A detection device includes at least one detection module communicatively coupled with a communication device. The detection module includes a controller circuit communicatively coupled with a first antenna. The first antenna receives first electromagnetic signals from a first plurality of antennae located within an interior of a first vehicle. The first antenna receives second electromagnetic signals from a second plurality of antennae located and within an interior of a second vehicle. The controller circuit determines a position of the communication device within the interior of the first vehicle relative to locations of the first plurality of antennae based on the first electromagnetic signals received by the first antenna. The controller circuit determines a position of the communication device within the interior of the second vehicle relative to locations of the second plurality of antennae based on the second electromagnetic signals received by the first antenna.

Provided in this disclosure is an antitheft system for an automotive catalytic converter including a wire loop for conducting a current to establish an electrical circuit. One or more hose clamps are provided for securing some or all of the wire loop alongside a vehicle exhaust system including the catalytic converter. A monitoring circuit is in electrical communication with the wire loop, for monitoring the electrical circuit established in the wire loop. A detector circuit is connected to the monitoring circuit, for detecting a discontinuity in the electrical circuit indicative of a disconnection of the wire loop. An alarm circuit is connected to the detector circuit, for activating an alarm upon detection of the discontinuity in the electrical circuit. An arming circuit includes a detection circuit for detecting insertion of a removable key, and another detection circuit for detecting insertion of the wire loop which establishes the electrical circuit.

Provided in this disclosure is an antitheft system for an automotive catalytic converter including a wire loop for conducting a current to establish an electrical circuit. One or more hose clamps are provided for securing some or all of the wire loop alongside a vehicle exhaust system including the catalytic converter. A monitoring circuit is in electrical communication with the wire loop, for monitoring the electrical circuit established in the wire loop. A detector circuit is connected to the monitoring circuit, for detecting a discontinuity in the electrical circuit indicative of a disconnection of the wire loop. An alarm circuit is connected to the detector circuit, for activating an alarm upon detection of the discontinuity in the electrical circuit. An arming circuit includes a detection circuit for detecting insertion of a removable key, and another detection circuit for detecting insertion of the wire loop which establishes the electrical circuit.

Programmable telematics systems, methods and apparatus for two-way transmission of data and information between fleet vehicles and a fleet management system. The systems and methods employ a programmable telematics communications unit (TCU) configured to connect to a communications port of a vehicle, enabling two-way transmission of data and information between a fleet management system and vehicles in the fleet. The TCU device includes cellular data connectivity enabling communication with the management system through existing cellular telephone networks. The programmable TCU may be toggled between multiple operating modes, wherein the TCU provides different functionality, such that a single vehicle may participate in multiple vehicle programs at different points in time, including separate vehicle rental and vehicle sharing programs.

The disclosed embodiments generally provide visual and/or audio cues to a user to guide the user to a vehicle pickup-drop-off (PuDo) location, such as an autonomous vehicle (AV) PuDo. The user’s current location is determined based on information from the user’s mobile device. A path is determined from the user’s current location to the designated PuDo location, and instructions (e.g., turn-by-turn directions) to reach the designated PuDo are displayed on the user’s mobile device, for example, using an augmented reality (AR) interface on their mobile device that is updated in real-time. Disclosed embodiments also allow vehicles to authenticate the identity of a user before allowing entry of the user into the vehicle based on a sequence of hand gestures performed by the user that are detected by exterior sensors (e.g., camera, LiDAR) of the vehicle.

A method for parcel delivery service that permits secure and timely delivery of items to unattended vehicles. The method includes receiving an order to deliver an item to a vehicle. A current location of the vehicle may be determined using vehicle identification information. After the vehicle has been located, the item may be authenticated at the vehicle, and access to the interior of the vehicle may be automatically provided to enable the vehicle to securely receive the item. A corresponding system is also disclosed and claimed herein.

An apparatus includes a vehicle control system (VCS) coupled to a computer of a vehicle via a CAN bus and configured to present selectively appearance of a presence in the vehicle of a smartkey, e.g., by energizing and de-energizing an actual smartkey of the vehicle. The VCS includes a VCS and a Bluetooth® VCS transceiver. The VCS stores VCS software. The apparatus also includes a smartphone with a Bluetooth® transceiver, and storing an app. The mobile device is paired with the VCS to communicate with the VCS via a Bluetooth® link. The app configures the smartphone to receive menu selections from a user, to generate communications that identity smartkey-enabled features of the VCS that correspond to the selections, and to send to the VCS the communications through the link. The VCS software configures the VCS to receive the communications and cause the vehicle to perform actions corresponding to live communications.

There is provided a method and a system for authorizing a user device to send a request to a vehicle in order to prevent a physical layer relay attack. The system comprises a vehicle comprising an acoustic transducer and an RF transceiver and a user device comprising an acoustic transducer and an RF transceiver. The method relates to a signaling scheme using a combination of acoustic and RF signals for preventing a successful physical layer relay attack.

Methods are provided for remotely starting up one or a plurality of vehicles. These methods involve starting up hardware and/or software modules of the vehicle in a particular order so as to account for dependencies among the various modules. In one form, states of various hardware and/or software modules in the vehicle, and errors observed in starting up various modules and troubleshooting is applied in an automated manner. Moreover, the methods may involve ensure proper startup of modules for performing a localization procedure for the vehicle.

A system detects tampering of an electronic system of a vehicle operated by a driver. The system receives historical occurrences of at least one diagnostic trouble code (DTC) generated by the onboard vehicle computing system based on sensor data received from a vehicle sensor during a trip. The system identifies a length of the trip and a speed of the vehicle when each DTC was generated. The system identifies a distance the vehicle had traveled when each DTC was generated. The system determines a subsequent trip was started, whether a driver operating the vehicle on the subsequent trip is a same driver or a new driver, whether DTCs were generated during the trip, and whether DTCs were generated during the subsequent trip. The system determines a tamper rating for the driver that indicates a likelihood that the driver has tampered with the vehicle.