An autonomous vehicle having a LIDAR system that scans a field of view is described herein. With more specificity, a computing system of the autonomous vehicle defines a region of interest in the field of view for a scan of the field of view by the LIDAR system. The region of interest is a portion of the field of view. Based on the region of interest, the computing system transmits a control signal to the LIDAR system that causes the LIDAR system to emit first light pulses with a first intensity within the region of interest during the scan and second light pulses with a second intensity outside the region of interest during the scan. The first intensity is different from the second intensity to provide different ranges for distance measurements inside and outside the region of interest.

An autonomous vehicle having a LIDAR system that scans a field of view is described herein. With more specificity, a computing system of the autonomous vehicle defines a region of interest in the field of view for a scan of the field of view by the LIDAR system. The region of interest is a portion of the field of view. Based on the region of interest, the computing system transmits a control signal to the LIDAR system that causes the LIDAR system to emit first light pulses with a first intensity within the region of interest during the scan and second light pulses with a second intensity outside the region of interest during the scan. The first intensity is different from the second intensity to provide different ranges for distance measurements inside and outside the region of interest.

A system is provided that includes a housing [102], a display [100] attached to the housing [102], and a camera [104] attached to the housing located proximate the display [100], the camera [104] being configured to capture images over a 360-degree field of view in at least a first plane [110] through the housing and capture images over a 220-degree field of view in a second plane [112] perpendicular to the first plane [110].

Leading and trailing electrified vehicles are coupled together in a towing arrangement for in-flight transfer of an electrical charge between their battery systems. With the vehicles connected by a towing device, a parking maneuver is initiated in which the trailing vehicle leads the leading vehicle. For the parking maneuver, one of the vehicles is designated (e.g., automatically or by driver agreement) to be an active steering vehicle and the other vehicle to be a passive steering vehicle. At least the passive steering vehicle comprises an electrically-controlled steering actuator. During movement, a turning (e.g., steering angle) of the active steering vehicle is monitored. Based on the turning of the active steering vehicle, an assistive steering angle is determined for the passive steering vehicle. The electrically-controlled steering actuator is commanded according to the assistive steering angle. The parking maneuver may be reverse or forward.

An articulatable mount for temporarily affixing a camera and illumination system to a vehicle is disclosed. The articulating drive mechanism is lightweight, vertically compact, and ruggedized for severe service such as withstanding shocks from off-road travel and abrupt maneuvering. Articulation and illumination may be controlled remotely over Wi-Fi from inside or nearby the vehicle, and encrypted video feeds may be received by authorized users of an ad-hoc network of available smart-phone users and in-vehicle computer systems authorized and authenticated to participate in the network.

A position calculating apparatus is provided with: an acquirer configured to obtain a position of a host vehicle; a detector configured to detect surrounding environment including structures around the host vehicle; a calculator configured to extract a map of surroundings of the host vehicle on the basis of the obtained position, configured to compare the extracted map with a surrounding image based on the detected surrounding environment, and configured to calculate a position and a direction of the host vehicle on the extracted map; a display device configured to superimpose and display the extracted map on the surrounding image on the basis of the calculated position and the calculated direction; and a corrector configured to correct the calculated position and the calculated direction with reference to a inputted correction instruction if the correction instruction is inputted through an input device.

A method of processing an image using a camera of a vehicle includes: a first operation of controlling a road wheel of the vehicle according to an imaging mode selected by a user from among a plurality of imaging modes, and a second operation of generating an image according to the imaging mode selected by the user by using the camera while the road wheel of the vehicle is controlled.

A multi-camera vehicle vision system and method. In one embodiment a map is generated about a moving vehicle. Frames of image data are provided with a series of cameras extending along a surface of the vehicle. The image data frames are processed to identify an object of interest. An object of interest is classified among a set of object types and location of an identified object of interest is determined. Object type and location information is provided to a control unit spaced apart from the cameras via a data link. Road map data is generated to illustrate changes in position of the moving vehicle along a roadway based on data other than the image data provided by the cameras. A display of the road map data is generated with the object type and location information overlaid on the road map data to indicate object location relative to the vehicle.

The disclosed vehicle Camera System captures live video and audio to ensure driver protection. Vehicle Camera System introduces a novel, high-quality, vehicle camera system to be mounted on multiple parts of the vehicle, including on the dashboard, side-view mirrors, rear-view mirror, and rear of the vehicle. These cameras are activated as soon as the user pushes the wireless GPS tracking operator button down. The button is located on the inside of the steering wheel and enables the entire system with no abrupt movement. The Vehicle Camera System ensures a fully operational, vehicle camera recording system, and, therefore, guarantees that no victim is wrongfully convicted and is capable of providing exact evidence of the events that occur.

The technology relates to autonomous vehicles that use a perception system to detect objects and features in the vehicle's surroundings. A camera assembly having a ling-type structure is provided that gives the perception system an overall 360° field of view around the vehicle. Image sensors are arranged in camera modules around the assembly to provide a seamless panoramic field of view. One subsystem has multiple pairs of image sensors positioned to provide the overall 360° field of view, while another subsystem provides a set of image sensors generally facing toward the front of the vehicle to provide enhanced object identification. The camera assembly may be arranged in a housing located on top of the vehicle. The housing may include other sensors such as LIDAR and radar. The assembly includes a chassis and top and base plates, which may provide EMI protection from other sensors disposed in the housing.