Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Mary Ellen DeCaluwe

Jim K Rainbolt

Carl W Wellborn

Joseph Neighbors

Paul W Alexander

Joseph F Szczerba

Louise E Stauffer

Janet S Goings

David R Fischer

Spencer W Chamberlain

Sandra N Thomson

Joseph Bilderbeck

William J Ochalek

Ann K Duffy

Dorel M Sala

Jan Henning Aase

Roy J Mathieu

Ki Hyun Ahn

Mario Jodorkovsky

Thomas E Houck

Jingyan Wan

Roger A Clark

Raymond A Beaufait

Thomas R Brown

Brian S Repa

Timothy Saunders

Jason E Diehl

Winson Ng

Daniel Rudd

Erik Rasmussen

Christopher Kumle

Systems and methods are provided for mitigating motion sickness. When motion sickness is predicted, the motion sickness mitigation system alters vehicle performance, cabin conditions, and/or alerts the occupant to upcoming vehicle actions, to avoid or alleviate motion sickness. A controller includes a processor that receives an occupant profile and traffic information for an upcoming trip of the vehicle on a route. Using the occupant profile and the traffic information, the processor calculates whether the occupant will experience motion sickness when the vehicle travels on the route. A vehicle performance signal correlated to the calculation, is delivered by the processor to initiate motion sickness mitigation. The vehicle performance signal varies operation of a steering actuator, an acceleration actuator, and/or a brake actuator to implement the motion sickness mitigation.

Motion sickness mitigation system and method

Methods and systems are provided for taking action when a beverage spill has occurred within a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle includes one or more sensors, an input device, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to detect that a beverage has spilled within a vehicle. The input device configured to receipt an in input from a passenger of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors and to the input device, and configured to at least facilitate: providing information to a passenger of the vehicle as to an option to obtain a replacement beverage; receiving input from the passenger via the input device, in response to the information provided to the passenger, as to whether a replacement beverage is desired; and taking an action to obtain the replacement beverage, when the passenger has provided the input to obtain the replacement beverage.

Vehicle beverage spill method and system

A vehicle-seat mounting system, for securing a child seat in a vehicle, including a collapsible vehicle seat comprising a vehicle seat back configured to be movably connected to a vehicle-seat base. The system also includes a vehicle-seat-back securing structure being connected to, or part of, a rear of the vehicle seat back. The vehicle-seat-back securing structure is configured and arranged at the rear of the vehicle seat back to mate securely with child-seat securing structure corresponding in size and shape to the vehicle-seat-back securing structure. In various embodiments, the technology includes (i) parts of the vehicle seat, such as a kit including the vehicle-seat-back securing structure, (ii) the child seat, or (iii) parts thereof.

Child-seat mounting system

Enhanced features of a vehicle-based transportation system are presented here. In accordance with one methodology, the transportation system receives a ride request that identifies a passenger, a pickup location, and a destination location. The transportation system determines that the passenger requires user-specific security clearance to access a secured area at or near the destination location, and coordinates with a security system to grant the user-specific security clearance to the passenger. The transportation system can also determine a vehicle drop-off location based on the passenger destination, and coordinate with a navigation system to obtain navigation instructions to guide the passenger from the vehicle drop-off location to the passenger destination.

Building access and layout mapping for an autonomous vehicle based transportation system

Methods and systems are provided for automatically maintaining cleanliness of an vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle; determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.

Systems and methods for promoting cleanliness of a vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for cleaning systems of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a floor mat; a vacuum system integrated with the floor mat, the vacuum system comprising a port, one or more ducts, and one or more openings integrated with the floor mat; and a control module that selectively activates suction of the vacuum system based on a detection of a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle.

A user-position-focused vehicle lighting system comprising a hardware-based processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device having a user-position-determination module that, when executed by the processing unit, determines a vehicle user position proximate a vehicle. The storage device also includes a vehicle-lighting-identification module that, when executed by the processing unit, determines, based on the vehicle user position, which of multiple vehicle lighting features should be illuminated, yielding a presently selected lighting feature. The storage device also includes a vehicle-lighting-activation module configured to, when executed by the processing unit, send a signal to the presently selected lighting feature to illuminate the presently selected lighting feature. In various embodiments, the technology includes the storage device separate from the processing unit, and processes performed by the system.

User-following vehicle illumination system

A door check system includes a rod interconnecting a door assembly and a body of a vehicle. The door check system secures the position of the door assembly at any location along a swing path of the door assembly, between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A coil spring is disposed about the rod, with the rod extending through a central aperture thereof. An actuator is coupled to the coil spring and configured for tightening and loosening the coil spring about the rod. When the actuator tightens the spring about the rod, the spring grasps the rod and secures the position of the door assembly relative to the body. When the actuator loosens the spring from about the rod, the door assembly is free to move along the swing path.

Variable door check system for a vehicle

A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle is described, and includes a chassis supported on first and second axles coupled to a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels, a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle, a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels, a high-voltage electrical energy storage system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system operatively couples to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system. A coupling device is configured to electrically couple the semi-autonomous vehicle to the parent vehicle, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system.

Semi-autonomous vehicle providing an auxiliary power supply

A semi-autonomous vehicle includes a chassis having a repository on a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system, a steering system, a braking system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system of the semi-autonomous vehicle is operatively coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system and signally connected to the extra-vehicle sensory system and the extra-vehicle communications system. A non-load-bearing coupling mechanism of the semi-autonomous vehicle includes a connector, a flexible mechanical link element and a communications link.

Semi-autonomous vehicle providing cargo space

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, MI, United States of America

Mary Ellen DeCaluwe