Abstract: Techniques are described for monitoring tire conditions on an autonomous vehicle, more specifically, an autonomous truck that includes a tractor unit and a trailer. An example autonomous vehicle includes a tractor unit configured to be coupled to a trailer that comprises multiple tires. The autonomous vehicle may also include one or more infrared sensors. At least part of the one or more infrared sensors is positioned at a rear side of the tractor unit and faced towards the trailer. The one or more infrared sensors are configured to capture one or more heatmaps each representing a temperature distribution of a tire. The one or more infrared sensors are in communication with a control system that is configured to receive the temperature distribution from the one or more infrared sensors, determine a tire condition of the tire, and operate the tractor unit according to the tire condition.

Abstract: A sensor housing is provided that is configured to be mounted to a roof of a vehicle. The sensor housing includes a frame defining a plurality of cavities and a plurality of windows opening into respective cavities. The sensor housing also includes a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are disposed within the respective cavities defined by the frame. The sensors disposed within the respective cavities are oriented relative to the frame such that fields of view of the sensors that are disposed within the respective cavities defined by the frame are directed through the windows that open into the respective cavities. At least one of the plurality of sensors may include a camera mounted to the frame so as to be exterior to the vehicle and oriented such that a field of view of the camera is directed into a cabin of the vehicle.

Abstract: A camera cleaning system for an autonomous vehicle may include a platform that can accommodate multiple cameras, wiper systems, as well as a fluid delivery system. The wiper system may include a wiper, rail, and a hydraulic motion component for each camera. The platform surface that contacts the wiper system's wipers and cleaning fluid may be angled and may include a window or lens for each camera. The autonomous vehicle may include a controller that may decide when a camera cleaning protocol should be executed. Alternatively, or additionally, a camera cleaning protocol may be executed periodically, as indicated by a controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence changes in wind incident on the autonomous vehicle, particularly wind gusts. The detection system may include one or more wind sensors, particularly those configured to detect wind incident on the vehicle from a direction that is transverse or perpendicular to the direction of motion of the autonomous vehicle. Additionally, systems may be present that correlate the detected wind gusts to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected wind gusts by altering the vehicle's trajectory, by stopping the vehicle, or by communicating with a control center for further instructions.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence changes in wind incident on the autonomous vehicle, particularly wind gusts. The detection system may include one or more wind sensors, particularly those configured to detect wind incident on the vehicle from a direction that is transverse or perpendicular to the direction of motion of the autonomous vehicle. Additionally, systems may be present that correlate the detected wind gusts to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected wind gusts by altering the vehicle's trajectory, by stopping the vehicle, or by communicating with a control center for further instructions.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for damping the steering of a vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, system for an autonomous vehicle includes one or more signaling devices configured to visually notify other vehicles when placed on or near a roadway, and an object placing device configured to place the one or more signaling devices. The system further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine that the autonomous vehicle has experienced a malfunction, and provide instructions to the object placing device to place the one or more signaling devices on or near the roadway.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence of authorities or emergency vehicles on a road, such as law enforcement vehicles, fire engines, fire trucks, police officers, first responders, traffic cones, flares, etc. The detection system may include audio and visual detection system dedicated to the detection of authorities. Additionally, systems that correlate the detected authorities and/or any audible or visual instructions given by the authorities to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected authorities or emergency vehicles by determining a driving related operation to safely operate around the detected authorities or emergency vehicles.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence of authorities or emergency vehicles on a road, such as law enforcement vehicles, fire engines, fire trucks, police officers, first responders, traffic cones, flares, etc. The detection system may include audio and visual detection system dedicated to the detection of authorities. Additionally, systems that correlate the detected authorities and/or any audible or visual instructions given by the authorities to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected authorities or emergency vehicles by determining a driving related operation to safely operate around the detected authorities or emergency vehicles.

Abstract: A system includes a camera housing and a control device associated with an autonomous vehicle. The camera housing houses a camera, and is mounted to an autonomous vehicle. The camera housing comprises a glass positioned in front of the camera. The glass is coated with a set of materials comprising a hydrophobic material and an anti-reflective material. The set of materials is configured to reduce ghosting effect on an image captured by the camera. The camera housing further comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion extends beyond the bottom portion to form a tilt angle. The tilt angle is configured to reduce indirect light from coming into a field of view of the camera. The processor facilitates autonomous driving of the autonomous vehicle using at least the image. The ghosting effect is reduced in the image due to using the set of materials.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence of authorities or emergency vehicles on a road, such as law enforcement vehicles, fire engines, fire trucks, police officers, first responders, traffic cones, flares, etc. The detection system may include audio and visual detection system dedicated to the detection of authorities. Additionally, systems that correlate the detected authorities and/or any audible or visual instructions given by the authorities to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected authorities or emergency vehicles by determining a driving related operation to safely operate around the detected authorities or emergency vehicles.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence changes in wind incident on the autonomous vehicle, particularly wind gusts. The detection system may include one or more wind sensors, particularly those configured to detect wind incident on the vehicle from a direction that is transverse or perpendicular to the direction of motion of the autonomous vehicle. Additionally, systems may be present that correlate the detected wind gusts to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected wind gusts by altering the vehicle's trajectory, by stopping the vehicle, or by communicating with a control center for further instructions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A camera cleaning system for an autonomous vehicle may include a platform that can accommodate multiple cameras, wiper systems, as well as a fluid delivery system. The wiper system may include a wiper, rail, and a hydraulic motion component for each camera. The platform surface that contacts the wiper system's wipers and cleaning fluid may be angled and may include a window or lens for each camera. The autonomous vehicle may include a controller that may decide when a camera cleaning protocol should be executed. Alternatively, or additionally, a camera cleaning protocol may be executed periodically, as indicated by a controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, system for an autonomous vehicle includes one or more signaling devices configured to visually notify other vehicles when placed on or near a roadway, and an object placing device configured to place the one or more signaling devices. The system further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine that the autonomous vehicle has experienced a malfunction, and provide instructions to the object placing device to place the one or more signaling devices on or near the roadway.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a plurality of modules to sense temperature and vibrations of a motor assembly, a hub computer to collect the sensed temperature and vibrations, and an analyzer computer to analyze the collected temperature and vibrations. The modules contain detectors that measure a temperature and vibrations in three axes of the motor assembly, a transceiver integrated circuit that measures a die temperature of the transceiver integrated circuit, a microcontroller integrated circuit that self-adjusts its clock pulses, and a memory that stores parameters set for the operation of the modules. The microcontroller integrated circuit and the memory are configured to check parameters corruption upon transferring the parameters from the memory to the microcontroller integrated circuit and prior to utilizing by the microcontroller integrated circuit.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a plurality of modules to sense temperature and vibrations of a motor assembly, a hub computer to collect the sensed temperature and vibrations, and an analyzer computer to analyze the collected temperature and vibrations. The modules contain detectors that measure a temperature and vibrations in three axes of the motor assembly, a transceiver integrated circuit that measures a die temperature of the transceiver integrated circuit, a microcontroller integrated circuit that self-adjusts its clock pulses, and a memory that stores parameters set for the operation of the modules. The microcontroller integrated circuit and the memory are configured to check parameters corruption upon transferring the parameters from the memory to the microcontroller integrated circuit and prior to utilizing by the microcontroller integrated circuit.