Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

David A Herman

Nunzio Decia

Stephen Jay Orris, Jr

Nicholas Alexander Scheufler

David Joseph Orris

David Michael Herman

Scott Vincent Myers

Arun Dutta

Shane Elwart

Justin Cartwright

Bill Dierker

Howard Paul Tsvi Linden

Richard D Bridgewater

Perry Robinson Macneille

Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin

Omar Makke

Dehua Cui

David Allen Kowalski

Paul Anthon Mueller

Gregory William Farrey

Boris Gorovets

Christopher Henderson

A current location and a destination location of a vehicle are identified. A stowage parameter is predicted based on the current and destination locations. A vehicle component is actuated based on the stowage parameter.

Adaptable stowage elements

Method and apparatus are disclosed for GNSS statistical speed calibration An example vehicle includes a wheel, a speed sensor for determining a first vehicle speed, an inertial sensor, and a processor. The processor may be configured for determining a second vehicle speed based on information from the inertial sensor and information from a satellite based system, determining that a difference between the first and second vehicle speeds is statistically significant, and responsively adjusting a value of the radius of the wheel.

GNSS statistically derived ABS speedometer calibration

Data to initiate movement of a vehicle is received from a first user. The first user is identified. A determination is made whether to initiate the movement of the vehicle based at least in part on the data and the one or more characteristics of the first user. The movement of the vehicle is initiated.

Vehicle movement authorization

A system includes a processor configured to receive image data gathered by a vehicle camera, relating to a fixed environmental feature. The processor is also configured to determine a vehicle position relative to the fixed environmental feature and determine a vehicle lane-level location on a digital map, based on the vehicle position relative to the fixed environmental feature.

Method and apparatus for determining a vehicle ego-position

A computing device determines that one or more users have departed a vehicle. The computing device determines whether a vehicle door is ajar. A power door subsystem is actuated to close the vehicle door when the vehicle door is ajar and the vehicle has no users. A fare is determined when the vehicle door is in a latched position. A message is sent to the at least one of the one or more users indicating the fare.

Enhanced service

A system for a vehicle comprises a controller, programmed to output a warning to a registered mobile device via a server over a wireless network, responsive to a safety event indicative of a child being left in the vehicle in a dangerous condition triggered responsive to detection of presence of the child in a car seat and failure to receive confirmation that an adult occupant is still in the vehicle.

System for smart child seat vehicle integration

A network of electric vehicle chargers is provided. The network may include a controller that, responsive to data indicating a threshold risk of utility grid power loss in a defined geographic area, broadcasts commands summoning vehicles in the defined geographic area to travel to and charge via the network, and prioritize charging of the vehicles at the network according to charge state data such that the vehicles having lowest state of charge are charged first.

Systems and methods to generate charging warnings

An object outside of a vehicle can be detected with vehicle sensor data. A load for the vehicle can be predicted at least in part based on classifying the object. A vehicle component can be actuated based on the predicted load.

Vehicle load prediction

Method and apparatus are disclosed for inter-vehicle cooperation for vehicle self height estimation. An example vehicle includes an inter-vehicle communication module and a body control module. The body control module broadcasts a request for images via the inter-vehicle communication module. The body control module also performs semantic segmentation on the images, generates a composite image of the vehicle based on the segmented images, and generates a three dimensional representation of the vehicle based on the composite image. Using the three dimensional representation, the body control module determines a height of the vehicle, and based on the height, controls the vehicle to avoid obstacles.

Inter-vehicle cooperation for vehicle self height estimation

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automated detection of trailer properties. An example vehicle includes an inter-vehicle communication module and an infotainment head unit. The infotainment head unit is configured to detect presence of an attached trailer. The infotainment head unit is also configured to, in response to a determination that the attached trailer is an unrecognized trailer broadcast a request for images via the inter-vehicle communication module, perform semantic segmentation on the images, generate a three dimensional point cloud using the segmented images, and estimate a property of the attached trailer based on the three dimensional point cloud.

Systems and methods for automated detection of trailer properties

Method and apparatus are disclosed for inter-vehicle cooperation for vehicle self imaging. An example vehicle includes an inter-vehicle communication module and a infotainment head unit. The infotainment head unit determines a pose of the vehicle and, in response to receiving an input to generate a composite image, broadcasts a request for images of the vehicle. The request message includes the pose. The infotainment head unit also generates the composite image of the vehicle based on the images and display the composite image on a display.

Inter-vehicle cooperation for vehicle self imaging

A method for providing path attributes to controllers in a vehicle includes determining a most probable path for a vehicle. The method includes obtaining attributed predicted path attributes based on a map and obtaining drive history path attributes based on a drive history. The method further includes generating combined path attributes based on the path attributes from the attributed predicted path and the path attributes from the drive history. The method also includes providing the combined path attributes to one or more controllers.

Systems, methods, and devices for fusion of predicted path attributes and drive history

Method and apparatus herein are for inter-vehicle cooperation for physical exterior damage detection. An example vehicle includes an inter-vehicle communication module and a body control module. The body control module is to monitors an area around the vehicle and characteristics of the vehicle to detect a triggering event and, in response to detecting the trigger event, broadcasts a request for images. Additionally, the body control module generates a composite image based on the images and compares the composite image to a reference image to identify damage on the vehicle. In response to identifying damage, the body control module takes an action specified by an operator.

Inter-vehicle cooperation for physical exterior damage detection

A method and apparatus for vehicle monitoring of infrastructure lighting, an example of which includes a vehicle having a camera, an inter-vehicle communication module and a controller. The controller is to identify a stationary infrastructure object within an image captured by the camera and identify, in response to determining that the stationary infrastructure object includes a lamp, whether the lamp is inoperable. The controller also is to send, via vehicle-to-infrastructure communication utilizing the inter-vehicle communication module, an alert to an infrastructure communication node indicating that the lamp is inoperable.

Vehicle monitoring of infrastructure lighting

Method and apparatus are disclosed for control module activation of vehicles in a key-off state to determine driving routes. An example system includes a vehicle at a location in a key-off state. The vehicle includes a communication module to receive an activation signal and a telematic control unit. The telematic control unit is to activate upon receipt of the activation signal and determine and present a route from the location. The example system also includes a remote processor to determine the location, identify an event and an end time based upon the location, and send an activation signal based upon the end time.

Growing community of inventors

Southfield, MI, United States of America

David A Herman