Abstract: A lost cargo prevention system for a trailer having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a floor, and a ceiling defining an open end of the trailer, is provided. The system including a first rail and a second rail mounted on opposing sidewalls of the trailer and a cargo impeding member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position operatively engaged with the first rail and the second rail. The cargo impeding member having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion opposite the first peripheral portion and at least a portion of the first peripheral portion is fixed to the first rail and the second rail adjacent to the ceiling of the trailer. When the cargo impeding member is in the deployed position the second peripheral portion of the cargo impeding member is adjacent to the floor of the trailer.

Abstract: A system for secure data capture is provided. The system includes sensors associated with a vehicle, and a database configured to electronically store data based on signals received from the one or more sensors. A processing device is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to perform operations including detecting an event based on the signals received from the one or more sensors, and identifying a starting point of the event, where the starting point is a first predetermined amount of time before the event. The operations include identifying an ending point of the event, where the ending point is a second predetermined amount of time after the event. The operations include electronically storing data representative of an occurrence event, the data including data representative of signals from the starting point to the ending point of the event.

Abstract: A method for protecting cargo with an autonomous vehicle is provided. The method includes detecting that a portion of the cargo has fallen out of the autonomous vehicle and designating the portion of the cargo has fallen out of the autonomous vehicle as lost cargo and the cargo still in the autonomous vehicle as remaining cargo. After detecting cargo has been lost the autonomous vehicle gathers one or more data points about the lost cargo using one or more sensors connected to the autonomous vehicle and transmits the one or more data points about the lost cargo to one or more third parties. The autonomous vehicle is then rerouted and navigates to the lost cargo and implements traffic safety measures.

Abstract: A power system for an autonomous vehicle is disclosed where the power system comprises a first power source, at least one power supply electrically coupled to the first power source, at least one overvoltage protection circuit, and a first conductive fluid subsystem. Each at least one overvoltage protection circuit is electrically coupled between one at least one power supply and the first conductive fluid subsystem. The first conductive fluid subsystem is connected to ground.

Abstract: An appendage disconnection system for an autonomous vehicle includes a coupler coupled to a hose, the coupler including a first coupling half removably attached to a trailer and a second coupling half attached to a tractor portion of the autonomous vehicle, the coupler moveable between a first orientation and a second orientation. The coupler further includes an actuation mechanism adapted to impede and enable movement of the first coupling half relative to the second coupling half.

Abstract: A system for vehicle alerting is provided. The system includes one or more environment sensors disposed at or near a road along which a vehicle passes. The system includes a processing device in communication with the one or more environment sensors. The processing device is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to perform operations including detecting with the one or more environment sensors a living object at or near the road, and generating an alert regarding the detected living object at or near the road.

Abstract: A system for decoding information is provided. The system includes a road defining a surface, and an encoded strip formed in the surface of the road or attached to the surface of the road. The encoded strip includes a set of peaks and/or valleys having at least one of an amplitude or a frequency selected to encode information. The system includes one or more sensors associated with a vehicle. The system includes a processing device in communication with the one or more sensors. The processing device is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to perform operations including, as a first tire of the vehicle passes over the encoded strip, detecting a characteristic of the encoded strip with the one or more sensors. The operations include decoding the information from the encoded strip based on the detected characteristic.

Abstract: A locking system for an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle includes a cabin. The locking system includes a first locking system configured to assess access to the cabin, and a second locking system configured to assess access to the use of one or more autonomous vehicle features located in the cabin. The second locking system is engaged with after the first locking system completes the assessment of access to the cabin.

Abstract: A message display system for a vehicle is provided. The message display system includes an arrangement of projectors, electronic displays, and/or other visual media devices that are configured to provide messages, warnings, and other information to persons and systems in the proximity of the vehicle. The message display system can be configured to display the messages on the road surface and other surfaces in proximity to the vehicle, as well as on the vehicle itself, for example a body panel of the vehicle or other trailer being hauled by the vehicle. The messages can be controlled autonomously by the vehicle's computing system or manually by a vehicle operator.

Abstract: An appendage disconnection system for an autonomous vehicle includes a plug coupled to a cable, a sleeve encasing the plug, and a plug position control mechanism. The plug is removably attached to a trailer and the plug is attached to a tractor portion of the autonomous vehicle, the plug moveable between a connected position and a disconnected position. The position control mechanism is housed within a body of the plug and is adapted to impede and enable movement of the plug relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle selectively couplable to a trailer includes a cabin, at least one sensor coupled with the cabin and configured to capture signals of an environment in which the autonomous vehicle is operating, a secondary braking system operably coupled to the at least one sensor and supplemental to a primary braking system of the autonomous vehicle, and an autonomy computing system. The secondary braking system includes one or more movable flaps disposed on the cabin positionable between a first, undeployed position and a second, deployed position, where the one or more movable flaps engage air surrounding the autonomous vehicle to increase drag of the autonomous vehicle and decelerate the autonomous vehicle. The autonomy computing system is housed in the cabin and is programmed to operate the one or more movable flaps based on signals received from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A road localization system for determining the position of an autonomous vehicle (AV) along a route is disclosed. The system includes a memory for storing machine-executable instructions and a processor configured to receive signals from a plurality of radio transmitters positioned along a road. Each transmitter sends road information and a unique identifier (ID) to the AV. The received signals and IDs are processed using a particle filter, where position information derived from the signals is used to identify corresponding transmitter positions on a map. The AV's position is determined based on the processed signals, and the system provides the AV with directions and orders based on the identified location. The system routes the AV along the route by continuously processing localization information from the signals of the transmitters to ensure accurate navigation.

Abstract: A fluid testing assembly configured for use with a road. The fluid testing assembly includes a fluid source containing a fluid, wherein the fluid source is connected to a conduit and in fluid communication with a driving surface of the road. The conduit defines an outlet positioned in proximity to the driving surface of the road, wherein the fluid is delivered from the fluid source to a desired location along the driving surface through the outlet of the conduit.

Abstract: A system for signaling intent of an autonomous vehicles. The system is comprised of a memory storing executable instructions representing a signaling display module on a trailer of an autonomous vehicle. The system also comprises a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the signaling display module. The processor is configured to receive data from an autonomy computing system descriptive of a condition near the autonomous vehicle, process the data to generate a message relating to the condition indicating a remedial action of the autonomous vehicle in response to the condition, and transmit the message to a signaling display on the trailer prior to executing the remedial action.

Abstract: A system for collaborative blind spot mitigation is provided. The system includes a first vehicle including one or more sensors configured to provide visibility coverage around the first vehicle such that no blind spots exist in the visibility coverage. The system includes a second vehicle including one or more sensors configured to provide at least partial visibility coverage around the second vehicle. If a blind spot exists in the visibility coverage around the first vehicle upon operation failure of the one or more sensors of the first vehicle, data is collected from the one or more sensors of the second vehicle corresponding with visibility of the blind spot in the visibility coverage around the first vehicle and is used to supplement the data from the one or more sensors of the first vehicle to ensure that no blind spots exist in the visibility coverage around the first vehicle.

Abstract: A system for vehicle failure detection is provided. The system includes sensors associated with a primary vehicle to detect a secondary vehicle around the primary vehicle, and a database configured to electronically store characteristic failure thresholds. The system includes a processing device that detects a characteristic associated with the secondary vehicle with the one or more sensors, determines if the detected characteristic associated with the secondary vehicle meets or exceeds the characteristic failure threshold corresponding with the characteristic, and if the detected characteristic exceeds the characteristic failure threshold corresponding with the characteristic, identifies the secondary vehicle as having a detected failure.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method, includes a risk mitigation system receiving from a first sensor mounted on an autonomous vehicle, first sensor data. The first sensor data may be associated with a local magnetic field and is received periodically. The method may further include processing the first sensor data to identify an occurrence of an anomaly in the first sensor data. The occurrence may be associated with a time period. The risk mitigation system may request data from a second sensor mounted on the vehicle after identifying the anomaly. The method may further include receiving, from the second sensor, second sensor data. The second sensor data may be associated with an external environment of the autonomous vehicle. The risk mitigation system may process the second sensor data associated with the time period, and identify, based on the analyzed second sensor data and the anomaly, that the external environment is high-risk.

Abstract: A system positioned in an autonomous vehicle includes a plurality of sensors, and a processor coupled to a memory and configured to: (i) based upon sensor data, determine an unsafe maneuver and a type of unsafe maneuver of a vehicle; (ii) upon a risk assessment profile for the vehicle existing in the database, (a) retrieve, from the risk assessment profile, historical data including a respective timestamp of one or more types of unsafe maneuver and the one or more types of unsafe maneuver; (b) update the historical data to further include data corresponding to the type of unsafe maneuver and the timestamp when the type of unsafe maneuver was performed; and (c) compute the threat assessment score that is revised based upon updated historical data; and (iii) upon the threat assessment score being above a threshold value, perform an action that increase safety of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An emergency alert message notification device including at least one memory configured to store machine executable instructions, and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory is disclosed. The emergency alert message notification device is configured to execute the instructions to perform operations including (i) periodically receiving a health check signal from a plurality of components of an autonomous vehicle; (ii) upon determining at least one health check signal was not received from a component of the plurality of components, determining an emergency alert message notification; and (iii) transmitting the emergency alert message notification to notify other vehicles in proximity of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system for localization of an autonomous vehicle includes a plurality of radio receivers configured to receive automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) radio signals transmitted by a plurality of overhead aircraft, and at least one processor coupled to at least one memory and configured to perform operations comprising: based upon a first, a second, and a third ADS-B radio signals transmitted by a first, a second, and a third overhead aircraft, respectively, computing an angle from, and a distance between, a radio receiver to a respective overhead aircraft, and computing a relative motion of the respective overhead aircraft; and based upon position information included in the first, second, and third ADS-B radio signals, and using the first angle, second angle, third angle, first distance, second distance, third distance, the relative motion of each of the first, second, and third overhead aircraft, performing multilateration to determine a position of the autonomous vehicle.