A vehicle includes a passenger compartment having a side and an upper wall extending from the side in an upper plan. The vehicle further includes an extension extending from the side of the passenger compartment to an end that extends in an end plane. The vehicle further includes at least one time-of-flight sensor configured to capture positional information about an obstruction outside the vehicle. The vehicle further includes control circuitry in communication with the at least one time-of-flight sensor. The control circuitry is configured to define a space above the extension between the side, the upper plane, and the end plane. The control circuitry is further configured to calculate, based on the positional information, an available position for the vehicle having the obstruction in the space. The control circuitry is further configured to generate an output in response to the available position.

The techniques and systems herein enable ghost object detection. Specifically, a reflection line indicative of a potential reflection surface between first and second moving objects is determined. If enough stationary objects are within an area of the reflection line, it is determined whether one or more of the stationary objects within the area are within a distance of a reflection point. An expected velocity of the second object is then determined and checked against a velocity of the second object. If the expected velocity is near the velocity, it is determined that the second object is a ghost object. By doing so, the system can effectively identify ghost objects in a wide variety of environments, thereby allowing for downstream operations to function as designed.

The present invention provides for a genetically modified host cell capable of producing isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol, comprising (a) an increased expression of phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (PMD) (b) an increased expression of a phosphatase capable of converting isopentenol into 3-methyl-3-butenol, (c) optionally the genetically modified host cell does not express, or has a decreased expression of one or more of NudB, phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK), and/or PMD, and (d) optionally one or more further enzymes capable of converting isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol into a third compound, such as isoprene.

An alarm system for a vehicle comprises a sensor disposed on an installation plane of the vehicle, configured to emit a plurality of frequency-modulated continuous waveform (FMCW) signals toward a reverse plane of the installation plane and receiving reflected signals of the plurality of FMCW signals, to detect information of a plurality of targets within a specified range corresponding to the vehicle; an alarm being controlled to generate an alarm signal; and a control module coupled to the sensor and the alarm, capable of receiving the information of the plurality of targets detected by the sensor; determining a vehicle information of the vehicle in relation to an external environment according to the information of the plurality of targets; and determining movement statuses of the plurality of targets in relation to the vehicle according to the vehicle information and the information of the plurality of targets, and accordingly controlling the alarm.

A reversing assistance device for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a radar unit mounted on a rear of the vehicle and is configured to provide distance information to an object that is fully or partially behind the vehicle when approaching the object under an approaching angle. The reversing assistance device comprises an evaluation unit configured to provide a reversing support function by: obtaining from the radar unit the distance information to the object; determining, based on the distance information, a shortest longitudinal distance between a corner of the rear of the vehicle and the object along a reversing direction of the vehicle; and, based on the shortest longitudinal distance, modifying the distance information to compensate for the approaching angle.

Example vehicle alignment systems for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example vehicle alignment system includes a camera to detect the vehicle approaching a doorway of a loading dock. The camera to generate an image signal indicative of at least one of an angular orientation of the vehicle or a lateral position of the vehicle relative to a reference. A controller is to detect a deviation in the at least one of the angular orientation of the vehicle or the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference based on the image signal. A display is to generate an indication representative of the at least one of the angular orientation of the vehicle or the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference.

Example vehicle alignment systems for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example vehicle alignment system includes a first switch positioned on a first lateral edge of a doorway of the loading dock. The first switch is to be engageable by a first side surface of the vehicle. A second switch is positioned on a second lateral edge of the doorway opposite the first lateral edge. The second switch to be engageable by a second side surface of the vehicle opposite the first side surface. A controller is to receive a first feedback signal from the first switch and a second feedback signal from the second switch. The controller is to compare the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to detect a lateral deviation of the vehicle relative to a reference.

Example vehicle alignment systems for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example vehicle alignment system includes an outer sensor pair to detect a surface of the vehicle. The outer sensor pair is to obtain a first feedback signal representative of an orientation of the detected surface relative to a reference as the vehicle approaches a doorway of the loading dock. An inner sensor pair is to detect the surface of the vehicle. The inner sensor pair is to obtain a second feedback signal representative of the orientation of the detected surface relative to the reference as the vehicle approaches the doorway of the loading dock. A controller is to detect a threshold deviation in the orientation of the detected surface of the vehicle relative to the reference based on at least one of the first feedback signal or the second feedback signal. A display is to vary an output signal in response to the detected threshold deviation in the orientation of the detected surface relative to the reference.

Example vehicle alignment systems for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example vehicle alignment system includes a first arm extending a first distance from a wall of the loading dock, where the first arm is positioned adjacent a first lateral edge of a doorway of the loading dock. A first sensor is coupled to the first arm, where the first sensor is directed substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the first arm. The first sensor is to detect a first lateral distance between the first sensor and a first side surface of the vehicle. The first sensor to provide a first feedback signal representative of the first lateral distance. A second arm extends a second distance from the wall of the loading dock, where the second arm is positioned adjacent a second lateral edge of the doorway of the loading dock opposite the first lateral edge. A second sensor is coupled to the second arm, where the second sensor is directed substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the second arm. The second sensor is oriented toward the first sensor, the second sensor to detect a second lateral distance between the second sensor and a second side surface of the vehicle opposite the first side surface. The second sensor is to provide a first feedback signal representative of the second lateral distance.

A collision prevention device is mounted on a vehicle and prevents collision against an obstacle by controlling a driving system of the vehicle. This collision prevention device includes an obstacle sensor, an obstacle detection area setting unit, a detector and a vehicle controller. The obstacle sensor transmits one of a light wave, a radio wave and an ultrasonic wave to a predetermined obstacle detection area, and receives a reflected wave of one of the light wave, the radio wave and the ultrasonic wave. The obstacle detection area setting unit sets the obstacle detection area of the obstacle sensor. The detector detects the obstacle in the obstacle detection area based on a detection result of the obstacle sensor. The vehicle controller controls the driving system of the vehicle based on a result of the detection of the detector, and according to the obstacle detection area set by the obstacle detection area setting unit.