An autonomous driving vehicle includes a user detection monitoring device and a start control device. The user detection monitoring device detects a user who got out of the autonomous driving vehicle after the autonomous driving vehicle stopped at a destination as an alighted user and monitors the alighted user. The start control device maintains a stopped state of the autonomous driving vehicle after the alighted user was detected until a start condition is satisfied and, if the start condition is satisfied, permits a start of the autonomous driving vehicle. The start condition is one of a condition indicating that the alighted user at least moves out of a movement determination area around the autonomous driving vehicle and a condition indicating that the alighted user is present in the movement determination area but remains at the same position for a certain period of time or longer.

A method for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of an autonomous vehicle includes determining a vehicle operating status and operating the HVAC system according to the determined vehicle operating status. A control module comprising a sensor array and at least one controller operatively coupled to the sensor array and to the HVAC system controls operation of the HVAC system according to the determined vehicle operating status. The vehicle operating status is selected from one of vehicle occupied-in use, vehicle unoccupied-use requested, and vehicle unoccupied-standby. The HVAC system is operated at an operating setting providing a reduced energy consumption in a vehicle whose operating status is vehicle unoccupied-standby. The reduced energy consumption operating setting is determined according to a constant offset value or according to a variable offset value determined by inputs provided by the sensor array.

A method for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of an autonomous vehicle includes determining a vehicle operating status and operating the HVAC system according to the determined vehicle operating status. A control module comprising a sensor array and at least one controller operatively coupled to the sensor array and to the HVAC system controls operation of the HVAC system according to the determined vehicle operating status. The vehicle operating status is selected from one of vehicle occupied-in use, vehicle unoccupied-use requested, and vehicle unoccupied-standby. The HVAC system is operated at an operating setting providing a reduced energy consumption in a vehicle whose operating status is vehicle unoccupied-standby. The reduced energy consumption operating setting is determined according to a constant offset value or according to a variable offset value determined by inputs provided by the sensor array.

A start/stop engine button assembly includes a start/stop engine button, a button cover, displaceable between a closed position and an open position, and an actuator that functions to displace the button cover between the closed position and the opened position.

A start/stop engine button assembly includes a start/stop engine button, a button cover, displaceable between a closed position and an open position, and an actuator that functions to displace the button cover between the closed position and the opened position.

The invention is a pedestrian safety method and system that compares characteristic acoustic and motion signatures to sound and motion signatures collected in real-time through a vehicle's monitoring system to detect and confirm that the vehicle itself presents a danger to pedestrians or others in proximity to the vehicle and autonomously stops the offending vehicle by quickly initiating disabling measures.

The invention is a pedestrian safety method and system that compares characteristic acoustic and motion signatures to sound and motion signatures collected in real-time through a vehicle's monitoring system to detect and confirm that the vehicle itself presents a danger to pedestrians or others in proximity to the vehicle and autonomously stops the offending vehicle by quickly initiating disabling measures.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a vehicle that may detect the presence and/or absence of an operator of the vehicle. The vehicle may determine that the operator is present and/or absent from a control area of the vehicle (e.g., an area where the operator may provide instructions for the piloting of the vehicle) and/or from the entire area of the vehicle and provide instructions responsive to the determination.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a vehicle that may detect the presence and/or absence of an operator of the vehicle. The vehicle may determine that the operator is present and/or absent from a control area of the vehicle (e.g., an area where the operator may provide instructions for the piloting of the vehicle) and/or from the entire area of the vehicle and provide instructions responsive to the determination.

A vehicle includes an electrical system which has at least one control unit and a first operator input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit. Additionally, the electrical system includes a second operator input device electrically coupled to the at least one control unit. The at least one control unit being operative to power on at least the engine. Also, the electrical system includes a security input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit. The at least one control unit is configured to transmit an actuation signal to the security input device in response to actuation of the first operator input device independent of actuation of the second operator input device and in response to actuation of the second operator input device independent of actuation of the first operator input device.