A vehicle agnostic removable pod can be mounted on a vehicle using one or more legs of a pod mount. The removable pod can collect and time stamp a variety of environmental data as well as vehicle data. For example, environmental data can be collected using a sensor suite which can include an IMU, 3D positioning sensor, one or more cameras, and/or a LIDAR unit. As another example, vehicle data can be collected via a CAN bus attached to the vehicle. Environmental data and/or vehicle data can be time stamped and transmitted to a remote server for further processing by a computing device.

A suction device including a casing having a central post extending through the casing. A flexible member is provided across a free end of the central post. One or more artificial muscles are housed within the casing and encircle the central post, each artificial muscle including a housing having a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall. The housing having an electrode region adjacent an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair housed within the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode coupled to the first wall and a second electrode coupled to the second wall. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region and deforms the flexible member to form a suction area at the free end of the central post.

A mount for mounting an accessory, the mount comprising: an attachment member to attach the mount to a support structure; and a mount coupling member configured to have a profile complementary to a corresponding accessory coupling member of an accessory to be coupled to the mount. The mount coupling member comprises a first material operative to couple to a second material of an accessory coupling member through an attractive force between the first material and second material; and wherein the attractive force is of a magnitude to permit slidable movement of the mount coupling member relative to an accessory coupling member while maintaining mechanical contact between the mount and an accessory. The first material comprises a complementary configuration with a second material of an accessory coupling member to permit a greater magnitude of the slidable movement in a first direction compared to a second direction transverse to the first direction.

An apparatus for mounting a device to a dashboard of a vehicle has a planar element having a first height, a first width, a front planar surface and a back planar surface, and a mounting element having a second height smaller than the first height, a second width smaller than the first width, and a length, the mounting element joined to the back planar surface of the planar element such that the length of the mounting element extends orthogonally to the back planar surface. The mounting element is adapted to fit into an existing opening in the dashboard of the vehicle, such that the planar element is supported and presented with the front planar surface upright.

Attachment devices for securing phones and other electronic devices in a vehicle. One example can provide an attachment device that can include a stalk portion to attach to a surface or structure in a vehicle and an attachment portion, where the attachment portion includes an attachment face for mating with an electronic device. One or more attachment features can be located on the attachment face. An attachment device can further include power components for providing power to the electronic device.

A mount for mounting an accessory, the mount comprising: an attachment member to attach the mount to a support structure; and a mount coupling member configured to have a profile complementary to a corresponding accessory coupling member of an accessory to be coupled to the mount. The mount coupling member comprises a first material operative to couple to a second material of an accessory coupling member through an attractive force between the first material and second material; and wherein the attractive force is of a magnitude to permit slideable movement of the mount coupling member relative to an accessory coupling member while maintaining mechanical contact between the mount and an accessory. The first material comprises a complementary configuration with a second material of an accessory coupling member to permit a greater magnitude of the slideable movement in a first direction compared to a second direction transverse to the first direction.

A vacuum mount system a first vacuum device (12) configured for detachable connection to a portable electronic device (18), a second vacuum device (14) configured for detachable connection to a mounting surface (17), and a flexible connector (16) attached between the first vacuum device (12) and the second vacuum device (14).

A mounting device for fastening a component, such as in particular a fixture, at a defined location has a base body having a holder or receptacle for the component and a suction device for retaining the component held in the holder at the defined location. In addition, the mounting device contains a pressing device to press the component held in the holder or receptacle to the defined location. A method for the validatable fixation of a component, such as in particular a fixture or bracket, at a defined location is also provided.

A mount for mounting an accessory, the mount comprising: an attachment member to attach the mount to a support structure; and a mount coupling member configured to have a profile complementary to a corresponding accessory coupling member of an accessory to be coupled to the mount. The mount coupling member comprises a first material operative to couple to a second material of an accessory coupling member through an attractive force between the first material and second material; and wherein the attractive force is of a magnitude to permit slidable movement of the mount coupling member relative to an accessory coupling member while maintaining mechanical contact between the mount and an accessory. The first material comprises a complementary configuration with a second material of an accessory coupling member to permit a greater magnitude of the slidable movement in a first direction compared to a second direction transverse to the first direction.

A suction device including a casing having a central post extending through the casing. A flexible member is provided across a free end of the central post. One or more artificial muscles are housed within the casing and encircle the central post, each artificial muscle including a housing having a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall. The housing having an electrode region adjacent an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair housed within the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode coupled to the first wall and a second electrode coupled to the second wall. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region and deforms the flexible member to form a suction area at the free end of the central post.