Abstract: A head-up display system includes one or more sensors, a display module having a variable image plane capability, and a control module. The control module is configured to generate a coordinate system for a desired location of a vehicle with respect to an object, the coordinate system including one or more fiducials specific to the one or more sensors and location data corresponding to each fiducial, detect the vehicle approaching the object based on data from the one or more sensors, and in response to the vehicle being within a defined distance threshold of the object, control the display module to project a virtual object at a location in space based on the one or more fiducials, and dynamically change the virtual object as the vehicle moves relative to the desired location to provide trajectory guidance for a driver. Other example systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for vehicle user prediction includes receiving, in real time, Ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor data from UWB sensors. The UWB sensors include UWB and a UWB tag. The method further includes tracking, in real time, a motion of the UWB tag using the UWB sensor data to determine whether the vehicle user is approaching the vehicle and determining a real-time location of the UWB tag relative to the vehicle using a Bayesian estimation, UWB sensor data, and the motion of the UWB tag. The method also includes predicting, using a machine learning model, an intention of the vehicle user using the motion of the UWB tag and the real-time location of the UWB tag relative to the vehicle and commanding an actuator of the vehicle, using a controller of the vehicle, to actuate in response to predicting the intention of the vehicle user.

Abstract: A method for lane-level road congestion identification and forecasting includes identifying lane-level road congestion using Gaussian mixture modeling, predicting lane-level road congestion using a 2D Markov chain, and identifying routes and route changes for a host vehicle and applying the route and route changes to improve a host vehicle estimated time of arrival (ETA) at a predetermined finish location such that the ETA is shorter than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method to operate a customer-centric portable personal vehicle seat position system includes: generating pressure sensor profiles in response to a user seated on a vehicle seat of a first vehicle having a seat base and a seat back; correlating the pressure sensor profiles to individual user tasks; performing data reduction of the pressure sensor profiles after correlation to the individual user tasks; and encoding. multiple seat comfort preference profiles.

Abstract: An energy absorbing structure of a vehicle includes an energy absorbing structure including a plurality of interconnected structural members positioned at the vehicle. The energy absorbing structure is selectably transformable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and the plurality of interconnected structural members are configured to absorb an energy of an impact event by one or more of deformation and fracture of at least one structural member of the plurality of interconnected structural members.

Abstract: A trailer backing assistance (TBA) application in a vehicle includes a vehicle attached to a trailer by a movable hitch. The TBA utilizes an HMI, sensors on the vehicle, a GPS system, and a remote computing system (RCS). A controller having a processor, memory, and input/output (I/O) communicates with the sensors, HMI, RCS and GPS via a V2I communications network. The memory stores the TBA which is executed by the processor. The TBA determines conditions have been satisfied, obtains and processes optical data from sensors and RCS, presents a vehicle environment view, prompts a vehicle operator for first and second inputs, calculates a current location of the vehicle, generates a planned path to a target location, presents an animation of the vehicle traversing the path, and continuously displays a live view of the trailer and hitch while actively adjusting on-screen instructions to guide the vehicle and trailer along the path.

Abstract: A system integrating vehicle sensors with remote system sensors includes a vehicle having a controller communicating with a vehicle sensor generating data associated with a vehicle threat alert. A vehicle communication device communicating with the vehicle controller and transmitting vehicle sensor data. A remote system including a controller communicating with a remote sensor generating data associated with a remote threat alert. A communication hub communicating with the remote controller and the vehicle communication device. The vehicle communicating with the remote system through the communication hub, sharing vehicle threat alerts with the remote system, receiving and reviewing remote threat alerts from the remote system and modifying an operational mode of the vehicle sensor based on remote threat alerts. The remote network controller reviewing received vehicle threat alerts and modifying a detection mode of the remote system based on the received vehicle threat alerts.

Abstract: A smart parking recommendation system for energy conservation in a vehicle includes a smart parking recommendation application (SPRA) that determines that enabling conditions have been met and obtains from sensors and actuators of the vehicle, information about the vehicle and the vehicle's environment. The SPRA monitors information from the sensors and actuators and obtained from remote computing resources, a vehicle operator's current vehicle usage and determines a typical parking duration for a current parking location, and categorizes the current parking location. The SPRA utilizes an artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) model to suggest a parking spot within the parking location that satisfies user and energy consumption passenger compartment thermal quality preferences.

Abstract: Presented are smart vehicle systems with control logic that provision virtual rumble strip functionality, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes a vehicle controller wirelessly receiving location data indicative of the vehicle's real-time location, and then retrieving geopositional data associated with the vehicle's real-time location and containing a virtual rumble strip zone. The vehicle controller then determines a virtual characteristic set that defines a series of virtual rumble strips within the virtual rumble strip zone, and concurrently determines a sequence of haptic cues that simulate the virtual rumble strips.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for efficient fulfilment of user needs that dynamically arise during a trip are described. Fulfilling the user needs includes identifying the need, negotiating a plurality of attributes related to satisfying the need, determining at least one geotemporal zone of intent for satisfying the need based on a vector of intended travel of the vehicle and the negotiated plurality of attributes, detecting a point of interest for fulfilling the need within one or more of the at least one geotemporal zone of intent, and returning the point of interest to the user for addition to the trip as a waypoint to fulfill the need based on optimizing user satisfaction with the trip over other points of interest for fulfilling the need.

Abstract: A system for de-emphasizing fixed vehicle-mounted objects within a rear camera display includes a rear camera system adapted to capture images as the vehicle moves in reverse and display the captured images on the rear camera display, and a data processor in communication with the rear camera system and the rear camera display and adapted to collect sequential images captured by the rear camera system, compare the plurality of sequential images, identify fixed vehicle-mounted objects within the sequential images, calculate a portion of the sequential images that are obscured by identified fixed-vehicle objects, and, when the portion of the sequential images that are obscured by identified fixed-vehicle objects lies within a pre-determined range, to outline the identified fixed vehicle-mounted objects within the rear camera display, and augment the identified fixed vehicle-mounted objects.

Abstract: A method for vehicle user prediction includes receiving, in real time, Ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor data from UWB sensors. The UWB sensors include UWB and a UWB tag. The method further includes tracking, in real time, a motion of the UWB tag using the UWB sensor data to determine whether the vehicle user is approaching the vehicle and determining a real-time location of the UWB tag relative to the vehicle using a Bayesian estimation, UWB sensor data, and the motion of the UWB tag. The method also includes predicting, using a machine learning model, an intention of the vehicle user using the motion of the UWB tag and the real-time location of the UWB tag relative to the vehicle and commanding an actuator of the vehicle, using a controller of the vehicle, to actuate in response to predicting the intention of the vehicle user.

Abstract: A vision-based positioning system for a head restraint in a vehicle includes one or more head restraint actuators, one or more interior-facing cameras, and more controllers that include one or more processors that execute instructions to determine the head position of the occupant based on the image data received from the one or more interior-facing cameras. The one or more controllers determine a position of the head restraint relative to the head position of the occupant. In response to determining the position of the head restraint falls outside of a bounding box defined relative to a position of the head of the occupant, the one or more controllers instruct the one or more head restraint actuators to adjust the position of the head restraint to fall within the bounding box.

Abstract: A smart parking recommendation system for energy conservation in a vehicle includes a smart parking recommendation application (SPRA) that determines that enabling conditions have been met and obtains from sensors and actuators of the vehicle, information about the vehicle and the vehicle's environment. The SPRA monitors information from the sensors and actuators and obtained from remote computing resources, a vehicle operator's current vehicle usage and determines a typical parking duration for a current parking location, and categorizes the current parking location. The SPRA utilizes an artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) model to suggest a parking spot within the parking location that satisfies user and energy consumption passenger compartment thermal quality preferences.

Abstract: A seat cushion member for relieving local pressure concentrations of an occupant is provided. The seat cushion member includes a seat suspension, a backing foam layer disposed on the seat suspension, a feature layer disposed on the backing foam layer, a topper foam layer disposed on the feature layer, and a trim layer disposed on the topper foam layer. The feature layer has multiple features, and at least some of the multiple features undergo a limit point traversal when the seat cushion member is occupied.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for efficient fulfilment of user needs that dynamically arise during a trip are described. Fulfilling the user needs includes identifying the need, negotiating a plurality of attributes related to satisfying the need, determining at least one geotemporal zone of intent for satisfying the need based on a vector of intended travel of the vehicle and the negotiated plurality of attributes, detecting a point of interest for fulfilling the need within one or more of the at least one geotemporal zone of intent, and returning the point of interest to the user for addition to the trip as a waypoint to fulfill the need based on optimizing user satisfaction with the trip over other points of interest for fulfilling the need.

Abstract: A system integrating vehicle sensors with remote system sensors includes a vehicle having a controller communicating with a vehicle sensor generating data associated with a vehicle threat alert. A vehicle communication device communicating with the vehicle controller and transmitting vehicle sensor data. A remote system including a controller communicating with a remote sensor generating data associated with a remote threat alert. A communication hub communicating with the remote controller and the vehicle communication device. The vehicle communicating with the remote system through the communication hub, sharing vehicle threat alerts with the remote system, receiving and reviewing remote threat alerts from the remote system and modifying an operational mode of the vehicle sensor based on remote threat alerts. The remote network controller reviewing received vehicle threat alerts and modifying a detection mode of the remote system based on the received vehicle threat alerts.

Abstract: A trailer backing assistance (TBA) application in a vehicle includes a vehicle attached to a trailer by a movable hitch. The TBA utilizes an HMI, sensors on the vehicle, a GPS system, and a remote computing system (RCS). A controller having a processor, memory, and input/output (I/O) communicates with the sensors, HMI, RCS and GPS via a V2I communications network. The memory stores the TBA which is executed by the processor. The TBA determines conditions have been satisfied, obtains and processes optical data from sensors and RCS, presents a vehicle environment view, prompts a vehicle operator for first and second inputs, calculates a current location of the vehicle, generates a planned path to a target location, presents an animation of the vehicle traversing the path, and continuously displays a live view of the trailer and hitch while actively adjusting on-screen instructions to guide the vehicle and trailer along the path.

Abstract: A method to identify lane-level road congestion includes: modeling a lane-level congestion evolution process as a 2-dimensional (2D) Markov chain having multiple vehicles moving through a predetermined segment of a road; aggregating a volume of the multiple vehicles over a predetermined unit of time moving through the predetermined segment of a road; populating a lane congestion map identifying individual road lanes having differing levels of congestion; directing an output of the lane congestion map and an output of a lane congestion model to a lane routing engine; and identifying routes and route changes for a host vehicle to apply to improve a host vehicle estimated time of arrival (ETA) at a predetermined finish location.

Abstract: A method to incorporate lane level road congestion to enhance vehicle navigation includes: collecting vehicle data from a fleet of vehicles; identifying a lane level distribution of multiple vehicles operating on a road having multiple lanes including a host vehicle; comparing the lane level distribution against a non-congested lane of the road; and identifying if a lane level congestion is occurring in at least one of the multiple lanes.