An autonomous vehicle (AV) implements a health protocol that may reduce pathogen transmission between users of the AV. The AV is equipped with a thermal sensor that captures a body temperature of a user. The AV compares the user’s temperature to a threshold temperature, and if the user’s temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, the AV performs checks to ensure that the user’s planned trip follows current regulations or recommendations. For example, the AV confirms that the user is traveling between the user’s home and a healthcare facility. If the trip is permitted, the AV enables the user to enter the AV. The AV may include a disinfectant system for disinfecting the passenger compartment or surfaces after the user exits the AV.

In one embodiment, a method by a computing system of a vehicle includes determining an environment of the vehicle. The method includes generating, based on the environment, multiple proposed vehicle actions with associated operational data. The method includes determining a comfort level for each proposed vehicle action by processing the environment and operational data using a model for predicting comfort levels of vehicle actions. The model is trained using records of performed vehicle actions. The record for each performed vehicle action includes environment data, operational data, and a perceived passenger comfort level for the performed vehicle action. The method includes selecting a vehicle action from the proposed vehicle actions based on the determined comfort level. The method includes causing the vehicle to perform the selected vehicle action.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for improving user experiences for autonomous driving. In context of a method, the method determines one or more autonomous transition region parameters for a respective autonomous transition region along a route. The method also, based on the one or more autonomous transition region parameters, determines whether an action is to be performed by a vehicle in accordance with user preference data associated with a user. The method also causes the vehicle to perform the action in accordance with a determination that the action is to be performed by the vehicle.

Various systems and methods are provided for determining a posture of an occupant of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method comprises capturing images of an occupant in a vehicle via a vehicle camera, determining a current posture of the occupant and a recommended posture for the occupant based on the captured images and body measurements of the occupant, and outputting a guidance based on a difference between the current posture and the recommended posture. In this way, a comfort of the occupant may be increased by guiding the occupant toward a more ergonomic posture.

A vehicle-behavior notification device includes a yaw rate detector and a notifier. The yaw rate detector is configured to detect a yaw rate of a vehicle body of a vehicle. The notifier is configured to notify a driver who drives the vehicle of the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate detector.

An information processing apparatus receives an activation information from a telematics terminal mounted on a vehicle which is associated with a telematics service contract user. When the information processing apparatus receives the activation information, the information processing apparatus determines whether a predetermined condition is met. If it is determined that the predetermined condition is met, the information processing apparatus transmits a first instruction which causes an information regarding the contract user to be displayed to the telematics terminal.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to using ultrasonic or other types of signals to detect a driver in a vehicle. A computing platform may receive ultrasonic sensing data associated with mobile devices in the vehicle from a signal transmitter. Unique identifiers of the mobile devices may be determined. Based on the ultrasonic sensing data and the unique identifier, a relative distance from the signal transmitter to each mobile device in the vehicle may be determined. The computing platform may use a machine learning classifier to determine that a particular occupant is a driver in the vehicle based on the relative distance.

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include monitoring, during a ride provided by an autonomous vehicle (AV), passenger communications between a passenger and a remote agent using an in-vehicle electronic device. The method may further include identifying passenger ride preferences based on a passenger request, and in association with a first occurrence of a ride event. The method may also include providing confirmation, via the in-vehicle electronic device, that the request is being fulfilled, the fulfillment of which causes a change in the passenger's AV experience based upon changes to features of the AV. The method may further include generating, based upon the request, a prediction of passenger ride preferences for the passenger and then, during a subsequent AV ride carrying the passenger, applying the predicted passenger ride preferences to an AV during a second occurrence of the ride event. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

An event is detected at a first device. Responsive to the detection, at least some functionality of the first device is deactivated. The presence of a second device, cryptographically paired with the first device, is detected by the first device. Responsive to the detection, at least some functionality of the first device is activated or reactivated.

A method for adjusting apparatuses of a vehicle including multiple zones having adjustable apparatuses in the vehicle interior. A setting of the apparatuses that is individually customized to a respective person is stored in a respective user account associated with a mobile terminal of the respective person. The respective setting is controlled by way of a control unit in accordance with the respective user account. Each zone is assigned a vehicle exterior area that is monitored by a vehicle authorization unit. The vehicle authorization unit authenticates the respective person, on the person's coming into the vehicle exterior area of the respective zone, by way of the mobile terminal in his possession, and provides the control unit with the associated user account. The control unit responds to a first person's coming into the exterior area of the respective zone by adjusting the apparatuses of the respective zone in the vehicle interior.