Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Brandon Beauvais

Charles Everett Badger, Ii

Daniel A Gabor

Dale Scott Crombez

Scott J Lauffer

Chad Michael Korte

Timothy Panagis

Ryan Hunt

Tim Jurkiw

Matthew Fleming

Seema Gami

Joshua McCready

Ian Lawson

A vehicle includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a vehicle being in an autonomous drive mode. The computer includes instructions to detect a user request to change the drive mode from the autonomous drive mode to a manual drive mode. The computer includes instructions to move the brake pedal from the stowed position to the deployed position in response to the user request to change the drive mode. The computer includes instructions to prompt a user to validate the brake pedal being in the deployed position. The computer includes instructions to change from the autonomous drive mode to the manual drive mode in response to the user validating deployment of the brake pedal.

Stowable pedal assembly

A vehicle control system includes a brake module operably coupled to a braking system to provide a braking torque request, a steering module operably coupled to a steering system to provide a steering input request, a power supply, and a power management module. The power supply is operably coupled to the brake module and the steering module to provide power to the brake module and the steering module. The power supply has a power budget indicating a maximum power providable to the brake module and the steering module. The power management module is operably coupled to sensors to receive a power draw indication from one of the brake module or the steering module and control power draw of the other of the steering module or the brake module to maintain a combined power draw of the brake module and the steering module below the power budget.

Chassis power management

This disclosure describes systems and methods for limiting the functionality of remote start systems within vehicles. Remote start operations may be limited, for example, in response to exceeding one or more remote start limits. Limiting the remote start operations may include either preventing the initiation of a remote start request or ending an already in-progress remote start operation.

Systems and methods for limiting remote start functionality on vehicles

This disclosure is directed to customizable charge status indicator systems for electrified vehicle charge port assemblies. Exemplary charge status indicator systems may include a charge port lighting module, and a human machine interface (HMI) that includes various user interfaces configured for receiving inputs for customizing different lighting effects that can be emitted by the charge port lighting module. The charge status indicator systems may further include a controller operably coupled to both the charge port lighting module and the HMI and configured for commanding the charge port lighting module to emit customized lighting effects in response to receiving input signals from the HMI.

Customizable charge status indicator systems

Methods and apparatus to present anticipated vehicle maneuvers to a passenger are disclosed. An example method includes determining an anticipated autonomous maneuver of a vehicle based on collected information corresponding to autonomous operation of the vehicle, determining a notification type to present to a passenger device based on a device type, and presenting the anticipated autonomous maneuver to a user via the passenger device based on the notification type.

Methods and apparatus to present anticipated vehicle maneuvers to a passenger

A vehicle includes a controller, in communication with a remote server, that is configured to access, from the remote server, historical climate system and window data associated with a location and route of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to identify a geofence according to the historical climate system and window data, and responsive to the vehicle crossing the geofence, command cabin air recirculation.

Auto-isolate vehicular climate system

A system includes a computer programmed to receive impact sensor data specifying a force of an impact to a vehicle body panel. The computer is programmed to, upon determining that the force is below a collision force threshold, identify the impact as user input. The computer is programmed to actuate a vehicle component according to the user input.

External vehicle component control

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a brake valve to drain a brake cylinder and then actuate the brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder and hold a brake pedal in a retracted position.

Vehicle brake operation

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a vehicle brake according to a specified brake torque, receive user input to exceed the specified brake torque, and actuate a brake fluid valve to attain a brake fluid pressure to maintain the specified brake torque.

The vehicle system includes a position sensor programmed to output a distance signal representing a distance of a primary parked vehicle to a boundary. The vehicle system further includes a processor programmed to receive a parking request and determine a moving distance that is based at least in part on the distance to the boundary and an amount of space the primary parked vehicle requires to exit a parking space.

Cooperative park assist

Methods for transitioning a braking system between primary and fallback modes are provided. A method in accordance with the present disclosure may include identifying a failure in the functionality of the primary braking system, and, upon identifying the failure, mitigating an abrupt increase in a pedal travel distance required to brake or otherwise decelerate the vehicle so as to provide smooth transition from a primary braking mode to a fallback braking mode. The mitigating the increase in the pedal travel distance may include initiating a transition to the fallback braking mode, activating at least one of a plurality of transition braking modes, and gradually increasing the pedal travel distance by deactivating at least one of the previously activated transition braking modes.

Methods for transitioning into reduced braking performance modes upon failure of a primary braking system

Vehicles can be equipped with a computing device to determine two or more paths of available paths for the vehicle that each include a predicted impact with an object. The computing device can determine a time to impact, vehicle speed and direction and object speed and direction, and an object type. The computing device can also determine a best path of the two or more vehicle paths by determining damage severity based on time to impact, vehicle speed and direction and object speed and direction and control one or more of steering, propulsive torque and braking torque to pilot the vehicle on the best path based on the damage severity.

Vehicle collision severity mitigation

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for activating a vehicle feature through gesture recognition and voice command by an authorized user. Generally, a vehicle control system of the present disclosure obtains gesture commands and voice commands from an authorized user and communicates with a body control module to complete the vehicle feature. More specifically, in certain embodiments, a processor of the vehicle control system is configured to initiate a feature activation mode of a vehicle control system, authenticate an authorized user, receive a gesture command and a voice command, determine a vehicle feature associated with the received gesture command and voice command, and activate the determined feature in response to the recognized gesture command and voice command.

System and method for feature activation via gesture recognition and voice command

Brake actuators for a motor vehicle braking system, braking systems including the brake actuators, and motor vehicles including the brake actuators are provided. A brake actuator includes a chamber enclosing a volume configured to hold a quantity of brake fluid, a piston, a piston actuator, and a compressible medium. The piston actuator may be coupled to the piston and configured to actuate the piston. The compressible medium may be positioned relative to the chamber such that the compressible medium is subjected to a force due to pressurization of the brake fluid in the chamber. A volume of the compressible medium may be configured to be changed by the force due to the pressurization of the brake fluid.

Braking systems including compressible medium to modify brake fluid pressure

Systems and methods are provided for preventing damage to a vehicle interior due to precipitation. The systems can include a location module, window control module, and rain sensor all communicatively linked to a processor. In the event a vehicle's windows are determined to be down, the processor can determine the likelihood of precipitation in the area of the vehicle's location. If precipitation is likely, the processor causes the rain sensor to be powered. If the rain sensor indicates the presence of precipitation, the processor directs the window control module to close the vehicle's windows.

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Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Brandon Beauvais