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.

Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant detection system. The method includes predicting the presence of a vehicle occupant during operation of a vehicle in response to a door sensor indicative of a door opening, a carbon dioxide level and a pressure sensor in a passenger seat indicative of the vehicle occupant in the passenger seat, detecting the presence of the vehicle occupant using a vehicle cabin motion detector in response to the vehicle being shutdown, confirming the presence of the vehicle occupant using an infrared camera to detect a thermal signature of the vehicle occupant in response to the predicted presence of the vehicle occupant, and transmitting an alert via a wireless transmitter indicative of the presence of the vehicle occupant.

An improved vehicle safety device for activating an alarm when the temperature in the interior of a vehicle reaches an extreme value. The device includes a presence sensor for detecting the presence of a human or an animal in the interior of a vehicle and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the vehicle interior. A controller is coupled to the presence detector, the temperature detector, and the vehicle ignition system for generating a hazardous-condition signal in response to an extreme-temperature condition in the vehicle when a human or an animal is in the vehicle and the vehicle engine is not running. An alarm module is connected to the controller for generating audible, visual, and wireless emergency-response signals when a hazardous condition is detected. The alarm module may also be further configured to create a door-unlocking signal.

An olfactory communication system for generating aroma-based notifications to one or more occupants of a vehicle includes an aroma diffuser that emits aromas into an interior cabin of the vehicle and a controller in electronic communication with the aroma diffuser. The one or more controllers execute instructions to receive a message indicating a specific event is occurring, where the specific event is an occurrence that the one or more occupants experience while in the interior cabin of the vehicle. In response to receiving the message, the one or more controllers determine a customized aroma based on the specific event, where the customized aroma creates an odor that informs the one or more occupants of the specific event. The one or more controllers instruct the aroma diffuser to emit the customized aroma into the interior cabin of the vehicle.

Smart window apparatus, systems, and related methods for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes control circuitry configured to obtain data associated with a vehicle that is parked, determine, based on the data, a status of the vehicle associated with relatively high cabin temperature or an unattended occupant in the vehicle, and open a vehicle window via a window actuator to cool the vehicle cabin. The control circuitry is also configured to detect, based on the data, an event in an environment associated with the vehicle while the vehicle window is open and adjust the vehicle window via the window actuator in response to the detection.

An operation system for a vehicle includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to acquire a first signal indicating whether a seat in the vehicle is facing forward or rearward, and generate a display screen by arranging at least two operation elements in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The display screen is displayed on an operation panel installed in the vehicle. The processor reverses the arrangement of the at least two operation elements in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in accordance with the first signal.

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 vehicle ventilation control system includes: a reception unit that receives an instruction signal input by a user via wireless communication; and a control unit that controls ventilation inside a vehicle based on the instruction signal, in which the control unit performs ventilation control to control the ventilation based on the instruction signal input during a period after the user gets out of the vehicle to next boarding.

A method of detecting occupants within a vehicle includes receiving camera data, thermal data and radar data with respect to the vehicle. The received data is stored to at least a first buffer and a second buffer, wherein the first buffer has a length associated with a first duration of time and the second buffer has a length associated with a second duration of time greater than the first duration of time. The camera data, thermal data, and radar data stored in the respective first and second buffers is analyzed to detect and track camera-based objects, radar-based objects, and thermal-based objects, which are utilized to generate an output indicating whether an occupant was detected.

A control system includes a manual-type air conditioner, and a control device which causes the manual-type air conditioner to execute remote air conditioning in response to a command from outside of a vehicle. The control device starts actuation of the manual-type air conditioner with a maximum temperature as a target blowout temperature of an air-conditioning air and a maximum air quantity as a target air quantity in response to a trigger command of the remote air conditioning, and gradually changes and reduces the target air quantity while gradually changing the target blowout temperature toward a target intermediate temperature with elapse of time. The control device changes the target blowout temperature and the target air quantity respectively to a set blowout temperature and a set air quantity at a time of previous disembarkment, when boarding of a user to the vehicle is detected.