Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for using a rotating camera for vehicular operation. One example of a method for improving driving includes determining, by a processor in the vehicle, that a trigger has activated, orienting, based on the determining, a single rotating camera towards a direction of interest, and activating a recording functionality of the single rotating camera, where the vehicle comprises the single rotating camera and one or more fixed cameras, and where the single rotating camera provides a redundant functionality for, and consumes less power than, the one or more fixed cameras.

Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for using a rotating camera for vehicular operation. One example of a method for improving driving includes determining, by a processor in the vehicle, that a trigger has activated, orienting, based on the determining, a single rotating camera towards a direction of interest, and activating a recording functionality of the single rotating camera, where the vehicle comprises the single rotating camera and one or more fixed cameras, and where the single rotating camera provides a redundant functionality for, and consumes less power than, the one or more fixed cameras.

There is provided a system for generating instructions for adjustment of vehicle sub-system(s) according to an analysis of a computed six degrees of freedom (6 DOF) of vehicle occupant(s), comprising: hardware processor(s), and a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a code for execution by the at least one hardware processor, the code comprising instructions for: obtaining at least one image of a cabin of a vehicle captured by an image sensor, obtaining depth data from a depth sensor that senses the cabin of the vehicle, wherein the at least one image and the depth data depict at least one head of at least one occupant, computing 6 DOF for the at least one head according to the at least one image and depth data, and generating instructions for adjustment of at least one vehicle sub-system according to the computed 6 DOF of the at least one vehicle occupant.

Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control, routing, and automatic feature adjustment are disclosed. Sensors associated with autonomous operation features may be utilized to search an area for missing persons, stolen vehicles, or similar persons or items of interest. Sensor data associated with the features may be automatically collected and analyzed to passively search for missing persons or vehicles without vehicle operator involvement. Search criteria may be determined by a remote server and communicated to a plurality of vehicles within a search area. In response to which, sensor data may be collected and analyzed by the vehicles. When sensor data generated by a vehicle matches the search criteria, the vehicle may communicate the information to the remote server.

A motor vehicle has a passenger compartment for at least one vehicle user and has at least one sensor device for detecting a location of the vehicle user in the passenger compartment. At least one retaining device is used to fix the vehicle user in his/her location. A control device is provided to activate the at least one retaining device according to a signal of at least one impact sensor of the motor vehicle. The at least one retaining device is designed to fix the vehicle user in a location in the passenger compartment different from a vehicle seat of the motor vehicle. A method operates such a motor vehicle.

A motor vehicle has a passenger compartment for at least one vehicle user and has at least one sensor device for detecting a location of the vehicle user in the passenger compartment. At least one retaining device is used to fix the vehicle user in his/her location. A control device is provided to activate the at least one retaining device according to a signal of at least one impact sensor of the motor vehicle. The at least one retaining device is designed to fix the vehicle user in a location in the passenger compartment different from a vehicle seat of the motor vehicle. A method operates such a motor vehicle.

A method for controlling an actuatable safety device (110) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes sensing left-front and right-front pressure values via a pressure tube sensor (18). The method also includes executing pressure tube metrics that evaluate the left-front and right-front pressure values and selecting switched crash thresholds in response to the pressure tube metrics. The method also includes sensing vehicle acceleration parameters (99) and executing one or more crash metrics that evaluate the vehicle acceleration parameters to determine whether the switched crash thresholds are exceeded. The method further includes controlling deployment of the actuatable safety device (110) in response to determining that the switched crash thresholds are exceeded. A vehicle safety system (100) implements the method.

A method for controlling an actuatable safety device (110) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes sensing left-front and right-front pressure values via a pressure tube sensor (18). The method also includes executing pressure tube metrics that evaluate the left-front and right-front pressure values and selecting switched crash thresholds in response to the pressure tube metrics. The method also includes sensing vehicle acceleration parameters (99) and executing one or more crash metrics that evaluate the vehicle acceleration parameters to determine whether the switched crash thresholds are exceeded. The method further includes controlling deployment of the actuatable safety device (110) in response to determining that the switched crash thresholds are exceeded. A vehicle safety system (100) implements the method.

Detecting off-zone crashes involving a vehicle using lateral acceleration values detected at locations within the vehicle. In one example method, an electronic processor receives a first acceleration value at a centerline of the vehicle from a first acceleration sensor of at least two acceleration sensors. The electronic processor also receives a second acceleration value at the centerline of the vehicle from a second acceleration sensor of the at least two acceleration sensors. The method also includes deriving, with the electronic processor, an approximate yaw acceleration at the centerline of the vehicle based on the first acceleration value and the second acceleration value. The method also includes comparing, with the electronic processor, the approximate yaw acceleration to a threshold and initiating, with the electronic processor, one or more actions in response to the yaw acceleration exceeding the threshold.

Detecting off-zone crashes involving a vehicle using lateral acceleration values detected at locations within the vehicle. In one example method, an electronic processor receives a first acceleration value at a centerline of the vehicle from a first acceleration sensor of at least two acceleration sensors. The electronic processor also receives a second acceleration value at the centerline of the vehicle from a second acceleration sensor of the at least two acceleration sensors. The method also includes deriving, with the electronic processor, an approximate yaw acceleration at the centerline of the vehicle based on the first acceleration value and the second acceleration value. The method also includes comparing, with the electronic processor, the approximate yaw acceleration to a threshold and initiating, with the electronic processor, one or more actions in response to the yaw acceleration exceeding the threshold.