Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that includes systems for adjusting the transmittance of one or more windows of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a camera outputting images taken of an occupant within the vehicle. The vehicle may also include an artificial neural network running on computer hardware carried on-board the vehicle. The artificial neural network may be trained to classify the occupant of the vehicle using the images captured by the camera as input. The vehicle may further include a controller controlling transmittance of the one or more windows based on classifications made by the artificial neural network. For example, if the artificial neural network classifies the occupant as squinting or shading his or her eyes with a hand, the controller may reduce the transmittance of a windshield, side window, or some combination thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that uses data from different types of on-board sensors to determine whether meteorological precipitation is failing near the vehicle. The vehicle may include an on-board camera capturing image data and an on-board accelerometer capturing accelerometer data. The image data may characterize an area in front of or behind the vehicle. The accelerometer data may characterize vibrations of a windshield of the vehicle. An artificial neural network may run on computer hardware carried on-board the vehicle. The artificial neural network may be trained to classify meteorological precipitation in an environment of the vehicle using the image data and the accelerometer data as inputs. The classifications of the artificial neural network may be used to control one or more functions of the vehicle such as windshield-wiper speed, traction-control settings, or the like.

Abstract: Training tuples including text and a question and answer corresponding to the text are input to a machine learning algorithm, such as a deep neural network. A Q&A model is obtained that outputs questions and answers given an input text. The training tuples may be obtained from standardized test such that the text is a question prompt and the questions and answers are based on the prompt. Raw text is input to the Q&A model to obtain second training tuples including a question and an answer. An NLU model is trained according to the second training tuples. The NLU model may then be installed on a consumer device, which will then use the model to respond to conversational queries and provide an appropriate response.

Abstract: Techniques pertaining to an autonomous police vehicle are described. A method may involve a processor associated with an autonomous vehicle obtaining an indication of violation of one or more traffic laws by a first vehicle. The method may also involve the processor maneuvering the autonomous vehicle to pursue the first vehicle. The method may further involve the processor remotely executing one or more actions with respect to the first vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting physical threats approaching a vehicle. External sensors on a vehicle capture the environment around the vehicle. Approaching targets detected by the external sensors can be fed into a neural network to recognize and/or classify approaching targets as potential threats. Tracking mechanisms (e.g., Kalman filters, Particle filters, etc.) can leverage temporal information to determine if a threat is approaching a vehicle. When an approaching threat is detected, a vehicle can activate one or more counter measures to deter the threat. When a vehicle includes autonomous driving capabilities, counter measures can include automatically attempting to drive away from an approaching threat.

Abstract: A locally-anchored, self-drilling, deformable, hollow rock bolt has one or more intermediate local anchors each of which is flanked by two relatively elongateable shank segments. After grout is supplied through the hollow interior of the rock bolt while the rock bolt is in the drilled borehole, each anchor fixes the bolt to the rock mass, whereas the adjacent smooth shank segments can deform and even yield to accommodate rock fracture. The local anchors may be of relatively short extent when compared to the shank segments. One or more of the intermediate anchors could be formed by a coupler connecting adjacent bolt sections together and/or by shaping the bolt and/or by providing an external anchor. The innermost end of the rock bolt may be formed from or bear a drill bit. The drill bit can have dual functions of drilling the borehole and serving as the innermost anchor of the bolt.

Abstract: At least one spoken utterance and a stored vehicle acoustic impulse response can be provided to a computing device. The computing device is programmed to provide at least one speech file based at least in part on the spoken utterance and the vehicle acoustic impulse response.

Abstract: An automatic speech recognition system for a vehicle includes a controller configured to select an acoustic model from a library of acoustic models based on ambient noise in a cabin of the vehicle and operating parameters of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to apply the selected acoustic model to noisy speech to improve recognition of the speech.

Abstract: A processor of a vehicle speech recognition system recognizes speech via domain-specific language and acoustic models. The processor further, in response to the acoustic model having a confidence score for recognized speech falling within a predetermined range defined relative to a confidence score for the domain-specific language model, recognizes speech via the acoustic model only.

Abstract: A system includes a head and torso simulation (HATS) system configured to play back pre-recorded audio commands while simulating a driver head location as an output location. The system also includes a vehicle speaker system and a processor configured to engage a vehicle heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. The processor is also configured to play back audio commands through the HATS system while playing back pre-recorded vehicle environment noises through the speaker system. The processor is further configured to determine if the audio command, recorded by a vehicle microphone, is recognizable in the presence of the environment noises and HVAC noises.

Abstract: A controller may be programmed to create a speech utterance set for speech recognition training by, in response to receiving data representing a neutral utterance and parameter values defining signal noise, generating data representing a Lombard effect version of the neutral utterance using a transfer function associated with the parameter values and defining distortion between neutral and Lombard effect versions of a same utterance due to the signal noise.

Abstract: A locally-anchored, self-drilling, deformable, hollow rock bolt has one or more intermediate local anchors each of which is flanked by two relatively elongateable shank segments. After grout is supplied through the hollow interior of the rock bolt while the rock bolt is in the drilled borehole, each anchor fixes the bolt to the rock mass, whereas the adjacent smooth shank segments can deform and even yield to accommodate rock fracture. The local anchors may be of relatively short extent when compared to the shank segments. One or more of the intermediate anchors could be formed by a coupler connecting adjacent bolt sections together and/or by shaping the bolt and/or by providing an external anchor. The innermost end of the rock bolt may be formed from or bear a drill bit. The drill bit can have dual functions of drilling the borehole and serving as the innermost anchor of the bolt.

Abstract: At least one spoken utterance and a stored vehicle acoustic impulse response can be provided to a computing device. The computing device is programmed to provide at least one speech file based at least in part on the spoken utterance and the vehicle acoustic impulse response.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a system, apparatus, and method for achieving an adaptive vehicle state-based hands free noise reduction feature. A noise reduction tool is provided for adaptively applying a noise reduction strategy on a sound input that uses feedback speech quality measures and machine learning to develop future noise reduction strategies, where the noise reduction strategies include analyzing vehicle operational state information and external information that are predicted to contribute to cabin noise and selecting noise reducing pre-filter options based on the analysis.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a system, apparatus, and method for achieving a vehicle state-based hands free noise reduction feature. A noise reduction tool is provided for applying a noise reduction strategy on a sound input that uses machine learning to develop future noise reduction strategies, where the noise reduction strategies include analyzing vehicle operational state information and external information that are predicted to contribute to cabin noise and selecting noise reducing pre-filter options based on the analysis. The machine learning may further be supplemented by off-line training to generate a speech quality performance measure for the sound input that may be referenced by the noise reduction tool for further noise reduction strategies.

Abstract: A method for detecting buzz, squeak, or rattle of interior components in a vehicle. A sine sweep signal is output through speakers of an audio system mounted in the vehicle capable of causing buzz, squeak, and rattle by defective installed parts in the vehicle. Audible sounds within the vehicle are recorded by a portable test unit during the outputting of the sine sweep signal. A component of the recorded audible sounds corresponding to the direct recording of the sweep signal is removed. Recorded audible sounds are recorded without the component to determine if a predetermined threshold is exceeded. A vehicle repair indication is generated in response to a determination that the sound exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding bolt (10) for introducing into a bore, having an anchor rod (12), on which is disposed a sliding control element (14) with a through-opening (18), through which the anchor rod (12) extends, wherein the sliding control element (14) comprises a sliding body cage (16) having at least one recess (20) for receiving a sliding body (22) that is in contact with the lateral surface of the anchor rod (12), and having an anchor plate (24), which is intended to lie against a region surrounding the mouth of the bore once the sliding bolt (10) has been introduced into the bore. In contrast to conventional sliding bolts, the anchor plate (24) is in load-transferring connection with the sliding body cage (16), with the result that it is easily possible to provide a device that indicates a sliding path of the sliding bolt that is still available.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding bolt (10) for introducing into a bore, having an anchor rod (12), on which is disposed a sliding control element (14) with a through-opening (18), through which the anchor rod (12) extends, wherein the sliding control element (14) comprises a sliding body cage (16) having at least one recess (20) for receiving a sliding body (22) that is in contact with the lateral surface of the anchor rod (12), and having an anchor plate (24), which is intended to lie against a region surrounding the mouth of the bore once the sliding bolt (10) has been introduced into the bore. In contrast to conventional sliding bolts, the anchor plate (24) is in load-transferring connection with the sliding body cage (16), with the result that it is easily possible to provide a device that indicates a sliding path of the sliding bolt that is still available.

Abstract: A method of objectively and subjectively monitoring noise and correspondingly level or loudness thereof in a product or assembly. The method includes placing a product on the vibration generator. Activating the vibration generator to move or shake the product to simulate usage conditions. A sound recording instrument measures and records the noise emitted by the product or assembly. Comparing an objective metric computed from the recorded noise with a threshold metric. Evaluating the vehicle to determine the noise source when the objective metric exceeds the threshold metric. Saving the objective metric along with the information relating to the source of the noise and necessary repairs for further evaluation and statistical analysis.

Abstract: A method and system for assessing a level of refrigerant in a vehicle air conditioning system. A refrigerant charge value is determined as a function of ambient air temperature, ambient air humidity, conditioned air temperature, and compressor cycling signals. The refrigerant charge value is compared to a threshold value to determine whether the level of refrigerant is acceptable.