A transport trolley for consignments having wheels which define a contact plane for moving the trolley, having a load compartment for receiving consignments during transport, and having a shelf for carrying consignments. The shelf can be adjusted from a lower non-use position arranged in the load compartment into an upper, moderate use position arranged outside the load compartment, and back. The shelf can be adjusted from a lower non-use position arranged in the load compartment into an upper, elevated use position arranged outside the load compartment, and back. The moderate use position and the elevated use position are arranged in a range between 1.0 m and 1.7 m above the contact plane. The elevated use position is arranged above the moderate use position, and a drive is provided for at least partially adjusting the height of the shelf above the contact plane.

The present invention relates to a biometric steering wheel including biometric sensors for scanning biometrics of a user and a display screen for displaying biometric authentication status. The invention also discloses a biometric based anti-theft and anti-carjacking system for a vehicle using the biometric steering wheel. An on-board controller is coupled to an ECU of the vehicle and is configured to enable the ignition and gear system of the vehicle upon a successful biometric authentication and to disable the ignition and gear system of the vehicle upon an unsuccessful biometric authentication. The on-board controller stores registered biometrics for comparison that are used for authentication of the present biometrics. The steering wheel can be configured to use and ‘read’ fingerprints, retinas, DNA samples, and/or face recognition as a biometric.

Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control, routing, and automatic feature adjustment are disclosed. Sensors associated with autonomous operation features may be utilized to search an area for missing persons, stolen vehicles, or similar persons or items of interest. Sensor data associated with the features may be automatically collected and analyzed to passively search for missing persons or vehicles without vehicle operator involvement. Search criteria may be determined by a remote server and communicated to a plurality of vehicles within a search area. In response to which, sensor data may be collected and analyzed by the vehicles. When sensor data generated by a vehicle matches the search criteria, the vehicle may communicate the information to the remote server.

Methods and systems for autonomous vehicle recharging or refueling are disclosed. Autonomous vehicles may be automatically refueled by routing the vehicles to available fueling stations when not in operation, according to methods described herein. A fuel level within a tank of an autonomous vehicle may be monitored until it reaches a refueling threshold, at which point an on-board computer may generate a predicted use profile for the vehicle. Based upon the predicted use profile, a time and location for the vehicle to refuel the vehicle may be determined. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be controlled to automatically travel to a fueling station, refill a fuel tank, and return to its starting location in order to refuel when not in use.

Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. A computing device may receive data for the same road segment from autonomous vehicles, including (i) an indication of a location within the road segment, and (ii) an indication of a condition of the road segment. The computing device may generate, from the data for the same road segment, an overall indication of the condition of the road segment, which may include a recommendation to vehicles approaching the road segment. Additionally, the computing device may receive a request from a computing device within a vehicle approaching the road segment to display vehicle data. The overall indication for the road segment may then be displayed on a user interface of the computing device.

Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control, routing, and automatic feature adjustment are disclosed. Sensors associated with autonomous operation features may be utilized to search an area for missing persons, stolen vehicles, or similar persons or items of interest. Sensor data associated with the features may be automatically collected and analyzed to passively search for missing persons or vehicles without vehicle operator involvement. Search criteria may be determined by a remote server and communicated to a plurality of vehicles within a search area. In response to which, sensor data may be collected and analyzed by the vehicles. When sensor data generated by a vehicle matches the search criteria, the vehicle may communicate the information to the remote server.

An authentication apparatus includes a scanning apparatus and an alignment apparatus. The scanning apparatus includes a sensor configured to capture identifying information of the user in a field of view. The alignment apparatus includes a housing forming an interior region comprising a viewing aperture positioned proximate to the scanning apparatus. The viewing aperture defines an alignment region intersecting the field of view in an exterior region. A first indicator is positioned in the interior region aligned with the alignment region along an alignment axis of the viewing aperture. The first indicator is configured to emit a first light into the alignment region through the aperture.

An alignment system may comprise a housing defining a channel having a first end and a second end; a light source disposed at the first end of the channel; and an alignment image disposed at the second end of the channel. The light source may be in optical communication with the alignment image. The alignment system may further comprise a baffle extending around at least a portion of an inner perimeter of the channel, the baffle defining a backlight aperture. The light source may be in selective optical communication with the alignment image.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Malfunctions may be detected by receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors. One of these sensors may be selected for assessment. An electronic device may obtain from the selected sensor a set of signals. When the set of signals includes signals that are outside of a determined range of signals associated with proper functioning for the selected sensor, it may be determined that the selected sensor is malfunctioning. In response, an action may be performed to resolve the malfunction and/or mitigate consequences of the malfunction.

Methods and systems for autonomous vehicle recharging or refueling are disclosed. Autonomous vehicles may be automatically refueled by routing the vehicles to available fueling stations when not in operation, according to methods described herein. A fuel level within a tank of an autonomous vehicle may be monitored until it reaches a refueling threshold, at which point an on-board computer may generate a predicted use profile for the vehicle. Based upon the predicted use profile, a time and location for the vehicle to refuel the vehicle may be determined. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be controlled to automatically travel to a fueling station, refill a fuel tank, and return to its starting location in order to refuel when not in use.