Abstract: A vehicle includes a set of sound sensors coupled to one or more processing systems that process sound data from the set of sound sensors in order to provide assisted driving features or functionality such as an emergency vehicle avoidance.

Abstract: Embodiments are described of an apparatus including a computer with a user interface. One or more door clearance detection (DCD) sensors are communicatively coupled to the computer and adapted to be mounted to an exterior of a vehicle door. Each vehicle door has a door impact zone such that an object in the impact zone would be struck by the door if opened, and each DCD sensor has a field of view and a range that establish a detection zone within which the DCD sensor can collect data. Each detection zone includes at least the corresponding door impact zone. Logic stored in the memory or storage includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive data from the one or more DCD sensors; determine whether there are objects in the corresponding door impact zone; and warn vehicle occupants if there are objects in the impact zones.

Abstract: Vehicles, methods, machine readable media and processing systems are described in which assisted driving or autonomous driving use a first trained model to recognize moving objects, such as vehicles and pedestrians, and use a second trained model to recognize stationary road landmarks, such as road signs, and stationary road obstacles such as road barriers or abandoned car parts, etc. The trained models can be implemented through, in one embodiment, a single trained neural network or through, in another embodiment, two separate trained neural networks.

Abstract: Hybrid user recognition methods systems for vehicle access and control are disclosed. For one example, a hybrid user recognition system can capture at least two types of biometric data of a user. The user is recognized if at least two types of captured biometric data match with at least two types of registered biometric signatures of the user. If the user is recognized, the user is allowed access or control of at least part of the electronic or driving controls of the otherwise the user is prevented from access or control of the vehicle. Examples of user biometrics include facial, voice, iris, fingerprint and behavioral biometrics.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a steering wheel, a first conductive coil coupled to the steering wheel, a second conductive coil that magnetically interacts with the first conductive coil, and a detection circuit coupled to the second conductive coil. The detection circuit includes a first circuit to generate a first signal based on a change in inductance and a second circuit to generate a second signal based on the first signal, the second signal to allow detection of a hand on the steering wheel.

Abstract: Hybrid user recognition methods systems for vehicle access and control are disclosed. For one example, a hybrid user recognition system can capture at least two types of biometric data of a user. The user is recognized if at least two types of captured biometric data match with at least two types of registered biometric signatures of the user. If the user is recognized, the user is allowed access or control of at least part of the electronic or driving controls of the otherwise the user is prevented from access or control of the vehicle. Examples of user biometrics include facial, voice, iris, fingerprint and behavioral biometrics.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a set of sound sensors coupled to one or more processing systems that process sound data from the set of sound sensors in order to provide assisted driving features or functionality such as an emergency vehicle avoidance.

Abstract: Embodiments are described of an apparatus including a computer with a user interface. One or more door clearance detection (DCD) sensors are communicatively coupled to the computer and adapted to be mounted to an exterior of a vehicle door. Each vehicle door has a door impact zone such that an object in the impact zone would be struck by the door if opened, and each DCD sensor has a field of view and a range that establish a detection zone within which the DCD sensor can collect data. Each detection zone includes at least the corresponding door impact zone. Logic stored in the memory or storage includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive data from the one or more DCD sensors; determine whether there are objects in the corresponding door impact zone; and warn vehicle occupants if there are objects in the impact zones.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus include a front section of a vehicle platform for an electric vehicle and a rear section of a vehicle platform for the electric vehicle. A panel joins a rear edge of the front section to the front edge of the rear section, and the length of the panel can be varied to change the wheelbase of the vehicle platform. A battery pack has a plurality of battery modules therein and can be coupled to a lower part the vehicle platform. The length of the battery pack and the arrangement of the battery modules inside the battery pack depend on the wheelbase of the vehicle platform.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a tow start operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. In this case, a signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of a starter unit of the internal combustion engine is detected. A tow start operation of the internal combustion engine is determined when, following detection of a successful start-up process of the internal combustion engine, the signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of the starter unit has not displayed any activity of the starter unit since the beginning of the start-up process of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method controls an automatic shut-off process of an internal combustion engine having a start/stop device, when predetermined shut-off conditions are satisfied by corresponding influential variables, and controls a start-up process, when predetermined start-up conditions are satisfied by corresponding influential variables. Variables influencing the evaluation of the shut-off and/or start-up conditions include the presence of a vehicle key, the state of a tank ventilation system, the fuel tank fill level, the state of a diesel particulate filter, an activity state of a workshop mode, works mode, service mode and/or production mode, the current ambient temperature outside the vehicle, an evaluation of a device for detecting the occupancy, the detection of a cylinder synchronization process, an activity state of a driving speed control system, an auto hold function in vehicles with automatic transmissions, an electric parking brake, and/or a hill hold function.

Abstract: A method and a start control device are provided for controlling an automatic start-up process of a drive unit of a motor vehicle. The drive unit is automatically started when all of the predetermined start-up conditions are fulfilled. However, even in the event that an absence of the driver is detected, the drive unit automatically starts when the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a predetermined limit speed and all other start-up conditions are fulfilled.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an automatic shut-off process of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. An automatic shut-off process of the internal combustion engine is inhibited as a function of predetermined operating conditions. The automatic shut-off process of the internal combustion engine is inhibited, if the internal combustion engine was started by a tow start process within a current operating cycle or within a predetermined number of previous operating cycles.

Abstract: A method controls an automatic shut-off process of an internal combustion engine having a start/stop device, when predetermined shut-off conditions are satisfied by corresponding influential variables, and controls a start-up process, when predetermined start-up conditions are satisfied by corresponding influential variables. Variables influencing the evaluation of the shut-off and/or start-up conditions include the presence of a vehicle key, the state of a tank ventilation system, the fuel tank fill level, the state of a diesel particulate filter, an activity state of a workshop mode, works mode, service mode and/or production mode, the current ambient temperature outside the vehicle, an evaluation of a device for detecting the occupancy, the detection of a cylinder synchronization process, an activity state of a driving speed control system, an auto hold function in vehicles with automatic transmissions, an electric parking brake, and/or a hill hold function.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a tow start operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. In this case, a signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of a starter unit of the internal combustion engine is detected. A tow start operation of the internal combustion engine is determined when, following detection of a successful start-up process of the internal combustion engine, the signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of the starter unit has not displayed any activity of the starter unit since the beginning of the start-up process of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an automatic shut-off process of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. An automatic shut-off process of the internal combustion engine is inhibited as a function of predetermined operating conditions. The automatic shut-off process of the internal combustion engine is inhibited, if the internal combustion engine was started by a tow start process within a current operating cycle or within a predetermined number of previous operating cycles.

Abstract: A method and a start control device are provided for controlling an automatic start-up process of a drive unit of a motor vehicle. The drive unit is automatically started when all of the predetermined start-up conditions are fulfilled. However, even in the event that an absence of the driver is detected, the drive unit automatically starts when the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a predetermined limit speed and all other start-up conditions are fulfilled.