Methods, apparatus and systems for commercial operation of autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed method includes determining that an owner of a personal autonomous vehicle has authorized the autonomous vehicle for commercial use. The disclosed method also includes identifying a time period when the autonomous vehicle is to be operated in the commercial use, determining a zone within which the autonomous vehicle is to operate during the commercial use and directing, using a processor, the autonomous vehicle based on the time period and the zone.

A dynamic vending system includes a vending manager and a delivery vehicle. The vending manager is configured to receive and evaluate a plurality of dynamic conditions from the delivery vehicle and to provide instructions including a planned route to the delivery vehicle based on the dynamic conditions. The delivery vehicle includes a plurality of products available for sale, and is configured to execute the instructions including the planned route. The delivery vehicle is further configured to receive requests from consumers to stop along the planned route and to execute a transaction with the consumer for one of the products available for sale. The transaction includes the selection of one of the products available for sale, receipt of payment for the product, and dispensing the selected product to the consumer.

An autonomous robot vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a conveyance system and a compartment coupled to the conveyance system. The conveyance system autonomously drives the autonomous robotic vehicle between one or more storage locations and one or more delivery locations. The compartment receives one or more items stored at the one more storage locations. The compartment includes a temperature control module configured to maintain the compartment within a predetermined temperature range to provide temperature control for the one or more items as the conveyance system drives between the one or more storage locations and the one or more delivery locations.

An information processing apparatus is provided with a controller. The controller is configured to execute: displaying an advertisement on an outer surface of a vehicle; determining whether there has occurred an event affecting the running of the vehicle, based on measurement information obtained from a sensor mounted on the vehicle or an external sensor arranged outside the vehicle; and changing a display mode of the advertisement in cases where it is determined that the event has occurred.

An advertising system comprising one or more vehicles and an information processing apparatus. The vehicle comprises a display apparatus on which an advertisement is displayed, and a first controller configured to count the number of mobile terminals that are present in the vicinity of the vehicle at a time when an advertisement is displayed on the display apparatus and to send information about the counted number of mobile terminals to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus comprises a second controller that creates fee data on the basis of information received from the vehicle, the fee data being data relating to a fee for the advertisement.

Electronic digital display systems, including roadside display devices, vehicle-based devices, personal mobile devices, intermediary servers, advertising servers, and/or additional external data sources may operate individually or in combination to identify one or more vehicle locations, driving routes, driver and passenger characteristics, and the like. Vehicle and individual characteristics may be determined based on data received from traffic cameras, vehicle-based devices, personal mobile devices, and/or other data sources. Based on the vehicle characteristics, individual characteristics, driving data and driving patterns, and the like, digital content may be determined for electronic roadside displays to be viewable by the approaching vehicles, and/or other digital display devices to be viewable by associated individuals via other display devices and at other times. Various techniques may be used to determine customized digital content. Additionally, certain systems may be interactive to allow user responses and follow-up content via on-board vehicle devices or other user devices.

A system configured to be coupled with a participant of an activity. The system comprises: a participant activity monitoring unit configured for monitoring a performance of the activity by the participant; an activity information module configured for storing performance information corresponding to the activity; and a participant performance correlator configured for delivering comparative performance data based on the monitored performance of the activity by the participant and the stored performance information.

A method for enabling a value-added transaction involving a vehicle and a merchant via a mobile device is disclosed. Merchant information may be broadcasted from a merchant terminal. Vehicle specific data may be received at the merchant terminal identifying the vehicle in response to the broadcasted merchant information. Transaction data may be provided to the mobile device to initiate an intended transaction. Payment data may be received from the mobile device at the merchant terminal in response to the provided transaction data. Before completing the intended transaction, a value-added transaction offer may be provided to the mobile device. In response to the provided value-added transaction offer, an acceptance of the value-added transaction offer may be received. The intended transaction and the value-added transaction offer may be completed as a single transaction.

Methods and systems for a detecting an intruder near or within a vehicle are disclosed. Specifically, a method to detect and identify a person near or within a vehicle as an authorized or an unauthorized user is provided. In the event an unauthorized user is detected within a vehicle, the system may take a number of actions. In one embodiment, the actions comprise providing notice to one or more authorized users of the vehicle, disabling the vehicle, notifying emergency personnel or police, and emitting a visual or audio alarm.

Disclosed in some examples, are devices, methods, systems, and machine readable mediums that provide for automated goods exchange between autonomous vehicles while the autonomous vehicles are still in motion. This may be used to efficiently ship packages long distances as well as to transfer goods to consumers. This allows shippers to transfer goods from one truck to another without having to stop and unload the truck, decreasing costs by limiting human involvement and improving efficiency. Likewise, mobile merchants, such as food trucks, may sell to consumers in cars without having to stop to perform the exchange, increasing the convenience to consumers.