Abstract: A tunable optical metamaterial system includes a tunable optical metamaterial, an actuator module to selectively activate the tunable optical metamaterial, and a control system to selectively control the actuator module. The tunable optical metamaterial includes a substrate composed at least in part of an electroactive polymer (EAP), and an optically active particle array that includes a plurality of optically active elongated members populated spaced apart on the substrate in two or more orientations to form confocal lenses that are optically responsive to the expansion of the substrate. The control module, is configured to control the optical properties of the tunable optical metamaterial by causing the electrical activation of the substrate via the actuator module to selectively expand the substrate in a manner that alters the spacing between the optically active elongated members.

Abstract: A tunable optical metamaterial system includes a tunable optical metamaterial, an actuator module to selectively activate the tunable optical metamaterial, and a control system to selectively control the actuator module. The tunable optical metamaterial includes a substrate defined by one or more fluid-filled pockets formed by one or more electroactive polymer (EAP) layers defining a reservoir containing a fluid that is induced to a change in volumetric configuration or 3D orientation when electrically activated. The optically active array of resonators are populated on an electroactive surface of the one or more fluid-filled pockets and are optically responsive to the change in volumetric configuration of the one or more fluid-filled pockets. The control module is to selectively control, via the actuator module, the optical properties of the tunable optical metamaterial by causing the electrical activation of the fluid-filled pockets.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to estimating depth using a machine learning (ML) model. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring image data according to criteria from a detector that uses a lens to resolve multiple angles of light per section of the detector. The method also includes mapping a kernel to the image data according to a view associated with the section and a size of the kernel. The method also includes processing the image data using the ML model to produce the depth according to the size of the kernel.

Abstract: The disclosure is related configuring a vehicle according to a user profile, where an individual user profile can be selected from a registry containing one or more user profiles using electroencephalogram (EEG). An additional biometric, such as gait, can also be used. The user profiles can include a variety of the user preferences, such as the preferred climate, seat settings, mode of payment, route to take, and more. A mobile device can also be used to add a layer of security and privacy, where the mobile device has sole access to the user's user profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide technology for a tunable vehicle window system to adjust a view for a window. The technology includes a window assembly comprising a tunable optical metamaterial deployed on a surface of a window, the tunable optical metamaterial including a transparent electroactive substrate having disposed thereon an optically active particle array, the optically active particle array including resonators having elongated members arranged in two or more orientations. The technology includes a controller to receive a signal from a photosensor indicative of a condition of incoming light to the vehicle, determine a change in a view for the window assembly based on the received photosensor signal, and control a voltage applied to the substrate to selectively expand or contract the substrate within a plane substantially parallel to the window surface and in a manner to adjust the view for the window assembly according to the determined view change.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly is provided, the configuration of which effectuates artificial tropism. The solar cell assembly may include a combination of at least one transparent solar cell and at least one opaque solar cell. The at least one transparent solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight while the at least one opaque solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight and absorbing some other wavelength(s) of incident sunlight. The transmitted wavelength(s) of incident sunlight excite or cause one or more shape-changing elements that support the at least one transparent solar cell and the at least one opaque solar cell to actuate in a manner that causes the solar cell assembly to re-orient itself towards a direction of the incident sunlight.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to an improved camera system including directional optics to estimate the depth of grayscale and color images. In one embodiment, a camera system includes a graded lens to receive light associated with a scene and resolve multiple angles of the light according to parameters of the graded lens. The camera system also includes a detector that senses the light from the graded lens per pixel to integrate multiple views of the scene into a single image to estimate depth associated with objects and the single image includes data for views of the objects that overlap having resolved angles in association with the parameters.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a cleanable surface disposed within its interior. The vehicle also includes a processor, a light source able to illuminate the surface, and a sensor configured to capture an image of the surface while the surface is illuminated by the light source. The vehicle also includes a passenger survey system for receiving input from a passenger regarding cleanliness of the surface. The processor is configured to adjust a detection threshold based on the input, and to detect foreign material on the surface based on the detection threshold and a comparison between the captured image and a stored image. After detecting the foreign material on the surface, the processor indicates that the vehicle needs to be cleaned, and may initiate an automatic cleaning procedure.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an interior and an exterior, a surface within the interior, and a movable seat positioned over a first portion of the surface. The vehicle also includes a processor, a seat control system able to move the seat to expose the portion of the surface, and a light source able to illuminate a larger second portion of the surface which includes the first portion. The vehicle further includes a sensor to capture an image of the second portion of the surface, illuminated by the light source, and a cleaning element able to clean the second portion of the surface. The processor is configured to detect foreign material on the second portion of the surface, based on a comparison between the image and a stored image. The processor is also configured to activate the cleaning element, after detecting the foreign material on the second portion of the surface.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a system with an electroactive substrate, a plurality of nanoparticles, and a control unit. The plurality of nanoparticles deposited in communication with the electroactive substrate. The control unit is configured to manipulate a shape of the electroactive substrate between an unactuated mode and an actuated mode to change an absorption band or an emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles. When the electroactive substrate shape is manipulated, the absorption band or the emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles is changed to tune the system for a radiative cooling based on a current dominating wavelength.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to an improved camera system including directional optics to estimate depth of grayscale images. In one embodiment, the camera system includes a lens that receives light associated with a scene and an inverter that inverts the light from the lens. The camera system also includes a metasurface that resolves an angle of the light from the inverter according to parameters of the metasurface. The camera system also includes a detector that senses the light from the metasurface to form image data by integrating intensity of the light per pixel to estimate depth of an object in the scene.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to a camera system. In one embodiment, the camera system includes a lens to receive light associated with an object and a first component, operatively connected to the lens, that inverts the light. The camera system also includes a second component, operatively connected to the first component, that resolves an angle of the light. A detector array, operatively connected to the second component, senses the light using a pixel to form an image to estimate depth of the object.

Abstract: A real-time machine perception system and vehicles with real-time perception systems can be adapted for navigation in conflict zone environments and include an optical sensor and an optical processing component coupled to the optical sensor. The optical processing component can be configured to solve a non-linear control problem comprising solving a multi-vehicle merging or multi-vehicle synchronization problem. The optical processing component can perform optical processing on a signal from the optical sensor according to a deep learning algorithm having weights determined by solving the non-linear control problem.

Abstract: Embodiments of a dual-sided transparent display panel are presented herein. One embodiment comprises a first layer of electro-optic material, the first layer of electro-optic material including an outer surface and an inner surface; a second layer of electro-optic material, the second layer of electro-optic material including an outer surface and an inner surface; a waveguide disposed between the inner surface of the first layer of electro-optic material and the inner surface of the second layer of electro-optic material; one or more light sources disposed along an edge of the waveguide that is perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces of the first and second layers of electro-optic material; a first grating coating adjacent to the outer surface of the first layer of electro-optic material; and a second grating coating adjacent to the outer surface of the second layer of electro-optic material.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly is provided, the configuration of which effectuates artificial tropism. The solar cell assembly may include a combination of at least one transparent solar cell and at least one opaque solar cell. The at least one transparent solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight while the at least one opaque solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight and absorbing some other wavelength(s) of incident sunlight. The transmitted wavelength(s) of incident sunlight excite or cause one or more shape-changing elements that support the at least one transparent solar cell and the at least one opaque solar cell to actuate in a manner that causes the solar cell assembly to re-orient itself towards a direction of the incident sunlight.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to calibrate a LiDAR using a reflect array calibration target having a spatially varying spectral reflectance profile. A frequency modulated continuous wave LiDAR emits a beam that spans a range of wavelengths, and, therefore, spatially varying spectral features in the reflectance profile can be used as indicia of where the LiDAR beam hits the calibration target. For example, the center has one absorption wavelength and the periphery has another, such that alignment is achieved by changing the alignment direction to maximize the spectral feature at the one absorption wavelength while minimizing the spectral feature at the other absorption wavelength. Alternatively, at least one spectral feature can have a center wavelength that changes as a function of space. Thus, the LiDAR is aligned by changing the beam direction to shift the center wavelength to a value corresponding to the target center.

Abstract: A display includes a plurality of elongated waveguides positioned adjacent to each other and extending along a first direction, a plurality of elongated upper electrodes positioned adjacent to each other on a first side of the waveguides and extending along the first direction, and a plurality of elongated lower electrodes positioned adjacent to each other on a second side of the waveguides opposite the first side and extending along a second direction transverse to the first direction. At least one of the waveguides comprises nonlinear materials having a third order susceptibility.

Abstract: A display includes a plurality of elongated waveguides positioned adjacent to each other and extending along a first direction, a plurality of elongated upper electrodes positioned adjacent to each other on a first side of the waveguides and extending along the first direction, and a plurality of elongated lower electrodes positioned adjacent to each other on a second side of the waveguides opposite the first side and extending along a second direction transverse to the first direction. At least one of the waveguides comprises nonlinear materials having a third order susceptibility.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an adaptable photonic apparatus including an optical neural network. The photonic apparatus includes an optical input that provides an optical signal. The photonic apparatus also includes a chassis component and an optical neural network (ONN). The chassis component includes at least one modular mounting location for receiving a modular network component. The ONN is operably connected with the optical input and is configured to perform optical processing on the optical signal according to a deep learning algorithm. The ONN includes optical components arranged into layers to form the ONN. The modular network component is an additional optical processing component that is configured to function in cooperation with the ONN to adapt the deep learning algorithm.