Systems and methods for navigating a host vehicle. The system may perform operations including receiving, from an image capture device, at least one image representative of an environment of the host vehicle; analyzing the at least one image to identify an object in the environment of the host vehicle; determining a location of the host vehicle; receiving map information associated with the determined location of the host vehicle, wherein the map information includes elevation information associated with the environment of the host vehicle; determining a distance from the host vehicle to the object based on at least the elevation information; and determining a navigational action for the host vehicle based on the determined distance.

Provided are a lane separation line detection correcting device/method and an automatic driving system for stabilizing the behavior of a vehicle by correcting overestimated curvature information resulting from an erroneous detection of a curvature of a lane separation line. A travel speed detecting circuit detects, for example, a target travel speed as vehicle sensor information. A maximum curvature estimating circuit estimates, based on the target travel speed, a maximum curvature of a road along which an own vehicle is traveling. A curvature correcting circuit corrects a curvature of a lane separation line input thereto based on the maximum curvature. A control unit controls steering of the own vehicle based on the lane separation line having a corrected curvature. As a result, vehicle steering can be automatically controlled so as to prevent the own vehicle while traveling from departing from a driving lane.

An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for predicting wrong-way-driving events. A WWD event defines an event in which a vehicle travels in a direction opposing a traffic direction designated for a portion of a road. In one example, the apparatus estimates a likelihood of portion of the road inducing a wrong-way-driving (WWD) event by using a machine learning model as a function of map data, sensor data, or a combination thereof. If the likelihood satisfies a threshold, the apparatus updates a map layer to indicate the WWD event at the portion of the road.

A system for displaying information indicative of driving conditions, to a driver, using a smart ring are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a smart ring with a ring band having a plurality of surfaces including an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The system further includes a processor, configured to obtain data from a communication module within the ring band, or from one or more sensors disposed within the ring band. The obtained data are representative of information indicative of one or more driving conditions to be displayed to the driver. The smart ring also includes an electronic ink (e-ink) display disposed on at least one of the plurality of surfaces, and configured to present information indicative of the one or more driving conditions.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an autonomous vehicle that may detected other nearby vehicles and identify them as parked or unparked. This identification may be based on visual indicia displayed by the detected vehicles as well as traffic control factors relating to the detected vehicles. Detected vehicles that are in a known parking spot may automatically be identified as parked. In addition, detected vehicles that satisfy conditions that are indications of being parked may also be identified as parked. The autonomous vehicle may then base its control strategy on whether or not a vehicle has been identified as parked or not.

Presently disclosed is a system, apparatus, and method for navigating and orienting roadway vehicles by use of a network of embedded navigation beacons within a roadway. A plurality of primary navigation beacons are embedded into a roadway surface with sensors, and communicate with a car and a smaller subset of secondary beacons with connection to the internet. Further disclosed is a landing pad for a drone delivery system, the landing pad acting as a navigational beacon and safe landing location indicator for the aerial drone.

Methods and systems for determining risk associated with operation of autonomous vehicles using autonomous communication are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, including features associated with autonomous communication between vehicles or with infrastructure. This information may be used to determine risk levels for a plurality of features, which may be based upon test data regarding the features or actual loss data. Expected use levels and autonomous communication levels may further be determined and used with the risk levels to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle. The autonomous communication levels may indicate the types of communications, the levels of communication with other vehicles or infrastructure, or the frequency of autonomous communication. The total risk level may be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

A method is described for performing a real time analysis of traffic flow control device related data using a plurality of vehicles connected in at least one vehicle cell network. The method compares position data from vehicles defining a traffic flow with received data for a traffic flow control device and geometry and topology data concerning a transport engineering construction related to the traffic flow control device to evaluate if a discrepancy can be detected between the geometry and topology data concerning the transport engineering construction and the traffic flow defined by the vehicles positions. The method may be used for updating and/or finding errors in the geometry and topology data concerning the transport engineering construction.

A method performed by a database managing system for maintaining a database comprising reported traffic-affecting events is provided. The system derives a position of a first vehicle supporting detection of vehicle surroundings and determines by comparing the vehicle position to positions of reported traffic-affecting events comprised in the database, that the first vehicle is approaching at least a first traffic-affecting event. The system prompts the first vehicle to attempt to detect the first traffic-affecting event, which prompting comprises providing to the first vehicle an expected position of the first traffic-affecting event. The system receives a response from the first vehicle, which response indicates whether or not the expected position was at least partly unobstructedly observable by the first vehicle. The response further indicates—if the expected position was at least partly unobstructedly observable—whether or not the first traffic-affecting event was at least partly detected by the first vehicle.

A system receives confirmation that a vehicle has accepted automatic control imposition for a drive within a geo-fenced boundary. The system tracks travel of a plurality of vehicles, including the vehicle, within the geo-fenced boundary. The system may determine that the vehicle has a threshold likelihood of encountering at least one of another vehicle or a boundary of the geo-fence at a threshold speed or above and responsive to the determination, impose automatic control on the vehicle, including at least one of controlled braking or speed limiting.