Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mitigating motion sickness. When motion sickness is predicted, the motion sickness mitigation system alters vehicle performance, cabin conditions, and/or alerts the occupant to upcoming vehicle actions, to avoid or alleviate motion sickness. A controller includes a processor that receives an occupant profile and traffic information for an upcoming trip of the vehicle on a route. Using the occupant profile and the traffic information, the processor calculates whether the occupant will experience motion sickness when the vehicle travels on the route. A vehicle performance signal correlated to the calculation, is delivered by the processor to initiate motion sickness mitigation. The vehicle performance signal varies operation of a steering actuator, an acceleration actuator, and/or a brake actuator to implement the motion sickness mitigation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for taking action when a beverage spill has occurred within a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle includes one or more sensors, an input device, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to detect that a beverage has spilled within a vehicle. The input device configured to receipt an in input from a passenger of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors and to the input device, and configured to at least facilitate: providing information to a passenger of the vehicle as to an option to obtain a replacement beverage; receiving input from the passenger via the input device, in response to the information provided to the passenger, as to whether a replacement beverage is desired; and taking an action to obtain the replacement beverage, when the passenger has provided the input to obtain the replacement beverage.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and computer readable storage medium for rideshare behavior monitoring. The method includes receiving, by a processor, feedback from a next rider. The method further includes receiving, by the processor, feedback from a rideshare service transport. The method further includes generating, by the processor, a rideshare behavior score for a previous occupant of the rideshare service transport based on the feedback from the next rider and the feedback from the rideshare service transport. The method further includes correlating, by the processor, the rideshare behavior score with a plurality of possible actions. The method further includes selecting, by the processor, one or more possible actions based on the correlation. The method also includes implementing, by the processor, the one or more possible actions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mitigating motion sickness. When motion sickness is predicted, the motion sickness mitigation system alters vehicle performance, cabin conditions, and/or alerts the occupant to upcoming vehicle actions, to avoid or alleviate motion sickness. A controller includes a processor that receives an occupant profile and traffic information for an upcoming trip of the vehicle on a route. Using the occupant profile and the traffic information, the processor calculates whether the occupant will experience motion sickness when the vehicle travels on the route. A vehicle performance signal correlated to the calculation, is delivered by the processor to initiate motion sickness mitigation. The vehicle performance signal varies operation of a steering actuator, an acceleration actuator, and/or a brake actuator to implement the motion sickness mitigation.

Abstract: Enhanced features of a vehicle-based transportation system are presented here. In accordance with one methodology, the transportation system receives a ride request that identifies a passenger, a pickup location, and a destination location. The transportation system determines that the passenger requires user-specific security clearance to access a secured area at or near the destination location, and coordinates with a security system to grant the user-specific security clearance to the passenger. The transportation system can also determine a vehicle drop-off location based on the passenger destination, and coordinate with a navigation system to obtain navigation instructions to guide the passenger from the vehicle drop-off location to the passenger destination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for taking action when a beverage spill has occurred within a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle includes one or more sensors, an input device, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to detect that a beverage has spilled within a vehicle. The input device configured to receipt an in input from a passenger of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors and to the input device, and configured to at least facilitate: providing information to a passenger of the vehicle as to an option to obtain a replacement beverage; receiving input from the passenger via the input device, in response to the information provided to the passenger, as to whether a replacement beverage is desired; and taking an action to obtain the replacement beverage, when the passenger has provided the input to obtain the replacement beverage.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically maintaining cleanliness of an vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle; determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.

Abstract: A method of detecting an intrusion includes sending an activation command to an intrusion detection system. In response to the activation command, at least one camera is activated. At least one image is obtained from the at least one camera representative of a surrounding area of the at least one camera. The at least one image is analyzed to determine if the intrusion is detected. An operator is then notified of the presence or absence of the intrusion.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cleaning systems of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a floor mat; a vacuum system integrated with the floor mat, the vacuum system comprising a port, one or more ducts, and one or more openings integrated with the floor mat; and a control module that selectively activates suction of the vacuum system based on a detection of a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle.

Abstract: A methods and a server for operating a vehicle are provided. A method includes selecting an identifier that is associated with a vehicle reservation for passenger service in the vehicle. The method further includes initiating a pick-up portion of the vehicle reservation for making the vehicle available to a passenger. The method further yet includes displaying the identifier at the vehicle during the pick-up portion of the passenger service. The server includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that configure the server for performing the method.

Abstract: Enhanced features of a vehicle based transportation system are presented here. In accordance with one methodology, the transportation system processes ride requests for multiple passengers of an autonomous vehicle based transportation system. Each ride request is associated with a respective pickup location and a respective destination location. The system calculates a respective passenger transportation route for each actively operating autonomous vehicle, wherein each passenger transportation route is based at least in part on the pickup locations and destination locations associated with the ride requests, and wherein each passenger transportation route is calculated in accordance with predetermined prioritization criteria. The actively operating autonomous vehicles are controlled in a desired manner to satisfy at least some of the ride requests.

Abstract: Methods, autonomous vehicles, and servers for passenger service in an autonomous vehicle are provided. A method includes receiving at least one signal indicating a status of at least one passenger of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes processing the at least one signal to determine whether the at least one passenger has taken action consistent with completion of the passenger service reservation in the absence of an action that is inconsistent with completion of the passenger service reservation. The method yet further includes completing the reservation based on the processing the at least one signal. A server includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that configure the server for performing the method.

Abstract: Enhanced features of a vehicle-based transportation system are presented here. In accordance with one methodology, the transportation system receives a ride request that identifies a passenger, a pickup location, and a destination location. The transportation system determines that the passenger requires user-specific security clearance to access a secured area at or near the destination location, and coordinates with a security system to grant the user-specific security clearance to the passenger. The transportation system can also determine a vehicle drop-off location based on the passenger destination, and coordinate with a navigation system to obtain navigation instructions to guide the passenger from the vehicle drop-off location to the passenger destination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cleaning systems of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a floor mat; a vacuum system integrated with the floor mat, the vacuum system comprising a port, one or more ducts, and one or more openings integrated with the floor mat; and a control module that selectively activates suction of the vacuum system based on a detection of a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically maintaining cleanliness of an vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle; determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.

Abstract: A movable molding is provided for a vehicle on the vehicle body adjacent to a wrap-around end portion of the bumper. The molding and end portion of the bumper have mating abutment walls through which these elements are fastened together. When the bumper moves towards the vehicle upon impact, the molding is thereby caused to move therewith. Slide elements are provided between the molding and vehicle body for sliding of the molding along the body. A fastening element attaches the molding to the bumper end portion. The fastening element comprises a tensioned flexible cable which permits vertical movement of the bumper end portion with respect to the molding.