A display and voice output control system of a vehicle on which automated driving is performed includes a display device, a voice output device and a controller. The controller controls a notification of a recommended behavior by the display device and the voice output device. In the notification control, it is judged whether or not a notification condition of the recommended behavior is satisfied. If it is judged that the notification condition is satisfied, it is judged whether a notification relaxation condition of the recommended behavior is satisfied based on a status of a driver and a driving status of the vehicle. If it is judged that the notification relaxation conditions is satisfied, relaxation notification processing is executed. Otherwise, normal notification processing is executed. In the relaxation notification processing, an output status of the recommended behavior in the voice output device is controlled to an inactive state.

An onboard voice outputting device includes: a judging section that judges whether or not an occupant of a vehicle is alone; and an outputting section that, in a case in which it is judged by the judging section that the occupant of the vehicle is alone, outputs information, which is an object of outputting, to a voice outputting section that is installed in the vehicle and that outputs information by voice into a vehicle cabin.

A method, performed by an on-board diagnostic (OBD) interface coupled to a diagnostic port of a vehicle, including receiving, via a wireless network, a message containing text from a user device associated with a user; converting the text contained in the message into an audio file that corresponds to an audio reminder; detecting a key-on event for the vehicle; establishing, responsive to the key-on event, a first wireless connection to a speaker device located in the vehicle; sending, via the first wireless connection, a notification to the speaker device that the audio reminder is pending; terminating, after the notification is sent, the first wireless connection; establishing a second wireless connection to the speaker device; and transferring the audio file to the speaker device via the second wireless connection.

Technologies and techniques for displaying a specific state of a voice assistance system for performing a voice assistance function for a motor vehicle. A light strip is provided for providing a specific light distribution, wherein a specific light characteristic of the light strip is associated with the specific state of the voice assistance system, wherein, when the voice assistance system exhibits the specific state, the light strip displays the specific light distribution according to the associated light characteristic, wherein a specific feedback display is associated with the specific state of the voice assistance system, and, when the voice assistance system exhibits the specific state, the specific feedback display is additionally displayed on a display device that is distinct from the light strip.

A method for guiding boarding/alighting of a vehicle includes collecting body information of an occupant when the occupant approaches the vehicle, determining an arrival location of the vehicle based on a location of the occupant, and providing relative information as a notification based on the body information of the occupant.

A contextual answering system for processing a user spoken utterance and providing a response to the user spoken utterance may include a vehicle head unit configured to receive microphone signals indicative of a user utterance; and a processor programed to receive data indicative of a vehicle state, receive the user spoken utterance, perform semantic analysis on the user spoken utterance based at least in part on a context of the user spoken utterance and vehicle state, select a knowledge base as a source for information regarding the user spoken utterance based on the semantic analysis; and provide a response to the user spoken utterance from the selected knowledge base to the vehicle head unit.

An agent apparatus includes a shift position detector and an agent controller. The shift position detector is configured to detect a shift position of a vehicle. The agent controller is configured to control a personified agent. The agent controller is configured to cause the agent to face a driver of the vehicle in a case where the shift position is in a parking range. Upon communicating information, the agent controller is configured to cause the agent to output the information using voice and a movement of arms of the agent.

A method of providing forward traffic light information during a stop includes capturing a front image in a vehicle, detecting traffic light information from the front image, and outputting a notification corresponding to the traffic light information to a mobile terminal or the vehicle depending on at least one of a communication state with the mobile terminal and a monitor state of the mobile terminal. A system for providing forward traffic light information during a stop includes a mobile terminal, and a vehicle that captures a front image and to detect traffic light information from the front image, where a notification corresponding to the traffic light information is output to the mobile terminal or the vehicle depending on at least one of a communication state with the mobile terminal and a monitor state of the mobile terminal.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to inducing awareness in a driver about a surrounding environment of a vehicle using an augmented reality (AR) system within the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying one or more potential hazards to the vehicle in the surrounding environment from sensor data collected from at least one sensor of the vehicle. The method includes rendering, within the AR system, a display scenario about the one or more potential hazards by displaying one or more graphical elements that correlate with locations of the one or more potential hazards in the surrounding environment.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to engaging a driver of a vehicle about driving behaviors. In one embodiment, a method includes computing predicted controls according to at least a defined skill level of the driver. The predicted controls indicate how to control the vehicle to maintain the vehicle along a driving path on a roadway. The method includes, in response to receiving manual control inputs from the driver, generating control feedback to the driver about the manual control inputs based, at least in part, on a difference between the manual control inputs and the predicted controls.