Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for road condition classification that include one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data pertaining to operation of a vehicle along a roadway by a human; and one or more processors that are coupled to the one or more sensors and that are configured to at least facilitate analyzing the sensor data as to one or more threshold values pertaining to the operation of the vehicle; and identifying one or more conditions of the roadway, based on the analyzing of the sensor data. Further, learned input is provided to the vehicle control system to operate with lane position behavior similar to a human driven vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for feeding a high volume of low-bulk-density and pressure-sensitive feedstocks into a pressurized environment. The system includes a lock hopper filling system, one or more lock hoppers, a feed bin, and a feeder. The methods involve using such a system to feed bulk materials into a pressurized environment by feeding bulk material from a low pressure into the surge bin, filling the one or more lock hoppers from the surge bin, operating the lock hoppers, and discharging lock hoppers into feed bin, and discharging feed bin into the high-pressure zone using feeder.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for interpreting traffic information. A method includes: receiving, by a processor, visual data from vehicles, wherein the visual data is associated with an intersection of a roadway having one or more lanes; receiving, by the processor, vehicle data from the vehicles, wherein the vehicle data is associated with the intersection of the roadway; determining, by the processor, a first state of a traffic light associated with the intersection based on the visual data; determining, by the processor, a second state of the traffic light associated with the intersection based on the vehicle data; correlating, by the processor, the first state and the second state based on a time synchronization; assigning, by the processor, the traffic light to a lane of the roadway based on the correlating; and communicating, by the processor, the traffic light to lane assignment for use in controlling a vehicle.

Abstract: A system for correcting HD map images is provided. The system is configured to: receive, from a plurality of vehicles, ground view image data of a map anomaly hotspot captured by the vehicles; convert the ground view image data to bird view image data using homography; remove outliers from the bird view image data; apply an error reduction algorithm; stitch together a sequence of consecutive images from the image data after error reduction to produce a high-definition image, wherein each of the consecutive images has been generated through converting ground view image data to bird view image data using homography, removing outliers from the bird view image data, and applying an error reduction algorithm; compare the stitched sequence of consecutive images to a high-definition image of the hotspot to determine revisions to the high-definition image; and provide revised high-definition image data for use in navigating near the map anomaly hotspot.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for interpreting traffic information. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, visual data from a plurality of vehicles, wherein the visual data is associated with an intersection of a roadway having one or more lanes; receiving, by the processor, vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles, wherein the vehicle data is associated with the intersection of the roadway; determining, by the processor, a first state of a traffic light associated with the intersection based on the visual data; determining, by the processor, a second state of the traffic light associated with the intersection based on the vehicle data; correlating, by the processor, the first state and the second state based on a time synchronization; assigning, by the processor, the traffic light to a lane of the roadway based on the correlating; and communicating, by the processor, the traffic light to lane assignment for use in controlling a vehicle of the multiple vehicles.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect features external to the vehicle, an HMI configured to signal an alert to an operator of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the HMI, and is in communication with a non-transient computer-readable storage medium provided with a road furniture database. The road furniture database includes a plurality of items of road furniture having associated road furniture geolocations and road furniture classifications. The controller is configured to, in response to the vehicle being proximate a respective road furniture geolocation for a respective item of road furniture and the sensor not detecting the respective item of road furniture, control the HMI to signal an alert.

Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system that enables automatic emergency braking (AEB) and remote start of a manual transmission vehicle. The hydraulic clutch system includes a piston-operated hydraulic cylinder or other accumulator to store a charge of hydraulic fluid that can be selectively routed to the clutch and discharged under electronic control to thereby disengage the clutch independently of any operator input via the clutch pedal. By doing so, the system can provide an improved AEB response that slows or stops the vehicle without stalling the engine. The system may also be used to provide remote start capability to the vehicle by automatically disengaging the clutch as part of a remote start sequence of operations.

Abstract: A system for correcting HD map images is provided. The system is configured to: receive, from a plurality of vehicles, ground view image data of a map anomaly hotspot captured by the vehicles; convert the ground view image data to bird view image data using homography; remove outliers from the bird view image data; apply an error reduction algorithm; stitch together a sequence of consecutive images from the image data after error reduction to produce a high-definition image, wherein each of the consecutive images has been generated through converting ground view image data to bird view image data using homography, removing outliers from the bird view image data, and applying an error reduction algorithm; compare the stitched sequence of consecutive images to a high-definition image of the hotspot to determine revisions to the high-definition image; and provide revised high-definition image data for use in navigating near the map anomaly hotspot.

Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system that enables automatic emergency braking (AEB) and remote start of a manual transmission vehicle. The hydraulic clutch system includes a piston-operated hydraulic cylinder or other accumulator to store a charge of hydraulic fluid that can be selectively routed to the clutch and discharged under electronic control to thereby disengage the clutch independently of any operator input via the clutch pedal. By doing so, the system can provide an improved AEB response that slows or stops the vehicle without stalling the engine. The system may also be used to provide remote start capability to the vehicle by automatically disengaging the clutch as part of a remote start sequence of operations.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect features external to the vehicle, an HMI configured to signal an alert to an operator of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the HMI, and is in communication with a non-transient computer-readable storage medium provided with a road furniture database. The road furniture database includes a plurality of items of road furniture having associated road furniture geolocations and road furniture classifications. The controller is configured to, in response to the vehicle being proximate a respective road furniture geolocation for a respective item of road furniture and the sensor not detecting the respective item of road furniture, control the HMI to signal an alert.

Abstract: A fish finder having a sonar transducer, a sonar receiver, a display unit having a single user control or no user controls. The fish finder has a digital controller within the display unit that has a predetermined set of operational parameters programmed therein. Upon activation of the control, the digital controller operates the sonar transducer and sonar receiver according to the predetermined operational parameters.

Abstract: A device having a digital controller, a power amplifier, a sonar transducer, and a sonar receiver communicatively coupled to the digital controller. The digital controller provides a power control signal to the power amplifier, which in turn drives the sonar transducer at a level determined in real time by the digital controller to prevent excessive noise from being detected by the sonar receiver.