A control apparatus controls an electric power supply apparatus configured to supply electric power to a working machine. The electric power supply apparatus is provided with a fuel cell. The control apparatus is provided with a restriction request acquisition unit configured to acquire a restriction request for requesting restriction of the supply of the electric power via a communication network, and a restriction unit configured to restrict the supply of the electric power in a case where the restriction request acquisition unit acquires the restriction request. The control apparatus may be provided with an end detection unit configured to detect end of use of the working machine. The restriction unit may decide to start the restriction in a case where, after the restriction request acquisition unit acquires the restriction request, the end detection unit detects the end of the use of the working machine.

A control apparatus controls an electric power supply apparatus configured to supply electric power to a working machine. The electric power supply apparatus is provided with a fuel cell. The control apparatus is provided with a restriction request acquisition unit configured to acquire a restriction request for requesting restriction of the supply of the electric power via a communication network, and a restriction unit configured to restrict the supply of the electric power in a case where the restriction request acquisition unit acquires the restriction request. The control apparatus may be provided with an end detection unit configured to detect end of use of the working machine. The restriction unit may decide to start the restriction in a case where, after the restriction request acquisition unit acquires the restriction request, the end detection unit detects the end of the use of the working machine.

A blocking device and a computer-implemented method for preventing an ignition of a vehicle of a novice driver when a supervising driver is not present, the method includes one or more computer processors blocking an ignition circuit of a vehicle. The method includes one or more computer processors receiving a first biometric identification of a supervising driver from a biometric device and determining whether the first biometric identification matches a verified biometric identification of the supervising driver stored in a blocking device. Furthermore, responsive to determining that the first biometric identification matches the verified biometric identification of the supervising driver stored in the blocking device, the method includes one or more computer processors, unblocking the ignition circuit of the vehicle.

A blocking device and a computer-implemented method for preventing an ignition of a vehicle of a novice driver when a supervising driver is not present, the method includes one or more computer processors blocking an ignition circuit of a vehicle. The method includes one or more computer processors receiving a first biometric identification of a supervising driver from a biometric device and determining whether the first biometric identification matches a verified biometric identification of the supervising driver stored in a blocking device. Furthermore, responsive to determining that the first biometric identification matches the verified biometric identification of the supervising driver stored in the blocking device, the method includes one or more computer processors, unblocking the ignition circuit of the vehicle.

The vehicle (1) provides its identity to the portable electronic device (5) of a user not driving the vehicle, the portable electronic device displays visible features of the vehicle, the user selects the vehicle on the display to provide a signal to the wireless communication unit of the emergency stop system of the vehicle. In case of a terrorist attack, signals from a plurality of portable devices cause the vehicle to stop or slow down.

The vehicle (1) provides its identity to the portable electronic device (5) of a user not driving the vehicle, the portable electronic device displays visible features of the vehicle, the user selects the vehicle on the display to provide a signal to the wireless communication unit of the emergency stop system of the vehicle. In case of a terrorist attack, signals from a plurality of portable devices cause the vehicle to stop or slow down.

An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.

An apparatus and operational method are disclosed that use control hardware resident in a vehicle to enable a remote computing system to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle. The control hardware includes a processor configured to interface with a wireless network and the vehicle through, respectively, a wireless network interface and a vehicle interface. A plurality of CAN (control area network) bus transceivers may exist within the vehicle interface operable to allow the processor to interface with multiple vehicle types. The processor may then be configured to automatically detect an identifier for the vehicle though the vehicle interface and automatically select a CAN bus transceiver from the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier. The processor can then communicate with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver.

When an autonomous driving vehicle picks a user up, a control device performs departure condition confirmation processing. The departure condition confirmation processing includes first authentication processing that performs authentication of the user outside the autonomous driving vehicle based on first authentication information, door lock release processing that releases a door lock in response to the completion of the first authentication processing, second authentication information provision processing that makes the user acquire second authentication information different from the first authentication information in response to the completion of the first authentication processing, second authentication processing that performs authentication of the user inside a vehicle cabin of the autonomous driving vehicle based on the second authentication information, and start permission processing that permits the start of the autonomous driving vehicle in a case where the second authentication processing is completed.

When an autonomous driving vehicle picks a user up, a control device performs departure condition confirmation processing. The departure condition confirmation processing includes first authentication processing that performs authentication of the user outside the autonomous driving vehicle based on first authentication information, door lock release processing that releases a door lock in response to the completion of the first authentication processing, second authentication information provision processing that makes the user acquire second authentication information different from the first authentication information in response to the completion of the first authentication processing, second authentication processing that performs authentication of the user inside a vehicle cabin of the autonomous driving vehicle based on the second authentication information, and start permission processing that permits the start of the autonomous driving vehicle in a case where the second authentication processing is completed.