Volvo Car Corporation

Rockwell Scientific Licensing LLC

Ichiro Sugioka

Douglas Hall Frasher

John Downs

Aric Dromi

Kari Kauppi

D Morgan Tench

Hans Mathiasson

Lena Lonnqvist

Andreas Zinn

Matthew Lawler

Nick Sakellariou

Stefan Norberg

Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a seat assembly, and corresponding method, for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode. Seat refraction is provided by detecting a user initiated input for the retraction. Thereafter, a front seat is refracted such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one driving control input device, for example, a steering wheel, pedals or a gear shift, during an autonomous driving mode. Such seat retraction prevents the occupant from providing inadvertent driving inputs to the driving control input devices during the autonomous driving mode.

System and method for seat retraction during an autonomous driving mode

Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a navigation unit, and corresponding method therein, for providing navigation instructions for an autonomous vehicle configured to be in an autonomous driving mode while in a certified autonomous road. The navigation unit is first configured to determine the autonomous vehicle is driving in an unplanned route or that the autonomous vehicle is deviating from a planned route. Thereafter, a trigger for routing the autonomous vehicle to a certified autonomous road is identified. The trigger is based on at least one of a current location, a time and date, a driving history or a calendar event. After the determination and identification previously described is performed, the vehicle is navigated to the certified autonomous road. Upon entering the road, and therefore being in an autonomous driving mode, a display screen will engage the driver so that the driver may input route planning information. Therefore, the navigation unit only interacts with the driver once the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode. The example embodiments have the advantage of providing navigation without requiring an interaction with a driver operating a vehicle in a manual driving mode.

Navigation unit and method for providing navigation instructions for an autonomous vehicle

A system, a multi-user scheduling unit comprised in the system, and corresponding methods are described for scheduling a video conference call for at least one autonomous vehicle. The system provides a means of scheduling such a call for various participants while minimizing driver interaction or need for attention while a vehicle is in a manual driving mode.

System and method for scheduling a video conference in an autonomous vehicle

Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a seat assembly, and corresponding method and computer readable medium, for adjusting a seat in an autonomous vehicle. The adjustment is provided such that a seat occupant may control the adjustment may providing a natural pushing force once the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode.

Seat system for autonomous vehicles

A control system and method in a vehicle are disclosed for controlling an autonomous drive related operation of the vehicle. The method may include detecting a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle and controlling a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement. The system may include at least one sensor configured to detect a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement.

System and method for control of an autonomous drive related operation

Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a steering wheel assembly, and corresponding method, for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle. In the steering wheel retraction, a steering column is configured to first pivot upwards about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle's width via a pivoting member. Thereafter, the steering wheel column is configured to slide, via an actuating member, in a forward direction towards the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, before moving the steering column in a forward direction, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver's legs by the pivoting action. This helps reduce the likelihood of the steering wheel hitting the driver's legs during the retraction.

Steering wheel assembly for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle

A vehicle ambient air purification arrangement, a vehicle, a vehicle fleet and a method for purifying air ambient to a vehicle are provided. The arrangement comprises an air conveying apparatus and a controller. The controller is arranged to control the air conveying apparatus to convey ambient air through ducts and filters of a vehicle exhaust gas treatment system in response to a determination that a combustion engine is inoperative and that a voltage supplied to the arrangement exceeds a threshold voltage.

Vehicle ambient air purification arrangement and method, and a vehicle and vehicle fleet comprising such arrangement

A method is disclosed for programming a target neural network computer for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications. An observer neural network computer is integrated into active safety systems of a plurality of vehicles to observe signals. Each respective observer neural network computer is arranged to observe signals from a forward facing camera and signals from a driver action monitor of its respective vehicle, to process the observed signals from the forward facing camera of its respective vehicle and correlate them with the observed signals from the driver action monitor of its respective vehicle. The correlated signals from the plurality of observer neural network computers are combined, and the target neural network computer is programmed for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications based on said combined correlated signals.

Method of programming a neural network computer

The present invention is a reversible electrodeposition optical modulation device employing a segmented counter electrode that permits localized areas of a continuous optical modulation electrode to be switched independently of each other. Such devices can be configured to enable practically seamless switching over the entire device for smart window and adjustable mirror applications, or to minimize cross-talk and pixel overlap for display applications. Since the electrical contacts and switching circuitry are located on the counter electrode, more active area is available for optical modulation.

Growing community of inventors

Newbury Park, CA, United States of America

Ichiro Sugioka