A rearview display system is provided for a vehicle having: a rear camera generating a rearward video stream, a right-side camera generating a right-side stream, and a left-side camera generating a left-side stream. The system includes a processing circuit for generating a composite video stream from: (a) the rearward stream and the right-side stream, (b) the rearward stream and the left-side stream, and (c) at least the rearward stream. When the composite stream is formed from the rearward stream and the right-side stream, the rearward stream extends across the whole composite stream with the exception of a right corner where the right-side stream is superimposed over the rearward stream. When the composite stream is formed from the rearward stream and the left-side stream, the rearward stream extends across the whole composite stream with the exception of a left corner where the left-side stream is superimposed over the rearward stream.

A service level indicator system for a vehicle includes one or more sensor that provides one or more of a battery charge level, fuel fill level, oil fill level, and tire pressure level to a control system that instructs the actuation of at least one of a sun visor, shade, and tonneau cover is positioned to generate a message that is readily understood by the vehicle's operator but is ambiguous to other viewers. These components require no power after actuation and do not draw attention to any message they transmit. The position can identify the level that is deficient, and the degree of the deficiency using one or a plurality of the vehicle's components. The entire message is viewable from at least the driver's side of the vehicle and can be at least partially received from any angle of approach to the vehicle.

A method of vehicle operation includes, using one or more processors, receiving one or more inputs, from one or more sensors of a first vehicle and/or one or more sources communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, while the vehicle is traveling on a vehicle route. In implementations the one or more inputs are used to determine a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle and this distance is used as an input to a power management system to increase an energy efficiency of the first vehicle while traveling on the vehicle route. In implementations the one or more inputs and data regarding regenerative braking of the first vehicle are used to calculate one or more speeds and a power management system applies the one or more calculated speeds to the first vehicle. In implementations a reliability estimate is calculated for the one or more calculated speeds.

Technologies and techniques for detecting a user input for a device of a vehicle, an operable function of the device is detected and a first and a second potential operational action type depending on the operable function. A preferred operational action type is determined and an output is generated depending on the preferred operational action type. The output includes an operating object, dependent on which the preferred operational action type is displayed to the user. The operating system includes a control unit and an output unit. The control unit detects an operable function of the operating system, to determine a first and a second potential operational action type for the operable function depending on the operable function, and determines a preferred operational action type. The control unit generates an output depending on the preferred operational action type and to output the output by means of the output unit.

The vehicle control system/method for adapting a control function based on a user profile may comprise: a gesture recognition module; a user profile module; a function control module; a processor; a non-transitory storage element coupled to the processor; encoded instructions stored in the non-transitory storage element, wherein the encoded instructions when implemented by the processor, configure the system to: identify a user; retrieve a user profile for the identified user; receive at a gesture recognition module, an input indicating a gesture from the user; identify a control function request corresponding to the gesture input; send a verification of the control function request; and receive at a function control module characteristics parsed from the user profile that effect the control function request by the user profile module to adapt a control function command for an adapted control function output by the function control module.

The vehicle control system/method for adapting a control function based on a user profile may comprise: a gesture recognition module; a user profile module; a function control module; a processor; a non-transitory storage element coupled to the processor; encoded instructions stored in the non-transitory storage element, wherein the encoded instructions when implemented by the processor, configure the system to: identify a user; retrieve a user profile for the identified user; receive at a gesture recognition module, an input indicating a gesture from the user; identify a control function request corresponding to the gesture input; send a verification of the control function request; and receive at a function control module characteristics parsed from the user profile that effect the control function request by the user profile module to adapt a control function command for an adapted control function output by the function control module.

A method of vehicle operation includes, using one or more processors, receiving one or more inputs from one of one or more sensors of a first vehicle and one or more external sources communicatively coupled with the one or more processors. The one or more processors determine a plurality of optional routes existing between a first location of the first vehicle and a future destination of the first vehicle. Using the one or more inputs, the one or more processors predict a vehicle route by predicting which of the optional routes the first vehicle will take to get from the first location to the future destination.

An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

A cleaning device for a surface, such as a windshield of a vehicle, includes an active positioning system and a cleaning head. The active positioning system is configured to deploy from a storage position hidden from view within a covered storage space and to position the cleaning head upon the windshield. The active positioning system includes a first extension member and a second extension member that move relative to one another to position the cleaning head, and also move the cleaning head across the windshield along a path. The cleaning head can have a brush portion configured to agitate debris from the window, and a drying portion configured to dry the window after cleaning. The cleaning device can be controlled via a touch-screen display in the vehicle, enabling a user to direct that specific portions of the windshield be cleaned as desired.

The vehicle control system/method for adapting a control function based on a user profile may comprise: a gesture recognition module; a user profile module; a function control module; a processor; a non-transitory storage element coupled to the processor; encoded instructions stored in the non-transitory storage element, wherein the encoded instructions when implemented by the processor, configure the system to: identify a user; retrieve a user profile for the identified user; receive at a gesture recognition module, an input indicating a gesture from the user; identify a control function request corresponding to the gesture input; send a verification of the control function request; and receive at a function control module characteristics parsed from the user profile that effect the control function request by the user profile module to adapt a control function command for an adapted control function output by the function control module.