An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, (b) determining a risk-cost framework that indicates risk costs across a range of degrees to which an active-sensing action can be performed, wherein the active-sensing action comprises an action that is performable by the autonomous vehicle to potentially improve the information upon which at least one of the control processes for the autonomous vehicle is based, (c) determining an information-improvement expectation framework across the range of degrees to which the active-sensing action can be performed, and (d) applying the risk-cost framework and the information-improvement expectation framework to determine a degree to which the active-sensing action should be performed.

A vehicle control device includes a vehicle speed control unit configured to execute a vehicle speed control for automatically accelerating a vehicle, regardless of an accelerator operation. The vehicle speed control unit prohibits an execution of the vehicle speed control during a predetermined period, after a detection is made that the vehicle collided, and permits the execution of the vehicle speed control after an elapse of the predetermined period.

A method for driving autonomously out of a parked position by a vehicle is provided. It comprises the steps of: a) detecting an unlock-signal for unlocking a central locking system of a first vehicle parked at a first position by a second vehicle parked at a second position; b) determining whether the two vehicles are parked parallelly and directly next to each other; c) if so, driving the second vehicle autonomously at least partly out of the second position; d) determining whether the first vehicle has left at least partly said first position; and, e) if so, driving the second vehicle autonomously back in said second position.

A sheet-shaped magnetic marker (1) to be laid on a road surface so as to be able to be detected by a magnetic sensor attached to a vehicle to achieve assist for driving operation of the vehicle by a driver or control on a vehicle side to achieve automatic driving independently from operation of the driver is divided into a plurality of regions in a matrix shape by a cut line (1C) cutting a magnet sheet (11) and a nonskid layer (181), with an adhesive layer being left. Thus, if peeling partially occurs, a region including the peeled part can be isolated, and expansion of peeling can be prevented.

A system includes a driver monitor system configured to receive information about driver operation, a relationship table comprising information about an expected relationship between driver operation and a preload force, and a driver controller configured to control a driver in response to the information about driver operation and according to the relationship table. A method of managing a preload force includes providing a first component, providing a second component for compression against the first component, operating a driver to move the first component into contact with the second component, monitoring an operation of the driver, and determining an expected preload force in response to the operation of the driver.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing a road condition reporter are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, from a computing device, data that reflects characteristics of a vehicle. The actions further include, based on the data that reflects the characteristics of the vehicle, determining a characteristic of a road traveled by the vehicle. The actions further include, based on the characteristic of the road traveled by the vehicle, generating an instruction to perform an action. The actions further include providing, for output, the instruction to perform the action.

An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, (b) determining a risk-cost framework that indicates risk costs across a range of degrees to which an active-sensing action can be performed, wherein the active-sensing action comprises an action that is performable by the autonomous vehicle to potentially improve the information upon which at least one of the control processes for the autonomous vehicle is based, (c) determining an information-improvement expectation framework across the range of degrees to which the active-sensing action can be performed, and (d) applying the risk-cost framework and the information-improvement expectation framework to determine a degree to which the active-sensing action should be performed.

A method for driving autonomously out of a parked position by a vehicle is provided. It comprises the steps of: a) detecting an unlock-signal for unlocking a central locking system of a first vehicle parked at a first position by a second vehicle parked at a second position; b) determining whether the two vehicles are parked parallelly and directly next to each other; c) if so, driving the second vehicle autonomously at least partly out of the second position; d) determining whether the first vehicle has left at least partly said first position; and, e) if so, driving the second vehicle autonomously back in said second position.

A vehicle may include an engine selectively coupled to a motor and a transmission. The vehicle may include a controller configured to, in response to actuation of a brake pedal, command the transmission to downshift during a regenerative braking event based on a regenerative braking downshift torque. The regenerative braking downshift torque may be determined from a predicted brake pedal input rate. The predicted brake pedal input rate may be based on road grade, vehicle headway range and a driver history. The predicted brake pedal input rate may be classified as Low, Medium, or High. The regenerative braking downshift torque may also be determined from a predicted brake torque rate that is based on a predicted deceleration rate of the vehicle, a vehicle speed prediction and a road grade prediction within a future time interval that begins upon actuation of the brake pedal.

Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for recognizing driving information using multiple sensors. The method for recognizing driving information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes generating a magnetic sensing signal from magnetic paint applied to road markings, generating a frequency-converted signal using the magnetic sensing signal, and generating driving information for a vehicle using the frequency-converted signal.