Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a controller adapted to selectively execute an alternative periodic connectivity mode for communication between a user of the vehicle and a remote assistance unit. The vehicle is not connected to a wireless plan. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The alternative periodic connectivity mode is activated based in part on at least one automatic trigger and/or a request from the user. The controller is adapted to assign a distinct identifier to the vehicle during execution of the alternative periodic connectivity mode. The distinct identifier is defined by a plurality of parameters, including a connection time interval, an internet protocol address range and a host port. The internet protocol address range and the host port may be dynamically configured to remain disengaged unless given a system clearance.

Abstract: Presented are adaptive operator assistance systems for motor-assisted manually powered (MMP) vehicles, methods for making/using such systems, and electric scooters equipped with such systems. A method of operating an MMP vehicle using a handheld mobile computing device (MCD) includes the handheld MCD receiving path plan data for the MMP vehicle and then receiving, based on this path plan data, MMP-specific ambient data that is aligned with the vehicle's present location and contains surrounding environment data particular to the MMP vehicle. A wireless location device of the handheld MCD tracks the MMP vehicle's real-time location, and a sensing device of the handheld MCD detects MMP-specific threat data that is aligned with the vehicle's real-time location and contains user danger data particular to the MMP vehicle. The handheld MCD then commands a resident subsystem of the MMP vehicle to execute a control operation based on the MMP-specific ambient data and/or threat data.

Abstract: A system includes a source vehicle and a destination vehicle. The destination vehicle is configured to determine that the source vehicle and the destination vehicle are suitably close to exchange data through a wireless communications channel, compare current version numbers in the destination vehicle with approved version numbers in the source vehicle, approve an update for one or more current software components in the destination vehicle in response to one or more criteria, receive one or more approved software components at the destination vehicle from the source vehicle via the wireless communications channel in response to the current version numbers of the current software components approved for the update being different from corresponding ones of approved version numbers of the approved software components, and update the one or more current software components in the destination vehicle with the one or more approved software components received from the source vehicle.

Abstract: A method for use aboard a motor vehicle having a vehicle interior and a vehicle telematics unit (VTU) includes detecting, using an electronic control unit (ECU), an active voice call between the VTU and a remote call center, and processing sensor data via the ECU. The sensor data is indicative of an operator of the vehicle having exited the interior. In response to enabling conditions, the voice call is transferred to a personal mobile device, e.g., a smartphone, external to the interior. The enabling conditions may include receipt by the ECU of a call transfer approval signal. A motor vehicle includes a body and control system attached thereto. The control system includes the VTU, a sensor suite, and the ECU. A computer-readable storage medium includes instructions, the execution of which by a processor of the ECU causes the method to be performed.

Abstract: A system for detecting one or more characteristics of an object within an automotive vehicle includes one or more sensors mounted within an interior of the vehicle or on an exterior of the vehicle, with each sensor being configured to detect a location, an orientation, a size and/or an object type of the object, and a controller operably connected with the one or more sensors and configured to assess whether the object is disposed in a predetermined alertworthy disposition. A method for detecting characteristics of the object within the vehicle includes determining the location, orientation, size and/or object type of the object using the one or more sensors, and assessing whether the object is disposed in a predetermined alertworthy disposition.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent control systems for flexible notification and management of in-vehicle assets, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a motor vehicle includes a vehicle controller detecting, via a resident communications interface (RCI) device, an electronic asset within a compartment of the motor vehicle. Responsive to detecting the asset, the controller accesses a memory device to retrieve device data specific to the asset. This device data contains a set of conditional criteria predetermined to protect the asset while in the vehicle compartment. The controller also detects when the vehicle is stopped; upon detecting the vehicle has stopped, the controller determines if any one of the conditional criteria has been met. If so, the controller responsively commands one or more resident vehicle subsystems of the vehicle to execute one or more automated control operations to protect the asset while inside the vehicle.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for training a trainee using an autonomous vehicle, the method including: measuring, via one or more sensors, one or more manual inputs from the trainee with respect to controlling the autonomous vehicle; determining, via a processor using an autonomous driving algorithm stored in a memory of the autonomous vehicle, one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle; comparing, via the processor, the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle, generating a comparison; and determining, via the processor, a score for the trainee based on the comparison between the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system for managing a set of fleet vehicles includes a central command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The fleet vehicles have one or more respective electronic components and respective vehicle controllers adapted to perform self-diagnosis of their respective electronic components. The central command unit is adapted to receive notification of the self-diagnosis and classify the respective electronic components as working ones and non-working ones. The central command unit is adapted to perform component matching, including polling inventory across the fleet vehicles. Working ones of the respective electronic components are selectively redistributed for reuse across the fleet vehicles. In some embodiments, at least one of the fleet vehicles is designated as a master vehicle and the central command unit is stored in the master vehicle. In other embodiments, the central command unit is stored in a cloud computing service.

Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes an assistance mode for communication between a user of the vehicle and a remote assistance unit. The assistance mode is activable during a concerning situation. The assistance mode includes multiple pre-coded subroutines selectively executable to provide audio instruction and video instruction to the user, via a display in the vehicle. The multiple pre-coded subroutines are triggered by the remote assistance unit. Operating the assistance mode includes relaying of selected data from the vehicle to the remote assistance unit. The selected data includes actions performed by the user. The assistance mode is activable by at least one of the remote assistance unit, the user via the user interface, and the vehicle. The communication system may include a controller adapted to at least partially execute the assistance mode.

Abstract: A method to detect an operator of an automobile vehicle includes: identifying if an emergency situation is occurring in an automobile vehicle; determining if a communication device is currently connected or was previously connected in the automobile vehicle; identifying a most recently connected operator of the communication device; and sending a signal identifying the emergency situation is occurring to the most recently connected operator of the communication device.

Abstract: A crash detection system for a vehicle comprises first and second batteries and a computational system comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. First and second antennas are both in electronic communication with the computational system and powered by one of the batteries, with the antennas configured to independently wirelessly communicate with an external network. A microphone powered by one of the batteries and in electronic communication with the computational system. The microphone continuously receives sound waves in real time and transmits sound signals to the processor. The processor monitors properties of the sound waves within the sound signals, compares the properties to thresholds stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, determines if the vehicle has been involved in a collision if at least one of the properties crosses the respective threshold, and communicates with the external network to report the collision with one of the antennas.

Abstract: A crash detection system for a vehicle comprises first and second batteries and a computational system comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. First and second antennas are both in electronic communication with the computational system and powered by one of the batteries, with the antennas configured to independently wirelessly communicate with an external network. A microphone powered by one of the batteries and in electronic communication with the computational system. The microphone continuously receives sound waves in real time and transmits sound signals to the processor. The processor monitors properties of the sound waves within the sound signals, compares the properties to thresholds stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, determines if the vehicle has been involved in a collision if at least one of the properties crosses the respective threshold, and communicates with the external network to report the collision with one of the antennas.

Abstract: A method to detect an operator of an automobile vehicle includes: identifying if an emergency situation is occurring in an automobile vehicle; determining if a communication device is currently connected or was previously connected in the automobile vehicle; identifying a most recently connected operator of the communication device; and sending a signal identifying the emergency situation is occurring to the most recently connected operator of the communication device.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes a sensor, a computer memory, and a processor. The sensor is configured to be disposed on a vehicle, and is configured to obtain sound or vibration data for the vehicle. The computer memory is configured to store a plurality of known signatures pertaining to a plurality of different types of vehicle theft events. The processor is configured to: compare a signature of the data with the plurality of known signatures stored in the computer memory; and determine whether a vehicle theft event is occurring based on the comparing of the signature of the data with the plurality of known signatures.

Abstract: A server for a telematics system includes a processor and memory. An application stored in the memory includes instructions that are executable by the processor and that are configured to receive vehicle data from a vehicle located remote from the server via a telematics system of the vehicle. The vehicle data includes a location of the vehicle, measured vehicle data, and vehicle diagnostic data sampled after the vehicle was involved in a crash event. The application generates a vehicle damage report based on the vehicle data sampled after the vehicle was involved in a crash event and generates a driveability score for the vehicle based on the vehicle damage report.

Abstract: A system of a motor vehicle for detecting a wrong-way driving vehicle and warning third parties includes multiple sensors that generate associated input signals indicative of characteristics of a target vehicle. The telematics module further includes a controller and a storage medium storing computer code for execution by the controller. The computer code is configured to compare the characteristics of the target vehicle to associated threshold values. The computer code is further configured to determine a confidence score indicative of the wrong-way driving vehicle, in response to the controller determining that the characteristics exceed the threshold values. The computer code is further configured to compare the confidence score to a threshold score and generate a notification signal, in response to the controller determining that the confidence score is above the threshold score. The telematics module that transmits the notification signal to the third parties.

Abstract: A system of a motor vehicle for detecting a wrong-way driving vehicle and warning third parties includes multiple sensors that generate associated input signals indicative of characteristics of a target vehicle. The telematics module further includes a controller and a storage medium storing computer code for execution by the controller. The computer code is configured to compare the characteristics of the target vehicle to associated threshold values. The computer code is further configured to determine a confidence score indicative of the wrong-way driving vehicle, in response to the controller determining that the characteristics exceed the threshold values. The computer code is further configured to compare the confidence score to a threshold score and generate a notification signal, in response to the controller determining that the confidence score is above the threshold score. The telematics module that transmits the notification signal to the third parties.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for training a trainee using an autonomous vehicle, the method including: measuring, via one or more sensors, one or more manual inputs from the trainee with respect to controlling the autonomous vehicle; determining, via a processor using an autonomous driving algorithm stored in a memory of the autonomous vehicle, one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle; comparing, via the processor, the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle, generating a comparison; and determining, via the processor, a score for the trainee based on the comparison between the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes an event detection system, one or more sensors, a processor, and a transceiver. The one or more sensors are configured to generate sensor data. The processor is configured to at least facilitate: receiving a first indication of a possible event having occurred for a vehicle, based at least in part on a loss of communications with the event detection system; upon receiving the first indication, determining whether the vehicle is moving, based at least in part on the sensor data; and providing instructions for transmitting an emergency call from the vehicle to a remote server, when both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely: the first indication has been received; and the vehicle is not moving. The transceiver is coupled to the processor, and is configured for transmitting the emergency call in accordance with the instructions from the processor.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to responsively send vehicle information to a data center, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to carry out the steps of: receiving vehicle identification information; sending the vehicle identification information to the data center; capturing an image of one or more third-party-vehicle identifying features in response to a request from the data center; and sending the image to the data center.