In one aspect a vehicle may include a motor, a drive train and chassis, a battery, a seat assembly including a seat in which people can sit, at least one processor, a camera accessible to the at least one processor, and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage may include instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive data pertaining to at least one characteristic of a person and to, based on the data, adjust at least one mechanism within the vehicle.

A control unit system (40) suitable for an aircraft seat (10) comprises a first control unit (42) with first user-operable input devices (44), and a second control unit (46) with second user-operable input devices (48). The first and second control units are co-operable with one another so that, in response to operation of any one of the first user-operable input devices by a user, a corresponding set (48A, 48B, 48C, 48D) of one or more of said second input devices (48) is operated to adopt the activated state. The control unit system allows a relatively high number of functions to be supported without requiring a large control unit. or complex and expensive hardware or software. Moreover, the system is relatively simple to use compared to. for example. a control unit with a large number of user input buttons or a complex human-computer interface.

One variation of a method for renting a vehicle includes: receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying a current availability of the vehicle for rent; updating a visual indicator arranged on the vehicle according to the signal, the visual indicator visually detectable from outside the vehicle; receiving identification information of a user proximal the vehicle; enabling access to the vehicle for the user in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle; determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a driver's seat within the vehicle; and enabling ignition of the vehicle for the user in response to determination that the user is seated in the driver's seat.

A method of adjusting a vehicle seat includes detecting one of a current position of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat with one of a pressure sensitive fabric, a sound transmitter and transducer, and an electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer. A comfortable position is determined of the vehicle occupant. The vehicle seat is adjusted from the current position to the comfortable position. A vehicle seat assembly is also disclosed.

An autonomous vehicle seat positioning system has a controller connected to a display, a control panel and a positioning mechanism of a vehicle seat assembly. The controller operates in a position saving mode and a position selecting mode. In the position saving mode, positioning inputs made by the first occupant are saved in memory as a first upright setting corresponding to the first occupant manually driving the vehicle. Positioning inputs made by the first occupant of the vehicle seat assembly are also saved in memory as a first relaxation setting corresponding to the first occupant viewing the display with the vehicle operating in a self-driving mode. In the position selecting mode, the controller operates the positioning mechanism to move the vehicle seat assembly to positions corresponding the first upright setting or the first relaxation setting.

Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to create, modify, and maintain profiles associated with users. The user profiles are generated based on selectively collecting data associated with the users. Although each user profile may include settings, preferences, habits, and content associated with an individual user and/or vehicle, some user profiles may represent multiple users. These user profiles can change a configuration of a vehicle to match settings for a user, such as a driver and/or passenger. The configurations may also include the recognition of a unique set of gestures for a user. Further, the user profiles can be transferred from vehicle-to-vehicle and/or user-to-user.

A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom. The vehicle seat further includes a seat-bottom foundation arranged to interconnect the seat bottom and seat back to translate back and forth relative to a vehicle floor.

A seatback includes a lower frame, an upper frame, and a hinge coupling the lower and upper frames. An actuator is fixed relative to the lower frame, and a cable extends from the actuator to the upper frame. In the event of a collision, the actuator pulls the cable, and the upper frame moves from an upright position to a bent position relative to the lower frame.

Method, apparatus, and computer readable media are disclosed for position control touchscreens for vehicles. An example vehicle includes a center console touchscreen for controlling vehicle settings, a seat, a seat motor coupled to the seat, a position control touchscreen adjacent to the seat for controlling seat settings, and a position adjuster communicatively coupled to the position control touchscreen. The position adjuster is to receive a seat adjustment command from the position control touchscreen and adjust the seat, via the seat motor, based on the seat adjustment command.

A heat flux sensor is installed in such a way that heat flux emanating from a biological object present at a predetermined position is detectable. It is determined whether or not a biological object is present at the predetermined position by comparing sensing results of the heat flux sensor with determination criteria. The determination criteria is preset according to heat flux that can be sensed when a biological object is present at the predetermined position. When the sensing results of the heat flux sensor satisfy the determination criteria, in other words, when the heat flux sensed by the heat flux sensor is the heat flux emanating from a biological object, it is determined that a biological object is present at the predetermined position. Consequently, it is possible to realize accurate detection of a biological object.