Abstract: A method of passing an object on the side of the road by receiving a first signal from a first sensor configured to detect a presence of the object positioned on a shoulder of a road; determining a first value; assigning a first confidence value to a confidence level, wherein the first confidence value is associated with the first value; responsive to the first confidence value exceeding a confidence threshold, adjusting a first operating parameter of a vehicle; responsive to entering a threshold range of the object, receiving a second signal from a second sensor; determining a second value associated with the second signal; assigning a second confidence value to the confidence level, wherein the second confidence value is associated with the second value; responsive to the second confidence value exceeding a second confidence threshold, adjusting a second operating parameter of the vehicle.

Abstract: A simulator is provided. The simulator includes a kingpin configured to couple to a fifth-wheel of a vehicle, a vertical actuator attached to the kingpin and configured to vertically actuate the kingpin, a horizontal actuator attached to the vertical actuator and configured to horizontally actuate the kingpin, and a simulation controller communicatively coupled to the vertical actuator and the horizontal actuator. The simulation controller is configured to retrieve predefined scenario data from a memory device and control the vertical actuator and the horizontal actuator based on the predefined scenario data to simulate mechanical effects of a trailer on the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle wireless communication equipment, and an indicium for connecting to the vehicle wireless communication equipment displayed on a body of the vehicle is disclosed. The indicium includes information to connect with the vehicle wireless communication equipment. The vehicle wireless communication equipment is configured to broadcast a network identifier of the vehicle wireless communication equipment, and receive a request, from a third-party client device, to connect with the vehicle wireless communication equipment based upon the broadcasted network identifier or the indicium for connecting to the vehicle wireless communication equipment. The vehicle wireless communication equipment is configured to establish a session with the third-party client device in response to the received request, and transmit, to the third-party client device, infotainment information over the established session.

Abstract: An interference deterrent system for an autonomous vehicle is provided. The interference deterrent system includes a directional speaker system and a processor configured to receive, from at least one sensor of the autonomous vehicle, sensor data, identify, from the sensor data, a potentially interfering actor, determine a location of the potentially interfering actor with respect to the autonomous vehicle, and control the directional speaker system to emit a sound targeted at the location of the potentially interfering actor.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The autonomous vehicle comprises a frame including a support frame; at least one marker supported on the support frame; a marker deployment system including a placement device for locating each of the at least one markers from the support frame at a desired location relative to the vehicle; and an autonomy system that includes a controller, a processor, and a memory device, the memory device stores instructions that when executed by the processor transmit signals to the device causing the device to locate each of the at least one markers at the desired location relative to the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods generating a dynamic purchase interface within an on-demand purchase app installed and executed on a client device. An inventory management system (IMS) is configured to store, for each inventory unit within an automated vehicle, an inventory record, and to monitor a location of the automated vehicle as the automated vehicle travels along a predetermined travel route. The IMS is also configured to receive, from the client device, a request for generation of the dynamic purchase interface within the on-demand purchase app executed at the client device, and, in response to the request, identify a delivery location associated with the client device, and cause display of the dynamic purchase interface within the on-demand purchase app at the client device, the dynamic purchase interface including a subset of the inventory units that are available for delivery to the delivery location at a delivery time.

Abstract: A method of passing an object on the side of the road by receiving a first signal from a first sensor configured to detect a presence of the object positioned on a shoulder of a road; determining a first value; assigning a first confidence value to a confidence level, wherein the first confidence value is associated with the first value; responsive to the first confidence value exceeding a confidence threshold, adjusting a first operating parameter of a vehicle; responsive to entering a threshold range of the object, receiving a second signal from a second sensor; determining a second value associated with the second signal; assigning a second confidence value to the confidence level, wherein the second confidence value is associated with the second value; responsive to the second confidence value exceeding a second confidence threshold, adjusting a second operating parameter of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for destructive braking system for an autonomous truck traveling on a roadway includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured for controlling a transmission for the autonomous truck. The destructive braking system includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the ECU, the processing system including a processor coupled to a memory. The memory stores executable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, configure the processor to receive an indication the autonomous truck will unavoidably collide with an object. The processor is further configured to determine to employ destructive braking. The processor is further configured to instruct the ECU to reverse the transmission to reduce momentum of the autonomous truck.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is provided. The autonomous vehicle includes one or more sensors and an autonomy computing system. The autonomy computing system includes at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. The at least one processor is programmed to receive sensor data from the one or more sensors, and receive weather-related data from a mission control computing system. The weather-related data include fleet data from autonomous vehicles in a fleet. The fleet includes the autonomous vehicle. The at least one processor is further programmed to determine an icy condition is present based on the sensor data and the fleet data, and determine de-icing strategies based on the icy condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating lane selection cost maps to control autonomous vehicles are disclosed. An autonomous vehicle system can receive a plurality of cost values from a plurality of components of an autonomous vehicle; generate a lane selection cost map based on the plurality of cost values; determining that the autonomous vehicle should change lanes based on the lane selection cost map; and transmit a command that causes the autonomous vehicle to change lanes responsive to determining that the autonomous vehicle should change lanes.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating lane selection cost maps to control autonomous vehicles are disclosed. An autonomous vehicle system can receive a plurality of cost values from a plurality of components of an autonomous vehicle; generate a lane selection cost map based on the plurality of cost values; determining that the autonomous vehicle should change lanes based on the lane selection cost map; and transmit a command that causes the autonomous vehicle to change lanes responsive to determining that the autonomous vehicle should change lanes.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include systems and methods of generating lane selection cost values to control autonomous vehicles to accommodate merging vehicles in a tapering lane (or merge lane). An autonomy system can identify a tapering lane in map data and detect a merging vehicle situated in the tapering lane using perception sensor data. The autonomy system includes a lane-selection cost function that generates lane-selection cost values for the lanes available to the automated vehicle, which the autonomy system references to determine whether to continue traveling a current lane or change lanes into an adjacent lane. The lane-selection cost function may apply a courtesy weight when detecting the merging vehicle, such that the autonomy system causes the automated vehicle to change lanes as a courtesy to the merging vehicle, but without overriding other safety-related factors of the lane-selection cost function or trajectory planning functions.

Abstract: An ejection system is provided that ejects an electronic data recorder (EDR) from a vehicle in response to a triggering event. The ejection system includes a housing that includes the EDR, wherein the EDR is configured to receive and store sensor data generated by the vehicle. The ejection system includes an ejection assembly configured to eject the housing from the vehicle when activated, and at least one processor disposed in the vehicle or the housing. The processor is configured to determine whether the triggering event has occurred and activate the ejection assembly to eject the housing from the vehicle in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred.

Abstract: A perception system including at least one processor configured to perform operations including (i) identifying at least two construction markers on a road surface based upon analysis of sensor data from a plurality of sensors; (ii) based upon the identification of at least two construction markers, determining a starting point of a construction zone; (iii) for each construction marker identified past the starting point in the construction zone, (a) connecting each construction marker with a corresponding leading construction marker; (b) inserting each construction marker and a respective connection with the corresponding leading construction marker into a graph or a map; and (c) based upon each construction marker and the respective connection inserted into the graph or map, updating a drivable surface and a reference path; and (iv) upon not detecting a new construction marker past the starting point in the construction zone, determining the construction zone has ended is disclosed.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of first wires and a plurality of second wires is disclosed. Each second wire overlaps over one or more first wires at a respective overlapping area of one or more first wires. A dielectric material is disposed in a vertical gap at each respective overlapping area forming a capacitance sensor including a first electrode corresponding to a first wire and a second electrode corresponding to a second wire. The first and second electrodes are connected to a positive bias and a negative bias of at least one voltage source, respectively. The system includes at least one processor configured to periodically measure change in respective electric field of each capacitance sensor of a subset of capacitance sensors of a plurality of capacitance sensors, and store data corresponding to periodically measured change in the respective electric field of each capacitance sensor of the subset of capacitance sensors.

Abstract: A simulator is provided. The simulator includes a kingpin configured to couple to a fifth-wheel of a vehicle, a vertical actuator attached to the kingpin and configured to vertically actuate the kingpin, a horizontal actuator attached to the vertical actuator and configured to horizontally actuate the kingpin, and a simulation controller communicatively coupled to the vertical actuator and the horizontal actuator. The simulation controller is configured to retrieve predefined scenario data from a memory device and control the vertical actuator and the horizontal actuator based on the predefined scenario data to simulate mechanical effects of a trailer on the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for infrastructure and environmental mapping and automated vehicle behavior modification includes a plurality of sensors of an autonomous vehicle and an autonomy computing system. The sensors capture sensor data representing an environment in which the autonomous vehicle is operating. The processor receives, from the sensors, first sensor data representing the environment in which the autonomous vehicle is operating at a first time, the first sensor data including image or video data. The processor also detects a difference between the first sensor data and historical sensor data at a location within the environment, and, based on the detected difference, stores an incident record indexed to the location relative to a stored map of the environment. When one or more adjustment criteria associated with the location are satisfied, the processor initiates one or more remedial actions associated with operation of the autonomous vehicle within the environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating lane selection cost maps to control autonomous vehicles are disclosed. An autonomous vehicle system can receive a plurality of cost values from a plurality of components of an autonomous vehicle; generate a lane selection cost map based on the plurality of cost values; determining that the autonomous vehicle should change lanes based on the lane selection cost map; and transmit a command that causes the autonomous vehicle to change lanes responsive to determining that the autonomous vehicle should change lanes.

Abstract: A method for detecting and reporting cargo lost from an autonomous vehicle. The method includes receiving, from a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor signal representing one or more measurements of the vehicle, determining a mass of the vehicle based on the one or more measurements, estimating a center of mass along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle based on the one or more measurements and the mass, and receiving, from the plurality of sensors, at least one sensor signal representing one or more cargo loss-related conditions. The method also includes identifying one or more cargo loss-indicative conditions based on the center of mass estimation and the one or more cargo loss-related conditions, generating a lost cargo detection signal based on at least one of the one or more cargo loss-indicative conditions and a location of the vehicle, and transmitting the lost cargo detection signal to an external receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with high-speed liftoff systems, as well as delivery systems and methods using the same. The delivery system includes an autonomous vehicle, a first UAV, and a UAV control system configured to control the first UAV. The autonomous vehicle includes an autonomy computing system configured to control operation of the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is in motion, the autonomous vehicle containing an inventory including a plurality of units. The UAV system is configured to control the first UAV to, while the autonomous vehicle is in motion, control the first UAV to: stabilize in an equilibrium motion relative to the autonomous vehicle while the first UAV is coupled to the autonomous vehicle, engage a first unit of the plurality of units, and disengage from the autonomous vehicle with the first unit engaged therewith.