A guidance apparatus for an autonomous vehicle and a method therefor are provided. The guidance apparatus includes a first guidance device that guides a passenger in the autonomous vehicle through first response information, a second guidance device that guides a rescuer outside the autonomous vehicle through second response information, and a controller that controls guidance on the first response information and guidance on the second response information, when abnormality occurs in the autonomous vehicle.

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus and method for monitoring audio content that is played back in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes memory and a media controller. The media controller includes the memory and is programmed to transmit first media content as desired by one or more first vehicle occupants positioned in a first zone seating area and to transmit second media content as desired one or more second vehicle occupants positioned in a second zone seating area. The media controller is further programmed to receive an indication from the one or more first vehicle occupants to transmit the second media content in the first zone seating area and to transmit the second media content for monitoring by the one or more first vehicle occupants in the first zone seating area based on the indication.

A method for operating a motor vehicle in the event of an unavoidable collision with a collision object, in particular another vehicle. Environment data relating to the collision object are determined by an environment sensor device including at least one environment sensor and are evaluated to determine at least one driving intervention information for reducing the consequences of a collision. The motor vehicle is automatically guided in accordance with the driving intervention information, and the evaluation of the environment data is carried out together with structural information of the own motor vehicle describing the vehicle structure, in particular including elements absorbing collision energy of the motor vehicle, in such a way that a changed collision point maximizing the deformation energy absorbed by the vehicle structure and to be produced by the driving intervention information is determined when the driving intervention information is determined.

The technology relates to providing an enhanced user experience for riders in autonomous vehicles. Two or more displays may be arranged at different locations within a vehicle to provide notifications, alerts and control options. Information may be dynamically and automatically switched between these displays, as well as a rider's own personal communication device(s). What information to present on each screen can depend on factors including how many riders are in the vehicle, their seating within the vehicle, how their attention is focused and/or display location and size. Certain information may be mirrored or otherwise duplicated among multiple screens while other information can be presented asymmetrically on different screens. Presented information may include a “monologue” from the vehicle explaining why a driving action is taken or not taken, alerts about important conditions, buttons to control certain functionality of the vehicle, or other information that may be of interest to the rider.

A stopping position control device according to an embodiment includes a sitting position specifying unit configured to specify a sitting position of a user who gets off a vehicle next, the vehicle being subjected to automatic driving control, and a stopping position determination unit configured to determine a stopping position of the vehicle, at which the user gets off the vehicle, corresponding to the sitting position of the user.

A vehicle comprises user inputs, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the vehicle, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals. The controller controls activation of the user input controls based on the determined location of the pet to disable an operating mode of one or more of the user inputs when the pet is detected proximate to the user inputs.

The relative position of a user equipment (UE) within a vehicle is determined using angular measurements, such as angle of arrival (AOA), and optionally ranging measurements, with respect to a number of wireless transceivers within the vehicle using wideband signals. The relative position of the UE with respect to a personal zone or the steering wheel may be determined based on known positions of the wireless transceivers. If the UE is determined to be within the personal zone, at least one functionality of the UE is restricted to avoid driver distraction and, optionally, the operation autonomous driving of the vehicle adjusted. If the UE is worn on the driver's wrist the relative position of the UE with respect to the steering wheel may be similarly determined and operation of the vehicle modified if the UE is determined to be outside a threshold distance from the steering wheel.

Systems and methods for evaluating vehicle occupant behavior are provided. For example, a method of evaluating vehicle occupant behavior includes analyzing behavior of an occupant of a vehicle associated with a trip in the vehicle. The method also includes determining one or more aspects of the trip in the vehicle. The method also includes determining a score of the behavior of the occupant of the vehicle based on the analysis and the one or more aspects.

Methods and systems for controlling an occupant output system associated with a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems receive vehicle or occupant context data from a source of vehicle context data, generate occupant message data based on the vehicle or occupant context data and determine if an occupant associated with the occupant output system is vision or hearing impaired. When the occupant is determined to be vision or hearing impaired, the methods and systems decide on an output modality to assist the occupant, and generate an output for the occupant on the output device, and in the output modality, based on the occupant message data.

Disclosed embodiments include computer-implemented methods, systems, and vehicles for detecting an intention to make a turn and automatically changing a view presented by the navigation system to increase a viewable portion of the turn. In an illustrative embodiment, a system includes a computing device that includes a processor and computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to: detect that a navigation system of a vehicle is operating without a predetermined destination; identify an intention of an operator to turn the vehicle; and, responsive to identifying the intention to turn the vehicle, automatically adjusting a view presented by a display of the navigation system to increase a viewable portion of the turn.