An on-board device includes a storage unit that stores biometric information of a user of a vehicle that is used for authentication, and a control unit that increases difficulty of authenticating biometric information not having been used for authentication for a predetermined period or deletes such biometric information from the storage unit.

An authentication apparatus for a vehicle comprises a display device comprising a display screen configured to present display data and a scanning device configured to capture image data in a field of view. The field of view comprises a viewing region of the display device. The apparatus further comprises a controller configured to control the scanning device to capture the image data comprising a biometric data of a user and compare the biometric data of a user to an authentication template of the user. The controller is configured to validate a first authentication in response to the comparison indicating the biometric data of the user satisfies the authentication template. The controller is further configured to process a second authentication based on the image data. The second authentication comprises identifying a gaze direction of at least one eye of the user relative to a portion of the display screen.

Systems, methods, and devices for verifying an identity of a user of a vehicle. The method includes receiving user authentication data from a vehicle sensor and generating a transaction token comprising the user authentication data. The method includes transmitting the transaction token to a blockchain database. The method includes receiving a message from the blockchain database comprising one or more of: a request for additional user authentication data; or an indication that a rider authentication server has verified the identity of the user.

Methods and systems for autonomous vehicle recharging or refueling are disclosed. Autonomous electric vehicles may be automatically recharged by routing the vehicles to available charging stations when not in operation, according to methods described herein. A charge level of the battery of an autonomous electric vehicle may be monitored until it reaches a recharging threshold, at which point an on-board computer may generate a predicted use profile for the vehicle. Based upon the predicted use profile, a time and location for the vehicle to recharge may be determined. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be controlled to automatically travel to a charging station, recharge the battery, and return to its starting location in order to recharge when not in use.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicle and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Such assessment may be performed to determine the condition of components for salvage following a collision or other loss-event. To this end, the information regarding a plurality of components may be received. A component of the plurality of components may be identified for assessment. Assessment may including causing test signals to be sent to the identified component. In response to the test signal, one or more responses may be received. The received response may be compared to an expected response to determine whether the identified component is salvageable.

Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control relating to malfunctions are disclosed. Malfunctioning sensors or software of autonomous vehicles may be identified from operating data of the vehicle, and a component maintenance requirement status associated with such malfunctioning component may be generated. Based upon such status, usage restrictions may be enacted to limit operation of the vehicle while the component is malfunctioning. This may include disabling or restricting use of certain autonomous or semi-autonomous features of the vehicle until the component is repaired or replaced. Repair may be accomplished by automatically scheduling repair of the vehicle or installing an updated or uncorrupted version of a software program, in various embodiments.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Malfunctions may be detected by receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors. One of these sensors may be selected for assessment. An electronic device may obtain from the selected sensor a set of signals. When the set of signals includes signals that are outside of a determined range of signals associated with proper functioning for the selected sensor, it may be determined that the selected sensor is malfunctioning. In response, an action may be performed to resolve the malfunction and/or mitigate consequences of the malfunction.

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. Such assessment may be performed to determine the robustness of autonomous systems, including the use of virtual assessment of software components within a simulated environment. To this end, a server may retrieve one or more routines associated with autonomous operation. The server may also generate a set of test data associated with test conditions. The server may also execute an emulator that virtually simulates autonomous environment. The test data may be presented to the routines executing in the emulator to generate output data. The server may then analyze the output data to determine a quality metric.

Hybrid user recognition methods systems for vehicle access and control are disclosed. For one example, a hybrid user recognition system can capture at least two types of biometric data of a user. The user is recognized if at least two types of captured biometric data match with at least two types of registered biometric signatures of the user. If the user is recognized, the user is allowed access or control of at least part of the electronic or driving controls of the otherwise the user is prevented from access or control of the vehicle. Examples of user biometrics include facial, voice, iris, fingerprint and behavioral biometrics.

Methods and systems for enhancing the functionality of a semi-autonomous vehicle are described herein. The semi-autonomous vehicle may receive a communication from a fully autonomous vehicle within a threshold distance of the semi-autonomous vehicle. If the vehicles are travelling on the same route or the same portion of a route, the semi-autonomous vehicle may navigate to a location behind the fully autonomous vehicle. Then the semi-autonomous vehicle may operate autonomously by replicating one or more functions performed by the fully autonomous vehicle. The functions and/or maneuvers performed by the fully autonomous vehicle may be detected via sensors in the semi-autonomous vehicle and/or may be identified by communicating with the fully autonomous vehicle to receive indications of upcoming maneuvers. In this manner, the semi-autonomous vehicle may act as a fully autonomous vehicle.