Abstract: A portable apparatus and method for transport and incubation of a medical sample in a blood culture flask includes a sealable container having a thermally insulated compartment for receiving the blood culture flask and a heater for heating the medical sample to a temperature suitable for pre-culturing of the sample. An agitator is provided for agitating the sample in the blood culture flask.

Abstract: A system and method for determining if an occupant of a vehicle has correctly applied a seat belt by acquiring an image of the occupant, the image including at least a shoulder portion of the occupant, identifying left and right shoulders and a longitudinal extension of a seat belt in the image, determining an intersection between the longitudinal extension and a line connecting the left and right shoulders, and, based on a relative position of the intersection and the shoulders, deducing whether the seat belt is correctly applied.

Abstract: A method for eye tracking comprising acquiring a first image of a target area using an RGB-IR sensor during NIR illumination, the first image including a set of IR pixels containing information from IR dyes, and a set of RGB pixels containing information from red, blue and green dyes, respectively. The method further comprises identifying head tracking features and performing head tracking using the first image, identifying an eye region in the first image based on the head tracking features, performing demosaicing of the eye region using IR pixels and RGB pixels in the eye region, to form a spatially enhanced IR image of the eye region, and performing eye tracking using the spatially enhanced IR image. With this approach, head tracking is used to identify a smaller region of the RGB-IR image, and this limited region is then processed to provide an enhanced IR image.

Abstract: Image analysis is used for low light gaze detection in a vehicle environment. An infrared (IR) light source is sent toward an individual within a vehicular environment. IR light reflections are received from the individual by at least one video camera. At least one eye of the individual is obscured by a semitransparent material. Low accuracy tracking of the individual is evaluated using the IR light reflections through the semitransparent material. A signal-to-noise ratio for a sequence of video image frames is enhanced using the IR light reflections of the individual through the semitransparent material. Enhancing enables detection of feature points in an eye region for the individual. Eye location for the individual is determined based on results of the enhancing a signal-to-noise ratio. Real-time gaze direction of a pupil is derived for the at least one eye. The deriving is based on the determining the eye location.

Abstract: A method for transition between driving modes of a vehicle is disclosed. The driving modes include an autonomous driving (AD) mode, a partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode and a manual driving (MD) mode. A transition from the PAD mode to the AD mode is performed by enabling the AD mode. A transition from the AD mode to the PAD mode is performed by releasing a steering wheel lock when the PAD mode is in an enabled state. A transition from the MD mode to the AD mode is performed by enabling the AD mode. A transition from the AD mode to the MD mode is performed by releasing the steering wheel lock when the PAD mode is in a disabled state. A system for performing the method and a vehicle including the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system for travel in a platoon (1), the platoon comprising a lead vehicle (L) and one or more following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) automatically following the lead vehicle, the lead vehicle controlling the movement of the following vehicles, each of the following vehicles and the lead vehicle comprising communication means (10, 12), wherein the control system comprises a common time base, which allows a control command proposing an action to be communicated from the lead vehicle (L) to at least one of the following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) in advance of a control point (tc). The invention further relates to the use of a common time base in a platoon and to a method to control travelling in a platoon.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining whether it is necessary to utilize safety equipment of a vehicle. The method includes detecting an impending impact of an object with a vehicle's windscreen by obtaining data concerning the object from a vehicle-mounted vision sensor, analyzing the data to determine whether the object will impact the windscreen, and activating the safety equipment only if the windscreen impact is imminent.

Abstract: A method for transition between driving modes of a vehicle is disclosed. The driving modes include an autonomous driving (AD) mode, a partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode and a manual driving (MD) mode. A transition from the PAD mode to the AD mode is performed by enabling the AD mode. A transition from the AD mode to the PAD mode is performed by releasing a steering wheel lock when the PAD mode is in an enabled state. A transition from the MD mode to the AD mode is performed by enabling the AD mode. A transition from the AD mode to the MD mode is performed by releasing the steering wheel lock when the PAD mode is in a disabled state. A system for performing the method and a vehicle including the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of customizing the interface of an infotainment system may include receiving a user profile from a multimedia device, a local store of the infotainment system, or cloud storage, and customizing the interface of the infotainment system based on the received user profile. A system for customising the interface of an infotainment system may include a receiving module configured for receiving a user profile from a multimedia device, a local store of the infotainment system, or a cloud storage, wherein the multimedia device is connectable to the infotainment system, and a customizing module configured for customizing the interface of the infotainment system based on the received user profile.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining whether it is necessary to utilize safety equipment of a vehicle. The method includes detecting an impending impact of an object with a vehicle's windscreen by obtaining data concerning the object from a vehicle-mounted vision sensor, analysing the data to determine whether the object will impact the windscreen, and activating the safety equipment only if the windscreen impact is imminent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system for travel in a platoon (1), the platoon comprising a lead vehicle (L) and one or more following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) automatically following the lead vehicle, the lead vehicle controlling the movement of the following vehicles, each of the following vehicles and the lead vehicle comprising communication means (10, 12), wherein the control system comprises a common time base, which allows a control command proposing an action to be communicated from the lead vehicle (L) to at least one of the following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) in advance of a control point (tc). The invention further relates to the use of a common time base in a platoon and to a method to control travelling in a platoon.

Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system includes a forward-looking sensor generating a range signal corresponding to a distance between the host vehicle and a target vehicle. The forward-looking sensor also generates a range rate signal corresponding to a rate that the distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle is changing. A controller is electrically coupled to the forward-looking sensor. The controller maintains a preset headway distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle by adjusting the host vehicle velocity in response to the range signal and the range rate signal. The host vehicle may come to a full stop when the target vehicle is acquired below a predetermined velocity. If the target vehicle is acquired above the predetermined velocity, then a warning is given when braking is required.

Abstract: A brake system includes a brake pedal connected to a brake pedal actuator for applying a variable brake feel force to the brake pedal. A forward detection apparatus is used to detect the relative distance and speed to a target vehicle. A controller monitors the relative distance and speed to notify the driver to slow down. Upon application of the brake, the brake feel force is reduced in proportion to the level of threat detected. In this way, the driver is induced to apply an increased brake pedal force.

Abstract: A multiple channel braking notification system includes an accelerator pedal and an accelerator pedal actuator for applying a variable force to the accelerator pedal. A forward detection apparatus is used to detect the relative distance and speed to a target vehicle. A controller monitors the relative distance and speed to notify the driver to slow down. Driver notification is accomplished by applying a predetermined amount of variable force to the accelerator pedal. The amount of force applied is proportional to the level of braking required.

Abstract: Occulting apparatus for use with an image generator that provides for multiple-level occulting of image data. The occulting apparatus comprises a mask buffer and control logic for processing image data to construct and store an obscurance mask in the mask buffer. Foreground entities contained in the image data are logically ORed into the mask buffer until the entities extend beyond a predefined range from a predetermined image viewpoint. Thereafter, the mask is used by the control logic to reject entities contained in subsequently processed image data that are fully obscured by the foreground entities comprising the obscurance mask. The control logic includes an obscurance manager, a region processor, an object processor, a polygon processor, and insertion logic. The obscurance manager is a controller for building and applying the obscurance mask to the image data.