Abstract: The present invention has an object of determining feasibility of lowering a driving automation level of an automated driving vehicle, based on a driving load considering a relationship with surrounding vehicles. An automatic-driving-level lowering feasibility determination apparatus according to the present invention includes: a surrounding vehicle information obtainment unit obtaining surrounding vehicle information; a driving load calculator calculating, based on the surrounding vehicle information, a driving load value indicating a magnitude of a driving load on the subject vehicle; a driving-automation-level lowering feasibility determination unit determining feasibility of lowering a driving automation level of the subject vehicle, based on the driving load value; and an output controller outputting, to an automated driving control device, a result of the feasibility determined by the driving-automation-level lowering feasibility determination unit.

Abstract: A functional element includes functional titanium oxide. The functional titanium oxide includes crystal grains of one or more of ?-phase trititanium pentoxide (?-Ti3O5) and ?-phase trititanium pentoxide (?-Ti3O5). The functional titanium oxide includes the property that at least a portion of crystal grains of one or more of ?-phase trititanium pentoxide (?-Ti3O5) and ?-phase trititanium pentoxide (?-Ti3O5) changes into crystal grains of titanium oxide (TiO2) when the functional titanium oxide is heated to 350° C. or higher.

Abstract: A fluid heating device includes a pressurizing chamber configured to store a working fluid and a heat accumulator disposed in the pressurizing chamber. The heat accumulator includes a heat accumulating member configured to release heat by receiving a pressure applied to the working fluid. The fluid heating device has improved actuation efficiency.

Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having an access device between a storage element and a conductive structure. The access device has channel material which includes semiconductor material. The channel material has a first end and an opposing second end, and has a side extending from the first end to the second end. The first end is adjacent the conductive structure, and the second end is adjacent the storage element. Conductive gate material is adjacent the side of the channel material. A first domed metal-containing cap is over the conductive structure and under the channel material and/or a second domed metal-containing cap is over the channel material and under the storage element. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.

Abstract: A method including forming a first member having a first portion including a plurality of storage capacitors therein and a second portion surrounding the first portion; forming a second member of a concave shape having a third portion, which corresponds to a lower top surface of the concave shape, including a plurality of access transistors provided correspondingly to the plurality of storage capacitors therein and a fourth portion, which corresponds to an upper top surface of the concave shape, surrounding the third portion; stacking the first member on the second member to physically connect the second and fourth portions and have a gap between the first and third portions; cutting the first member to physically separate the first portion from the second portion; and joining the separated first portion and the third portion with filling the gap therebetween.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for a semiconductor structure. An example method includes a method for forming a contact surface on a vertically oriented access devices. The method includes forming a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region vertically separated by a channel region, forming a sacrificial etch stop layer on a first side of the second source/drain region, wherein the channel region is in contact with a second side of the second source/drain region, forming a dielectric layer on a first side of the sacrificial etch stop layer, where the second source/drain region is connected to a second side of the sacrificial etch stop layer, removing the dielectric layer using a first etch process to expose the sacrificial etch stop layer, and removing the sacrificial etch stop layer using a second etch process to form a contact surface on the second source/drain region.

Abstract: An operation authority management apparatus manages switching between automatic operation and manual operation of a plurality of actuators (a steering actuator, an accelerator actuator, and a brake actuator) of a subject vehicle. In the operation authority management apparatus, a subject vehicle behavior prediction unit predicts a behavior of the subject vehicle. A determination unit determines, for each individual actuator, whether or not to permit switching of the actuator during the automatic operation to the manual operation on the basis of the behavior of the subject vehicle predicted by the subject vehicle behavior prediction unit. A notification unit notifies a driver of the subject vehicle of a determination result made by the determination unit.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to correct a travel plan of a vehicle so as to cause a self-vehicle to move to a relative position with lower travel risk. A travel plan correction device in accordance with the present invention includes a risk calculation section setting unit for setting a risk calculation section, a risk calculation unit for calculating a travel risk value, on the basis of a relative position between a target area and a surrounding vehicle and travel control information of the surrounding vehicle, a risk reduction section extraction unit for extracting a section whose travel risk value is lower than that at a traveling spot, out of the risk calculation section, as a risk reduction section, and a travel plan correction unit for correcting the travel plan so as to cause the self-vehicle to move to the risk reduction section.

Abstract: A wearable device attached to a subject includes an accelerometer that measures acceleration information, and a biological sensor that measures biological signal information of the subject. From the measured acceleration information and biological signal information, first feature data corresponding to a first predetermined period and second feature data corresponding to a second predetermined period are extracted. By machine learning based on the first feature data, a dynamic/static activity identification model, a dynamic-activity identification model, and a static-activity identification model, for the subject, are generated. By combination of results of determination based on each of the identification models, a posture and an activity of the subject are identified and correspondence information, which associates the identified posture and activity with the biological signal information of the subject, is generated.

Abstract: A fluid heating device includes a pressurizing chamber configured to store a working fluid and a heat accumulator disposed in the pressurizing chamber. The heat accumulator includes a heat accumulating member configured to release heat by receiving a pressure applied to the working fluid. The fluid heating device has improved actuation efficiency.

Abstract: An automatic driving control plan creator creates a plan of an automatic driving section where a subject vehicle is automatically driven, and a plan of a driving switching preparation section for switching the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving. A driving load calculator predicts, for each point of the driving switching preparation section, a driving load applied to a driver when the driver manually drives the subject vehicle. A driving switching permission determiner extracts, from the driving switching preparation section, a switching-inhibited section that is a section where switching from automatic driving to manual driving is not permitted, on the basis of the predicted driving load at each point. A driving switching preparation section compensator changes a start point of the driving switching preparation section so as to lengthen the driving switching preparation section in accordance with the length of the switching-inhibited section.

Abstract: A text log feature vector generator generates a text log feature vector on the basis of a text log. A numerical log feature vector generator generates a numerical log feature vector on the basis of a numerical log. A system feature vector generator generates a system feature vector on the basis of the text log feature vector and the numerical log feature vector. A learning unit learns a plurality of appearance values of the system feature vector to generate a system state model as a model indicating a state of the system. A determination unit determines the state of the system at determination target time on the basis of the system feature vector at the determination target time and the system state model.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a technology of determining whether a driver is prepared for transfer of driving authorization, and then determining whether transfer of driving authorization is acceptable or unacceptable. The present invention is intended for a driving authorization transfer determination device. The device includes a task request part that makes an output device inside the vehicle output a request for a task involving continuous speech or body movement for a predetermined period of time, a task acquisition part that acquires an accomplishment result of the task from an input device inside the vehicle, a transfer determination part that determines whether the transfer is acceptable or unacceptable based on the accomplishment result of the task, and a determination result output part that outputs a determination result of the transfer determination part to the automated driving controller.

Abstract: In a peripheral-information determining apparatus, a peripheral-information acquiring unit acquires peripheral information indicating circumstances around a subject vehicle, from a peripheral-information detector that detects the circumstances around the subject vehicle. An intention estimating unit estimates, from person movement information, an intention of a person around the subject vehicle or an instruction of an indicator around the subject vehicle. The person movement information is included in the peripheral information, and is a piece of information that indicates a movement of the person, or a movement of the indicator that imitates a person's movement. A controller controls a travel controller or an outward-notification apparatus on the basis of the peripheral information and an estimated result that is obtained from the intention estimating unit. The travel controller controls the traveling of the subject vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic driving control plan creation unit creates a plan of an automatic driving section in which a subject vehicle is automatically driven, and a plan of a driving switching preparation section for switching the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving. For each point in the driving switching preparation section, a driving load calculation unit calculates a driving load applied to a driver when the driver manually drives the subject vehicle. A driving switching permission determination unit permits switching of the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving at a point where the driving load is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and does not permit switching of the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving at a point where the driving load is equal to or larger than the threshold value. A permission standard relaxation unit makes the driving load difficult to exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to encourage a driver to visually recognize a direction from the side and rear of a vehicle and requiring visual recognition by the driver at a complicated intersection. A side and rear reflection controller of the present invention includes: a geometry recognition unit that recognizes the geometry of an intersection having same direction entry lanes; a position recognition unit that recognizes the position of the own vehicle relative to the intersection; a visibility direction setting unit that sets a part from the side and rear of the own vehicle as a recommended visibility direction on the basis of the position of the own vehicle relative to the intersection and the same direction entry lanes; and a control unit that controls the side and rear reflection display device so as to present an image in the recommended visibility direction to the driver.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to implement, at a low hardware cost, a device that changes an autonomous driving control parameter whose step size is variably set. An autonomous driving control parameter changing device according to the present invention includes, a gesture operation acquisition unit that acquires information on a gesture operation for moving the operation target icon, a parameter changing unit that changes the autonomous driving control parameter in an increase or decrease direction defined in association with a movement direction in which the operation target icon is moved, and a step size setting unit that variably sets a step size based on a predetermined condition, the step size corresponding to an amount of change in the autonomous driving control parameter made by the parameter changing unit per occurrence of the gesture operation, and the change operation screen includes a display of the step size.

Abstract: In a display control unit, an information acquisition unit acquires first information and second information. A display processing unit causes a first display surface provided in a subject vehicle to display the first information, and causes a second display surface provided in the subject vehicle to display the second information. A lens control unit sets a virtual image distance of the first display surface by controlling a first liquid crystal lens arranged in front of the first display surface based on a type of the first information, and sets a virtual image distance of the second display surface by controlling a second liquid crystal lens arranged in front of the second display surface based on a type of the second information.

Abstract: A display control apparatus controls a display used in a vehicle which can travel with automatic driving. The display control apparatus includes an information acquirer and a controller. The information acquirer acquires information of a travel control plan generated by an automatic driving control device of the vehicle. The controller acquires a future position which is a position of the vehicle after an elapse of a predetermined time from a current position of the vehicle from a future movement of the vehicle planned by the travel control plan, and controls the display so that a user is visually provided with the future position of the vehicle by overlapping a vehicle object which is a display object imitating a vehicle shape with a landscape relating to the future position which is acquired.

Abstract: A travel sickness estimation system includes an estimation unit and an output unit. The estimation unit is configured to perform estimation processing of estimating, based on person information indicating conditions of a person who is on board a moving vehicle, whether or not the person is in circumstances that would cause travel sickness for him or her. The output unit is configured to output a result of the estimation processing performed by the estimation unit.