A vehicle notification system performs audio notification regarding a driving status of a vehicle that is capable of self-driving, for an occupant of the vehicle at a predetermined timing during self-driving. The vehicle notification system includes a position identification section that is configured to identify a current position of the vehicle. Based on a destination and the current position, notification that the driving status is conforming to a plan is performed at regular intervals, and notification that the driving status is not conforming to the plan is performed if the driving status is no longer conforming to the plan.

A vehicle includes: a capturer to capture a driver of the vehicle driving in an autonomous driving mode to obtain driver position information; a driver state detector to detect a state of the driver; and a controller to determine a time required to change from the autonomous driving mode to a manual operation mode based on the obtained driver position information and the detected driver state. In particular, the controller controls the change to driving mode of the vehicle based on the determined time to change from the autonomous driving mode to the manual operation mode.

With an illuminance adjusting apparatus, if automatic driving of a vehicle is being performed, a control unit determines whether or not an estimated time that it is estimated to take until the automatic driving ends is less than or equal to a reference time. If it is determined by the control unit that the estimated time is less than or equal to the reference time, a drive unit reduces illuminance of an interior light for illuminating an interior of the vehicle.

A driver assistance system, a computer program product, a sequence of signals, a transportation device and a method for sleep phase-specific operation of a transportation device are proposed. The method in some embodiments comprises the following steps: determining a sleep phase of a first occupant of the transportation device using sensors and, depending on the sleep phase; adjusting a guidance of the transportation device.

A method for adapting a driving strategy of a transportation vehicle driving in at least semi-automated state, wherein the adapting takes place based on at least one occupant condition, captured by at least one sensor system, of an occupant, wherein a sleep phase is determined by the at least one sensor system during a sleeping condition of the occupant, wherein the driving strategy is adapted by a control device based on the determined sleep phase. An apparatus for adapting a driving strategy of a transportation vehicle driving in at least semi-automated state having at least one sensor system for capturing an occupant condition of an occupant, and a control device for adapting the driving strategy, wherein the at least one sensor system determines a sleep phase during a sleeping condition of the occupant, and wherein the control device adapts a driving strategy based on the determined sleep phase.

Autonomous vehicles leave passengers with time to perform activities while awaiting travel to conclude. While one might engage in reading, playing games, or conversing with others, it is expected another common activity will be to sleep. Disclosed are various examples of how to coordinate a traffic control system with home and vehicle environments to enable allowing a person to be able to sleep while traveling, where travel is in accord with personal preferences, and constraints, such as schedule or systemic constraints (e.g., traffic). It will be appreciated passengers may be transferred to their vehicle while still asleep, or monitored to determine a time to awaken the passenger for transfer to the vehicle such that the passenger is more likely to be able to return to sleep for the travel.

A passenger support system includes a speaker, cameras, a vibrator, a seat switch, and a control device. The control device issues destination approach information by the speaker before the vehicle arrives at the destination based on results from comparing the current location information of the vehicle with the destination information of passenger. After issuing the destination approach information, the control device identifies the seat position based on the images captured by the cameras and performs awakening action by the vibrator at the seat corresponding to the specified seat position. The control device stops the awakening action by the vibrator when a stop operation is received from the seat switch.

A vehicle notification system performs audio notification regarding a driving status of a vehicle that is capable of self-driving, for an occupant of the vehicle at a predetermined timing during self-driving. The vehicle notification system includes a position identification section that is configured to identify a current position of the vehicle. Based on a destination and the current position, notification that the driving status is conforming to a plan is performed at regular intervals, and notification that the driving status is not conforming to the plan is performed if the driving status is no longer conforming to the plan.

Provided are methods for operating a vehicle, which can include receiving, from one or more of at least one sensor placed within a vehicle or an application on a communication device connected to the vehicle, data indicative of at least one of an action or an appearance of a passenger of the vehicle; determining, based on the at least one of the action or the appearance, that a modification of at least one operational parameter of the vehicle is required; and modifying, in response to the determining, the at least one operational parameter of the vehicle. Systems and computer program products are also provided.

An autonomous vehicle configured to facilitate its use and/or enhance what it and/or occupants can do with it, such as, for example, by: autonomously acting based on events within the autonomous vehicle, including by autonomously rerouting itself, altering a cabin of the autonomous vehicle, notifying a third party external to the autonomous vehicle, stopping (e.g., parking) the autonomous vehicle, altering how the autonomous vehicle drives itself, and/or performing other actions based on what and/or how an occupant is doing, an emergency, or another event occurring in the cabin of the autonomous vehicle; autonomously acting based on interactions with (e.g., gestures of) humans (e.g., police officers, school-crossing guards, traffic guards at roadwork or other temporary traffic control sites, drivers of other vehicles, etc.) external to the autonomous vehicle; autonomously acting based on indicators placed at particular locations (e.g., drive-through establishments, potholes, parking spots, etc.); facilitating acts of occupants in the cabin of the autonomous vehicle, such as acts unrelated to and normally not done while driving, including, for example, sleeping, exercising, working, eating, cooking, and/or any other suitable act; and/or automatically personalizing the autonomous vehicle for an occupant (e.g., a configuration of the cabin, a self-driving mode, a destination and/or a route, etc.).