Abstract: A vehicle includes a powerplant and a body. The body defines a passenger cabin and a box and having a tailgate mounted to the box. A step assembly is associated with the box and includes a step and a handle. The handle has a sensor configured to receive input from a user located outside of the passenger cabin and output a signal when the input is active. A controller is programmed to, in response to the signal being received, command a torque to the powerplant to propel the vehicle based on the signal.

Abstract: A system and method to manage charging priority for at least one accessory includes the steps of: providing one or more charging stations for the at least one accessory, monitoring vehicle power status, and monitoring accessory charging status. Additionally, the allocation of power supplied to the one or more charging stations is managed based on priority requirements as determined per each accessory.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an access aperture that is defined by the body, a closure panel, a load ramp, and a moisture sensor. The access aperture provides access to an interior of the vehicle. The closure panel selectively covers at least a portion of the access aperture. The closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the access aperture. The load ramp is deployably coupled to the closure panel. The load ramp includes a coupled end and a free end. The load ramp is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The moisture sensor is positioned proximate to the free end of the load ramp. Methods of controlling the vehicle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle including a transceiver, a vehicle sensor unit and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive interface information from an interface sensor unit associated with an external interface. The external interface may be configured to be removably attached to a plurality of connection ports disposed on the vehicle. The vehicle sensor unit may be configured to determine vehicle information associated with at least one of a vehicle movement and the plurality of connection ports. The processor may obtain the interface information and/or the vehicle information. The processor may further determine an interface location relative to the vehicle based on the interface information and/or the vehicle information. Further, the processor may control a vehicle speed and/or a vehicle steering wheel rotation based on the interface location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are proposed for coordinating and providing assistive traction drive forces during towing events between a motor vehicle and one or more charging trailers. The assistive traction drive forces may be provided in the form of a propulsive torque applied by an electric machine of the charging trailer. Electrical energy for powering the electric machine may be supplied by a powertrain system of the towing vehicle or an energy storage device of an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle that is operably connected to the charging trailer. Energy expended by the energy storage device for powering the electric machine may be replenished during the towing event by regenerative braking.

Abstract: A vehicle configurable to tow a charging trailer having at least one electric outlet configured to charge a battery powered device includes a human-machine interface (HMI), a wireless transceiver, and a controller in communication with the wireless transceiver and the HMI, the controller programmed to, in response to the wireless transceiver receiving signals associated with at least one battery powered device in a connected charging trailer having a battery state of charge (SOC) below a corresponding threshold, signal the HMI to generate an associated output. Input from the HMI may enable or disable regenerative braking of the charging trailer to charge connected battery powered devices to control the associated effect of the charging of devices in the charging trailer on efficiency of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A closure release method includes monitoring a pressure between a closure of a vehicle and a frame of the vehicle when the closure is closed against the frame. The method further includes detecting a change in the pressure, and releasing the closure from a closed position in response to the change.

Abstract: A fleet management system is disclosed. The system may include a transceiver configured to receive vehicle information from each vehicle of a vehicle fleet and environmental condition information associated with each vehicle. The fleet management system may further include a processor configured to obtain the vehicle information and the environmental condition information, and predict a future vehicle efficiency and a future vehicle health of each vehicle. Based on the prediction, the processor may calculate first resources required to operate the vehicle fleet according to a current fleet allocation. The processor may determine an updated fleet allocation for the vehicle fleet, and calculate second resources required to operate the vehicle fleet according to the updated fleet allocation. The processor may transmit an instruction to at least vehicle of the vehicle fleet to re-locate based on the updated fleet allocation when the second resources may be less than the first resources.

Abstract: Systems and methods for digital shading control in a vehicle. The digital shading control may be integrated into glass of a vehicle, pillars, and more. In at least one implementation, the digital shading control is integrated directly into glass of a vehicle and comprises a transparency-changing material interface layer disposed of over the glass, a capacitive touch interface layer disposed of over the transparency-changing material interface layer, a force touch interface layer disposed of over the capacitive touch interface layer, and a haptics interface layer disposed of over the force touch interface layer.

Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.

Abstract: Macro-micro gesture detection is provided. Performance of a macro portion of a macro-micro gesture is detected by a mobile device, using phone-as-a-key (PaaK) sensors of a vehicle, the macro-micro gesture requesting invocation of a function of the vehicle. Using one or more inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors of the mobile device, performance of a micro portion of the macro-micro gesture is detected. Arbitrating is performed to validate that the function of the vehicle is to be performed in view of performance of both the micro portion and the macro portion. The function of the vehicle is invoked responsive to the validation being successful.

Abstract: A vehicle is described. The vehicle may include a vehicle sensor configured to detect cart location, and a lifting mechanism disposed at a vehicle sidewall. The lifting mechanism is configured to lift and secure a cart on a target location on the vehicle sidewall. The vehicle may further include a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain the cart location from the vehicle sensor, determine that the cart is aligned with the target location. Responsive to a determination that the cart is aligned, the processor is configured to transmit a command signal to the lifting mechanism to lift and secure the cart on the target location.

Abstract: A vehicle including a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive a signal indicative of a force applied by a user on an external interface. The external interface may be configured to be removably attached to the vehicle. The processor may be configured to obtain information associated with a desired virtual vehicle mass and information associated with one or more friction forces acting on the vehicle. The desired virtual vehicle mass may be less than an actual vehicle mass. The processor may further determine a target vehicle velocity based on the signal, the desired virtual vehicle mass and the information associated with the friction forces, and control a vehicle movement based on the target vehicle velocity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing protections against catalytic converter theft. A vehicle may comprise Ultra-Wideband (UWB) anchors or sensors. The UWB sensors of a vehicle may be used to detect the relative distance and/or location of UWB-capable devices in close proximity to the vehicle. An assessment may be performed using the UWB anchors and/or other sensors to determine whether the presence of the unknown device is indicative of a threat to the vehicle. If a threat is detected, one or more protection steps may be taken.

Abstract: This disclosure includes systems and method to manage customer incentivization and participation in virtual power plant (“VPP”) opportunities. A customer may enroll energy assets into VPP and may receive requests to participate in VPP opportunities as a grid has an impending demand for power greater than the supply of the grid. By participating, a user may earn rewards. By committing energy assets and not participating, or by not responding to requests for enrolled energy assets to participate in VPP, a user may receive a penalty. Participation in VPP may be requested on a grouped basis where some groups may have greater rewards and greater penalties but require more reliable participation from a user. Users may be automatically reassigned between groups based on a reliability metric.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting visually impaired passengers, e.g., blind passengers, using rideshare services is provided. The system may identify a visually impaired passenger from image data captured by one or more exterior cameras of a rideshare vehicle, e.g., by detection of use of a cane by the passenger. The system may then generate audible instructions that may be emitted via exterior and interior speakers of the vehicle or via a wirelessly paired headset worn by the passenger, to guide the passenger to the vehicle entrance and to an available passenger seat within the vehicle. The system further may detect obstacles or features in the path of the passenger, and emit audible alerts to guide the passenger around the obstacle or feature.

Abstract: A delivery vehicle is described. The vehicle may include a holding mechanism configured to hold a plurality of containers within the delivery vehicle. The plurality of containers may be configured to store a plurality of packages. The vehicle may further include a memory configured to store a first information including package attributes of each package and a mapping of each package with a container of the plurality of containers. The vehicle may further include a processor configured to obtain the first information from the memory. The processor may be further configured to determine a target location to load a target package or a target container in the delivery vehicle based on the first information. The processor may further activate a vehicle interior visual or audio component to indicate the target location in the delivery vehicle to load the target package or the target container.

Abstract: A vehicle including a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive a request to activate an external interface movement mode associated with the vehicle to enable a vehicle movement control via an external interface. The external interface may be configured to be removably attached to a vehicle exterior surface. The processor may be configured to obtain the request from the transceiver and determine that a predefined condition may be met responsive to obtaining the request. The processor may be further configured to activate the external interface movement mode responsive to determining that the predefined condition may be met. In addition, the processor may output a notification via a vehicle exterior light and/or a vehicle speaker responsive to activating the external interface movement mode.

Abstract: An interface configured to be removably attached to a vehicle exterior surface is disclosed. The interface may include a sensor unit configured to receive user inputs associated with at least one of a vehicle longitudinal movement and a vehicle steering wheel rotation. The interface may further include an interface communication module communicatively coupled with the sensor unit. The interface communication module may be configured to communicatively couple with a vehicle communication module when the interface may be attached to the vehicle exterior surface. The interface communication module may further obtain the user inputs from the sensor unit when the interface communication module may be coupled with the vehicle communication module, and transmit the user inputs to the vehicle communication module to cause a vehicle movement based on the user inputs.

Abstract: An interface including a first detection unit, a second detection unit and a processor is disclosed. The first detection unit may be configured to detect a user intent to cause a vehicle movement via the interface. The second detection unit may be configured to receive movement inputs to cause the vehicle movement. The processor may determine that a user intends to cause the vehicle movement based on inputs obtained from the first detection unit, and determine that the movement inputs are received by the second detection unit within a predefined time duration of determining that the user intends to cause the vehicle movement, based on inputs obtained from the second detection unit. The processor may further transmit a command signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle movement based on the movement inputs, responsive to determining that the movement inputs are received within the predefined time duration.