Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Peter Treman

Chad Evert Esselink

Eric Marsman

Matthew Charles Cross

Chiamin Lin

Shabnam Hosseini

Stephen Alexander

Rhett Tracy Schaefer

Wojciek Szumowski

Jason Robert Brown

Kenneth James McCaffrey

Karen S Maceachern

Joann Xing

Jacob Gaiski

Chad Everet Esselink

Example embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for preventing vehicle mishaps. In an example method, a vehicle receives an alert signal from a personal transportation device. A driver of the vehicle may be made aware of the alert by a sound that is produced through a speaker system of the vehicle (for example, a ringing sound produced by a bicycle bell or a beep of a motorcycle horn). In some cases, an intensity and/or a directionality of the sound produced through the speaker system may provide location and/or distance information of the personal transportation device with respect to the vehicle. The vehicle may transmit an acknowledge signal to the personal transportation device. A rider of the personal transportation device may be informed of the acknowledgement via an audio announcement through a speaker mounted on the personal transportation device.

Systems and methods for providing proximity alerts between vehicles and personal transportation devices

A system includes a processor configured to receive vehicle speed and heading. The processor is also configured to determine a local data set having coordinates reachable by a vehicle traveling at a projected speed based on the received speed and heading within a predetermined amount of time. The processor is further configured to define a geo-fence at a distance from a local data set perimeter such that a vehicle reaching the geo-fence at the received speed will have time to download new local data before reaching the local data set perimeter and send the geo-fence definition and coordinate data within the local data set to the vehicle.

Method and apparatus for dynamic localized coordinate download

A vehicle system has a first communication processor connected to a vehicle network, a second communication processor connected to the first communication processor, and a vehicle processor configured to communicate with the first and second communication processors. The vehicle processor is programmed to, in response to received vehicle data via the vehicle network, communicate the vehicle data to a server via the first communication processor. The vehicle processor is further programmed to, in response to received infotainment data via the second communication processor, output the infotainment data to a display.

Methods and systems for a vehicle computing system to wirelessly communicate data

A system includes a first electronic control unit (ECU) processor configured to function as a scheduler, connected to a bus on a controller area network. The processor is also configured to receive an availability notification, indicating ECU available processing power, from a second ECU connected to the bus. The processor is further configured to instruct the second ECU to become the scheduler, responsive to a determination that the ECU available processing power is greater than processing power available locally on the first ECU.

Method and apparatus for distributed computing using controller area network protocols

An apparatus may receive bus data from a vehicle, may receive removable media storing an application and settings, and may interface with an external test hardware device. The apparatus may include a processor programmed to set up the test hardware device in accordance with the settings, and execute the application using the bus data and the external test hardware devices as configured. The apparatus may also update an indicator associated with a device category of a connected test hardware device to indicate presence of the test hardware device.

Method and apparatus for in-vehicle hardware and software testing

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Commerce Township, MI, United States of America

Peter Treman