Abstract: A secured-area access system for an automated vehicle includes an identification-device, an input-device, and a controller. The identification-device conveys an access-authorization from a host-vehicle to a security-device. The input-device receives instructions regarding interaction with the security-device. The controller is in communication with the identification-device and the input-device. The controller operates the identification-device based on the instructions to convey the access-authorization to the security-device when the host-vehicle approaches the secured-area.

Abstract: A safe-exit system for safety protection of a passenger exiting an automated vehicle includes an observation-device, a lock-device, and a controller. The observation-device detects a potential-threat to a passenger of a host-vehicle. The lock-device is operable to lock a door of the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the observation-device and the lock-device. The controller is configured to determine a safety-index based on the potential-threat, and operate the lock-device to lock the door when the safety-index is less than a safety-threshold. Instead of the lock-device, the system may include a notification-device operable to convey a safety-alert to the person. The controller is in communication with the observation-device and the transmitter. In this system the controller is configured to determine a safety-index based on the potential-threat, and operate the notification-device to communicate the safety-alert to the person when the safety-index is less than a safety-threshold.

Abstract: A traffic-light-detection system that visually determines a light-state of a traffic-light proximate to an automated vehicle includes a camera, a controller, and optionally a radar. The camera and the radar are on a host-vehicle. The camera renders a series-of-images of a traffic-light proximate to a host-vehicle. The radar detects radar-returns from the traffic-light. The controller is configured to determine a motion-pattern of the traffic-light based on the series-of-images and/or the radar-returns, and select a preferred-image from the series-of-images based on the motion-pattern. The preferred-image shows a light-source of the traffic-light characterized as being most directed at the camera when the motion-pattern indicates that the traffic-light is moving. The controller is further configured to determine a light-state of the traffic-light based on the preferred-image.

Abstract: A navigation system for a restricted-use automated-vehicle includes a digital-map, a location-detector, and a controller. The digital-map characterizes roadways on the digital-map with a usage-rating. The usage-rating is indicative of a minimum-value of a vehicle-rating of a vehicle allowed to use each of the roadways. The location-detector indicates a location of a host-vehicle on the digital-map. The controller is in communication with the digital-map and the location-detector. The controller receives a destination of the host-vehicle, and determines a route from the location to the destination that avoids roadways with usage-ratings greater than the vehicle-rating of the host-vehicle.

Abstract: A system for operating an automated vehicle in accordance with an operation-rules that are based on an automation-level of an other-vehicle includes an automation-detector and a controller. The automation-detector conveys an automation-level indicated by an other-vehicle proximate to a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the automation-detector. The controller operates the host-vehicle in accordance with an operation-rule that is selected based on the automation-level of the other-vehicle. For example, the controller operates the host-vehicle to follow the other-vehicle at a first-distance when the automation-level is an autonomous-mode, and follow the other-vehicle at a second-distance greater than the first-distance when the automation-level is a manual-mode, i.e. human-driven.

Abstract: A destination-less travel system for an automated-vehicle includes a digital-map and a controller. The digital-map indicates route-options for a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the digital-map and an operator of the host-vehicle. The controller queries the operator regarding the route-options when no destination has been specified and the host-vehicle approaches a decision-point on a roadway traveled by the host-vehicle.

Abstract: A cooperative-vehicle system suitable to operate an automated vehicle in a courteous or cooperative manner includes an object-detector and a controller. The object-detector is used by the host-vehicle to detect an other-vehicle attempting to enter a travel-lane traveled by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector. The controller is configured to control motion of the host-vehicle. The controller is also configured to adjust a present-vector of the host-vehicle to allow the other-vehicle to enter the travel-lane. The decision to take some action to allow the other vehicle to enter the travel-lane may be further based on secondary considerations such as how long the other-vehicle has waited, a classification of the other-vehicle (e.g. an ambulance), an assessment of how any action by the host-vehicle would affect nearby vehicles, the intent of the other-vehicle, and/or a measure traffic-density proximate to the host-vehicle.

Abstract: An automated vehicle transportation system for multiple-segment ground-transportation includes a communications-network, a first-automated-taxi, and a second-automated-taxi. The communications-network is used to send a transportation-request from a client to an automated-taxi-fleet. The transportation-request includes a destination. The first-automated-taxi transports the client along a first-segment of a route toward the destination. The second-automated-taxi transports the client along a second-segment of the route to the destination. The first-segment ends and the second-segment begins at a transfer-point. The system coordinates a first-meet-time of the first-automated-taxi and a second-meet-time of the second-automated-taxi at the transfer-point.

Abstract: A safe-stop-zone identification system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle includes a digital-map, a transceiver, and a controller. The digital-map indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle, wherein the digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path. The transceiver is operable to broadcast information about the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the digital-map and the transceiver. The controller navigates the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs, and then operates the transceiver to broadcast that the safe-stop-zone is occupied by the host-vehicle.

Abstract: An automated-taxi client identification system for automated vehicles includes a communications-network, a camera, and a controller. The communications-network is used to send a transportation-request from a client to an automated-taxi, and communicate an identification-code to be displayed by the client. The camera is used by the automated-taxi to capture an image of a pickup-zone. The controller is in communication with the camera and the communications-network. The controller determines when the identification-code is detected in the image and determines a location of the client based on a position of the identification-code in the image.

Abstract: An automated-vehicle or automated-taxi pickup-location evaluation system includes a communications-network, an object-detector and/or a digitized-map, and a controller. The communications-network is used to send a transportation-request from a client to an automated-taxi, and communicate a preferred-location where the automated-taxi will meet the client. The object-detector is used to detect an object proximate to the preferred-location. The digitized-map is used to determine a route to the preferred-location for the automated-taxi to follow. The controller is in communication with the object-detector and/or the digitized-map, and the communications-network. The controller determines when the object makes the preferred-location unsuitable to pickup the client, and/or that the digitized-map indicates that the preferred-location is unsuitable to use to pickup the client.

Abstract: A safe-stop-zone mapping system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle includes a digital-map and a controller. The digital-map indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle. The digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path. The controller is in communication with the digital-map. The controller is configured to navigate the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs.

Abstract: A safe-stop-zone mapping system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle includes a digital-map and a controller. The digital-map indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle. The digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path. The controller is in communication with the digital-map. The controller is configured to navigate the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs.

Abstract: A humanized steering system for an automated vehicle includes one or more steering-wheels operable to steer a vehicle, an angle-sensor configured to determine a steering-angle of the steering-wheels, a hand-wheel used by an operator of the vehicle to influence the steering-angle and thereby manually steer the vehicle, a steering-actuator operable to influence the steering-angle thereby steer the vehicle when the operator does not manually steer the vehicle, a position-sensor operable to indicate a relative-position an object proximate to the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the steering-angle and the relative-position, determine, using deep-learning techniques, a steering-model based on the steering-angle and the relative-position, and operate the steering-actuator when the operator does not manually steer the vehicle to steer the vehicle in accordance with the steering-model, whereby the vehicle is steered in a manner similar to how the operator manually steers the vehicle.

Abstract: A lidar unit is mounted to an autonomous vehicle within an existing rear side window opening. An opaque inner panel blocks light, while the exterior window covers and protects the lidar unit, maintaining the original appearance and aerodynamic form of the vehicle exterior, in conjunction with the opaque inner panel.

Abstract: An operator-evaluation system for an automated vehicle includes a traffic-detector and a controller. The traffic-detector is used to determine a complexity-ranking of a traffic-scenario approached by a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the traffic-detector and is configured to operate the host-vehicle in: an automated-mode where the controller steers the host-vehicle toward a desired-position of a travel-lane; a monitored-mode where an operator steers the host-vehicle and the controller assists the operator to steer the host-vehicle toward the desired-position when the host-vehicle is farther than a lateral-threshold from the desired-position; and a manual-mode where the operator steers the host-vehicle without assistance from the controller.

Abstract: An operator-evaluation system for an automated vehicle includes a traffic-detector and a controller. The traffic-detector is used to determine a complexity-ranking of a traffic-scenario approached by a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the traffic-detector and is configured to operate the host-vehicle in: an automated-mode where the controller steers the host-vehicle toward a desired-position of a travel-lane; a monitored-mode where an operator steers the host-vehicle and the controller assists the operator to steer the host-vehicle toward the desired-position when the host-vehicle is farther than a lateral-threshold from the desired-position; and a manual-mode where the operator steers the host-vehicle without assistance from the controller.

Abstract: A navigation system suitable for use by an automated vehicle includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a digital-map, and a controller. The digital-map includes a first data-group of navigation-features preferentially detected by the first sensor-technology, and a second data-group of navigation-features preferentially detected by the second sensor-technology. The controller determines, on the digital-map, first and second locations of the host-vehicle using the first and second sensors, respectively. The controller selects one of the first and second locations to navigate the host-vehicle based on a comparison of the first data-density and the second data-density. Alternatively, the controller determines a first feature-density and a second feature-density of navigation-features detected by the first and second sensors respectively, and selects one of the first location and the second location to navigate the host-vehicle based on a comparison of the first feature-density and the second feature-density.

Abstract: A cooperative-vehicle system suitable to operate an automated vehicle in a courteous or cooperative manner includes an object-detector and a controller. The object-detector is used by the host-vehicle to detect an other-vehicle attempting to enter a travel-lane traveled by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector. The controller is configured to control motion of the host-vehicle. The controller is also configured to adjust a present-vector of the host-vehicle to allow the other-vehicle to enter the travel-lane. The decision to take some action to allow the other vehicle to enter the travel-lane may be further based on secondary considerations such as how long the other-vehicle has waited, a classification of the other-vehicle (e.g. an ambulance), an assessment of how any action by the host-vehicle would affect nearby vehicles, the intent of the other-vehicle, and/or a measure traffic-density proximate to the host-vehicle.