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 system installed in a vehicle includes a first group of sensing devices configured to allow a first level of autonomous operation of the vehicle; a second group of sensing devices configured to allow a second level of autonomous operation of the vehicle, the second group of sensing devices including primary sensing devices and backup sensing devices; a third group of sensing devices configured to allow the vehicle to perform a safe stop maneuver; and a control element communicatively coupled to the first group of sensing devices, the second group of sensing devices, and the third group of sensing devices. The control element is configured to: receive data from at least one of the first group, the second group, or the third group of sensing devices, and provide a control signal to a sensing device based on categorization information indicating a group to which the sensing device belongs.

Abstract: A power management system is disclosed for managing power in a vehicle. The system may include a power distribution unit (PDU) communicably coupled to a power controller unit located in the vehicle. The power controller unit comprises a microcontroller configured to: receive, from the PDU, a temperature value that indicates a temperature of the PDU, one or more voltage values from the one or more voltage sensors, or one or more current values from the one or more current sensors, perform a determination that the temperature value, the one or more voltage values, or the one or more current values are below one or more of their respective pre-determined threshold values, and send, after the determination, a health status message to a computer located in the vehicle, where the health status message indicates that the PDU is operating in a safe operating condition.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for monitoring the health of a steering system of a vehicle. Methods can include: receiving location information and motion information associated with a vehicle; determining, from the location information, a map-matched road segment associated with the location information; establishing a geometry of the map-matched road segment based on map data of a map database; filtering the motion information associated with the vehicle to establish a baseline movement of the vehicle; determining, during the baseline movement of the vehicle, steering angle input received at a steering system of the vehicle; determining, from the steering angle input received at the steering system of the vehicle, a steering angle offset; and causing the steering angle offset to be applied to the steering system of the vehicle.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for using system-level malfunction indicators to monitor the operation and resiliency of the autonomous driving system components are described. One example of a method for diagnosing a fault in a component of an autonomous vehicle includes receiving, from an electrical sub-component of the component, an electrical signal, receiving, from an electronic sub-component of the component, a message, and determining, based on the electrical signal and the message, an operational status of the component.

Abstract: The angle of a trailer with respect to a tow vehicle is an important parameter to the stability of the vehicle and trailer. A tow vehicle pulling a trailer in a straight line is generally more stable than when the vehicle is turning. While turning, the angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer is not a straight line but is another angle depending on how sharply the tow vehicle is turning. To safely operate a vehicle towing a trailer, for a given steering input and speed, there is a maximum angle between the tow vehicle and trailer whereby exceeding the angle causes instability and may cause the trailer or tow vehicle to roll over or jackknife. Accordingly, the angle between the trailer and tow vehicle must be determined to ensure the vehicle and trailer will continue to be in control.

Abstract: Techniques are described for operating a vehicle using sensor data provided by one or more ultrasonic sensors located on or in the vehicle. An example method includes receiving, by a computer located in a vehicle, data from an ultrasonic sensor located on the vehicle, where the data includes a first set of coordinates of two points associated with a location where an object is detected by the ultrasonic sensor; determining a second set of coordinates associated with a point in between the two points; performing a first determination that the second set of coordinates is associated with a lane or a road on which the vehicle is operating; performing a second determination that the object is movable; and sending, in response to the first determination and the second determination, a message that causes the vehicle to perform a driving related operation while the vehicle is operating on the road.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for securing wireless communications between a remote monitor center and a vehicle by using redundancy measures to increase the robustness of the system. In some embodiments, a system may include redundant communication channels, deploy redundant hardware and software stacks to enable switching to a backup in an emergency situation, and employ hypervisors at both the remote monitor center and the vehicle to monitor hardware and software resources and perform integrity checks. In other embodiments, message digests based on a cryptographic hash function and a plurality of predetermined commands are generated at both the remote monitor center and the vehicle, and compared to ensure the continuing integrity of the wireless communication system.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for a monitoring system for autonomous vehicle operation. In some embodiments, a vehicle may perform self-tests, generate a report based on the results, and transmit it to a remote monitor center over one or both of a high-speed channel for regular data transfers or a reliable channel for emergency situations. In other embodiments, the remote monitor center may determine that immediate intervention is required, and may transmit a control command with high priority, which when received by the vehicle, is implemented and overrides any local commands being processed. In yet other embodiments, the control command with high priority is selected from a small group of predetermined control commands the remote monitor center may issue.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for remote detection and ranging are described. In an embodiment, a remote sensing method includes obtaining data points that are spatially distributed and have respective intensity values, by performing a remote detection and ranging operation, determining a spatial autocorrelation of a set of data points, out of the data points, based on a difference in distances between data points in the data points, determining an intensity weight multiplier based on a reference intensity value of the data points and an average intensity value of the data points, and determining a quality score of the set of data points by applying the intensity weight multiplier to the spatial autocorrelation of the set of data points; and identifying, based on the quality score, whether the set of data points includes one or more data points that are created by a noise source.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for hardware-based time synchronization for heterogenous sensors are described. An example method includes generating a plurality of input trigger pulses having a nominal pulse-per-second (PPS) rate, generating, based on timing information derived from the plurality of input trigger pulses, a plurality of output trigger pulses, and transmitting the plurality of output trigger pulses to a sensor of a plurality of sensors, wherein a frequency of the plurality of output trigger pulses corresponds to a target operating frequency of the sensor, wherein, in a case that a navigation system coupled to the synchronization unit is functioning correctly, the plurality of input trigger pulses is generated based on a nominal PPS signal from the navigation unit, and wherein, in a case that the navigation system is not functioning correctly, the plurality of input trigger pulses is generated based on a simulated clock source of the synchronization unit.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for remote safe driving of an autonomous vehicle are described. One exemplary method includes selecting, based on a classification of driver behavior, at least one of a set of driving actions and transmitting, to a vehicle over a secure communication channel, the at least one of the set of driving actions.

Abstract: Described are devices, systems and methods for managing a supplemental brake control system in autonomous vehicles. In some aspects, a supplemental brake management system includes brake control hardware and software that operates with a sensing mechanism for determining the brake operational status and a control mechanism for activating the supplemental brake control in an autonomous vehicle, which can be implemented in addition to the vehicle's primary brake control system.

Abstract: Described are devices, systems and methods for managing power generation, storage and/or distribution in autonomous vehicles. In some aspects, a system for power management in an autonomous vehicle having a main power source and one or more alternators includes a vehicle control unit, a secondary power source, and a power management unit. In some embodiments, the power management unit is configured on an autonomous vehicle having a single alternator-charging system for battery charging and battery power control with different battery packs. In some embodiments, the power management unit is configured on an autonomous vehicle having multiple alternator-charging systems for battery charging and battery power control for different battery packs.

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: Disclosed are distributed computing systems and methods for controlling multiple autonomous control modules and subsystems in an autonomous vehicle. In some aspects of the disclosed technology, a computing architecture for an autonomous vehicle includes distributing the complexity of autonomous vehicle operation, thereby avoiding the use of a single high-performance computing system and enabling off-the-shelf components to be use more readily and reducing system failure rates.

Abstract: Techniques are described for transitioning control of a steering system from an autonomous mode in a vehicle to a driver-controlled mode where the driver can control the steering wheel of the steering system. A method includes receiving values that describe an amount of torque and a direction of torque in response to a torque applied to a steering wheel of a steering system operated in an autonomous mode, determining that the values are either greater than or equal to a threshold value or are less than or equal to a negative of the threshold value, determining that the values are measured over a period of time greater than or equal to a pre-determined amount of time, and transitioning the steering system from being operated in the autonomous mode to being operated in a driver-controlled mode in which the steering system is under manual control.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for securing wireless communications between a remote monitor center and a vehicle by using redundancy measures to increase the robustness of the system. In some embodiments, a system may include redundant communication channels, deploy redundant hardware and software stacks to enable switching to a backup in an emergency situation, and employ hypervisors at both the remote monitor center and the vehicle to monitor hardware and software resources and perform integrity checks. In other embodiments, message digests based on a cryptographic hash function and a plurality of predetermined commands are generated at both the remote monitor center and the vehicle, and compared to ensure the continuing integrity of the wireless communication system.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing temperature in an autonomous vehicle. An exemplary method comprises performing autonomous driving operations that operate the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode, receiving one or more messages from a temperature sensor associated with an electrical device located on or in the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operated in the autonomous mode, determining a cooling technique to reduce the temperature of electrical device, and performing the cooling technique.

Abstract: Techniques are described for measuring angle and/or orientation of a rear drivable section (e.g., a trailer unit of a semi-trailer truck) relative to a front drivable section (e.g., a tractor unit of the semi-trailer truck) using an example rotary encoder assembly. The example rotary encoder assembly comprises a base surface; a housing that includes a second end that is connected to the base surface and a first end that is at least partially open and is coupled to a housing cap; and a rotary encoder that is located in the housing in between the base surface and the housing cap, where the rotary encoder includes a rotatable shaft that protrudes from a first hole located in the housing cap, and where a top of the rotatable shaft located away from the rotary encoder is coupled to magnet(s).