Abstract: Systems and methods for improving driver attention awareness are disclosed herein. One embodiment monitors the attention status of the driver of a vehicle; detects, based on the monitoring, the commencement of a distracted-driving incident; records, during the distracted-driving incident, information pertaining to the distracted-driving incident; detects, based on the monitoring, the end of the distracted-driving incident; and reports, at the earliest opportunity after the end of the distracted-driving incident and prior to the conclusion of the current trip, the information to the driver.

Abstract: Deformable sensors and methods for modifying membrane stiffness through magnetic attraction are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include magnetically-attractable particles located on or within the membrane. The deformable sensor may additionally include a magnetic object located at a base within the sensor cavity. The magnetic object may be configured to modifiably attract the magnetically-attractable particles and modify stiffness of the deformable sensor by modifying air pressure within the sensor cavity, based on modifiable strength of the magnetic object to attract the magnetically-attractable particles.

Abstract: Extended reality content in a video can be varied based on driver attentiveness. The video can be of an external environment of a vehicle and can be presented in real-time on a display located within the vehicle. The display can be a video pass through display. The display can be an in-vehicle display, or it can be a part of a video pass-through extended reality headset. The video can present a view of an external environment of the vehicle as well as extended reality content. A level of attentiveness of a driver of the vehicle can be determined. An amount of the extended reality content presented in the video can be varied based on the level of attentiveness.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to communicating alerts about a recommended speed by adapting headlight color. In one embodiment, a method includes computing a recommended speed using an automated driving system (ADS) during an operator controlling a vehicle while the ADS is disengaged. The method also includes, responsive to determining that a vehicle speed satisfies a threshold associated with the recommended speed and an offset value set according to a driving environment, adapting an alert color projected by headlights of the vehicle according to the vehicle speed and the alert color is corrected for operator perception of visible colors associated with the driving environment.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory has a human-machine interface module having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to identify, based on sensor data regarding a vehicle and an environment in which the vehicle operates, an event in which the vehicle should perform an autonomous steering maneuver determined by an autonomous driving system. The instructions further cause the processor to, in response to identifying the event, decouple control of a steering rack of the vehicle by a handwheel of the vehicle and reduce a rational movement of the handwheel from a normal range to a restricted range, and determine, by the autonomous driving system, the autonomous steering maneuver to be performed by the vehicle influenced by an angle of the handwheel detected by the processor when the rotational movement of the handwheel is in the restricted range.

Abstract: Extended reality content in a video can be varied based on a risk level of an external environment of a vehicle. The video can be of an external environment of a vehicle can be presented in real-time on a display located within the vehicle. The display can be a video pass through display. The display can be an in-vehicle display, or it can be a part of a video pass-through extended reality headset. The video can present a view of an external environment of the vehicle as well as extended reality content. A risk level of the external environment of the vehicle can be determined. An amount of the extended reality content presented in the video can be varied based on the risk level.

Abstract: A system for contemporaneously calibrating a gaze-tracking system and authorizing access to a first other system can include a processor and a memory. The memory can store a preliminary operations module, an authorization module, and a gaze-tracking module. The preliminary operations module can include instructions to compare a trajectory, of a point of gaze of an eye, with a pattern associated both with a calibration of the gaze-tracking system and with a first authorization process, that excludes an iris recognition process, for the first other system. The authorization module can include instructions to cause an access to the first other system to be authorized. The gaze-tracking module can include instructions to: (1) cause the gaze-tracking system to be calibrated and (2) cause, in response to the gaze-tracking system being calibrated, the gaze-tracking system to be configured to be a user interface for a second other system.

Abstract: A method for providing lane keeping support to enable improved one-hand operation of a vehicle is described. The method includes detecting a one-hand location of a vehicle operator on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The method also includes determining a level of control of the vehicle operator on the steering wheel during the one-hand operation of the vehicle. The method further includes adjusting a level of compensation applied to the steering wheel to facilitate the one-hand operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved and intuitive adjustment of a vehicle headrest. A vehicle headrest adjustment system may include touch sensors and/or motion sensors to determine a driver or passenger intends to adjust a vehicle headrest. Upon detection of touch consistent with intent to adjust a vehicle headrest and/or a hand gesture consistent with intent to adjust a vehicle headrest, a system may unlock a vehicle headrest. A driver or passenger may move the unlocked vehicle headrest into the desired position. Upon detection of a condition indicating the driver or passenger is finished and/or upon a set period of time elapsing, the system may re-lock the vehicle headrest into place. A vehicle headrest adjustment system may also include a power-assist function. The power-assist function may include motors and force sensors to assist a driver or passenger in moving a vehicle headrest into a desired position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved and intuitive adjustment of a vehicle headrest. A vehicle headrest adjustment system may include touch sensors and/or motion sensors to determine a driver or passenger intends to adjust a vehicle headrest. Upon detection of touch consistent with intent to adjust a vehicle headrest and/or a hand gesture consistent with intent to adjust a vehicle headrest, a system may unlock a vehicle headrest. A driver or passenger may move the unlocked vehicle headrest into the desired position. Upon detection of a condition indicating the driver or passenger is finished and/or upon a set period of time elapsing, the system may re-lock the vehicle headrest into place. A vehicle headrest adjustment system may also include a power-assist function. The power-assist function may include motors and force sensors to assist a driver or passenger in moving a vehicle headrest into a desired position.

Abstract: A method for vehicle eye tracking is described. The method includes capturing sensor data based on eye tracking of a vehicle operator. The method also includes identifying sensor data associated with an external environment of a vehicle within the captured sensor data. The method further includes filtering out a sensor data associated with the external environment from the captured sensor data to provide an internal vehicle sensor data. The method also includes controlling a vehicle interface based on the internal vehicle sensor data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved collision prevention. Systems and methods may provide for the prevention of rear-end vehicle collisions by locking the forward movement of the throttle pedal when a threshold is reached. An end stop or mechanical linkage may completely lock the throttle pedal in situations in which continued acceleration is likely to result in a rear-end collision. The systems and methods disclosed herein may provide from a complete locking of the throttle pedal which may physically avoid or eliminate a rear-end collision due to improper throttle actuation. The systems and methods disclosed herein may also improve a driver's mental model for safe driving by teaching a driver that certain maneuvers are not available in certain conditions.

Abstract: Systems and device configurations are provided for reducing misstep, such as miscommunication between a vehicle and a driver that results in applying the incorrect pedal. Vehicle pedal configurations having a positioning element are described. Embodiments include pedal configurations having a pedal pad and at least one positioning element to adjust the pedal pad in response to pedal misstep. Pedal adjustment can include rotation of a pedal pad, rotation of portions of a pedal pad, and multibody pedal pad configurations. According to embodiment, a pedal pad includes vibrational elements to control vibration of the pedal. Embodiments are also directed to a pedal configuration including a flip plate. Systems are provided including a controller to control a pedal configuration and positioning elements. The controller may control the pedal based on a driving mode, such as an assistive driving state wherein operator is instructed to apply a pedal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving a localization estimate of a vehicle by leveraging localization estimates of surrounding dynamic objects from surrounding vehicles. A vehicle may estimate its own location relative to a global reference frame. The vehicle may identify nearby dynamic objects. The vehicle may estimate the location of the nearby dynamic objects. The vehicle and nearby vehicles may generate and exchange localization packets containing information about the dynamic objects and the location estimates for the dynamic objects. The vehicle may refine its localization estimate based on received localization packets.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving a localization estimate of a vehicle by leveraging localization estimates of surrounding vehicles. A vehicle may estimate its own location relative to a global reference frame. The vehicle may identify nearby vehicles. The vehicle may estimate the location of the nearby vehicles. The vehicle and nearby vehicles may generate and exchange localization packets containing information about the vehicles and the location estimates. The vehicle may refine its localization estimate based on received localization packets.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to dopant profile control in a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT). In an example, a semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and an HBT. The HBT includes a collector region, a base region, and an emitter region. The base region is disposed on or over the collector region. The emitter region is disposed on or over the base region. The base region is disposed on or over the semiconductor substrate and includes a heteroepitaxial sub-layer. The heteroepitaxial sub-layer is doped with a dopant. A concentration gradient of the dopant increases from a region in a layer adjoining and overlying the heteroepitaxial sub-layer to a peak concentration in the heteroepitaxial sub-layer without decreasing between the region and the peak concentration.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to keeping a vehicle within a safety envelope. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a safety envelope having a boundary, determining a risk level for an environment surrounding the vehicle, and associating a torque value with a location within the safety envelope based on at least one of the risk level, a lateral velocity of the vehicle, and a relationship between the location and the boundary. The method includes, in response to the vehicle being located at the location and a torque being applied to a steering wheel of the vehicle, applying a counter torque of the torque value to the steering wheel.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to remotely assisting an operator that is impaired using alerts from a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a first vehicle using a communications network, assistance information about an operator and a second vehicle near the first vehicle, wherein the assistance information indicates a state of the operator and a position of the second vehicle. The method also includes, upon approving an action according to the state and the position, selecting an alert that changes the state according to the position and attributes determined according to sensor data of the first vehicle. The method also includes activating the alert by the first vehicle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to keeping a vehicle within a safety envelope. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a safety envelope having a boundary, determining a risk level for an environment surrounding the vehicle, and associating an index value with a location within the safety envelope based on at least one of the risk level and a relationship between the location and the boundary. The method includes, in response to a vehicle being located at the location, tilting a vehicle seat to a tilt angle relative to a floor of the vehicle. The tilt angle can be based on the index value associated with the location.

Abstract: A distracted driver can be informed of his or her distraction by a visual notification. It can be detected whether a driver of a vehicle is focused on a non-critical object located within the vehicle. In response to detecting that the driver of the vehicle is focused on a non-critical object located within the vehicle, an amount of time the driver is focused on the non-critical object can be determined. When the amount of time exceeds a threshold amount of time, a visual notification of distracted driving can be caused to be presented on or visually adjacent to the non-critical object.