A droplet sensor includes an optical cover having a curved surface that forms a part of a spheroid, a protective film that covers the curved surface of the optical cover, a light source provided at a first focal point of an ellipse facing the curved surface, and a photodetector provided at a second focal point of the ellipse. The refractive index of the protective film is greater than the refractive index of a liquid to be detected. A sensing region is determined by a range of an incident angle at which a light beam emitted from the light source and incident onto the curved surface is totally reflected at the interface between the protective film and a gas, and is not totally reflected at the interface between the protective film and the liquid to be detected.

A precipitation index estimation apparatus includes a data collection unit and an estimation processing unit. The data collection unit is configured to collect rainfall amount data detected by a rainfall amount sensor in one or more vehicles positioned on a predetermined road link within a predetermined period. The estimation processing unit is configured to estimate a precipitation index indicating an intensity of precipitation on the predetermined road link within the predetermined period, based on the collected rainfall amount data.

A system and method of automatically activating a windshield wiper system of a vehicle having a front windshield with a front wiper and a rear windshield with a rear wiper are provided. The method comprises assessing at least one windshield classification of road conditions based on original information and capturing a front image of the front windshield, a rear image of the rear windshield, and an environment image of the environment. The method further comprises classifying the images to define a first windshield class. The method further comprises determining a front windshield perception, a rear windshield perception, and an environment perception of the first windshield class to define a first combination of detection sources. The method further comprises fusing the front windshield perception, the rear windshield perception and the environment perception, defining a first front probability of the first windshield class. The method further comprises activating the front wiper when the first front probability is greater than a front threshold.

Disclosed is an aircraft having motors operable to actuate an aircraft windshield wiper and an aircraft control surface. The aircraft includes a distributed control system having digital storage and integrated with redundant processors. The aircraft includes controller instructions stored on the digital storage operable upon execution to operate a control surface motor of the motors to actuate the control surface to impact an orientation of the aircraft and operate a windshield wiper motor of the motors to actuate the windshield wipers.

Systems and methods are provided for estimating atmospheric properties using a LIDAR sensor. A control system includes a LIDAR sensor configured to detect a distance to an object, and an intensity of light reflected by the object. A controller's a target selection module determines whether the object is a target for use in estimating the atmospheric properties. A data collection module collects values of the distance and the intensity as detected by the LIDAR sensor. The atmospheric properties are determined based on the values of the distance and the intensity. In response to the determined atmospheric properties, the actuator is operated to effect an action.

Provided are methods for acoustic emission based device control. Some methods described also include receiving information associated with a first acoustic emission sensor, a second acoustic emission sensor, and a third acoustic emission sensor is received. In embodiments, the information corresponds to an event. In accordance with the first, second, and third acoustic emission sensor information, the first, second, and third timestamps, and a geometry of the surface, a unit vector is calculated from each acoustic emission sensor in the direction of the event's origin. Parameters are calculated based on the unit vectors. Systems and computer program products are also provided.

A method for acquiring road data onboard a vehicle, the road data associated with a segment of road is provided. The method obtains, via vehicle onboard sensors, sensor data associated with current weather conditions, current road conditions, and a physical road state; determines whether the current weather conditions indicate existence of severe weather, whether the current road conditions indicate potential slip, and whether the physical road state indicates one or more road anomalies; generates a road data result, based on existence of severe weather, potential slip, and one or more road anomalies; and transmits the road data result, via a vehicle onboard telematics unit.

A semiconductor device including an abnormality detection section that detects an abnormality occurring in a moving body that moves along a specific path on a surface of a specific object; a position detection section that detects a position of the moving body as an abnormality occurrence position, in a case in which the abnormality detection section has detected an abnormality, and that stores abnormality occurrence position information expressing the abnormality occurrence position in a storage section; and a moving body controller that controls an adjusting section to adjust at least one of a force with which the moving body presses against the specific object, or a position of the moving body in a direction intersecting the surface of the specific object, based on a detection result detected by the abnormality detection section and the abnormality occurrence position information.

A LiDAR sensor unit is configured to detect information of an outside area of a vehicle with sensing light. A cover covers the LiDAR sensor unit so as to allow passage of the sensing light while forming a part of an outer surface of the vehicle. A strain gage is disposed on the cover and configured to output a strain signal corresponding to strain generated in the cover. A processor is configured to detect a foreign substance adhered to the cover based on the strain signal.

A device and a method for controlling a wiper of a vehicle. The device may include a wiper actuator for driving the wiper of the vehicle, a sensor for measuring a driving speed of the wiper, and a controller that controls the wiper of the vehicle based on a relationship between a driving voltage applied to the wiper actuator and the driving speed measured by the sensor.