Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods implemented in algorithms, software, firmware, logic, or circuitry may be configured to process data and sensory input in real-time to detect an object. In particular, a method may include determining a predicted object path of the object. The method may further include determining a predict point of impact between the autonomous vehicle and the object based in part on the predicted object path. The method may further include identifying a preferred point of impact that is associated with a safety system disposed on the autonomous vehicle. The method may further include causing the autonomous vehicle to perform a maneuver based in part on the preferred point of impact.

Abstract: An occupant protection system for a vehicle may include an expandable curtain and/or an expandable bladder configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state. In the deployed state, the expandable curtain may include first and second sides configured to extend along respective portions of first and second interior sides of the vehicle. The expandable curtain may also include a transverse portion extending between the first and second sides, and the first and second sides, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain may form a contiguous barrier. The expandable bladder when deployed may be supported by the expandable curtain during contact by an occupant. The occupant protection system may also include a deployment control system configured to cause the expandable curtain and/or the expandable bladder to expand to the deployed state. The occupant protection system may be used in vehicles having a carriage-style seating arrangement.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a user interface for remote vehicle monitoring and/or control include presenting a digital representation of an environment and a vehicle as it traverses the environment on a first portion of a display and presenting on a second portion of the display a communication interface that is configured to provide communication with multiple people. The communication interface may enable communications between a remote operator and any number of occupants of the vehicle, other operators (e.g., other remote operators or in-vehicle operators), and/or people in an environment around the vehicle. The user interface may additionally include controls to adjust components of the vehicle, and the controls may be presented on a third portion of the display. Furthermore, the user interface may include a vehicle status interface that provides information associated with a current state of the vehicle.

Abstract: An occupant protection system for a vehicle may include an expandable curtain and/or an expandable bladder configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state. In the deployed state, the expandable curtain may include first and second sides configured to extend along respective portions of first and second interior sides of the vehicle. The expandable curtain may also include a transverse portion extending between the first and second sides, and the first and second sides, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain may form a contiguous barrier. The expandable bladder when deployed may be supported by the expandable curtain during contact by an occupant. The occupant protection system may also include a deployment control system configured to cause the expandable curtain and/or the expandable bladder to expand to the deployed state. The occupant protection system may be used in vehicles having a carriage-style seating arrangement.

Abstract: An arrangement of wheels for a bi-directional vehicle may decrease the drag coefficient for the vehicle regardless of a direction of travel of the vehicle. A pair of wheels, each wheel of the pair having a configuration of fins to promote a desired aerodynamic effect, when located at a leading end of the vehicle promotes airflow laterally outboard of the vehicle body. In contrast, the same pair of wheels, when located at a trailing end of the vehicle promotes airflow laterally inboard of the vehicle body.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an autonomous vehicle fleet as a service. In particular, a method may include monitoring a fleet of vehicles, at least one of which is configured to autonomously transit from a first geographic region to a second geographic region, detecting data indicating an event associated with the vehicle having a calculated confidence level, receiving data representing a subset of candidate trajectories responsive to detecting the event, which is associated with a planned path for the vehicle, identifying guidance data to select from one or more of the candidate trajectories as a guided trajectory, receiving data representing a selection of a candidate trajectory, and transmitting the selection of the candidate trajectory as of the guided trajectory to the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques for assisting a passenger to identify a vehicle and for assisting a vehicle to identify a passenger are discussed herein. Also discussed herein are techniques for capturing data via sensors on a vehicle or user device and for presenting such data in various formats. For example, in the context of a ride hailing service using autonomous vehicles, the techniques discussed herein can be used to identify a passenger of the autonomous vehicle at the start of a trip, and can be used to assist a passenger to identify an autonomous vehicle that has been dispatched for that particular passenger. Additionally, data captured by sensors of the vehicle and/or by sensors of a user device can be used to initiate a ride, determine a pickup location, orient a user within an environment, and/or provide visualizations or augmented reality elements to provide information and/or enrich a user experience.

Abstract: An electrical system can include a power supply configured to provide electrical power to components at a time at which the electrical system experiences an electrical fault. The electrical system can include a first battery electrically coupled in parallel to a second battery via an electrical bus, whereby the first and second batteries can provide electrical power to a first electrical load and a second electrical load. Upon experiencing a fault, a first circuit element can electrically decouple the first battery and the second battery by opening a circuit provided by the electrical bus, thereby isolating the first battery from the second battery. Next, the battery experiencing the fault can include a second circuit element that can electrically decouple the battery experiencing the fault from a respective electrical load, while the battery isolated from the fault can continue to provide electrical power to components.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an autonomous vehicle fleet as a service. In particular, a method may include monitoring a fleet of vehicles, at least one of which is configured to autonomously transit from a first geographic region to a second geographic region, detecting data indicating an event associated with the vehicle having a calculated confidence level, receiving data representing a subset of candidate trajectories responsive to detecting the event, which is associated with a planned path for the vehicle, identifying guidance data to select from one or more of the candidate trajectories as a guided trajectory, receiving data representing a selection of a candidate trajectory, and transmitting the selection of the candidate trajectory as of the guided trajectory to the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a passenger is seated in a seating area and, based at least in part on detecting the passenger, engaging or disengaging a flap in a headrest. Such a headrest may span multiple seats so that a single headrest is used by multiple passengers. Each of one or more flaps in the single headrest may then be configured by the passenger to provide each passenger with their own privacy and comfort. By actively controlling the state of the flap, a uniform passenger experience may be created so that the flap is in the same state upon a passenger entering the vehicle. Further, examples of the headrest are designed and configured to couple directly, or indirectly, to a vehicle body, such that the headrest does not couple directly to a seat or passenger seating area.

Abstract: Techniques for performing multiple simultaneous pose generation for an autonomous vehicle. For instance, a system that navigates the autonomous vehicle can include at least a first component that determines first poses for the autonomous vehicle using at least a first portion of sensor data captured by one or more sensors and a second component that determines second poses for the autonomous vehicle using at least a second portion of the sensor data. The first component may have more computational resources than the second component and determine poses at a different frequency than the second component. The system may generate trajectories for the autonomous vehicle using the first poses when the first component is operating correctly. Additionally, the system may generate trajectories for the autonomous vehicle using the second poses when the first component is not operating correctly.