Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller configured to select one of a group of topics for generating an answer to a question embedded within the group based on an operating parameter of the vehicle and a syntax of a phrase. The selection is responsive to input originating from utterances including a preceding topic and a following topic having a moniker therebetween that is associated with only one of the topics through the syntax. The vehicle may operate an interface to output the answer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for drone vehicle integration and controls. A vehicle device for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may receive an input indicating a request to deploy the UAV from a vehicle. The vehicle device may determine that one or more deployment conditions are satisfied. The vehicle device may cause deployment of the UAV. The vehicle device may determine a control command for the UAV and a vehicle instruction associated with operating the UAV. The vehicle device may determine that the vehicle instruction has been satisfied, and may send the control command once the vehicle instruction is satisfied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for vehicle integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Example methods may include coupling a landing dish of a vehicle integrated UAS to a ground station assembly; positioning the landing dish and the ground station assembly into a portion of a vehicle and a capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS; and coupling the landing dish to the capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS. In various embodiments, the vehicle integrated UAS may be configured to send and receive information (e.g., route information, power information, status information, etc.) between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) associated with the UAS to device(s) of a vehicle.

Abstract: Thermal image based precision drone landing systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example system can include a landing surface for receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle, a heat-based guidance assembly comprising a plurality of heat emitting units, and a controller that controls operation of the plurality of heat emitting units to create a pattern that is recognized by the unmanned aerial vehicle and guides the unmanned aerial vehicle in landing on the landing surface.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for drone vehicle integration and controls. A vehicle device for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may receive an input indicating a request to deploy the UAV from a vehicle. The vehicle device may determine that one or more deployment conditions are satisfied. The vehicle device may cause deployment of the UAV. The vehicle device may determine a control command for the UAV and a vehicle instruction associated with operating the UAV. The vehicle device may determine that the vehicle instruction has been satisfied, and may send the control command once the vehicle instruction is satisfied.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for predicting the availability of parking spots. In one exemplary embodiment, a driver of a first vehicle that is parked in a parking spot inputs into a device such as a smartphone, an estimated time of occupancy of the parking spot. This information is transmitted by the device to a server. A driver of a second vehicle may transmit to the server a request for a vacant parking spot. The server uses information such as the estimated time of occupancy to determine an expected wait time for the second vehicle to obtain the parking spot occupied by the first vehicle. The expected wait time is transmitted by the server to the driver of the second vehicle who can then drive to the parking spot when vacated. The server may provide driving directions to the driver to reach the vacated parking spot.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting the availability of parking spots. A driver of a first vehicle that is parked in a parking spot inputs into a device, such as a smartphone, an estimated time of occupancy of the parking spot. This information is transmitted by the device to a server. A driver of a second vehicle may transmit to the server a request for a vacant parking spot. The server uses information, such as the estimated time of occupancy, to determine an expected wait time for the second vehicle to obtain the parking spot occupied by the first vehicle. The expected wait time is transmitted by the server to the driver of the second vehicle which can then drive to the parking spot when vacated. The server may provide driving directions to the driver to reach the vacated parking spot.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring control of drones from one computing device to another during flight are disclosed. An example method may include accepting, by a drone control module of a computing device, a destination associated with a user. The method may further include establishing, by the drone control module, a channel of communication with a user device of the user. Thereafter, the drone control module may launch the drone from a first location. The method may further include transmitting, by the drone control module, control data for the drone to the user device via the channel of communication. The method may continue with transferring, by the drone control module, an operational control of the drone to the user device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for vehicle integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Example methods may include coupling a landing dish of a vehicle integrated UAS to a ground station assembly; positioning the landing dish and the ground station assembly into a portion of a vehicle and a capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS; and coupling the landing dish to the capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS. In various embodiments, the vehicle integrated UAS may be configured to send and receive information (e.g., route information, power information, status information, etc.) between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) associated with the UAS to device(s) of a vehicle.

Abstract: Thermal image based precision drone landing systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example system can include a landing surface for receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle, a heat-based guidance assembly comprising a plurality of heat emitting units, and a controller that controls operation of the plurality of heat emitting units to create a pattern that is recognized by the unmanned aerial vehicle and guides the unmanned aerial vehicle in landing on the landing surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring control of drones from one computing device to another during flight are disclosed. An example method may include accepting, by a drone control module of a computing device, a destination associated with a user. The method may further include establishing, by the drone control module, a channel of communication with a user device of the user. Thereafter, the drone control module may launch the drone from a first location. The method may further include transmitting, by the drone control module, control data for the drone to the user device via the channel of communication. The method may continue with transferring, by the drone control module, an operational control of the drone to the user device.

Abstract: The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for routing following vehicles toward a lead vehicle in a vehicle caravan. GPS locations can be shared between caravanning vehicles moving towards a destination. Routes (e.g., turn-by-turn navigation) for individual vehicles participating in a caravan can be dynamically updated. Within a group of GPS devices, one GPS device (e.g., a GPS device at a designated lead vehicle) can be selected as a master GPS device. As the designated lead vehicle travels towards the destination, the master GPS device can continually share its GPS coordinates (i.e., share its location) with the other GPS devices. The other GPS devices use the shared GPS coordinates to continually adjust routes to progress towards the master GPS device (and thus progress towards the lead vehicle). That is, the other GPS devices are continually updating navigation routes to follow the master GPS device.

Abstract: The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for routing following vehicles toward a lead vehicle in a vehicle caravan. GPS locations can be shared between caravanning vehicles moving towards a destination. Routes (e.g., turn-by-turn navigation) for individual vehicles participating in a caravan can be dynamically updated. Within a group of GPS devices, one GPS device (e.g., a GPS device at a designated lead vehicle) can be selected as a master GPS device. As the designated lead vehicle travels towards the destination, the master GPS device can continually share its GPS coordinates (i.e., share its location) with the other GPS devices. The other GPS devices use the shared GPS coordinates to continually adjust routes to progress towards the master GPS device (and thus progress towards the lead vehicle). That is, the other GPS devices are continually updating navigation routes to follow the master GPS device.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an interface. The vehicle includes a controller configured to select topics for generating an answer to a question based on an operating parameter of a vehicle, and operate the interface to output the answer to an occupant. The selection being responsive to input originating from verbal utterances of the occupant, and defining a plurality of different topics and ending with a question.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller configured to select one of a group of topics for generating an answer to a question embedded within the group based on an operating parameter of the vehicle and a syntax of a phrase. The selection is responsive to input originating from utterances including a preceding topic and a following topic having a moniker therebetween that is associated with only one of the topics through the syntax. The vehicle may operate an interface to output the answer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for capturing speech input from a user are disclosed herein. A system includes a playback audio component, an audio rendering component, a capture component, a filter component, and a speech recognition component. The playback audio component is configured to buffer audio data for sound generation. The audio rendering component is configured to play the audio data on one or more speakers. The capture component is configured to capture audio (captured audio) using a microphone. The filter component is configured to filter the captured audio to generate filtered audio, wherein filtering includes filtering using the buffered audio data to remove audio corresponding to the audio data from the captured audio. The speech recognition component is configured to generate text or commands based on the filtered audio.