Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Joseph T Conners

Ryan M Wiesenberg

Ethan W Pomish

A vehicle is provided that includes an airbag stored within an onboard compartment and inflatable by an onboard inflator. When inflated, the airbag extends from an outer surface of the vehicle, and has a shape that is recognizable, to a sensor on an approaching second vehicle, as at least a portion of a solid structure of the vehicle. The airbag is also configured to absorb at least some energy from a collision between the vehicle and the approaching second vehicle.

Deployable decoy vehicle system

Systems and methods for limiting driver distraction, such as improving (e.g., maintaining) driver attention to driving when driving distractions are detected, are provided. A system may include at least one sensor for determining an attention of a driver on a travel path and an interface module configured to reengage attention of the driver on the travel path. An image capturing device may detect an environment surrounding the vehicle. A logic device may determine whether the environment surrounding the vehicle includes an external distraction or whether the driver is distracted by an internal distraction. The at least one sensor may monitor the driver for a distracted behavior. The driver may be required to take an action when a distraction is determined. For example, the driver may interact with a driver monitoring system to verify reengagement to driving (e.g., by identifying a second vehicle on the roadway).

Systems and methods for limiting driver distraction

Methods, systems, and apparatus for automatically responding to a vehicle falling into water. The system includes a sensor configured to detect sensor data indicating whether the vehicle is falling into water. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the sensor. The ECU is configured to determine that the vehicle is falling into water based on the sensor data. The ECU is also configured to adjust at least one feature of the vehicle in response to the determination that the vehicle is falling into water.

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Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Joseph T Conners