B60H1/00357

Vehicle control device and vehicle control system

A vehicle control system includes a position identifying unit, a route information acquiring unit, a control information determining unit, and a control unit. The position identifying unit is configured to identify an expected boarding position where an occupant is to get in a vehicle. The route information acquiring unit is configured to acquire route information of the occupant to the expected boarding position. The control information determining unit is configured to determine, on the basis of the route information, a set temperature, a control start timing, or both as control information to be used for pre-air conditioning control for a vehicle compartment space of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to perform at least the pre-air conditioning control on the basis of the control information.

Vehicle Air Conditioning System
20170368912 · 2017-12-28 ·

Air conditioning systems and methods for a vehicle having a start-stop engine system. The systems and methods cool the vehicle's passenger cabin when the vehicle's engine and air conditioning compressor are off.

Remotely controlling comfort components in an autonomous vehicle

A method for vehicle selection performed by a user equipment (UE) associated with a customer includes transmitting, from the UE to a vehicle control system, customer location information identifying a location of the customer. The method also includes receiving, from the vehicle control system based on transmitting the customer location information, vehicle location information and a set of compartment climate values associated with each vehicle of a set of vehicles within a range of the location of the customer. The method further includes outputting the current compartment climate value and a location associated with the vehicle location information of each vehicle of the set of vehicles for display at the UE. The method still further includes transmitting, to the vehicle control system, a message indicating a selection of one vehicle of the set of vehicles based on receiving a customer input at the UE, the one vehicle being selected based on one or both of the current compartment climate value of the one vehicle and the location associated with the vehicle location information of the one vehicle.

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE CLIMATE OF AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SOCIALLY
20170349027 · 2017-12-07 ·

A system, for controlling socially one or more climate-affecting vehicle devices, such as for use with an autonomous vehicle. The system includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage component comprising an interface module that, when executed by a hardware-based processing unit, obtains a ride-sharer passenger profile for each of multiple passengers of an autonomous vehicle. The hardware-based processing unit is part of the system in various embodiments. The storage component includes a social vehicle-climate-manager module that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, determines group climate parameters for the autonomous vehicle based on the ride-sharer profiles. And the storage component includes an output module that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, controls the autonomous-vehicle climate-affecting devices based on the group climate parameters determined.

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRIC TRANSPORT VEHICLE
20170334264 · 2017-11-23 ·

An air conditioning system for an electric transport vehicle supplied by an electrical supply network includes at least one actuator for the production of heat or cold, and a regulator configured in order to generate at least one operating command applied to the at least one actuator as a function of values for parameters representing the climatic conditions, the actuator delivering an average power over a predetermined time period. The regulator are configured in order to generate at least one operating command applied to at least one actuator as a function moreover of the value for a parameter relating to at least one electric transport vehicle supplied by the electrical supply network, the value for the parameter indicating that electrical energy is consumed by the at least one electric transport vehicle or that electrical energy is produced by the at least one electric vehicle.

THERMAL MONITORING IN AUTONOMOUS-DRIVING VEHICLES
20170330044 · 2017-11-16 ·

A system managing vehicle operations based on thermal data. The system includes a thermal camera arranged in the vehicle to sense intra-vehicle thermal conditions. The system also includes a hardware-based storage device including a thermal-data analysis module that, when executed by a hardware-based processing unit, determines, based on the intra-vehicle thermal data, an activity or state of one or more vehicle occupants. The storage device may also include: an action module that, when executed, determines an output action based on the activity or state; and an output-interface module that, when executed, initiates performing the output action. The storage device may also include In various embodiments, the hardware-based storage device includes a database module that, when executed, obtains pre-stored occupant data corresponding to an occupant, and determining the output action is based on the pre-stored occupant data and occupant activity or state determined.

END-TO-END ACCOMMODATION FUNCTIONALITY FOR PASSENGERS OF FULLY AUTONOMOUS SHARED OR TAXI-SERVICE VEHICLES

A system, for implementation with an autonomous vehicle, includes a hardware-based processing unit, a human-machine interface, and a non-transitory storage device including a registration module that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit performs passenger-registration functions. The functions include obtaining passenger registration data indicating multiple identifications corresponding respectively to multiple passengers registered to use an autonomous-vehicle driving service, and determines whether each of multiple persons attempting to ride in the autonomous vehicle is one of the passengers registered for the autonomous-vehicle driving service, yielding respective authentications regarding persons determined to be one for the passengers registered for the service. The storage device also includes a vehicle-passenger communication module that, when executed, initiates intra-vehicle communication with passengers authenticated by way of the human-machine interface, and in some cases communicates with authenticated passengers at least intermittently from start to end of the autonomous ride, and in a personalized manner.

OPTIMIZING TIMING FOR CONFIGURING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE
20170285642 · 2017-10-05 ·

An autonomous vehicle (AV) can receive a pick-up location from a backend transport facilitation system to service a pick-up request from a requesting user. The AV can further process sensor data from a sensor array of the AV to dynamically identify potential hazards while autonomously operating the AV along a current route to the pick-up location. The AV can receiving, from the backend transport facilitation system, a set of configuration instructions to configure adjustable components of an interior of the AV based on comfort preferences of the requesting user, and determine an optimal timing schedule to implement each of the set of configuration instructions. Thus, the AV can execute the set of configuration instructions based on the optimal timing schedule to configure the adjustable components of the configurable interior system prior to arriving at the pick-up location.

Utility vehicle

A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame supported by the ground-engaging members, a powertrain assembly supported by the frame which includes an engine, an alternator coupled to the engine through a housing, and a heating, ventilation, and air condition (“HVAC”) assembly including a compressor operably coupled to the engine. The compressor is supported on a first side of the housing plate and the alternator is supported on a second side of the housing.

Wake-up alerts for sleeping vehicle occupants

A vehicle can be configured to attempt to awaken a sleeping occupant when certain wake-up events have occurred. It can be determined whether a wake-up event has occurred. In one or more arrangements, the wake-up event can relate to the refueling of the vehicle (e.g., fuel level or recharge level). Sensor data relating to a vehicle occupant can be acquired. Based on the acquired sensor data, it can be determined whether the vehicle occupant is sleeping. Responsive to determining that the vehicle occupant is sleeping, the vehicle can cause a wake-up alert to be presented within the vehicle. The wake-up alert can be a visual, audial, and/or haptic wake-up alert.