Abstract: A vehicle communication system for cloud-hosting sensor-data from a plurality of vehicles where each of the vehicles is equipped with one or more sensors used to detect objects proximate to each of the vehicles includes a transceiver and a controller. The transceiver is used to communicate sensor-data from a first-sensor on a first-vehicle and from a second-sensor on a second-vehicle. The controller is configured to receive, via the transceiver, first-data from the first-sensor and second-data from the second-sensor, and determine when the first-data and the second-data are both indicative of an object proximate to the first-vehicle and the second-vehicle, where the first-data is characterized by a first-confidence and the second-data is characterized by a second-confidence. The controller is configured to prevent communication of the second-data to the first-vehicle when the first-confidence is greater than the second-confidence.

Abstract: A road-model-definition system suitable for an automated-vehicle includes a lidar-unit and a controller. The lidar-unit is suitable to mount on a host-vehicle. The lidar-unit is used to provide a point-cloud descriptive of an area proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the lidar-unit. The controller is configured to: select ground-points from the point-cloud indicative of a travel-surface, tessellate a portion of the area that corresponds to the travel-surface to define a plurality of cells, determine an orientation of each cell based on the ground-points within each cell, define a road-model of the travel-surface based on the orientation of the cells, and operate the host-vehicle in accordance with the road-model.

Abstract: A road-model-definition system suitable for an automated-vehicle includes a lidar-unit and a controller. The lidar-unit is suitable to mount on a host-vehicle. The lidar-unit is used to provide a point-cloud descriptive of an area proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the lidar-unit. The controller is configured to: select ground-points from the point-cloud indicative of a travel-surface, tessellate a portion of the area that corresponds to the travel-surface to define a plurality of cells, determine an orientation of each cell based on the ground-points within each cell, define a road-model of the travel-surface based on the orientation of the cells, and operate the host-vehicle in accordance with the road-model.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system for cloud-hosting sensor-data from a plurality of vehicles where each of the vehicles is equipped with one or more sensors used to detect objects proximate to each of the vehicles includes a transceiver and a controller. The transceiver is used to communicate sensor-data from a first-sensor on a first-vehicle and from a second-sensor on a second-vehicle. The controller is configured to receive, via the transceiver, first-data from the first-sensor and second-data from the second-sensor, and determine when the first-data and the second-data are both indicative of an object proximate to the first-vehicle and the second-vehicle, where the first-data is characterized by a first-confidence and the second-data is characterized by a second-confidence. The controller is configured to prevent communication of the second-data to the first-vehicle when the first-confidence is greater than the second-confidence.

Abstract: A redundant-controls system suitable for use an automated vehicle includes a primary-control-device, a secondary-control-device, an occupant-detection-device, and a controller. The primary-control-device is installed in a vehicle. The primary-control-device is selectively enabled to allow operation from an operator-seat of the vehicle by an operator of the vehicle to control movement of the vehicle. The secondary-control-device is installed in the vehicle. The secondary-control-device is selectively enabled to allow operation from a passenger-seat of the vehicle by a passenger of the vehicle to control movement of the vehicle. The occupant-detection-device is used to determine an operator-state-of-awareness of the operator and a passenger-state-of-awareness of the passenger. The controller is in communication with the primary-control-device, the secondary-control-device, and the operator-detection-device.

Abstract: A redundant-controls system suitable for use an automated vehicle includes a primary-control-device, a secondary-control-device, an occupant-detection-device, and a controller. The primary-control-device is installed in a vehicle. The primary-control-device is selectively enabled to allow operation from an operator-seat of the vehicle by an operator of the vehicle to control movement of the vehicle. The secondary-control-device is installed in the vehicle. The secondary-control-device is selectively enabled to allow operation from a passenger-seat of the vehicle by a passenger of the vehicle to control movement of the vehicle. The occupant-detection-device is used to determine an operator-state-of-awareness of the operator and a passenger-state-of-awareness of the passenger. The controller is in communication with the primary-control-device, the secondary-control-device, and the operator-detection-device.