Abstract: Techniques pertaining to vehicle occupancy indication and utilization thereof are described. A method may involve determining occupancy information regarding a number of occupants in a vehicle. The method may also involve indicating the occupancy information in either or both of a human-perceivable way and a machine-perceivable way.

Abstract: Example sinkhole detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from multiple sensors mounted to a vehicle and analyzes the received data to identify a sinkhole in a roadway ahead of the vehicle. If a sinkhole is identified, the method adjusts vehicle operations and reports the sinkhole to a shared database and/or another vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle controller receives images from a camera upon arrival and upon departure. A location of the vehicle may be tracked and images captured by the camera may be tagged with a location. A departure image may be compared to an arrival image captured closest to the same location as the arrival image. A residual image based on a difference between the arrival and departure images is evaluated for anomalies. Attributes of the anomaly such as texture, color, and the like are determined and the anomaly is classified based on the attributes. If the classification indicates an automotive fluid, then an alert is generated.

Abstract: A method for package delivery includes identifying a plurality of delivery locations for package delivery. The method includes determining a driving route for an automated ground vehicle to optimize delivery to the delivery locations using one or more automated aerial vehicles. The method includes controlling the automated ground vehicle to navigate the delivery route. The method further includes determining timing for release of the one or more automated aerial vehicles during navigation of the delivery route to deliver packages to the plurality of delivery locations.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods, systems, and apparatuses for automated or assisted driving and more particularly relates to identification, localization, and navigation with respect to bollard receivers. A method for detecting bollard receivers includes receiving perception data from one or more perception sensors of a vehicle. The method includes determining, based on the perception data, a location of one or more bollard receivers in relation to a body of the vehicle. The method also includes providing an indication of the location of the one or more bollard receivers to one or more of a driver and component or system that makes driving maneuver decisions.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting available parking spaces in a parking environment. Radar systems are utilized to gather data about a parking lot environment. The radar data is provided to a neural network model as an input. Algorithms employing neural networks can be trained to recognize parked vehicles and conflicting data regarding debris, shopping carts, street lamps, traffic signs, pedestrians, etc. The neural network model processes the radar data to estimate parking space boundaries and to approximate the parking space boundaries as splines. The neural network model outputs spline estimations to a vehicle computer system. The vehicle computer system utilizes the spline estimates to detect available parking spaces. The spline estimates are updated as the vehicle navigates the parking environment.

Abstract: A vehicle controller receives images from a camera upon arrival and upon departure. A location of the vehicle may be tracked and images captured by the camera may be tagged with a location. A departure image may be compared to an arrival image captured closest to the same location as the arrival image. A residual image based on a difference between the arrival and departure images is evaluated for anomalies. Attributes of the anomaly such as texture, color, and the like are determined and the anomaly is classified based on the attributes. If the classification indicates an automotive fluid, then an alert is generated. A machine learning algorithm for generating classifications from image data may be trained using arrival and departure images obtained by rendering of a three-dimensional model or by adding simulated fluid leaks to two-dimensional images.

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 disclosure relates generally to methods, systems, and apparatuses for automated or assisted driving and more particularly relates to identification, localization, and navigation with respect to bollard receivers. A method for detecting bollard receivers includes receiving perception data from one or more perception sensors of a vehicle. The method includes determining, based on the perception data, a location of one or more bollard receivers in relation to a body of the vehicle. The method also includes providing an indication of the location of the one or more bollard receivers to one or more of a driver and component or system that makes driving maneuver decisions.

Abstract: In response to detecting a traffic event such as a motorcycle lane splitting or an accident, a vehicle broadcasts a notification over a V2V communication channel. Traffic events may be detected using sensor systems of the vehicle or in response to messages reporting the event. Notifications may be received from the vehicle over a cellular communication channel. Roadside infrastructure, such as DSRC or cellular communication installations receive the notification and may rebroadcast it to adjacent vehicles. A DSRC installation may broadcast the message by way of a cellular communication installation and vice versa. The vehicle may provide a cellular notification by way of a driver's mobile device connected to a controller of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for improving the safety and comfort of a vehicle driving over a railroad track, cattle guard, or the like. The method may include receiving, by a computer system, one or more inputs corresponding to one or more forward looking sensors. The computer system may also receive data characterizing a motion of the vehicle. The computer system may estimate, based on the one or more inputs and the data, a motion of a vehicle with respect to a railroad track, cattle guard, or the like extending across a road ahead of the vehicle. Accordingly, the computer system may change a suspension setting, steering setting, or the like of the vehicle to more safely or comfortably drive over the railroad track, cattle guard, or the like.

Abstract: In response to detecting a traffic event such as a motorcycle lane splitting or an accident, a vehicle broadcasts a notification over a V2V communication channel. Traffic events may be detected using sensor systems of the vehicle or in response to messages reporting the event. Notifications may be received from the vehicle over a cellular communication channel. Roadside infrastructure, such as DSRC or cellular communication installations receive the notification and may rebroadcast it to adjacent vehicles. A DSRC installation may broadcast the message by way of a cellular communication installation and vice versa. The vehicle may provide a cellular notification by way of a driver's mobile device connected to a controller of the vehicle.

Abstract: Example ice and snow detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method activates an ice and snow detection system in response to receiving weather data indicating a likelihood of ice or snow on a roadway near a vehicle. The method receives data from multiple vehicle sensors and analyzes the received data to identify ice or snow on the roadway. If ice or snow is identified on the roadway, the method adjusts vehicle operations and reports the ice or snow condition to a shared database.

Abstract: A driving assistance system includes a drive detection component, a presence component, and a notification component. The drive detection component is configured to determine that a vehicle or driver is exiting or preparing to exit a parking location. The presence component is configured to determine, from a drive history database, whether a parking barrier is present in front of or behind the parking location. The notification component is configured to provide an indication that the parking barrier is present to a human driver or an automated driving system of the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques and examples pertaining to vehicle water wading safety are described. A processor implementable to a vehicle approaching a waterbody may receive data related to the waterbody from one or more above-water or under-water sensors. The processor may determine a top surface and a bottom profile of the waterbody, and calculate one or more critical trajectories of water-sensitive components of the vehicle if the vehicle is to wade through the waterbody by traversing the bottom profile. The processor may then determine the wading safety based on the critical trajectories and the top surface of the waterbody. The processor may further determine a wading route, and autonomously drive the vehicle to wade the waterbody via the optimal wading route.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus pertaining to an intelligent vehicle access point opening system are provided. A method may involve detecting a presence of an object in a vicinity of a cover of an access point of a vehicle. The method may also involve receiving a command to open the cover and activating a mechanism to open the cover responsive to receiving the command. The method may further involve determining whether the object is likely to fall as the cover is being opened. The method may additionally involve pausing opening of the cover responsive to a determination that the object is likely to fall as the cover is being opened.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus pertaining to an intelligent vehicle access point opening system are provided. A method may involve detecting a presence of an object in a vicinity of a cover of an access point of a vehicle. The method may also involve receiving a command to open the cover and activating a mechanism to open the cover responsive to receiving the command. The method may further involve determining whether the object is likely to fall as the cover is being opened. The method may additionally involve pausing opening of the cover responsive to a determination that the object is likely to fall as the cover is being opened.

Abstract: Example blind spot detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a primary vehicle detects a secondary vehicle ahead of the primary vehicle in an adjacent lane of traffic. A method determines dimensions of the secondary vehicle and estimates a vehicle class associated with the secondary vehicle based on the dimensions of the secondary vehicle. The method also identifies a side-view mirror location on the secondary vehicle and determines a blind spot associated with the secondary vehicle based on the vehicle class and the side-view mirror location.

Abstract: Example passenger validation systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives, at a vehicle, a transport request indicating a passenger and a pick-up location. The vehicle drives to the pick-up location and authenticates the passenger at the pick-up location. If the passenger is successfully authenticated, the method unlocks the vehicle doors to allow access to the vehicle, determines a number of people entering the vehicle, and confirms that the number of people entering the vehicle matches a number of passengers associated with the transport request.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for predicting a driver's intention and future movements of a proximal vehicle, whether an automated vehicle or a human driven vehicle, are disclosed herein. A system for predicting future movements of a vehicle includes an intersection component, a camera system, a boundary component, and a prediction component. The intersection component is configured to determine that a parent vehicle is near an intersection. The camera system is configured to capture an image of the proximal vehicle. The boundary component is configured to identify a sub-portion of the image containing a turn signal indicator on the proximal vehicle. The prediction component is configured to predict future movement of the proximal vehicle through the intersection based on a state of the turn signal indicator.