Abstract: An autonomous vehicle has a temperature sensor for sensing an air temperature or a road temperature, a processor communicatively connected to the temperature sensor to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, to process the signal and to generate an estimated instantaneous coefficient of friction between a tire of the vehicle and a snow-covered roadway, and a camera to detect salt and/or sand on the roadway and to apply a salt correction factor and/or a sand correction factor to the coefficient of friction to thereby provide a salt-corrected coefficient of friction or a sand-corrected coefficient of friction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a remotely situated vehicle control device in data communication with a vehicle and operable by a user situated outside of the vehicle to enable the user to remotely control the vehicle. The remotely situated vehicle control device includes a device data transceiver for receiving first-person view (FPV) image data from an FPV camera carried by the vehicle, a device display to display FPV images to the user based on the FPV image data received from the FPV camera while also displaying virtual reality or augmented reality representations of vehicle controls to enable the user to remotely control the vehicle by interacting with the virtual reality or augmented reality representations of the vehicle controls, and a user input device configured to receive user input to interact with the virtual reality or augmented reality representations of the vehicle controls.

Abstract: A separate relationship management interface for applications that utilize application data objects to implement various application features is used to track changes to relationships between application data objects. Requests that cause writes corresponding to relationships between application data objects and requests that cause reads of relationships between application data objects may be handled using an interface that interacts with a separate data store tracking the relationships between application data objects.

Abstract: A computing device for navigation of a vehicle, the computing device comprising a processor and a display screen presenting a map showing multiple routes for navigating to a destination. The display screen also presents prices and travel times for the multiple routes. Responsive to a user selection of one of the multiple routes, the processor cooperates with a radiofrequency data transceiver to communicate with one or more other vehicles or with a central server to negotiate a traffic reprioritization for a user-selected route to the destination.

Abstract: An item retrieval system can include a support defining a continuous pathway having an upper level, a lower level, and an end portion connecting the upper and lower portions. An advancement mechanism can move a carrier having a container advanced along the continuous pathway between the upper and lower levels.

Abstract: A self-driving or autonomous vehicle transmits a vehicle-to-vehicle offer message from a user of a vehicle-connected mobile communication device riding in the self-driving vehicle to a second user of a second mobile communication device riding in a second vehicle to pay for a traffic prioritization relative to the second vehicle. The first mobile communication device receives a reply message and sends a payment to the second mobile communication device or an account associated with the second mobile communication device to obtain the traffic prioritization relative to the other vehicle. For example, the traffic prioritization may enable one vehicle to pass the other vehicle, to take precedence at an intersection or to be given priority to take a parking place or any other traffic-related advantage.

Abstract: A self-driving or autonomous vehicle has a traffic-prioritization processor to send or receive a payment to or from a central server to obtain a traffic prioritization for a route or to accept a traffic de-prioritization for the route. The central server receives and distributes payments to other vehicles traveling the route. The vehicle communicates with the central server to receive a plurality of levels of prioritization which range from a highest prioritization to a lowest prioritization, and the costs or payouts associated with each of the levels.

Abstract: A self-driving or autonomous vehicle transmits a vehicle-to-vehicle offer message from a user of a vehicle-connected mobile communication device riding in the self-driving vehicle to a second user of a second mobile communication device riding in a second vehicle to pay for a traffic prioritization relative to the second vehicle. The first mobile communication device receives a reply message and sends a payment to the second mobile communication device or an account associated with the second mobile communication device to obtain the traffic prioritization relative to the other vehicle. For example, the traffic prioritization may enable one vehicle to pass the other vehicle, to take precedence at an intersection or to be given priority to take a parking place or any other traffic-related advantage.

Abstract: A computing device for navigation of a vehicle, the computing device comprising a processor and a display screen presenting a map showing multiple routes for navigating to a destination. The display screen also presents prices and travel times for the multiple routes. Responsive to a user selection of one of the multiple routes, the processor cooperates with a radiofrequency data transceiver to communicate with one or more other vehicles or with a central server to negotiate a traffic reprioritization for a user-selected route to the destination.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a three-point hitch includes at least one hitch cylinder and a first flow path. The hydraulic system includes a hitch valve fluidly coupled to the at least one hitch cylinder via the first flow path, wherein the hitch valve is configured to control a flow of hydraulic fluid to the at least one hitch cylinder. The hydraulic system includes a second flow path fluidly coupled to the first flow path at a first location between the at least one hitch cylinder and the hitch valve, wherein the second flow path is fluidly coupled to a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic system includes a first check valve disposed along the second flow path between the first flow path and the reservoir, wherein the first check valve is configured to keep air from entering the hydraulic system via the second flow path from the reservoir.

Abstract: A vehicle such as an autonomous or self-driving vehicle has a navigation system for displaying, on a display screen, a user interface presenting a map showing multiple routes. The vehicle includes a traffic-prioritization processor configured to cooperate with the navigation system to present prices and travel times for the multiple routes via the user interface to enable a user of the vehicle to select one of the multiple routes based on both the prices and the travel times displayed on the display screen. The vehicle further includes a radiofrequency data transceiver configured to cooperate with the traffic-prioritization processor to communicate with one or more other vehicles or a central server to negotiate a traffic reprioritization for a user-selected route.

Abstract: Extensible change control management for development and deployment of applications is described. A change control manager may register plugin components, including requester, approver and performer components, to process changes to a resource of a resource type, where registering is performed responsive to request(s) received via programmatic interface(s). Upon receiving a change request from the requester component, the change control manager may send the change request to the approver component to approve the change request and, responsive to notification of approval from the approver component, the change control manager may then send the change request to the performer component to implement the requested change.

Abstract: A self-driving or autonomous vehicle transmits a vehicle-to-vehicle offer message from a user of a vehicle-connected mobile communication device riding in the self-driving vehicle to a second user of a second mobile communication device riding in a second vehicle to pay for a traffic prioritization relative to the second vehicle. The first mobile communication device receives a reply message and sends a payment to the second mobile communication device or an account associated with the second mobile communication device to obtain the traffic prioritization relative to the other vehicle. For example, the traffic prioritization may enable one vehicle to pass the other vehicle, to take precedence at an intersection or to be given priority to take a parking place or any other traffic-related advantage.

Abstract: A vehicle has an automatically tiltable seat, a plurality of seat actuators fully supporting the automatically-tiltable seat to enable the automatically tiltable seat to pitch or roll to compensate for motion of the vehicle, and a processor to predict the motion of the vehicle and to control the plurality of seat actuators. The plurality of seat actuators automatically adjust the pitch or roll of the automatically tiltable seat in response to the motion of the vehicle. The seat actuators also provide shock absorption.

Abstract: A autonomous vehicle comprising a sensor for sensing a physical property indicative of snow slipperiness; and a processor communicatively connected to the sensor to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the snow slipperiness, to process the signal and to generate an estimated instantaneous coefficient of friction between a tire of the vehicle and a snow-covered roadway.

Abstract: A self-driving or autonomous vehicle transmits a vehicle-to-vehicle offer message from a user of a vehicle-connected mobile communication device riding in the self-driving vehicle to a second user of a second mobile communication device riding in a second vehicle to pay for a traffic prioritization relative to the second vehicle. The first mobile communication device receives a reply message and sends a payment to the second mobile communication device or an account associated with the second mobile communication device to obtain the traffic prioritization relative to the other vehicle. For example, the traffic prioritization may enable one vehicle to pass the other vehicle, to take precedence at an intersection or to be given priority to take a parking place or any other traffic-related advantage.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle has a temperature sensor for sensing an air temperature or a road temperature, a processor communicatively connected to the temperature sensor to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, to process the signal and to generate an estimated instantaneous coefficient of friction between a tire of the vehicle and a snow-covered roadway, and a camera to detect salt and/or sand on the roadway and to apply a salt correction factor and/or a sand correction factor to the coefficient of friction to thereby provide a salt-corrected coefficient of friction or a sand-corrected coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A vehicle has an automatically tiltable seat, a plurality of seat actuators fully supporting the automatically-tiltable seat to enable the automatically tiltable seat to pitch or roll to compensate for motion of the vehicle, and a processor to predict the motion of the vehicle and to control the plurality of seat actuators. The plurality of seat actuators automatically adjust the pitch or roll of the automatically tiltable seat in response to the motion of the vehicle. The seat actuators also provide shock absorption.

Abstract: An improved topwater fishing lure with a rotating spinner element is disclosed that includes stabilizing fins along a rear tail portion to help balance the lure and prevent roll over and minimize other undesirable dynamics.

Abstract: A vehicle such as an autonomous or self-driving vehicle has a navigation system for displaying, on a display screen, a user interface presenting a map showing multiple routes. The vehicle includes a traffic-prioritization processor configured to cooperate with the navigation system to present prices and travel times for the multiple routes via the user interface to enable a user of the vehicle to select one of the multiple routes based on both the prices and the travel times displayed on the display screen. The vehicle further includes a radiofrequency data transceiver configured to cooperate with the traffic-prioritization processor to communicate with one or more other vehicles or a central server to negotiate a traffic reprioritization for a user-selected route.