Zoox, Inc.

Alexandre Nunes

Johannes Edren

Fabricio Cesar Oda

Reginaldo Alves De Almeida

Markus Jost

Nirmal Muralidharan

Haley Riesenberg

Samantha Lynne Schoell

An active buckling system for a vehicle including a force generator. The active buckling system includes the force generator that at least partially weakens a frame associated with the vehicle. The active buckling system may induce a buckling of the frame during a collision. The active buckling system may further reduce a longitudinal frame compression distance between a front of the vehicle and a cabin, associated with absorbing an impact from the collision, at least in part due to the inducing of the buckling of the frame.

Active buckling frame rail

An active suspension control system for a vehicle includes a mathematical model based on a modal expansion of the vehicle. Model parameters of the vehicle can be extracted from the modal expansion using sensor data generated on the vehicle, e.g., on demand and/or in real time. The model parameters and the modal expansion can be used to determine a vehicle state, predict future vehicle states, and control aspects of an active suspension system based on the predicted future vehicle states. The model parameters may also be used to update the mathematical model, e.g., to account for component wear over time, and/or to detect anomalies or defects in the active suspension system.

Active suspension system using modal expansion

Updating vehicle models for improved suspension control

Multiple model active suspension control

A seat for a vehicle may include a seatback including one or more inflatable bladders that may be configured to provide adjustable lumbar support and to deploy in response to a triggering event signal indicative of a change of velocity, collision, or predicted collision event. One or more inflatable bladders may be configured to be independently controllable and configured to provide adjustable lumbar support at a region of the seatback during normal vehicle operation. Moreover, when at least a portion of the back of an occupant of the seat pushes against a front surface of the seatback due to the event, the one or more inflatable bladders may be configured to compress at least partially a comfort foam or comfort material in the seatback and expedite engagement of the energy absorbing material with the occupant's back.

Multipurpose seatback bladder system for crash safety and lumbar support

Growing community of inventors

San Carlos, CA, United States of America

Alexandre Nunes