Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that defines an aperture. A closure panel is coupled to the body and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure panel covers the aperture when the closure panel is in the closed position. A support member has a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the body. The second end is coupled to the closure panel. The support member is operable between a compressed position and an extended position. The extended position of the support member corresponds with the open position of the closure panel. A collapsible member is coupled to the body and the support member. The collapsible member is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The collapsible member includes a first section and a second section. The collapsible member also includes a fluid drainage system.

Abstract: A method for a secure Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) authentication protocol measures the walking gait of a user approaching a related vehicle using a passive key device carried by the user. The method also includes measuring the user's gait from the perspective of the vehicle using a vehicle perception system to compare the two and validate the security of an unlock request, authenticate the unlocking session, and protect against relay attacks. The two-factor authentication protocol validates the physical presence and temporal state of the key fob or mobile phone relative to the vehicle using detected key gait measurement (key G-gait) and a vehicle perception-based gait (C-gait) measurement by comparing the independent gaits and generating control commands responsive to consistent and inconsistent measurements.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an input device configured to send an activation signal responsive to an input to start the vehicle. The system further includes a vehicle body controller, programmed to, responsive to the input and a lack of presence of a phone operating as a key, send an activation signal to activate a power source within a cabin of the vehicle for up to a predefined time period since a last vehicle start.

Abstract: Interference-avoiding distance measurement is provided. A controller of a first wireless device is configured for wireless communication over a first transmission protocol with a second wireless device. One or more occupied channels of a second transmission protocol are identified, the first and second transmission protocols having overlapping frequency spectrums. A channel plan is constructed according to the occupied channels, the channel plan using a set of channels of the first transmission protocol that do not overlap in frequency with the one or more occupied channels of the second transmission protocol. Phase-based ranging is performed using data scanned via the channel plan. A distance measurement is indicated based on the phase-based ranging.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automotive computer in communication with a mobile device using an authentication manager to increase and/or reduce user privileges that determine a level of vehicle control or feature access that is granted to the user. The authentication manager may increase or decrease the user privilege to standard rider status until the authentication manager has confirmed elevated status for that user via a cloud security challenge question or via a local identification method such as using the mobile device authentication features. This process may be additionally triggered based on environmental or context-based use cases, such as a high traffic condition, local cyber-attack, or transportation of sensitive goods. The system may utilize the authentication to perform out of band pairing of the mobile device and the vehicle, which may add additional security.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior and comprising a front row of seats and a rear row of seats, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, and a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet or passenger within the cabin interior. The vehicle also includes a movable center console positioned between a pair of the forward row of seats and forward of the rear row of seats and comprising a holder for holding a drink container, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the detected pet or passenger on the rear row of seats based on the processed signals, the controller further controlling the movable console between a forward first position and a rearward second position closer to the rear row of seats.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises user inputs, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the vehicle, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals. The controller controls activation of the user input controls based on the determined location of the pet to disable an operating mode of one or more of the user inputs when the pet is detected proximate to the user inputs.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, each seat having an adjustable seat base and an adjustable seat back, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the cabin interior, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals, the controller further controlling at least one of the adjustable seat base and adjustable seat back of a seat based on the determined location of the pet so that the seat is configured to accommodate the pet.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to remotely-controlled automated vehicle parking operations. A driver of a vehicle stands on a curb and launches a software application on a handheld device. The software application uses a camera of the handheld device to capture images of the vehicle that can be observed by the driver. The software application then attempts to obtain a visual lock between the camera and the vehicle. In some cases, obtaining the visual lock may be hampered due to adverse lighting conditions. Light may be transmitted from the handheld device to illuminate the vehicle for better image capture. Alternatively, a command can be transmitted from the handheld device to a controller in the vehicle for turning on a light in the vehicle. After obtaining visual lock, various techniques such as vehicle path prediction and interpolation, can be used for effectively tracking the vehicle.

Abstract: A coil is electrically connected with an energy storage unit via circuitry. The coil wirelessly receives power from a cellular phone adjacent to the coil for transfer to the energy storage unit via the circuitry, and wirelessly receives data from the cellular phone. The coil may also wirelessly transfer power and data to the cellular phone.

Abstract: A vehicle having controlled exterior lighting is provided including a plurality of lighting devices oriented on the exterior of the vehicle to illuminate areas proximate to the vehicle, a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing a user relative to the vehicle and generating sensed signals indicative of the sensed user, and a transceiver for communicating with another vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller processing the sensed signals generated by the plurality of sensors, and detecting the user proximate to the vehicle and tracking movement of the user proximate to the vehicle, the controller further activating one or more of the plurality of exterior lighting devices to selectively illuminate areas that track the user and further communicating with the other vehicle to illuminate the user with lighting devices on the other vehicle.

Abstract: Upon deactivating a vehicle, first operating data are collected, the first operating data including a measure of operation of a vehicle component other than a battery of the vehicle. Upon determining that a charge level of the battery of the vehicle is below a charge threshold, second operating data are collected from the vehicle component. Upon determining that the that the vehicle is unmoved from a location at which the vehicle was deactivated by determining that second operating data are within a threshold of the first operating data, a propulsion system is actuated to charge the battery.

Abstract: Redundant vehicle controls based on user presence and position are disclosed herein. A method can include determining a presence and a position of a driver in a sensing zone of a vehicle using a sensor platform integrated into the vehicle. The sensing zone is associated with a primary driving interface of the vehicle. Determining when the position of the driver indicates that the driver is not in a fully-seated position relative to a driver's seat of the vehicle, and that the vehicle is in a non-seated drive mode where the driver is permitted to operate the vehicle while not being in the fully-seated position. Activating a secondary driving interface of the vehicle when the driver is not in a fully-seated position and the vehicle is in the selected driving mode. The secondary driving interface can be used in combination with the primary driving interface.

Abstract: A latch system for vehicle doors includes a powered latch including a powered actuator that is configured to unlatch the powered latch. An interior unlatch input feature such as an unlatch switch can be actuated by a user to provide an unlatch request. The system may include a controller that is operably connected to the powered actuator of the powered latch. The controller is configured such that it does not unlatch the powered latch if a vehicle speed is greater than a predefined value unless the interior latch feature is actuated at least two times according to predefined criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for driver presence and position detection are disclosed herein. A method can include determining a presence and a position of a driver in a sensing zone of a vehicle using a sensor platform integrated into the vehicle, determining when the position of the driver indicates that the driver is not in a fully-seated position relative to a driver's seat of the vehicle, and selectively adjusting a vehicle parameter of the vehicle based on the driver not being in a fully-seated position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that defines an aperture. A closure panel is coupled to the body and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure panel covers the aperture when the closure panel is in the closed position. A support member has a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the body. The second end is coupled to the closure panel. The support member is operable between a compressed position and an extended position. The extended position of the support member corresponds with the open position of the closure panel. A collapsible member is coupled to the body and the support member. The collapsible member is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The collapsible member includes a first section and a second section. The collapsible member also includes a fluid drainage system.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive radar data from a radar sensor of a vehicle; demarcate a zone of coverage of the radar sensor, the zone of coverage having an area based on a number of objects indicated by the radar data; and after demarcating the zone of coverage, in response to detecting a newly present object in the zone of coverage, adjust a scanning rate of the radar sensor based on a distance of the newly present object from the radar sensor.

Abstract: Upon identifying an authorized user approaching a vehicle, vehicle locks are controlled to permit the authorized user to access an authorized area based on a user authorization. Permitted vehicle features within the authorized area for the authorized user are identified based on the user authorization. Upon receiving a user input selecting one permitted vehicle feature, the selected permitted vehicle feature is actuated based on determining that a state of charge of a battery is above a charge threshold. Upon determining that the state of charge of the battery decreases below the charge threshold, actuation of the selected permitted vehicle feature is stopped. Then an engine is controlled to charge the battery based on the user authorization.

Abstract: A machine-learning localization scheme is provided. Calibration data is received from a plurality of vehicles, the calibration data including wireless data indicative of locations of mobile devices within the plurality of vehicles, ground truth data with respect to the locations of the mobile devices, and contextual information with respect to one or more of operating system versions of the mobile devices or battery levels of the mobile devices. A machine-learning model is trained using the wireless data and the contextual information as inputs and the ground truth data as output. Responsive to an error rate for the machine-learning model being within an error target, the machine-learning model is provided to the plurality of vehicles.

Abstract: A plurality of transducers positioned at respective specified locations in a vehicle are actuated to generate a plurality of respective tones. A plurality of respective time differences are determined between times that each respective tone is generated by the respective transducer and the tone is detected by a portable device. A location of the portable device is determined based at least in part on the time differences.