Methods and systems are disclosed herein for adaptive climate control based on thermal imaging, standard imaging, and/or physiological states of a user. A system instructs one or more thermal imaging cameras to capture thermal images and standard images of windows of a vehicle and determines, based on the thermal images and standard images, whether at least one of the windows is experiencing condensation conditions. Based on determining that one of the windows is experiencing the condensation conditions, the system identifies a climate control adjustment to ameliorate the condensation conditions of the window and causes a system of the vehicle to perform the climate control adjustment. Methods and systems are also disclosed for intelligent scheduling and temperature adjustment. After being informed of a user's scheduled bath time, a server proactively adjusts a water heater to ensure an ample hot water supply to fill a tub at a user's preferred temperature.

A self-cleaning device comprises at least one first electrode disposed on a solid material layer, a first dielectric layer disposed on the first electrode, a hydrophobic layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, and at least one mechanical oscillation unit. Electrical oscillation for oscillating a droplet in a horizontal direction is generated by applying a first electric signal to the first electrode, thereby merging droplets formed on the hydrophobic layer, the mechanical oscillation unit moves the merged droplets in a specific direction or atomizes the merged droplets to remove the merged droplets by generating mechanical oscillation for oscillating the droplet in a vertical direction, and each of the droplets has a volume smaller than 3 l, and new droplet having a volume more than 3 l is generated by the merging.

Systems and methods for self-cleaning a surface of an object where an electrodynamic shield is mounted to the surface. The electrodynamic shield includes one or more sets of electrodes atop a substrate, at least one or more sets of electrodes being covered in a protective film. A coating is applied to the top surface of the protection film. A signal pulse generator is connected to the one or more sets of electrodes, and generates a pulse signal that causes the one or more sets of electrodes to generate an electric field. The pulse signal comprises a plurality of different pulse signals which have phase differences between consecutive signals, and the electric field causes a particle atop the coating to experience an electrostatic force and be repelled away from the coating. These pulse signals can be tuned to increase efficiency of removal depending on dust type and relative humidity.

Systems and methods for self-cleaning a surface of an object where an electrodynamic shield is mounted to the surface. The electrodynamic shield includes one or more sets of electrodes atop a substrate, at least one or more sets of electrodes being covered in a protective film. A coating is applied to the top surface of the protection film. A signal pulse generator is connected to the one or more sets of electrodes, and generates a pulse signal that causes the one or more sets of electrodes to generate an electric field. The pulse signal comprises a plurality of different pulse signals which have phase differences between consecutive signals, and the electric field causes a particle atop the coating to experience an electrostatic force and be repelled away from the coating. These pulse signals can be tuned to increase efficiency of removal depending on dust type and relative humidity.

An autonomous driving system for a vehicle (e.g. a racing car) is installed in the space normally allocated to a human driver and is attached to the pre-existing anchor points used for structures that are no longer needed once a human is no longer required, such as the crash protection anchor points. The autonomous driving system enables AI and robotics technology to be seamlessly integrated into existing high-performance race car designs without requiring significant design modifications to the vehicle. This invention enables a new era of motorsport, where for example human drivers in a Formula One car can compete against the same car controlled by an autonomous driving system, because the design integrity of all cars remain identical.

A heating device includes a housing, a primary induction coil, a controller circuit, and a secondary induction coil. The housing retains a camera lens. The primary induction coil is positioned proximate the housing and generates a magnetic field in response to receiving electrical power from a power supply. The controller circuit is in electrical contact with the primary induction coil and controls the electrical power delivered to the primary induction coil. The secondary induction coil overlays the primary induction coil and receives the magnetic field from the primary induction coil and generates heat. The secondary induction coil is in direct contact with a windshield of a vehicle and heats the viewing window when the primary induction coil receives the electrical power.

Multilayer metallo-dielectric energy control coatings are disclosed in which one or more layers are formed from a hydrogenated metal nitride dielectric, which may be hydrogenated during or after dielectric deposition. Properties of the multilayer coating may be configured by appropriately tuning the hydrogen concentration (and/or the spatial profile thereof) in one or more hydrogenated metal nitride dielectric layers. One or more metal layers of the multilayer coating may be formed on a hydrogenated nitride dielectric layer, thereby facilitating adhesion of the metal with a low percolation threshold and enabling the formation of thin metal layers that exhibit substantial transparency in the visible spectrum. Optical properties of the coating may be tuned through modulation of metal-dielectric interface roughness and dispersion of metal nanoparticles in the dielectric layer. Electrical busbars and micro-nano electrical grids may be integrated with one or more metal layers to provide functionality such as de-icing and defogging.

A sensor device includes an optical device that emits an electromagnetic wave, a housing that accommodates the optical device, a transmission portion provided in the housing to transmit the electromagnetic wave of the optical device, a length of the transmission portion in a first direction being shorter than a length of the transmission portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the transmission portion having a quadrilateral shape with a notch, first heater portions that extend at least in the second direction, the first heater portions being located, in regions surrounding the transmission portion, at both ends of the transmission portion in the first direction, and a thermistor portion disposed in a notched area of the quadrilateral shape. One of the first heater portions is disconnected on one of both sides in the second direction, the thermistor portion being not located on the one of both sides.

An instrument panel includes a substrate, a topper panel, and a sound stage panel. The sound stage panel includes a surface that faces upwardly and rearwardly, and opposite end portions. Opposite end portions of the sound stage panel face inwardly towards a passenger space between the opposite end portions. The instrument panel further includes first and second speakers that are aligned with openings in the opposite end portions of the sound stage panel.

There are provided systems, methods and devices for a thermal layer or substrate in a vehicle. A system includes a conductive layer configured to be applied inside a surface of a component of the vehicle. The system further includes a pulse electro-thermal de-icing (PETD) controller configured to provide electro-thermal pulses to the conductive layer to vary a temperature of the surface. A method includes applying a conductive layer inside a surface of a component of the vehicle. The method further includes providing electro-thermal pulses to the conductive layer to vary a temperature of the surface.