Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for pedestrian detection are disclosed herein. A method includes receiving one or more images from a rear-facing camera on a vehicle. The method further includes determining that a pedestrian is present in the one or more images, predicting future motion of the pedestrian, and notifying a driver-assistance or automated driving system when a conflict exists between forward motion of the vehicle and the predicted future motion of the pedestrian.

Abstract: Example tornado detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from a sensor mounted to a vehicle and analyzes the received data using a deep neural network. The method determines whether a tornado is identified in the received data based on the analysis of the received data. If a tornado is identified in the received data, the method determines a trajectory of the tornado.

Abstract: Example wind detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from a vehicle-mounted sensor and determines whether airborne particles are identified in the received data. If airborne particles are identified in the received data, the method determines a wind speed and a wind direction based on movement of the airborne particles and determines a best action to avoid or mitigate the impact of the wind.

Abstract: Techniques pertaining to vehicle occupancy indication and utilization thereof are described. A method may involve determining occupancy information regarding a number of occupants in a vehicle. The method may also involve indicating the occupancy information in either or both of a human-perceivable way and a machine-perceivable way.

Abstract: Example ride control systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a request to initiate a drive session to help a baby fall asleep in a vehicle. The method identifies a driving route for the drive session and implements the drive session by following the driving route. One or more vehicle-mounted sensors determine whether the baby in the vehicle has fallen asleep during the drive session.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting hazards in anticipation of opening vehicle doors. Vehicle sensors (e.g., rear viewing cameras) can be used to detect and classify traffic, for example, as pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, roller skaters, wheel chair, etc., approaching on the side of a vehicle. When there is a possibility of a vehicle occupant opening a door into approaching traffic, a warning can be issued in the vehicle cabin to alert vehicle occupants of the approaching traffic. In one aspect, a vehicle prevents a door from opening if opening the door would likely cause an accident.

Abstract: Example sinkhole detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from multiple sensors mounted to a vehicle and analyzes the received data to identify a sinkhole in a roadway ahead of the vehicle. If a sinkhole is identified, the method adjusts vehicle operations and reports the sinkhole to a shared database and/or another vehicle.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and safely traversing an accumulation of ice on an impending bridge. The method automatically identifies, by the vehicle, impending approach of the vehicle to a bridge and senses an accumulation of ice on the bridge. The method then calculates a speed of the vehicle needed to prevent longitudinal slip between the vehicle and the bridge, and automatically slows the vehicle at a rate sufficient to enable the vehicle to reach the calculated speed by the time it reaches the bridge. A corresponding system is also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting and responding to emergency vehicles in a roadway. Aspects of the invention can be used to detect emergency vehicles and properly yield to emergency vehicles depending on roadway configuration. A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors. The vehicle also includes vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication capabilities and has access to map data. Sensor data from the plurality of sensors along with map data is provided as input to a neural network (either in the vehicle or in the cloud). Based on sensor data, the neural network detects when one or more emergency vehicles are approaching the vehicle. From a roadway configuration, a vehicle can use the plurality of sensors to automatically (and safely) yield to detected emergency vehicle(s). Automatically yielding can include one or more of: slowing down, changing lanes, stopping, etc.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that includes systems for adjusting the transmittance of one or more windows of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a camera outputting images taken of an occupant within the vehicle. The vehicle may also include an artificial neural network running on computer hardware carried on-board the vehicle. The artificial neural network may be trained to classify the occupant of the vehicle using the images captured by the camera as input. The vehicle may further include a controller controlling transmittance of the one or more windows based on classifications made by the artificial neural network. For example, if the artificial neural network classifies the occupant as squinting or shading his or her eyes with a hand, the controller may reduce the transmittance of a windshield, side window, or some combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for providing path attributes to controllers in a vehicle includes receiving drive history data for a future driving path of the vehicle, wherein the drive history data comprises a first data format. The method includes generating a message for a controller comprising path attributes from the drive history data according to a subscription list, wherein the message comprises a controller data format based on an indication by the subscription list. The method further includes providing one or more data packets comprising the message to the controller.

Abstract: A method for improving the safety and comfort of a vehicle driving over a railroad track, cattle guard, or the like. The method may include receiving, by a computer system, one or more inputs corresponding to one or more forward looking sensors. The computer system may also receive data characterizing a motion of the vehicle. The computer system may estimate, based on the one or more inputs and the data, a motion of a vehicle with respect to a railroad track, cattle guard, or the like extending across a road ahead of the vehicle. Accordingly, the computer system may change a suspension setting, steering setting, or the like of the vehicle to more safely or comfortably drive over the railroad track, cattle guard, or the like.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that uses data from different types of on-board sensors to determine whether meteorological precipitation is failing near the vehicle. The vehicle may include an on-board camera capturing image data and an on-board accelerometer capturing accelerometer data. The image data may characterize an area in front of or behind the vehicle. The accelerometer data may characterize vibrations of a windshield of the vehicle. An artificial neural network may run on computer hardware carried on-board the vehicle. The artificial neural network may be trained to classify meteorological precipitation in an environment of the vehicle using the image data and the accelerometer data as inputs. The classifications of the artificial neural network may be used to control one or more functions of the vehicle such as windshield-wiper speed, traction-control settings, or the like.

Abstract: Example ice and snow detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method activates an ice and snow detection system in response to receiving weather data indicating a likelihood of ice or snow on a roadway near a vehicle. The method receives data from multiple vehicle sensors and analyzes the received data to identify ice or snow on the roadway. If ice or snow is identified on the roadway, the method adjusts vehicle operations and reports the ice or snow condition to a shared database.

Abstract: Example metal bridge detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives LIDAR data from a LIDAR system mounted to a vehicle and receives camera data from a camera system mounted to the vehicle. The method analyzes the received LIDAR data and the camera data to identify a metal bridge proximate the vehicle. If a metal bridge is identified, the method adjusts vehicle operations to improve vehicle control as it drives across the metal bridge.

Abstract: Example passenger validation systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives, at a vehicle, a transport request indicating a passenger and a pick-up location. The vehicle drives to the pick-up location and authenticates the passenger at the pick-up location. If the passenger is successfully authenticated, the method unlocks the vehicle doors to allow access to the vehicle, determines a number of people entering the vehicle, and confirms that the number of people entering the vehicle matches a number of passengers associated with the transport request.

Abstract: Example passenger validation systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives, at a vehicle, a transport request indicating a passenger and a pick-up location. The vehicle drives to the pick-up location and authenticates the passenger at the pick-up location. If the passenger is successfully authenticated, the method unlocks the vehicle doors to allow access to the vehicle, determines a number of people entering the vehicle, and confirms that the number of people entering the vehicle matches a number of passengers associated with the transport request.

Abstract: Example passenger validation systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives, at a vehicle, a transport request indicating a passenger and a pick-up location. The vehicle drives to the pick-up location and authenticates the passenger at the pick-up location. If the passenger is successfully authenticated, the method unlocks the vehicle doors to allow access to the vehicle, determines a number of people entering the vehicle, and confirms that the number of people entering the vehicle matches a number of passengers associated with the transport request.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for perceiving roadway conditions from fused sensor data. Aspects of the invention use a combination of different types of cameras mounted to a vehicle to achieve visual perception for autonomous driving of the vehicle. Each camera in the combination of cameras generates sensor data by sensing at least part of the environment around the vehicle. The sensor data form each camera is fused together into a view of the environment around the vehicle. Sensor data from each camera (and, when appropriate, each other type of sensor) is fed into a central sensor perception chip. The central sensor perception chip uses a sensor fusion algorithm to fuse the sensor data into a view of the environment around the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for providing path attributes to controllers in a vehicle includes managing a subscription list that indicates what type of messages or data to which each of a plurality of controllers of a vehicle are subscribed. The method includes determining a future driving path for the vehicle and determining forward path attributes for the future driving path based on a drive history. The method includes selecting one or more controllers from the plurality of controllers to receive each of the forward path attributes based on the subscription list. The method includes providing each of the forward path attributes to the selected one or more controllers. The forward path attributes are provided using a common protocol for each of the plurality of controllers and two or more of the plurality of controllers receive a specific path attribute via a single message.