Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for improving safety with parking brake actuation. In particular, embodiments inhibit or allow parking brake commands based on an operation state of a vehicle. Further, embodiments act on parking brake commands based on a health or condition of the parking brakes themselves. An example method for autonomous operation of a vehicle includes receiving a command to apply a parking brake of the vehicle; determining a vehicle operation state based on comparing a speed of the vehicle to a range of pre-determined values; configuring an instruction for engagement of the parking brake according to the vehicle operation state; determining a brake health of the parking brake; and transmitting the instruction to the parking brake to cause the parking brake to be engaged based on the brake health satisfying one or more thresholds.

Abstract: A vehicle data processing system receives a set of data logged, during operation of each of a fleet of vehicles, by a data logger communicatively coupled to a controller area network (CAN) bus in each of the vehicles. The set of logged data can include a plurality of measurements generated by a sensor configured to transmit the measurements across the CAN bus, and can be received from a storage device to which the set of logged data was uploaded after the vehicle completed one or more trips. The system processes the logged data using a set of alerting rules. When a criterion in the set of alerting rules is satisfied by the set of logged data, the system outputs an alert.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for predictive anti-lag braking control for autonomous vehicles are described. An example method of controlling a vehicle includes receiving, from a controller, a first plurality of values indicative of a brake wheel torque demand associated with a deceleration profile of the vehicle, deriving, based on the first plurality of values and a steady-state brake model, a second plurality of values indicative of a brake pressure demand, wherein an input to the steady-state brake model comprises the brake pressure demand and at least one previous brake wheel torque demand, and wherein an output of the steady-state brake system comprises a current brake wheel torque demand, generating, based on the second plurality of values and at least the steady-state model, a plurality of brake control commands, and controlling, using the plurality of brake control commands, the air brake system.

Abstract: The technology enables an in-vehicle control computer located in an autonomous vehicle to control an output of a propulsion apparatus based on an estimate of the electrical load of one or more devices on or in the autonomous vehicle. An example method of autonomous driving operation includes determining, at a first time, by a computer located in the vehicle, a second energy or power consumption value of a plurality of devices that are expected to operate at a second time later than the first time, where the second energy or power consumption value is a different than a first energy or power consumption value of the plurality of devices at the first time; and sending, by the computer, the second energy or power consumption value to control an engine or a motor located in the vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosed technology enables an in-vehicle control computer located in an autonomous vehicle to control torque applied by an engine in the autonomous vehicle. An example method of autonomous driving operation includes sending, by a computer located on the vehicle, instructions to one or more devices located on the vehicle that cause the vehicle to perform autonomous driving related operations in accordance with the instructions, where the sending the instructions includes sending a set of torque related values over time to control an engine located in the vehicle, where the set of torque related values are not converted to control parameters indicative of positions associated with an accelerator pedal located in the vehicle; receiving an indication that indicates that the accelerator pedal is depressed from an undepressed position; and causing, in response to the receiving the indication, the vehicle to not perform additional autonomous driving related operations.