Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Robert Boschgmbh

Ford Motor Company Limited

Other

Brad Alan Ignaczak

Cynthia M Neubecker

Brian Bennie

Adil Nizam Siddiqui

Somak Datta Gupta

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Thomas Lee Miller

Jonathan Diedrich

Randy Michael Freiburger

Patrick Kevin Holub

Jeffrey Allen Greenberg

Cheri Lyn Hansen

Ali Hassani

Eric L Reed

Christopher W Bell

Pramita Mitra

Scott Alan Watkins

Kenneth James Miller

Oliver F Schwindt

Jayanthi Rao

Laura Viviana Hazebrouck

Haron Abdel-raziq

Charles James Miller

James Kim

Perry Robinson Macneille

Mark Anthony Cuddihy

Gary Steven Strumolo

Thomas Edward Pilutti

John Paul Gibeau

David Charles Weber

Stephan Simon

Andrew John Murray

Christopher Westfall

Robert Parenti

David Melcher

Maher Ghneim

Craig John Simonds

Perry Robinson MacNeille

Emil G Serban

Bhavana Chakraborty

Hannah Bailey

David Hiskens

Jacob Lucero

Kevin Buckner

Terry Haggerty

Paul Theodosis

Tania Cristina Vazquez

Michael Neumeyer

Robert Lyons

Methods and apparatus for vehicle-based drone charging are disclosed herein. A vehicle-based drone charging apparatus includes a charging device to be operatively coupled to a vehicle. The charging device is to charge a drone in response to the drone being operatively coupled to the charging device. The vehicle-based drone charging apparatus further includes a communication interface to be operatively coupled to the vehicle. The communication interface is to broadcast use information associated with the charging device. The use information includes location information associated with a location of the vehicle and fee information associated with a cost for use of the charging device.

Methods and apparatus for vehicle-based drone charging

A plurality of transducers positioned at respective specified locations in a vehicle are actuated to generate a plurality of respective tones. A plurality of respective time differences are determined between times that each respective tone is generated by the respective transducer and the tone is detected by a portable device. A location of the portable device is determined based at least in part on the time differences.

Portable device detection

A vehicle charging system includes a vehicle charge port having a first connector with one or more first magnets and a plurality of first terminals arranged in a first array. A charge station for the vehicle includes a support and a second connector attached to the support by an articulating mechanism that permits movement of the second connector relative to the support. The second connector has one or more second magnets and a plurality of second terminals arranged in a second array that matches the first array so that the first terminals are connectable to the second terminals when the first and second connectors aligned. The first and second magnets are arranged to move the second terminals, via the articulating mechanism, into alignment with first terminals when the first and second connectors are within a magnetic-coupling range.

Vehicle charging system

A speed of a target vehicle can be detected. A difference in host vehicle speed and the speed of the target vehicle is determined. A target frequency is specified for a sound to be received at the target vehicle. A sending frequency is determined for the sound based on the target frequency and the difference in host vehicle speed and target vehicle speed. The sound is transmitted at the sending frequency.

Vehicle sound emission control

A container includes a transportation section and a drone section. The drone section has a drone place holder and a door. The drone place holder is accessible when the door is in an open position. The container includes a processor that is programmed to actuate the door to the open position, actuate a drone, fittable in the drone place holder, to fly out of the container, and actuate the drone to transport the container to a destination.

Drone-based goods transportation

Vehicles that are autonomous or human-operated may drive in a platoon to achieve energy savings. A leader vehicle receives information broadcasts from following vehicles that include a state of energy and one or more other values such as energy usage rates, range, destination, and aerodynamic properties. The leader vehicle may then determine an ordering of vehicles that increases the range of the platoon, e.g., reduces the number of refueling/recharging stops of the platoon. Other considerations for ordering the vehicles may include overall energy savings and a fair distribution of energy savings. A desired ordering may be achieved by transmitting swap commands to pairs of vehicles until the platoon is in the correct ordering.

Range-based vehicle platoon ordering

A computer is programmed to determine a trajectory of a moving target based on data from one or more vehicle sensors. The computer is programmed to deploy an aerial drone from the vehicle to track the moving target based on the determined trajectory.

Drone-based tracking

On-demand vehicle imaging systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes receiving a first request to obtain an image or video of a target location from a requesting party, determining a vehicle located within a specified distance from the target location, transmitting a second request to the vehicle to obtain the image or video of the target location using a camera of the vehicle, the second request including an identification of the target location, performing at least one aspect of image processing to blur, block, or obscure at least a portion of the image, and transmitting the obtained image or video of the target location to the requesting party.

On-demand vehicle imaging systems and methods

The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for detecting an occupancy of a back seat in a vehicle before a driver exits the vehicle. In one example method, a backseat occupancy alert system detects an activity that precedes the driver exiting the vehicle. For example, the system may detect that the driver has performed, or is performing, actions such as turning off the engine of the vehicle, placing the vehicle in a parked condition, and/or opening a door of the vehicle. The detection may be carried out, for example, by evaluating an image captured by one or more cameras in the vehicle. The system may then detect a failure by the driver to look towards a back seat of the vehicle, where, for example, a child may be seated in a car seat. The system may then produce an alert to prompt the driver to check the back seat.

Systems and methods for alerting a driver to check back seat occupancy in a vehicle

A computer is programmed to deploy an aerial drone to fly within a specified distance of a first vehicle. The computer is programmed to detect a second vehicle and then activate an aerial drone light.

Drone-based vehicle illumination

A stowable user interface system includes an armrest. The stowable user interface system includes a steering wheel support arm supported by the armrest and movable between an extended position outside the armrest and a retracted position inside the armrest. The stowable user interface system permits an operator of a vehicle to control a steering system of the vehicle when the steering wheel support arm in the extended position. The stowable user interface system stows the steering wheel support arm in the retracted position.

Stowable vehicle interface

A system that includes a vehicle fuel-receiver comprising a port located on a vehicle surface; and an onboard computer programmed to: send a fuel delivery request to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); actuate the port to permit the UAV to deliver fuel; and instruct a communication module to transmit a beacon signal to the UAV.

Fuel delivery to a vehicle

A location of a first wearable device is determined based on a first biometric signature. Operation of a touchscreen display is restricted if the location of the first wearable device is in an operator's side of a vehicle cabin and the first wearable device is within a first distance from the display.

Enhanced touchscreen operation

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for improving vehicle parking skills. In an exemplary implementation, one or more cameras that are mounted in a vehicle may be used to capture a set of images when the vehicle is parked in a parking spot. The images may include a portion of the vehicle, a portion of another vehicle parked in an adjacent parking spot, an object located outside the parking spot, and/or one or more lines that delineate the parking spot. The images may be processed by a computer to determine distance parameters between the vehicle and items such as the other vehicle, the object located outside the parking spot, and/or the lines of the parking spot. A parking skills grade may then be assigned by the computer, to a driver of the vehicle, based on the distance parameters.

Systems and methods for improving vehicle parking skills

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Brad Alan Ignaczak