Systems and methods for maintaining autonomous vehicle operator awareness are provided. A method can include determining, by a computing system, an awareness challenge for an operator of a vehicle. The awareness challenge can be based on object data. The awareness challenge can have one or more criteria. The criteria can include a challenge response interval, a response time, and an action for satisfying the awareness challenge. The method can include initiating, by the computing system, a timer measuring elapsed time from a start time of the challenge response interval. The method can include communicating to the operator, by the computing system, a soft notification indicative of the awareness challenge during the challenge response interval. The method can include determining, by the computing system, whether the operator provides a user input after the response time interval and whether the user input corresponds to the action for satisfying the awareness challenge.

A MEMS device and a method of making a MEMS device are disclosed. In one embodiment a semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a moveable electrode and a counter electrode, wherein the moveable electrode and the counter electrode are mechanically connected to the substrate. The movable electrode is configured to stiffen an inner region of the movable membrane.

Systems and methods for maintaining autonomous vehicle operator awareness are provided. A method can include determining, by a computing system, an awareness challenge for an operator of a vehicle. The awareness challenge can be based on object data. The awareness challenge can have one or more criteria. The criteria can include a challenge response interval, a response time, and an action for satisfying the awareness challenge. The method can include initiating, by the computing system, a timer measuring elapsed time from a start time of the challenge response interval. The method can include communicating to the operator, by the computing system, a soft notification indicative of the awareness challenge during the challenge response interval. The method can include determining, by the computing system, whether the operator provides a user input after the response time interval and whether the user input corresponds to the action for satisfying the awareness challenge.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) includes a composable piezoelectric actuator electrically coupled to a terminal. In response to a voltage applied across electrodes of the actuator, a piezoelectric rod moves from an initial position to a displaced position. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes two terminals, a resistive element is coupled between the terminals, and when in the displaced position the rod contacts one of the terminals. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes three terminals, and when a threshold voltage is applied to one of the terminals, the rod moves to the displaced position and allows current to flow between the other two terminals. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes a primary set of actuators that are mechanically but not electrically connected to a secondary set of actuators. An output terminal is coupled to the second set of actuators. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Systems and Apparatus for micromirror designs with electrode contact. In some examples, a device element includes a top layer. The device element also includes a middle layer under the top layer, the middle layer including a springtip. Additionally, the device element includes an electrode having a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer configured to contact the springtip.