Abstract: A hitch assembly for coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle comprises a king ball including a base and a king pin extending vertically from a top surface of the base, the king pin including a ball positioned on a distal end opposite the base, the ball adapted to be pivotally received into a hitch of the trailer. A hitch block includes a draw bar and a housing, the drawbar adapted to be horizontally inserted into a receiver mounted onto the tow vehicle, the housing including a throat adapted to receive the base of the king ball. A locking mechanism is adapted to automatically engage the king pin when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing to secure the base of the king ball within the throat of the housing and locking the king ball and the hitch block together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a towing preferred navigational route including an input to receive a request for a navigational route wherein the request is indicative of a destination and a tow mode engagement, a memory to store an aggregated segment data wherein the aggregated segment data is generated in response to a plurality of tow enabled vehicles traveling the segment, a processor to generate the navigational route in response to the request for the navigational route and the aggregated segment data, and an output to couple the navigational route for display to a driver.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle comprises a king ball including a base and a king pin extending vertically from a top surface of the base, the king pin including a ball positioned on a distal end opposite the base, the ball adapted to be pivotally received into a hitch of the trailer. A hitch block includes a draw bar and a housing, the drawbar adapted to be horizontally inserted into a receiver mounted onto the tow vehicle, the housing including a throat adapted to receive the base of the king ball. A locking mechanism is adapted to automatically engage the king pin when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing to secure the base of the king ball within the throat of the housing and locking the king ball and the hitch block together.

Abstract: An imaging connection device is provided for use with a vehicle and a trailer. The vehicle includes a hitch assembly, a wired vehicle interface, and a vehicle communications unit, and the trailer includes a tow assembly and a wire harness. The imaging connection device includes a housing defining a first connector configured to mate with the wired vehicle interface and a second connector configured to mate with the wire harness; a connector interface at least partially arranged within the housing and extending between the first connector and the second connector; a camera unit at least partially arranged within the housing and configured to capture image data representing a side view of the hitch assembly; and a wireless communications unit at least partially arranged within the housing and configured to transmit the image data captured by the camera unit to the vehicle communications unit for display on a display device.

Abstract: A smart trailer coupler system includes a ball mount connectable to a vehicle, a hitch ball mechanically connected to the ball mount, a coupler selectively connectable to the hitch ball, and at least one sensor mounted to one of the ball mount, the hitch ball and the coupler. The at least one sensor detects a size compatibility between the coupler and the hitch ball. A signal system is operatively connected to the at least one sensor. The signal system provides at least one of a visual alert and an audible alert of the size compatibility between the hitch ball and the coupler.

Abstract: A camera apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an image sensor, an electrochromic filter element, an infrared illuminator, and a controller configured to activate at least one from among the electrochromic filter element and the infrared illuminator based on a feature of an image of a scene captured by the image sensor.

Abstract: A method for producing high resolution virtual wheel speed sensor data includes simultaneously collecting wheel speed sensor (WSS) data from multiple wheel speed sensors each sensing rotation of one of multiple wheels of an automobile vehicle. A camera image is generated of a vehicle environment from at least one camera mounted in the automobile vehicle. An optical flow program is applied to discretize the camera image in pixels. Multiple distance intervals are overlayed onto the discretized camera image each representing a vehicle distance traveled defining a resolution of each of the multiple wheel speed sensors. A probability distribution function is created predicting a distance traveled for a next WSS output.

Abstract: A washer fluid level indication system of a vehicle determines a present volume of washer fluid present within a washer fluid reservoir. A flowrate module is configured to determine a volume of washer fluid dispensed based on a measured voltage applied to a washer fluid pump and a predetermined volumetric flowrate of dispensing washer fluid calibrated based on a predetermined voltage. The flowrate module is configured to subtract the volume of washer fluid dispensed from the present volume. A level module is configured to determine a present level of washer fluid within the washer fluid reservoir based on the present volume and a predetermined maximum volume of the washer fluid reservoir. A display control module is configured to display the present level of washer fluid within the washer fluid reservoir using a washer level indicator.

Abstract: A self-cleaning lens system disposed adjacent a camera is disposed. The system may incorporate a piezoelectric (PZT) lens system having a first PZT element secured to a first peripheral portion of the lens element, which may be responsive to an alternating current (AC) signal applied to the first PZT element. An AC signal may excite the first PZT element to cause shear displacements in opposite longitudinal directions and to create an oscillating shear motion for the first PZT element. The oscillating shear motion may cause an oscillating rotational movement of the lens element that removes the environmental element from a surface of the lens element.

Abstract: An imaging connection device is provided for use with a vehicle and a trailer. The vehicle includes a hitch assembly, a wired vehicle interface, and a vehicle communications unit, and the trailer includes a tow assembly and a wire harness. The imaging connection device includes a housing defining a first connector configured to mate with the wired vehicle interface and a second connector configured to mate with the wire harness; a connector interface at least partially arranged within the housing and extending between the first connector and the second connector; a camera unit at least partially arranged within the housing and configured to capture image data representing a side view of the hitch assembly; and a wireless communications unit at least partially arranged within the housing and configured to transmit the image data captured by the camera unit to the vehicle communications unit for display on a display device.

Abstract: A camera apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an image sensor, an electrochromic filter element, an infrared illuminator, and a controller configured to activate at least one from among the electrochromic filter element and the infrared illuminator based on a feature of an image of a scene captured by the image sensor.

Abstract: A forward facing camera module is configured to, based on an image including a predetermined field of view (FOV) in front of the vehicle: determine a first distance between the vehicle and a first cyclist. A blind zone radar sensor module is configured to: determine a second distance between the vehicle and a second cyclist within a predetermined area on a side of the vehicle based on radar signals transmitted within the predetermined area. A first and second distance modules are configured to generate first and second signals when the first and second distances are decreasing, respectively. An output control module is configured to, when at least one of the first signal and the second signal is generated while a turn light for the side of the vehicle is activated, selectively generate at least one of an audible output and a visual output within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A washer fluid level indication system of a vehicle determines a present volume of washer fluid present within a washer fluid reservoir. A flowrate module is configured to determine a volume of washer fluid dispensed based on a measured voltage applied to a washer fluid pump and a predetermined volumetric flowrate of dispensing washer fluid calibrated based on a predetermined voltage. The flowrate module is configured to subtract the volume of washer fluid dispensed from the present volume. A level module is configured to determine a present level of washer fluid within the washer fluid reservoir based on the present volume and a predetermined maximum volume of the washer fluid reservoir. A display control module is configured to display the present level of washer fluid within the washer fluid reservoir using a washer level indicator.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, sensor data indicative of conditions of a roadway in a path of a first vehicle; determining, by a processor, road hazard information based on the presence of a road hazard within the roadway; assigning, by a processor, a category to the road hazard information; selectively communicating, by a processor, the road hazard information to a second vehicle based on vehicle information associated with the second vehicle and the category; and selectively, by a processor, controlling the second vehicle based on the vehicle information.

Abstract: A system is provided including a data module, a classification module and a control module. The data module is configured to receive at least one of acceleration data and gravity data from an accelerometer or a mobile network device, where the acceleration data and the gravity data are indicative of accelerations experienced by the mobile network device. The classification module is configured to classify a location of the mobile network device on a person based on the at least one of the acceleration data and the gravity data and generate a location classification output. The control module is configured to perform an operation based on the location classification output.

Abstract: Methods and systems for receiving, by a destination device at which a securement-monitoring application is operating, from a securement sensor device, a securement-condition communication indicating a condition of a securement remote to the destination device. Operations also include determining, by the destination device using the securement-monitoring application, an action to take responsive to the securement-condition communication, such as notifying a user of an undesired condition at the securement. The operations further include initiating the action determined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for cleaning a sensor lens cover for an optical vehicle sensor. The method includes monitoring the sensor lens cover for a contaminant obstructing at least a portion of the sensor lens cover and determining the presence of the commandant and a contaminant type using information provided by one or more vehicle sensors. A cleaning modality selected based the contaminant type is activated and it is determined whether the cleaning modality has removed the contaminant from the sensor lens cover.

Abstract: A smart trailer coupler system includes a ball mount connectable to a vehicle, a hitch ball mechanically connected to the ball mount, a coupler selectively connectable to the hitch ball, and at least one sensor mounted to one of the ball mount, the hitch ball and the coupler. The at least one sensor detects a size compatibility between the coupler and the hitch ball. A signal system is operatively connected to the at least one sensor. The signal system provides at least one of a visual alert and an audible alert of the size compatibility between the hitch ball and the coupler.

Abstract: An unexpected event detection system is provided for a rider operating an electric bicycle. The system includes a bicycle data unit configured to receive bicycle data from the electric bicycle; a wireless device data unit configured to receive device data from a wireless device; an unexpected event module coupled to receive the bicycle data from the bicycle data unit and to receive the device data from the wireless device, the unexpected event module configured to identify an unexpected event associated with the electric bicycle based on the bicycle data and the device data and to generate an alert message upon identification of the unexpected event; and an alert module coupled to the unexpected event module and configured to initiate sending the alert message to an assistance center.

Abstract: A forward facing camera module is configured to, based on an image including a predetermined field of view (FOV) in front of the vehicle: determine a first distance between the vehicle and a first cyclist. A blind zone radar sensor module is configured to: determine a second distance between the vehicle and a second cyclist within a predetermined area on a side of the vehicle based on radar signals transmitted within the predetermined area. A first and second distance modules are configured to generate first and second signals when the first and second distances are decreasing, respectively. An output control module is configured to, when at least one of the first signal and the second signal is generated while a turn light for the side of the vehicle is activated, selectively generate at least one of an audible output and a visual output within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.