A vehicle driving system to be provided in a vehicle includes a touch sensor and a control unit. The touch sensor is to be provided in the steering operation device and configured to measure a fluctuation in electrostatic capacitance. The control unit determines, based on information from the touch sensor, whether a driver of the vehicle is in a steering-holding state or in a non-steering-holding state. After a detection of a first fluctuation that is a fluctuation in the electrostatic capacitance occurring before a malfunction of the touch sensor, the control unit determines that the driver is in the non-steering-holding state even if the information from the touch sensor to the control unit indicates that the driver is in the steering-holding state.

A vehicle driving system to be provided in a vehicle includes a touch sensor and a control unit. The touch sensor is to be provided in the steering operation device and configured to measure a fluctuation in electrostatic capacitance. The control unit determines, based on information from the touch sensor, whether a driver of the vehicle is in a steering-holding state or in a non-steering-holding state. After a detection of a first fluctuation that is a fluctuation in the electrostatic capacitance occurring before a malfunction of the touch sensor, the control unit determines that the driver is in the non-steering-holding state even if the information from the touch sensor to the control unit indicates that the driver is in the steering-holding state.

A vehicle control device includes a vehicle controller that, if a predetermined state transition condition is satisfied, makes a state transition of a vehicle from a drive possible state to a drive impossible state. The vehicle control device includes a vehicle occupant detection unit that detects a vehicle occupant in the vehicle. The vehicle controller makes the state transition to the drive impossible state that is different depending on a detection result from the vehicle occupant detection unit.

A vehicle control device includes a vehicle controller that, if a predetermined state transition condition is satisfied, makes a state transition of a vehicle from a drive possible state to a drive impossible state. The vehicle control device includes a vehicle occupant detection unit that detects a vehicle occupant in the vehicle. The vehicle controller makes the state transition to the drive impossible state that is different depending on a detection result from the vehicle occupant detection unit.

A magnetic tether switch for equipment or vehicles is described. The magnetic tether switch may include a base having a first magnetic assembly. The first magnetic assembly may include a magnet and a first magnetic flux return component, or multiple magnets with reversed polarization directions. The magnetic tether switch may include a cap including a second magnetic assembly. The second magnetic assembly may include a magnet and a magnetic flux return component, or multiple magnets with reversed polarization directions. Alternatively, the second magnetic assembly may be composed of a ferrous material. The base may include a circuit with multiple contacts, where attaching the cap to the base may connect or disconnect the contacts to each other by moving the magnet within the base by magnetic attraction from the cap.

A magnetic tether switch for equipment or vehicles is described. The magnetic tether switch may include a base having a first magnetic assembly. The first magnetic assembly may include a magnet and a first magnetic flux return component, or multiple magnets with reversed polarization directions. The magnetic tether switch may include a cap including a second magnetic assembly. The second magnetic assembly may include a magnet and a magnetic flux return component, or multiple magnets with reversed polarization directions. Alternatively, the second magnetic assembly may be composed of a ferrous material. The base may include a circuit with multiple contacts, where attaching the cap to the base may connect or disconnect the contacts to each other by moving the magnet within the base by magnetic attraction from the cap.

A method for carrying out an autonomous driving procedure of a vehicle involves detecting a driver of the vehicle using a camera directed into the interior space of the vehicle. The driver is detected during and after leaving the interior of the vehicle using at least one further camera. A viewing direction of the driver is determined using data detected by the at least one further camera. The autonomous driving procedure is only activated when it is detected that the driver is looking at the vehicle.

Virtual soothing in a transportation vehicle is described, in which soothing a passenger in a vehicle may involve receiving monitoring data relevant to the passenger from a plurality of sensors in the vehicle, determining a soothing need or an emergency condition of the passenger based on the monitoring data, and presenting a multimedia message to the passenger that addresses the soothing need or the emergency condition. The multimedia message may be specific to the passenger and relevant to the soothing need or the emergency condition. The multimedia message may exhibit characteristics that enable the passenger to perceive the multimedia message as being verbally generated by a guardian with whom the passenger is personally acquainted.

A utility vehicle includes a frame assembly defined by a lower frame assembly and an upper frame assembly coupled to the lower frame assembly. The frame assembly supports a plurality of body panels. A roof, front windshield, rear windshield, and doors may be coupled to the frame assembly to enclose the operator area.

A utility vehicle includes a frame assembly defined by a lower frame assembly and an upper frame assembly coupled to the lower frame assembly. The frame assembly supports a plurality of body panels. A roof, front windshield, rear windshield, and doors may be coupled to the frame assembly to enclose the operator area.