The ultrasonic sensor includes a wave transmitting and receiving device and a cover. The wave transmitting and receiving device has a front surface including a wave transmitting and receiving surface and is configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave through the wave transmitting and receiving surface. The cover covers the wave transmitting and receiving device so as to expose the wave transmitting and receiving surface. The cover is constituted by multiple portions, and the multiple portions are individually made of multiple materials different from each other.

A vehicle includes a body having a first outer periphery in a first plane parallel to a surface on which the vehicle moves in a horizontal direction; a bumper assembly having a second outer periphery in a second plane parallel to the first plane and including portions that extend beyond the first outer periphery; one or more flexible couplings coupling the bumper assembly to the body and allowing for horizontal planar deflection of the bumper assembly relative to the body when the bumper assembly impacts an obstacle; one or more sensors mounted to detect planar deflection of the bumper assembly and being configured to generate signals indicating the bumper assembly has deflected at least a threshold amount; and a drive system configured to propel the vehicle and, in response to the signals indicating the bumper assembly has deflected at least a threshold amount, cause the vehicle to stop moving.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle action based on a condition of a road on which a vehicle is travelling, including: obtaining first sensor data as to a surface of the road from one or more first sensors onboard the vehicle; obtaining second sensor data from one or more second sensors onboard the vehicle as to a measured parameter pertaining to operation of the vehicle or conditions pertaining thereto; generating a plurality of road surface channel images from the first sensor data, wherein each road surface channel image captures one of a plurality of facets of properties of the first sensor data; classifying, via a processor using a neural network model, the condition of the road on which the vehicle is travelling, based on the measured parameter and the plurality of road surface channel images; and controlling a vehicle action based on the classification of the condition of the road.

Vehicle body panels and systems are described. A vehicle body panel may include at least one layer of material defining the vehicle body panel and one or more than one electronic device, where a portion of each electronic device is embedded within one or more than one of the at least one layer of material. Each electronic device may communicate with a control system or a vehicle control unit of the vehicle to support an advanced-feature functionality of the vehicle. At least one electronic device may include a first portion embedded within the one or more than one of the at least one layer of material. The first portion may be couplable to a second portion, not embedded within the material, where the first portion upon being coupled to the second portion communicates with the control system or the vehicle control unit of the vehicle to support the advanced-feature functionality.

An automotive radar installation structure that allows a radar main body to be assembled to a vehicle in a simple arrangement and with stable performance, and a fascia retainer to attach a bumper fascia as an exterior part of a bumper to the vehicle. The structure includes a flat solid shape radar main body 122 and a transmission and/or reception surface to transmit/receive radio waves, and a fascia retainer 120 to attach a bumper fascia 108 of a rear bumper 104 of the vehicle to the vehicle main body. The fascia retainer 120 has a fixation portion 150, and a radar installation portion 128 in the vicinity of the fixation portion 150 having a recessed shape to receive the radar main body 122 so that the transmission and/or reception surface 130 faces outward of the vehicle.

A structural member for an external region of a motor vehicle, the structural member exhibiting at least one receiving aperture for the reception of an electronic sensor for the external region. The structural member is to be sealed both with a cover without function, and with a support for the electronic sensor. Both the cover and the support being are to be introduced into a dovetail guide of the structural member.

A mounting structure for a vicinity information detection sensor, comprising: an apron upper member arranged along a vehicle front-and-rear direction at a vehicle width direction outer side of a vehicle front portion; and a vicinity information detection sensor equipped with a detection unit that detects vicinity information of the vehicle, the vicinity information detection sensor being mounted to the apron upper member, directly or via a bracket, such that the detection unit is oriented to the vehicle outer side.

A method of managing collisions, the method comprising: identifying a first crash structure (22) and determining an initial stiffness of the crash structure; determining a level of aggressivity of the collision based on the predicted energy absorption for each vehicle; identifying a first crash structure whose stiffness can be adjusted, and determining a subsequent stiffness value for the crash structure based on the determined amount of energy to be absorbed by each of the vehicles such that the energy absorbed by the crash structure is changed and the level of aggressivity is reduced; and stiffening the first crash structure to the determined stiffness value.

A transportation apparatus includes an external detection device configured to detect an object. The external detection device includes: an irradiation surface; and an adjustment portion for adjusting an angle of the irradiation surface, the adjustment portion is adjustable from a hole portion provided in the transportation apparatus, and the hole portion is offset with respect to the adjustment portion and the irradiation surface.

Provided is a vehicle-mounted-camera bracket (10) for attaching a vehicle-mounted camera (20) to a vehicle body (30), wherein the durability of a hook (103) is enhanced and the vehicle-mounted-camera bracket (10) is capable of inserting into an attachment hole (31) of the vehicle body (30) along a narrow insertion trajectory. The present invention has: a bracket main body (100) capable of fastening a vehicle-mounted camera (20); and three or more planar hooks (103) for fixing the vehicle-mounted camera (20) to the vehicle body (30), the hooks (103) being formed in the bracket main body (100); the three or more planar hooks (103) being arranged so as to be suspended on at least two facing inside edges of a substantially rectangular attachment hole (31) provided in the vehicle body (30) when the hooks (103) are attached to the vehicle body (30).