert criteria based upon the electronic vehicle location and the electronic pedestrian or cyclist location, an alert is generated that indicates the presence of the pedestrian or cyclist within the vicinity of the vehicle. The alert is presented on a display screen.

Abstract: Devices for determining the likelihood that a user of a primary monitoring device (“PMD”) has developed a medical condition, generally comprising sensors coupled to the PMD, wherein the PMD detects changes to sensor readings over time, and wherein the changes indicate a change in the likelihood that a user of the PMD has developed a medical condition. In some embodiments, motion sensors are operably coupled to the PMD, and the PMD monitors and saves data relating to characteristics of motion detected, which are used to determine whether there has been a change in a likelihood that a user is undergoing a medical event. In further embodiments, the PMD comprises cameras, and the PMD monitors and saves data relating to movement of a user's eyes, which is utilized to determine whether there has been a change to a likelihood that the user is currently undergoing a medical event.

Abstract: Antenna systems and related methods are disclosed. An antenna system includes an antenna controller configured to operably couple to control inputs of an antenna including an array of electromagnetic (EM) scattering elements. A method includes controlling an array of EM scattering elements to operate according to holographic modulation patterns, and modulating at least one effective EM property of the antenna over space, time, or a combination thereof to, in the average and/or the aggregate, cause side lobes of an antenna gain of the antenna to be reduced.

Abstract: A method for managing a multi-user animation platform is disclosed. A three-dimensional space within a computer memory is modeled. An avatar of a client is located within the three-dimensional space, the avatar being graphically represented by a three-dimensional figure within the three-dimensional space. The avatar is responsive to client input commands, and the three-dimensional figure includes a graphical representation of client activity. The client input commands are monitored to determine client activity. The graphical representation of client activity is then altered according to an inactivity scheme when client input commands are not detected. Following a predetermined period of client inactivity, the inactivity scheme varies non-repetitively with time.

Abstract: A method comprises retrieving data about vehicle operator behavior via a computer network and clustering the data about vehicle operator behavior into a plurality of groups of data, each of the plurality of groups of data representing a type of movement of the vehicle operator. The method further includes determining a numerical level of risk corresponding to each of the plurality of groups of data by executing a learning routine and generating a communication to be transmitted to user of a remote computing device. The communication is based on the one or more of the numerical levels of risk or the types of movements corresponding to the plurality of groups of data.

Abstract: A gaze tracking system captures images of a vehicle operator. The gaze tracking system may detect facial features in the images and track the position of the facial features over time. The gaze tracking system may detect a triangle in an image, wherein the vertices of the triangle correspond to the facial features. The gaze tracking system may analyze the detected triangle to identify a surface normal for the triangle, and may track the surface normal (e.g., across multiple images) to track the eye gaze direction of the driver over time. The images may be captured and analyzed in near-real time. By tracking movement of the driver's head and eyes over time, the gaze analysis system may predict or estimate head position and/or gaze direction when one or more facial features are not detectable.

Abstract: Tagged driving events may be generated during a driving session from sensor data collected via one or more sensors and/or entered by an instructor. The tagged driving events may include a description of each driving event and its associated severity or weight as it relates to a scoring process as well as a time and/or a location of the driving event. A driving session report may be generated using the tagged driving events and may include a driver feedback score that is weighted based on the severity associated with each of the tagged driving events and/or the collected data, a map of the driving session route that indicates a map location of each tagged driving event, and/or a listing of each tagged driving event. The driving session report may be displayed such that a user may select a tagged driving event to view information associated with the tagged driving event.

Abstract: A method for assessing risk associated with a driver of a vehicle includes receiving a plurality of risk variables associated with a driver, the plurality of risk variables being gathered when the driver operates the vehicle. A driver is then identified based on the plurality of risk variables, and a risk profile is developed for the driver. The development of the risk profile involves determining the risk associated with at least some of the risk variables and generating a risk index, the risk index being a collective measure of risk associated with the driver.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides system and methods for optimizing the tuning of impedance elements associate with sub-wavelength antenna elements to attain target radiation and/or field patterns. A scattering matrix (S-Matrix) of field amplitudes for each of a plurality of modeled lumped ports, N, may be determined that includes a plurality of lumped antenna ports, Na, with impedance values corresponding to the impedance values of associated impedance elements and at least one modeled external port, Ne, located external to the antenna system at a specified radius vector. Impedance values may be identified through an optimization process, and the impedance elements may be tuned (dynamically or statically) to attain a specific target radiation pattern.

Abstract: An alert may be initiated for a pedestrian when the pedestrian approaches nearby crowd activity (e.g., parade, protest, concert, etc.). Crowd activity may be indicated by real time crowd data, and/or by accessing means such as popular social media posts, local news, and/or local event calendars. The alert may be generated when a pedestrian comes within a certain threshold distance of the crowd activity (e.g., as determined by a mobile device GPS). A pedestrian who may be inattentive in some way (e.g., looking down at a mobile device) may become attentive to the nearby crowd activity, and may choose to take an alternative route. In additional or alternative embodiments, the alert may be initiated when the pedestrian approaches a nearby safety concern (e.g., fire, crime, etc.). Safety concerns may be indicated by accessing local news, popular social media posts, and/or public safety communications.

Abstract: A determined object wave can be approximately formed by applying a modulation pattern to metamaterial elements receiving RF energy from a feed network. For example, a desired object wave at a surface of an antenna is selected to be propagated into a far-field pattern. A computing system can compute an approximation of the object wave by calculating a modulation pattern to apply to metamaterial elements receiving RF energy from a feed network. The approximation can be due to a grid size of the metamaterial elements. Once the modulation pattern is determined, it can be applied to the metamaterial elements and the RF energy can be provided in the feed network, causing emission of the approximated object wave from the antenna.

Abstract: A determined far-field beam pattern can be approximately formed by applying a modulation pattern to metamaterial elements receiving RF energy from a feed network. For example, a desired beam profile projected onto a two-dimensional plane of a far-field of an antenna is desired to be produced by an antenna. A computing system can calculate a modulation pattern to apply to metamaterial elements receiving RF energy to a feed network that will result in an approximation of desired beam profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the use of a shared vehicle are described. In various aspects, telematics data regarding operation of a shared vehicle is collected from one or more sensors, where the shared vehicle is associated with a shared vehicle operator and a shared vehicle stakeholder. One or more processors determine whether a driving event has occurred based upon the telematics data, where the driving event is indicative of improper usage of the shared vehicle by the shared vehicle operator. The one or more processors generate a notification regarding the driving event. The notification includes a driver rating determined from the telematics data regarding operation of the shared vehicle by the shared vehicle operator. The notification is transmitted, via a network, to the shared vehicle stakeholder for presentation to the shared vehicle stakeholder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a vehicle-to-vehicle traffic alert and updating a vehicle-usage profile. Various aspects include detecting, via one or more processors associated with a first vehicle, that an abnormal traffic condition exists in an operating environment of the first vehicle. An electronic message is generated and transmitted wirelessly, via a vehicle-mounted transceiver associated with the first vehicle, to alert a nearby vehicle of the abnormal traffic condition and to allow the nearby vehicle to avoid the abnormal traffic condition. The first vehicle receives telematics data regarding operation of the nearby vehicle after the nearby vehicle received the electronic message, and transmits the telematics data to a remote server for updating a vehicle-usage profile associated with the nearby vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing vehicle operation data associated with a temporary or periodic usage of a vehicle by a driver. In aspects, the driver may associate with an electronic device within the vehicle that may record or collect the vehicle operation data. After the vehicle operation has concluded, the vehicle operation data may be analyzed to assess a performance of the driver during operation of the vehicle, whereby the performance may be influenced by positive or negative driving events. Based on the performance of the driver, a profile or account of the user may be processed accordingly such that the user may be incentivized to modify certain driving behaviors.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, with the customer's permission, it may be detected by sensors that an occupant of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is experiencing a medical emergency. A nearby medical facility may be determined based upon the vehicle location and the detected medical emergency. A route from the current vehicle location to the medical facility may be determined, and the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be automatically directed or routed to the medical facility. A message may also be generated and transmitted to the medical facility to alert them that a person in need of timely medical assistance is on the way. Life and auto insurance discounts may be generated for risk averse customers based upon their vehicles having the emergency response functionality.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the likelihood that a person is impaired, generally comprising gathering ambient data from sensors operably coupled to a primary measuring device (PMD), analyzing and/or identifying the ambient data, querying at least one database to identify baseline data regarding the person, and comparing the ambient data to the baseline data to determine the likelihood that the person is impaired. The methods and systems advantageously detect medical and/or cognitive impairment without the need for specialized devices, examination by specialists, consent of the person being evaluated, and compliance with recommendations to be examined, and may be applied to estimating the level of impairment of a person due to alcohol, drugs, exposure to toxic chemicals, changes to mental status, insufficient sleep, medical problems, changes to blood sugar levels, divided attention, vision changes, hearing changes, use of a mobile device while walking or operating a vehicle, and other factors.