Methods and systems autonomously parking and retrieving vehicles are disclosed. Available parking spaces or parking facilities may be identified, and the vehicle may be navigated to an available space from a drop-off location without passengers. Special-purpose sensors, GPS data, or wireless signal triangulation may be used to identify vehicles and available parking spots. Upon a user request or a prediction of upcoming user demand, the vehicle may be retrieved autonomously from a parking space. Other vehicles may be autonomously moved to facilitate parking or retrieval.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Vehicle collision and/or smart home incident monitoring, damage detection, and responses are also described, with particular focus on the particular challenges associated with incident response for unoccupied vehicles and/or smart homes. Operating data associated with the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home may be received. Within the operating, an unusual condition indicative of a likelihood of incident may be detected. Based on the unusual condition, it may be determined that the incident occurred. Accordingly, a response to the incident may be determined. The response may be implemented by the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home.

Methods and systems autonomously parking and retrieving vehicles are disclosed. Available parking spaces or parking facilities may be identified, and the vehicle may be navigated to an available space from a drop-off location without passengers. Special-purpose sensors, GPS data, or wireless signal triangulation may be used to identify vehicles and available parking spots. Upon a user request or a prediction of upcoming user demand, the vehicle may be retrieved autonomously from a parking space. Other vehicles may be autonomously moved to facilitate parking or retrieval.

The invention relates to a display unit for displaying at least one remaining range in a motor vehicle in accordance with the remaining energy supply in at least one drive system, such as the tank fill level in a vehicle driven by a combustion engine and/or the state of charge of the high-voltage battery in a vehicle driven by an electric motor. The display of the remaining range may be hidden even when there is a remaining energy supply if at least one defined operating condition is met. A defined operating condition allows the conclusion that a unit of the drive system is at least temporarily unavailable.

A vehicle control system is provided to maintain an SOC level of the battery during autonomous operation of the vehicle. The control system is applied to a vehicle that can be operated autonomously by controlling an engine, a motor, a steering system, a brake system etc. autonomously by a controller, and the vehicle is allowed to coast by manipulating a clutch. During autonomous operation of the vehicle, a first coasting mode in which the engine is stopped and the clutch is disengaged is selected if the SOC level is higher than a threshold level, and a second coasting mode in which the engine is activated and the clutch is disengaged is selected if the SOC level is lower than the threshold level.

A method for evaluating the deceleration law of a vehicle including an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a powertrain including an engine, a gearbox and a unit for disconnecting the engine and gearbox, the deceleration law being defined for a discrete state of the powertrain. The method includes a first step of evaluating driving parameters, including measuring the speed (v) of the vehicle, evaluating the engaged gearbox ratio, evaluating the state of closure of the disconnecting unit, detecting the position of the accelerator pedal, detecting the position of the brake pedal, evaluating the slope (a) of the road on which the vehicle is traveling, evaluating the mass (m) of the vehicle. If the accelerator pedal is in a released position and if the brake pedal is in a released position, a second step including recording the speed (v) of the vehicle and the slope (a) of the road. A third step of computing a first coefficient (f0′), a second coefficient (f1′) and a third coefficient (f2′) of the deceleration law representing the forces F(v) being exerted on the vehicle, with the exception of the gravitational forces being exerted on the vehicle, according to the equation:

F(v)=f0′+f1′*v+f2′*v.sup.2.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Vehicle collision and/or smart home incident monitoring, damage detection, and responses are also described, with particular focus on the particular challenges associated with incident response for unoccupied vehicles and/or smart homes. Operating data associated with the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home may be received. Within the operating, an unusual condition indicative of a likelihood of incident may be detected. Based on the unusual condition, it may be determined that the incident occurred. Accordingly, a response to the incident may be determined. The response may be implemented by the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home.

A system includes an inertial navigation system module (INS module) that detects vehicle yaw rates and vehicle lateral speeds, a controller circuit communicatively coupled with the INS module. The controller circuit determines a tire cornering stiffness (C.sub.f, C.sub.r) based on vehicle physical parameters and vehicle dynamic parameters. The controller circuit determines a vehicle moment of inertia (Iz) based on the vehicle physical parameters, the vehicle dynamic parameters, and the tire cornering stiffness (C.sub.f, C.sub.r).

An electric vehicle is able to supply electric power to a vehicle outside and includes: an electric power generation part; an electric power storage part; and a control part that performs control such that electric power supplied from the electric power generation part or electric power supplied from the electric power storage part is automatically selected on a vehicle side in response to information obtained from an electric power supply target apparatus at the vehicle outside, and an electric power supply to the electric power supply target apparatus is performed.

A system is provided for performing an automated range estimation process for an electric vehicle using a processor. Included in the system is a range estimator configured to estimate an initial value of an energy required to travel a unit distance for the electric vehicle. The range estimator generates a first estimation model based on a correlation between a maximum all-electric-range and the energy required to travel a unit distance. Then, the first estimation model is adjusted based on one or more predetermined driving conditions. The maximum all-electric-range of the electric vehicle is updated based on the adjusted first estimation model. An estimated range of the electric vehicle is calculated based on the updated maximum all-electric-range of the electric vehicle and a fraction of total energy capability remaining in the electric vehicle. The estimated range of the electric vehicle is outputted and is used to control the electric vehicle.