Method and apparatus are disclosed for providing discrete autonomous notifications to a passenger of a vehicle. An example vehicle includes a plurality of seats, a plurality of audio transducers, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a passenger seat corresponding to a passenger having a predetermined destination, determine a notification based on the predetermined destination, and transmit, via one or more of the plurality of audio transducers, a notification to the passenger based on a determined passenger head position.

A seatback includes a lower frame, an upper frame, and a hinge coupling the lower and upper frames. An actuator is fixed relative to the lower frame, and a cable extends from the actuator to the upper frame. In the event of a collision, the actuator pulls the cable, and the upper frame moves from an upright position to a bent position relative to the lower frame.

A method for activating a vehicle seat including receiving a seat occupancy signal, receiving a collision signal and generating a signal for activating the vehicle seat as a function of the seat occupancy signal and of the collision signal.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to adaptively communicating notices to passengers within a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes in response to receiving a notice about an occurrence of an event, determining a viewing orientation of a passenger in the vehicle according to at least one electronic input that indicates information about a physical position of the passenger within the vehicle. The event is an incident associated with the vehicle for which the passenger is to be informed. The method also includes selecting at least one alerting device from available communication devices in the vehicle according to the viewing orientation by determining which of the available communication devices correspond with the viewing orientation of the passenger. The method further includes controlling the at least one alerting device to communicate the notice to the passenger about the occurrence of the event.

Systems and methods for driver identification using vehicle approach vectors are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a plurality of beacons configured to connect to a first mobile device and a second mobile device. The example vehicle also includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors. The example vehicle includes a driver identifier configured to predict trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors, and determine which one of the mobile devices is associated with a driver based on the predicted trajectories.

A vehicle control system includes a seat (41) on which an occupant of a vehicle sits, a first protruding mechanism (45) configured to move a pushing member (45A) provided inside the seat to adjust a protruding position and a displacement of the seat, a second protruding mechanism (46) configured to inject a gas or liquid into a bag-like member (46B) provided inside the seat to adjust the protruding position and the displacement of the seat, and a seat control unit configured to control the first protruding mechanism to cause at least a part of a contact portion between the occupant and the seat to protrude in a case that the vehicle performs a first driving mode having a degree of automated driving less than a predetermined reference and to control the second protruding mechanism to cause at least a part of the contact portion between the occupant and the seat to protrude in a case that the vehicle performs a second driving mode having a degree of automated driving equal to or higher than the predetermined reference.

A radar sensor system and method for ascertaining whether an unattended child is present within an automotive vehicle. The radar sensor system carries out the method and includes a transmitter, at least one sensor, and processing circuitry. The method includes the steps of: illuminating at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with radiation of multiple frequencies; generating radar sensor signals from reflections of the transmitted radiation, a plurality of the radar sensor signals corresponding to different frequencies; and operating the processing circuitry for generating and determining if a first indicator value indicative of motion in the occupiable position satisfies a first predetermined criteria and, if so, generating and determining a second indicator value indicating a degree of repetitive pattern within the radar sensor signals, and determining presence of an unattended child in the vehicle if the second indicator value satisfies a second predetermined criteria.

A system for reconfiguring a vehicle geometry is disclosed. The system includes a configuration system configured to alter the vehicle geometry, a communication system, and a controller in communication with the configuration system and the communication system, the controller configured to receive a configuration signal from the communication system, determine a configuration control signal, and automatically control the configuration system based on the control signal.

A seat monitoring system for monitoring a state of at least one seat arrangeable in a vehicle's interior and determining the position of the seat in the interior. The monitoring system has a control module, two sending modules signally connected to the control module, and at least one seat module associated with at least one seat and a receiving module. The two sending modules are spaced apart from one another and each have one antenna, the receiving module has two antennas. A first antenna of the receiving module is configured to receive a signal from a first sending module of the sending modules, and a second antenna of the receiving module is configured to receive a signal from a second sending module of the sending modules. The receiving module is configured to determine signal strengths of the signals received by the antennas of the receiving module for position determination.

A method for classifying an occupant and providing the occupant classification for a safety device in a motor vehicle. The method includes reading in a first piece of information that indirectly describes the occupant; reading in a second piece of information that directly describes the occupant; classifying the occupant, taking the indirect and direct information into account; and providing the occupant classification to an interface to the safety device for the vehicle. A corresponding device is also described.