Methods and systems for identifying autonomous vehicle users are described herein. An autonomous vehicle may receive a request to pick up a user at a starting location and transport the user to a destination location. Accordingly, the autonomous vehicle may travel to the starting location. Upon arriving at the starting location, the autonomous vehicle may detect whether a person approaching the vehicle is the user by detecting a biometric identifier for the person. The biometric identifier may then be compared to a biometric fingerprint for the user, and if there is a match, the autonomous vehicle may determine that the person is the user. As a result, the user may be allowed to enter the autonomous vehicle and/or the autonomous vehicle may begin travelling to the destination location. Otherwise, the person may be denied entry to the autonomous vehicle.

A transport trolley for consignments having wheels which define a contact plane for moving the trolley, having a load compartment for receiving consignments during transport, and having a shelf for carrying consignments. The shelf can be adjusted from a lower non-use position arranged in the load compartment into an upper, moderate use position arranged outside the load compartment, and back. The shelf can be adjusted from a lower non-use position arranged in the load compartment into an upper, elevated use position arranged outside the load compartment, and back. The moderate use position and the elevated use position are arranged in a range between 1.0 m and 1.7 m above the contact plane. The elevated use position is arranged above the moderate use position, and a drive is provided for at least partially adjusting the height of the shelf above the contact plane.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Vehicle collision and/or smart home incident monitoring, damage detection, and responses are also described, with particular focus on the particular challenges associated with incident response for unoccupied vehicles and/or smart homes. Operating data associated with the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home may be received. Within the operating, an unusual condition indicative of a likelihood of incident may be detected. Based on the unusual condition, it may be determined that the incident occurred. Accordingly, a response to the incident may be determined. The response may be implemented by the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a communication device of a motor vehicle. A sensor device captures an identification feature, on the basis of which a user of a user profile stored in a motor-vehicle-external data server apparatus is identifiable, for example a feature of a mobile terminal of the user or of the user, for example a fingerprint. On the basis of the captured identification feature, an identification device of the motor vehicle establishes an identity of the user. Depending on the established identity, the identification device establishes an access code for the user profile of the user, wherein the at least one access code is stored in a database, and the established access code is used to enable the ascertained user profile for the communication apparatus.

Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. A first autonomous vehicle may receive a communication from a second autonomous vehicle travelling on the same road as the first autonomous vehicle, where the communication includes an indication of a maneuver which will be performed by the second autonomous vehicle. The first autonomous vehicle may then analyze the communication to identify a first maneuver for the first autonomous vehicle in response to the second maneuver performed by the second autonomous vehicle. Thus, the first autonomous vehicle may move in accordance with the first maneuver.

Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle routing are disclosed. Roadway suitability for autonomous operation is scored to facilitate use in route determination. Maps of roadways suitable for various levels of autonomous operation may be generated. Such map data may be used by autonomous vehicles or other computer devices in determining routes based upon criteria for vehicle trips. Such routes may be automatically updated based upon changes in road conditions, vehicle conditions, operator conditions, or environmental conditions. Emergency routing using such map data is described, such as automatic routing and travel when a passenger is experiencing a medical emergency.

Methods and systems autonomously parking and retrieving vehicles are disclosed. Available parking spaces or parking facilities may be identified, and the vehicle may be navigated to an available space from a drop-off location without passengers. Special-purpose sensors, GPS data, or wireless signal triangulation may be used to identify vehicles and available parking spots. Upon a user request or a prediction of upcoming user demand, the vehicle may be retrieved autonomously from a parking space. Other vehicles may be autonomously moved to facilitate parking or retrieval.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for iris-detection alignment for vehicle entry and feature activation. An example vehicle includes a window, a camera facing the window, a puddle lamp to project an indicator pointing toward the camera, a UV source, and a controller. The controller is to project, via the UV source, a display onto the window upon detecting a user aligns with the indicator. The controller also is to provide directions to the user, via the display, to position an iris in front of the camera and activate a vehicle feature upon identifying the user via iris recognition.

A vehicle may include a detector to detect and obtain biometric information, a first storage to store encrypted user biometric information, a second storage to store identification information of a user, and a first controller to decrypt the encrypted user biometric information when the detector detects the encrypted user biometric information based on the identification information received from the second storage. The first controller authenticates the user based on whether the detected biometric information is identical to the decrypted user biometric information.

Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. An autonomous vehicle may determine an upcoming maneuver for the autonomous vehicle and identify a vehicle signal which is indicative of the upcoming maneuver. Then the autonomous vehicle may present the vehicle signal. After presenting the vehicle signal, the autonomous vehicle may perform the maneuver.