A universal storage system for a motor vehicle includes an enclosure defining a chamber, a plurality of partitions, and a partition actuator for moving the partitions within the chamber to define a plurality of compartments. The system further includes a cover actuator for moving the cover elements to cover the compartments. The system further includes a user interface generating a deposit signal indicative of a size of an object to be deposited into the enclosure. The system further includes a controller generating first and second actuation signals. The partition actuator moves the partitions to the predetermined positions to define a compartment sized for receiving the object in response to receiving the first actuation signal from the controller. The cover actuator moves the cover elements to the predetermined locations for uncovering the compartment in response to receiving the second actuation signal from the controller.

A vehicle includes an exterior body panel and a sensor assembly supported by the exterior body panel. The sensor assembly includes an image sensor and a cover being moveable to an assembled position at least partially enclosing the image sensor. A pressure sensor is activated by the cover in the assembled position. A lock releasably connects the cover to the exterior body panel and is actuatable framed on the pressure sensor.

Improved systems and methods for securing license plates are disclosed herein. In the preferred embodiments discussed, the systems and methods are applied to the securing of dealer license plates. There are numerous problems with the unauthorized or illegal use of these types of license plates, and the machine and software combination disclosed herein may provide solutions to at least some of these problems.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body and storage compartments that are located in the vehicle body. Each of the storage compartments has a cavity and a closure that selectively secures the cavity. A respective authorization input is associated with each of the storage compartments. The closure of each of the storage compartments is operable to unsecure the cavity upon receipt of the respective authorization input.

A vehicle includes an exterior body panel and a sensor assembly supported by the exterior body panel. The sensor assembly includes an image sensor and a cover being moveable to an assembled position at least partially enclosing the image sensor. A pressure sensor is activated by the cover in the assembled position. A lock releasably connects the cover to the exterior body panel and is actuatable framed on the pressure sensor.

A locking system is installed inside a truck work body such as a service body. A linear actuator drives a sliding member longitudinally between locked and unlocked positions. The sliding member is supported by slide bearings. A spring may bias the sliding member toward the unlocked position. Locking catches are secured on the compartment doors of storage compartments of the truck work body. Locking members protruding from the sliding member engage the locking catches in the locked position, and disengage from the locking catches in the unlocked position. The actuator may be wirelessly activated by a transmitter key fob. The actuator is mounted by tamper-resistant fasteners that are accessible and removable from the exterior of the work body, to release the actuator and unlock the system in the event of an actuator failure. A single actuator locks all compartments on one side of the work body.

A vehicle having a hidden storage compartment with a user notification system and method of using the same is provided. The vehicle includes a storage container securely fixed onto an interior surface of a vehicle floor panel in the footwell area. A floor covering is disposed over the footwell area covering the storage container and includes a flap having a living hinge configured to selectively cover and uncover the lid of the storage container. The storage container includes a biometric scanner, a mass sensor, and a lid sensor in communication with a notification controller. The notification controller analyzes the information received from the biometric scanner, lid sensor, and mass sensor, and determines the state of the storage container based on a logic table. The notification controller then selectively transmit a predetermined message to the user based on the state of the storage container.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate equipment status verification in a storage device. An example vehicle comprises: an equipment rack, a processor and memory, and a display. The equipment rack includes sensors to generate presence and securement information. The processor and memory are in communication with the sensors and are configured to: determine a presence status of an object assigned to the equipment rack, determine a securement status of the object in the equipment rack, and display a report of the presence and securement statuses via the display.

A universal storage system for a motor vehicle includes an enclosure defining a chamber, a plurality of partitions, and a partition actuator for moving the partitions within the chamber to define a plurality of compartments. The system further includes a cover actuator for moving the cover elements to cover the compartments. The system further includes a user interface generating a deposit signal indicative of a size of an object to be deposited into the enclosure. The system further includes a controller generating first and second actuation signals. The partition actuator moves the partitions to the predetermined positions to define a compartment sized for receiving the object in response to receiving the first actuation signal from the controller. The cover actuator moves the cover elements to the predetermined locations for uncovering the compartment in response to receiving the second actuation signal from the controller.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for secure access to storage devices within vehicle cargo compartments. An example vehicle includes a rear gate including a gate lock, a cargo compartment accessible via the rear gate, a storage device positioned within the cargo compartment and including a storage lock, and a body control module (BCM) communicatively coupled to the gate lock and the storage lock. The BCM is to simultaneously unlock the rear gate and the storage device for a predefined period-of-time responsive to receiving a storage-access request.