Disclosed is a hybrid electric vehicle and method of controlling operation of engine of the vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle switches its drive mode in consideration of air pollution and pedestrians around the vehicle. A method of controlling a drive mode of a hybrid electric vehicle includes recognizing at least one of a pedestrian and an air pollution level around the hybrid electric vehicle, determining whether each of the recognized pedestrian and the recognized air pollution level meets a corresponding prescribed exhaust gas reduction mode request condition, and determining an exhaust gas reduction mode drive according to a result of the determination.

A colliding object protection apparatus inflates and deploys an airbag when the apparatus detects or predicts a collision with a pedestrian. The airbag includes a front bag to be inflated and deployed in a vehicle width direction along an upper part of a front grille of a vehicle. The internal space of the front bag is partitioned into a plurality of expansion chambers by a plurality of partitioning walls provided in parallel in the vehicle width direction. A vent mechanism of the expansion chamber is configured to be opened when an internal pressure of the expansion chamber reaches a predetermined pressure.

A deformation structure includes at least one first layer and a second layer, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in a deformation direction and such that they can be displaced relative to one another. The first layer and the second layer have complementary protrusions and recesses, which are designed in such a way that the protrusions of the first layer and recesses of the second layer, as well as the protrusions of the second layer and recesses of the first layer can dip into one another. The first layer and the second layer are connected to one another via deformable web elements in such a way that, with a high impulse in the deformation direction, the protrusions of the first layer dip into recesses of the second layer, and protrusions of the second layer dip into recesses of the first layer, such that a deformation of the deformation structure occurs at a low force level in the deformation direction, and with a low impulse in the deformation direction, the protrusions of the first layer impinge on the protrusions of the second layer such that a deformation of the deformation structure occurs at a high force level in the deformation direction.

A trailer hitch cover assembly, which includes an inflatable object capable of withstanding about 2000 pounds per square inch internal pressure, a first attachment plate disposed within the inflatable object, a second attachment plate disposed in physical contact with but external to the inflatable object, a housing comprising a plurality of threaded apertures extending therethrough and dimensioned to be received by a trailer hitch receiver, where a corresponding plurality of threaded members are attached to the first attachment plate, extend outwardly from the first attachment plate through a surface of the inflatable object, extend through the second attachment plate, and intermesh with the plurality of threaded apertures.

An autonomous robot vehicle includes a front side and an energy absorbing system. The front side includes a front bumper and a front face including a frame defining a cavity. The energy absorbing system includes an energy absorbing member mounted in the cavity of the frame, and an inflatable airbag. The energy absorbing member is configured to reduce impact on an object struck by the autonomous robot vehicle. The inflatable airbag is mounted on the front side of the autonomous robot vehicle such that when the inflatable airbag is deployed, the inflatable airbag is external to the autonomous robot vehicle.

An autonomous system for loading or unloading an autonomous vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, includes one or more module(s) that include at least one of a compartment or a sub-compartment where the module(s) are located in an autonomous vehicle, a robotic movement apparatus configured to autonomously move items to or from the module(s), one or more processors, and at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor(s), cause the autonomous system to autonomously move an item, using the robotic movement apparatus, to or from the at least one module of the autonomous vehicle.

Provided is a truck with a lowerable bed for reducing the height difference between the ground and a payload area to provide easy loading and unloading. A traction system for a truck with a lowerable bed is also provided.

A managing apparatus for positioning rental vehicles includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the managing apparatus to access model information and location information for a plurality of autonomous vehicles, receive a request including a delivery location and a chosen model for renting, select an autonomous vehicle of the chosen model from among the plurality of autonomous vehicles based on the model information, the location information, and the delivery location, instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to fully-autonomously or semi-autonomously travel to the delivery location, and instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to switch to manual operation mode at the delivery location for manual operation by a vehicle rental customer.

Provided is a vehicle-use object protection device to suitably protect an object to be protected when the object collides with a vehicle. The device includes: a protection mechanism to protect the object from a collision with the vehicle; a collision prediction unit to predict a collision inclusive of a collision between the vehicle and at least a cyclist; a sensor to output an output value depending on an impact state when the vehicle collides with the object; and a control device. The control device compares the output value with a predetermined threshold, and activates the protection mechanism when the output value exceeds the threshold and then lowers the threshold when the collision prediction unit determines that the vehicle would collide with a cyclist.

A pedestrian protection apparatus for a motor vehicle front end has a leg-contacting segment which, in a pre-impact position, is arranged completely above an approach plane of the vehicle (which is defined by way of a front approach angle of the motor vehicle), and can be adjusted into a post-impact position by means of a force deflecting apparatus by way of at least proportionally vertical deflection of an impact force which acts along the longitudinal direction. In a post-impact position, the contact segment is arranged at least partially below the approach plane and lower than a bumper crossmember.