A proximity air conditioner is capable of performing energy-saving and efficient air-conditioning. A proximity air-conditioning unit for vehicles includes: a housing; a temperature adjustment unit including a temperature adjuster and a blower; and ducts, wherein upper ends of blowout ports of ducts are located above seat surfaces of seats, end portions in a long-side direction of the blowout ports are located on a front side with respect to other end portions thereof in a front-back direction of the seats, and the temperature adjustment unit is disposed between both end portions in the long-side direction of each of the blowout ports.

Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or cat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.

An automotive air conditioning system includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first pump, a first combined valve, a second combined valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a battery unit. In a first cooling mode, the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the first combined valve and the first heat exchanger communicate in sequence to form a circuit, while the first pump, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger communicate to form another circuit. In a first heating mode, the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the second combined valve and the outdoor heat exchanger communicate in sequence to form a circuit, while the first pump, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchange communicate in sequence to form another circuit. Thermal management of the battery unit can be made by interacting with the first cooling mode or the first heating mode.

A transportation refrigeration unit is provided. The transportation refrigeration unit comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a compressor motor configured to drive the compressor; an evaporator heat exchanger operatively coupled to the compressor; an energy storage device for providing power to the compressor motor; and an evaporator fan configured to provide return airflow from a return air intake and flow the return airflow over the evaporator heat exchanger, wherein the return airflow thermodynamically adjusts a temperature of the energy storage device.

A temperature regulating system for interior surfaces of a vehicle includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. An air register assembly is operably coupled to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to direct air to an interior compartment. The air register assembly includes an actuation assembly for adjusting a position of the air register assembly. A target feature having a contact surface is disposed within the interior compartment. A temperature sensor is coupled to the target feature and senses a surface temperature of the contact surface. A controller communicates a notification with temperature information. A remote start device is communicatively coupled with the controller. The controller adjusts the position of the air register assembly to direct air across the contact surface of the target feature in response to a remote start signal from the remote start device.

A vehicle seat including: a seat cushion configured to support buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant; a temperature changing section that is provided at the seat cushion and is switchable between a first state in which the temperature changing section operates so as to warm the seated occupant from a front end portion of the seat cushion, and a second state in which the temperature changing section does not operate so as to warm the seated occupant from the front end portion of the seat cushion and a control section configured to control the temperature changing section so as to alternate repeatedly between the first state and the second state in a state in which an occupant is sitting on the seat cushion.

Inserts for the air-conditioning of a vehicle and methods for forming same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the insert includes a spacer material part. The spacer material part includes an open region extending from a top side to an opposite underside, the open region forming an air-guiding structure. The spacer material part is covered by at least one cover layer on at least one of the top side and the underside. The open areas of the air-guiding structure include a plurality of ducts connected to one another to form a net-like duct structure. The duct structure forms flow regions or flow zones. A cover layer has at least one perforation in the region of connection or intersection points of the ducts.

Vehicles and methods for cooling a cabin using a cold roof of the vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a roof, a cabin, and an insulation layer disposed between the roof and the cabin. The vehicle also includes a passage that fluidly couples the roof with the cabin. The passage is switchable between an open mode and a closed mode. The passage is switched between the open mode and the closed mode depending on a relationship between a roof temperature, a cabin temperature, and/or a threshold temperature. The passage may be formed through the insulation layer or extend outside of the insulation layer fluidly coupling the roof with the cabin.

A vehicle cabin air conditioning system includes a cabin indoor air conditioner and an individual air conditioner configured to condition air in a target space inside a cabin. The individual air conditioner includes a blower, a heat generator, a supply port, and an exhaust port. The supply port supplies one of a cold air cooled with the heat generator and a warm air heated with the heat generator to the target space. The exhaust port provides the other of the cold air and the warm air to outside of the target space. The cabin indoor air conditioner includes a cabin blower, a temperature control unit, and a suction port through which air is sucked for the temperature control unit. An air flow path is provided to guide air sent from the exhaust port of the individual air conditioner to the suction port of the cabin indoor air conditioner.

An autonomous robot is provided. In one example embodiment, an autonomous robot can include a main body including one or more compartments. The one or more compartments can be configured to provide support for transporting an item. The autonomous robot can include a mobility assembly affixed to the main body and a sensor configured to obtain sensor data associated with a surrounding environment of the autonomous robot. The autonomous robot can include a computing system configured to plan a motion of the autonomous robot based at least in part on the sensor data. The computing system can be operably connected to the mobility assembly for controlling a motion of the autonomous robot. The autonomous robot can include a coupling assembly configured to temporarily secure the autonomous robot to an autonomous vehicle. The autonomous robot can include a power system and a ventilation system that can interface with the autonomous vehicle.