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, a computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be provided. With a vehicle owner's permission, a vehicle operator identity may be determined; and operating data regarding the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be received from one or more vehicle-mounted sensors. Based upon the received operating data, (i) autonomous operation risk levels associated with autonomous vehicle operation; and (ii) operator risk levels associated with autonomous vehicle operation by the vehicle operator may be determined. Based upon a comparison of the autonomous operation versus vehicle operator risk levels, the autonomous features may be engaged if it is safer for the vehicle to travel autonomously.

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, a vehicle operator in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be determined by a sensor disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle or a mobile computing device associated with the vehicle operator. A determination may be made as to whether the vehicle operator is authorized to operate the vehicle based upon the determined identity of the vehicle operator; and if the vehicle operator is not authorized, an alert may be generated and/or the vehicle may be caused to not operate. Alternatively, autonomous operation features may be automatically engaged to automatically drive the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to a safe location when the operator is not authorized. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon the anti-theft functionality.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may include identifying a vehicle operator and retrieving an associated vehicle operator profile. Operating data regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be received that includes data from sensors disposed within the vehicle. When a request to enable an autonomous operation feature is received, (i) autonomous operation risk levels associated with vehicle operation by the autonomous operation feature based upon the received operating data, and (ii) operator risk levels associated with vehicle operation by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile are determined. Autonomous operation feature enablement may be allowed based upon a comparison of (i) autonomous operation risk levels with (ii) operator risk levels.

Abstract: A crash detection system is disclosed that utilizes a mobile computing device to detect a vehicular accident via one or more sensors integrated into the mobile computing device. The system monitors the sensor metrics measured by one or more sensors and generates an event sensor profile that may include the plurality of sensor metrics and additional status data, such as an indication of whether the mobile computing device was located within a vehicle when the event occurred. By comparing the plurality of sensor metrics to other crash sensor metrics, a determination may be made whether the event requires emergency assistance, which may be confirmed by determining whether the data included in the event sensor profile meets one or more exception conditions. If the event requires emergency assistance and an exception condition is not met, the mobile computing device may place a call to the appropriate emergency response personnel.

Abstract: A system for projecting an image of a target is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a rail having a longitudinal axis; a target carrier coupled to the rail such that the target carrier can translate along the longitudinal axis of the rail; a motor and motion controller coupled to the target carrier wherein the motor is configured to cause the target carrier to translate along the longitudinal axis of the rail; a projector carrier coupled to the rail and held in fixed relational position to the target carrier; and a projector affixed to the projector carrier and oriented to point back towards the target carrier. In some embodiments, one or more cameras may also be added to the target carrier, projector carrier, or both.

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, a computer-implemented method for real-time determination of the status of autonomous operation features of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be provided. With the customer's permission, the operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be monitored to obtain operating data from one or more autonomous operation features. An operating status of the autonomous features may be determined based upon the operating data. After which, a change in the operating status of the autonomous features may be identified, and a report containing information regarding the change in the operating status of the autonomous features may be generated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, with the insurance customer's permission, operation of an autonomous (or semi-autonomous vehicle) by a vehicle operator may be monitored. Based upon vehicle and/or other data analysis, an identity of the operator may be determined, and operating data regarding the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle while the operator at least partially controls the autonomous vehicle may be monitored. A vehicle operator profile that includes information regarding an operating style of the vehicle operator based upon the operating data may be determined. Risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous vehicle based upon the information regarding the vehicle operator's operating style may be determined.

Abstract: A method for detecting an event occurring during operation of a vehicle includes receiving indications of a plurality of variables from an installed device communicatively coupled to the mobile device via an internal communication link. The method further includes analyzing the received indications of the plurality of variables to detect the event occurring during the operation of the vehicle. Still further, the method includes, upon detecting the event, initiating: (i) a first communication session between the mobile device and an entity outside of the vehicle, and (ii) a second communication session between the mobile device and the installed device, wherein the mobile device forwards content communicated via the first communication session to the installed device via the second communication session such that the installed device presents the content to the vehicle operator. In one aspect, air pressure wave sensor and accelerometer data may trigger automatic crash notifications to emergency responders.

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: A system for projecting an image of a target is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a rail having a longitudinal axis; a target carrier coupled to the rail such that the target carrier can translate along the longitudinal axis of the rail; a motor and motion controller coupled to the target carrier wherein the motor is configured to cause the target carrier to translate along the longitudinal axis of the rail; a projector carrier coupled to the rail and held in fixed relational position to the target carrier; and a projector affixed to the projector carrier and oriented to point back towards the target carrier. In some embodiments, one or more cameras may also be added to the target carrier, projector carrier, or both.

Abstract: A storage system has a plurality of nodes which are grouped into a plurality of cluster systems each having multiple nodes, each cluster system being logically partitioned into a plurality of namespaces, each namespace including a collection of data objects, each cluster system having multiple tenants, each tenant being a grouping of namespaces, each cluster system having a plurality of capabilities, at least some of the capabilities being bound to the tenants. A node in the cluster system comprises: a memory, and a controller operable to bind each capability to one of a plurality of IP networks so that each capability is bound to only one of the IP networks and has a destination IP address of the IP network to which the capability is bound. It is permissible for one or more capabilities to be bound to the same IP network. Each IP network has one corresponding network interface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of enhancing safe vehicle operation may include, one or more processors, (1) determining a preferred parking spot for an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle; (2) determining a route to the preferred parking spot from a driver drop off point; and (3) causing the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to travel from the driver drop off point to the preferred parking spot following the route controlled by one or more autonomous operation features. The preferred parking spot may be a covered parking spot, a parking spot in a parking structure, or a parking spot in a residential garage. An autonomous vehicle owner may remotely direct the autonomous vehicle to autonomously return to the driver drop off point, such as via their mobile device. Insurance discounts may be provided to autonomous vehicle owners having the self-parking functionality that mitigates or prevents risk of damage to, or theft of, the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. In certain aspects, with the customer's permission, a computer-implemented method for updating an autonomous operation feature may be provided. An indication of a software update associated with the autonomous operation feature may be received, and several autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles having the feature may be identified. The update may be installed within the several vehicles, such as via wireless communication. Also, a change in a risk level associated with the update to the autonomous operation feature may be determined, and an insurance discount may be determined or adjusted.

Abstract: A crash detection system is disclosed that utilizes a mobile computing device to detect a vehicular accident via one or more sensors integrated into the mobile computing device. The system monitors the sensor metrics measured by one or more sensors and generates an event sensor profile that may include the plurality of sensor metrics and additional status data, such as an indication of whether the mobile computing device was located within a vehicle when the event occurred. By comparing the plurality of sensor metrics to other crash sensor metrics, a determination may be made whether the event requires emergency assistance, which may be confirmed by determining whether the data included in the event sensor profile meets one or more exception conditions. If the event requires emergency assistance and an exception condition is not met, the mobile computing device may place a call to the appropriate emergency response personnel.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for distinguishing between a natural source of deep gas and gas leaking from a CO2 storage reservoir at a near surface formation comprising: obtaining one or more surface or near surface geological samples; measuring a CO2, an O2, a CH4, and an N2 level from the surface or near surface geological sample; determining the water vapor content at or above the surface or near surface geological samples; normalizing the gas mixture of the CO2, the O2, the CH4, the N2 and the water vapor content to 100% by volume or 1 atmospheric total pressure; determining: a ratio of CO2 versus N2; and a ratio of CO2 to N2, wherein if the ratio is greater than that produced by a natural source of deep gas CO2 or deep gas methane oxidizing to CO2, the ratio is indicative of gas leaking from a CO2 storage reservoir.

Abstract: A graphical model may include a plurality of graphical objects representing physical elements, and connections between graphical objects may be represented by physical connection lines. A set of physical connections between two or more graphical objects may be configured as belonging to a group. A switching unit may toggle the graphical model between a single-line display mode and a multi-line display mode. In the multi-line display mode, each of the individual physical connection lines linking two or more graphical objects are displayed in the model. In response to user or other input, the switching unit may redraw the graphical model in single line mode in which the individual physical connections configured as a group are replaced with a single, composite connection line. The graphical model may be executable to simulate the physical system, and the execution may be unaffected by the display mode.

Abstract: A method for detecting an event occurring during operation of a vehicle includes receiving indications of a plurality of variables from an installed device communicatively coupled to the mobile device via an internal communication link. The method further includes analyzing the received indications of the plurality of variables to detect the event occurring during the operation of the vehicle. Still further, the method includes, upon detecting the event, initiating: (i) a first communication session between the mobile device and an entity outside of the vehicle, and (ii) a second communication session between the mobile device and the installed device, wherein the mobile device forwards content communicated via the first communication session to the installed device via the second communication session such that the installed device presents the content to the vehicle operator. In one aspect, air pressure wave sensor and accelerometer data may trigger automatic crash notifications to emergency responders.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for determining the level of deep gas in a near surface formation that includes: measuring CO2, O2, CH4, and N2 levels in percent by volume from one or more surface or near surface geological samples; adding the water vapor content to the measured CO2, O2, CH4, and N2 levels in percent by volume; normalizing the gas mixture to 100% by volume or 1 atmospheric total pressure; and determining the ratios of: O2 versus CO2 to distinguish in-situ vadose zone CO2 from exogenous deep leakage CO2; CO2 versus N2 to distinguish whether CO2 is being removed from the near surface formation or CO2 is added from an exogenous deep leakage input; or CO2 versus N2/O2 to determine the degree of oxygen influx, consumption, or both; wherein the ratios are indicative of natural in situ CO2 or CO2 from the exogenous deep leakage input.

Abstract: In some examples, both object data and corresponding metadata are stored on thin provisioned block storage in which blocks for the storage of the object data and the metadata are dynamically provisioned from a shared pool. For instance, the metadata may be stored on the block storage using a tree data structure that may grow proportionally with the corresponding stored object data. The object storage may automatically adapt to the size and number of objects being stored, and storage space for metadata may be allocated dynamically on demand. Additionally, some implementations include storing data across multiple trays. For instance, a plurality of storage extents of an extent group may be allocated across a plurality of storage devices on multiple trays. The extent allocation may be tray-aware by allocating extents to maximize the probability that data remains available/recoverable in the presence of a failure in one or more trays.

Abstract: In some examples, a multi-node system may access physical storage divided into extents and further arranged into extent groups that may be allocated on demand as thin provisioned storage in response to write requests. Protection class instances are set with specified data protection capabilities. Each instance acts as a logical unit having a distinct addressable block storage space from the extent groups allocated thereto. The extents in an extent group to be allocated to a given protection class instance may vary depending on the protection class capabilities. Management information for the extents, extent groups, and protection classes may be stored in mirrored devices separate from the write data stored in the extents for providing redundant protection to the management information and for increasing the availability of write data in the event of a failure that may cause data loss at one or more locations in the system.