Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the safety of pedestrians at a road crossing. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring sensor data about a pedestrian and a vehicle in surroundings of a road crossing. The method further includes identifying an intention to cross the road crossing of the pedestrian and a driving behavior of the vehicle. The method additionally includes determining a safety condition for the pedestrian to cross the road crossing based, at least in part, on the driving behavior. Moreover, the method includes controlling at least one lighting mechanism of the road crossing according to the safety condition.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving an audio and/or visual environment of a pedestrian. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying at least one device in an environment of a pedestrian that produces an output perceivable by the pedestrian, where the output includes at least one of an audio output and a visual output. The method further includes in response to determining that the output satisfies a change threshold, adjusting the output according to a pedestrian preference.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for controlling settings (and/or functions) of a vehicle via steering device finger tapping. A method generally includes receiving vibration information from a plurality of vibration sensors associated with a steering device, wherein the plurality of vibration sensors are configured to detect vibration on the steering device caused by a user of the vehicle; in response to receiving the vibration information, determining a user command based on the vibration information, determining a probability that the user intends to employ the user command via the vibration caused by the user, determining whether the probability is equal to or above a threshold, and selectively transmitting or not transmitting, to a controllable device, a control command corresponding to the user command based on whether the probability is determined to be equal to or above the threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to superimposing computer-generated exterior vehicle lights over asynchronous real-world exterior vehicle lights to reduce a sensory overload of a vehicle driver. In one embodiment, a method includes assessing a sensory environment of a vehicle driver. The method also includes determining that the vehicle driver is in a sensory-overloaded state based on 1) a characteristic of the sensory environment, 2) physiological sensor data for the vehicle driver, and 3) driving behavior sensor data. The method also includes superimposing an augmented reality (AR) overlay of computer-generated synchronized exterior vehicle lights over asynchronous real-world exterior vehicle lights viewed through an AR display device of the vehicle based on a determination that the vehicle driver is in the sensory-overloaded state.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to identifying and assisting pedestrians identified as experiencing impaired decision-making capabilities. In one embodiment, a method includes determining, from interaction data collected by a user device of a pedestrian, an interaction characteristic of the pedestrian. The method also includes classifying the pedestrian as in an impaired decision-making state based on the interaction characteristic of the pedestrian deviating from baseline interaction data. The method further includes producing a pedestrian assistance countermeasure responsive to a determined impaired decision-making state for the pedestrian.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lighting system includes one or more light sources, one or processors, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: receive a lighting profile for an individual or device within visible range of the lighting system, and control the one or more light sources according to the lighting profile. In another embodiment, a method of operating a lighting system includes receiving, from an individual or a device within a visible range of the individual or device, a lighting profile, and controlling one or more lights of the lighting system according to the lighting profile.

Abstract: A pedal touch anomaly notification system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes the vehicle itself, and at least one sensor configured to capture information about the position or orientation of the driver's foot relative to a control pedal of the vehicle. A processor uses the captured information, as well as a database containing baseline information and variance information about expected positions or orientations of the driver's foot relative to the control pedal. Based on the captured information, the processor determines the position or orientation of the foot of the driver relative to the control pedal, and compares the determined position or orientation to the baseline information and variance information. If the position or orientation fall outside the variance information, the processor generates a driver alert.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the communication of a railroad crossing warning. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a railroad crossing in a path of a road user. The method further includes in response to determining that a train is approaching the road user at the railroad crossing, determining whether a warning mechanism of the railroad crossing satisfies a crossing threshold that is based, at least in part, on a safety condition of the warning mechanism. Moreover, the method includes controlling a display of the road user to output a virtual railroad crossing bar on the display according to the safety condition responsive to determining that the warning mechanism satisfies the crossing threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to synchronizing the presentation of vehicle exterior lights to reduce the sensory overload of a pedestrian. In one embodiment, a method includes assessing a sensory environment of a pedestrian. The method also includes determining that the pedestrian is in a sensory-overloaded state based on a characteristic of the sensory environment and sensor data indicative of a pedestrian state of mind. The method also includes synchronizing a presentation of a first vehicle exterior light and a presentation of a second vehicle exterior light based on a determination that the pedestrian is in the sensory-overloaded state.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the safety of pedestrians at a road crossing. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring sensor data about a pedestrian and a vehicle in surroundings of a road crossing. The method further includes identifying an intention to cross the road crossing of the pedestrian and a driving behavior of the vehicle. The method additionally includes determining a safety condition for the pedestrian to cross the road crossing based, at least in part, on the driving behavior. Moreover, the method includes controlling at least one lighting mechanism of the road crossing according to the safety condition.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving communication of user intent at a road crossing. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring sensor data identifying a blood flow in a brain of a user, determining whether the user intends on crossing a street based, at least in part, on the sensor data, and in response to determining the user intends on crossing the street, communicating an intent to cross using the accessory.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to identifying and assisting pedestrians identified as experiencing impaired decision-making capabilities. In one embodiment, a method includes determining, from interaction data collected by a user device of a pedestrian, an interaction characteristic of the pedestrian. The method also includes classifying the pedestrian as in an impaired decision-making state based on the interaction characteristic of the pedestrian deviating from baseline interaction data. The method further includes producing a pedestrian assistance countermeasure responsive to a determined impaired decision-making state for the pedestrian.

Abstract: A system for using a light of a parked vehicle to illuminate a path can include a processor and a memory. The memory can store a location determination module, a path determination module, a safety evaluation module, and a communications module. The location determination module can determine a location of an individual and a location of a vehicle associated with the individual. The path determination module can determine one or more paths from the location of the individual to the location of the vehicle. The safety evaluation module can determine a path, of the one or more paths, based at least in part on a measurement of a safety criterion. The communications module can cause a light of a parked vehicle to illuminate the path. The parked vehicle can be different from the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to synchronizing the presentation of vehicle exterior lights to reduce the sensory overload of a pedestrian. In one embodiment, a method includes assessing a sensory environment of a pedestrian. The method also includes determining that the pedestrian is in a sensory-overloaded state based on a characteristic of the sensory environment and sensor data indicative of a pedestrian state of mind. The method also includes synchronizing a presentation of a first vehicle exterior light and a presentation of a second vehicle exterior light based on a determination that the pedestrian is in the sensory-overloaded state.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to providing navigation assistance to pedestrians experiencing temporary hearing impairment. In one embodiment, a method includes inferring that a pedestrian is experiencing hearing impairment based on data collected by a user device of the pedestrian. Responsive to an inference of hearing impairment, a hearing test is administered to verify hearing impairment of the pedestrian. A pedestrian assistance countermeasure is produced responsive to verified hearing impairment of the pedestrian as determined from the hearing test.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to superimposing computer-generated exterior vehicle lights over asynchronous real-world exterior vehicle lights to reduce a sensory overload of a vehicle driver. In one embodiment, a method includes assessing a sensory environment of a vehicle driver. The method also includes determining that the vehicle driver is in a sensory-overloaded state based on 1) a characteristic of the sensory environment, 2) physiological sensor data for the vehicle driver, and 3) driving behavior sensor data. The method also includes superimposing an augmented reality (AR) overlay of computer-generated synchronized exterior vehicle lights over asynchronous real-world exterior vehicle lights viewed through an AR display device of the vehicle based on a determination that the vehicle driver is in the sensory-overloaded state.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving auditory and visual outputs in a vehicle environment based on occupant preferences. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring occupant data about an occupant in a vehicle. The method further includes processing the occupant data to determine an occupant preference indicating proclivities of the occupant in relation to the surrounding environment. Additionally, the method includes in response to determining that vehicle settings satisfy a change threshold that is based, at least in part, on a difference between the vehicle settings and the occupant preference, adjusting the vehicle settings according to the occupant preference.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving an audio and/or visual environment of a pedestrian. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying at least one device in an environment of a pedestrian that produces an output perceivable by the pedestrian, where the output includes at least one of an audio output and a visual output. The method further includes in response to determining that the output satisfies a change threshold, adjusting the output according to a pedestrian preference.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving communication of user intent at a road crossing. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring sensor data identifying a blood flow in a brain of a user, determining whether the user intends on crossing a street based, at least in part, on the sensor data, and in response to determining the user intends on crossing the street, communicating an intent to cross using the accessory.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the communication of a railroad crossing warning. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a railroad crossing in a path of a road user. The method further includes in response to determining that a train is approaching the road user at the railroad crossing, determining whether a warning mechanism of the railroad crossing satisfies a crossing threshold that is based, at least in part, on a safety condition of the warning mechanism. Moreover, the method includes controlling a display of the road user to output a virtual railroad crossing bar on the display according to the safety condition responsive to determining that the warning mechanism satisfies the crossing threshold.