Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Sathyanarayana Chary Palakonda

Krishna Bandi

Ivan Vukovic

Brennan Hamilton

Samer Ibrahim

Syed Amaar Ahmad

Swetha Shailendra

Basavaraj Tonshal

Colette Knopp

Jovan Milivoje Zagajac

Kirsen J Quan

Joseph Zane

Gopichandra Surnilla

Allen R Murray

Joseph F Stanek

Nicholas Alexander Scheufler

Ronald M Lovasz

John Walpuck

Jean De Dieu Mutangana

Matthew Ryan Preston

Jeffrey Wallat

Nancy Lewis

Erik Kiledal

Thomas Varghese

Brandon Klos

Gibin James

Lee Mitchell Tome

Adam Merz

Self-optimization of an ultra-wideband (UWB) network is performed. A configuration of UWB anchors of a vehicle is identified. A state vector is constructed based on the identified configuration, the state vector including values for status and ranging quality indicators for each of the UWB anchors. A next state is predicted based on the state vector using reinforcement learning to optimize UWB coverage, wherein a conditional probability of the next state depends only on the state vector. Unified configuration interface (UCI) commands are sent to the UWB anchors to reconfigure the UWB anchors based on the predicted next state.

Self-optimizing on-vehicle network

A vehicle including a rear closure, a detection unit and a notification unit is disclosed. The rear closure may move between a closed state and an open state. The detection unit may detect vehicle access device position in proximity to the vehicle. The notification unit may output visual and/or audible notifications. The vehicle may further include a processor that may determine that the vehicle access device has entered a predefined zone in proximity to a vehicle rear portion based on inputs from the detection unit. The processor may activate the notification unit to output notifications for a predefined time duration responsive to determining that the vehicle access device has entered the predefined zone. The processor may further determine a time duration the vehicle access device stays in the predefined zone. The processor may cause the rear closure to open when the time duration is greater than the predefined time duration.

Systems and methods for controlling vehicle rear closure

An enforcement vehicle receives vehicle broadcasts from motorist vehicles, including vehicle identification information. The enforcement vehicle presents the identification information in a selectable manner on a display and receives selection of one of the motorist vehicles. The enforcement vehicle sends a communication request to the selected motorist vehicle and receives confirmation from the motorist vehicle, resulting in an open communication channel. Further, enforcement vehicle receives identification of information to be provided from the motorist vehicle and sends an information request for the identified information. Responsive to receiving a response to the information request, the enforcement vehicle, or a process associated therewith, determines whether information included in the response indicates compliance with a predefined requirement, and, responsive to non-compliance, alerts an occupant of the enforcement vehicle of the existence of and at least one characteristic of the non-compliance.

Systems and methods for vehicle smart negotiation and cooperation

A vehicle identifies, from V2X messages received to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) transceiver of a vehicle, message information from the received V2X messages indicative of locations of senders of the received V2X messages. The vehicle creates a virtual bounding box surrounding the vehicle based on a current location of the vehicle and a predefined size of the vehicle. The vehicle identifies whether any of the senders are located inside the vehicle using one or more factors, the factors including whether the locations of the senders of the received V2X messages are within the virtual bounding box. The configuration of the vehicle is updated based on whether any of the senders are located inside the vehicle.

IoT device interference detection

Path-based approach to passive vehicle entry is provided. A vehicle receives messages over a first protocol from a mobile device, each of the messages indicating a heading of the mobile device and a current location of the mobile device. The vehicle and the mobile device pair responsive to the current location of the mobile device being within a first threshold distance to the vehicle. Responsive to the heading indicating that the mobile device is headed towards the vehicle and the current location of the mobile device being within a second threshold distance from the vehicle, the second threshold distance being closer to the vehicle than the first threshold distance, the vehicle activates one or more second transceivers to perform time of flight distance measurement between the vehicle and the mobile device to obtain more precise positional accuracy, and otherwise maintains the one or more second transceivers in a deactivated mode.

Path-based detection of user approach for passive entry

Computing vehicle-centric road usage without high definition (HD) road maps is performed. Road usage charging (RUC) charge geometry rules defining a zone in which RUC are charged are received via a V2X transceiver of a vehicle. The vehicle determines a roadway type based on captured sensor data indicative of the surroundings of the vehicle, the roadway type being selected from a plurality of roadway types including a first roadway type where RUC charge is incurred and a second roadway type where RUC charge is not incurred. The vehicle identifies applicable rules of the RUC charge geometry rules according to a current location of the vehicle, the applicable rules specifying how tariffs are computed for the determined roadway type. The vehicle accumulates, by the vehicle, vehicle RUC charge using vehicle bus data indicative of progress of the vehicle within the zone and the determined roadway type.

Vehicle-centric road usage application using vehicle sensors

A method for managing vehicle access is disclosed. The method may include obtaining a request to access a vehicle from a first user device. The method may further include determining whether the first user device is a user device registered with the vehicle. Responsive to determining that the first user device is unregistered, the method may include transmitting a first authentication request to a second user device. The second user device may be a user device registered with the vehicle. The method may further include obtaining a first authentication response from the second user device in response to first authentication request transmission. The method may additionally include outputting a first control signal to a first vehicle unit based on the first authentication response.

Wearable virtual keys for vehicle access

Performing filtering of infrastructure-to-vehicle (VI) messages by a vehicle is provided. First messages are received from one or more road-side units (RSUs). Responsive to the vehicle approaching a check-in location indicated by the first messages, a check-in location identifier is stored for the check-in location retrieved from the first messages as being a current check-in location for the vehicle. Second messages are received from the one or more RSUs. Responsive to a message identifier in the second messages matching the check-in location identifier, the second messages are forwarded to a vehicle application for processing. Otherwise the second messages are discarded.

Pre-security message verification

Systems and methods for facilitating safe vehicle operations, such as reducing illegal passings, avoiding possible collisions, and assisting road users around a vehicle are provided. The system uses a smart algorithm to perform negotiations between the vehicle, e.g., a school bus, and other road users, e.g., road vehicles, bicycles, scooters, etc. The method may include capturing image data of the surroundings of the school bus to identify violations within a proximity of the school bus such as children jay-walking and vehicles illegally passing the school bus when the stop arm is raised. The captured data may be recorded and shared with the school bus, other road users, or local authorities.

Systems and methods for facilitating safe school bus operations

Performing validation of road usage charging (RUC) systems is provided. A hardware processor of a vehicle receives, from an HMI of the vehicle, input to enter into a testing mode in which a test of RUC functionality of the vehicle is to be performed. In the testing mode, RUC charges are computed for a route from a start location to an end location, based on map and fees information for the test. One or more reports of the charges are generated for verification of the RUC functionality, the charges being verifiable based on the route and the map and fees information being defined for the test.

Road usage charging system validation

A plurality of localization data sources accessible on a vehicle network in a vehicle can be identified. A plurality of active vehicle applications that request localization data provided by one or more of the localization data sources can be identified. Based on the active vehicle applications, a plurality of the localization data sources to be combined to output a vehicle location can be selected.

Vehicle localization

In a vehicle computer, a trigger may be received to provide localization data to a first vehicle application that is one of a plurality of vehicle applications in a vehicle that receive the localization data. Based on the trigger, resources can be allocated to a first data container that provides the localization data in a first format specified for the application, and that is one of a plurality of data containers included in the system. The localization data can be provided in the first format to the first vehicle application upon receiving a location request from the application.

Position enhancement for vehicle positioning is provided. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) messages are received from a roadside unit (RSU) to an onboard unit (OBU) of a vehicle via a transceiver of the vehicle, the V2X messages indicating a location of the RSU. Image sensors of the vehicle are utilized to capture sensor data of the RSU. A current position of the vehicle is updated to a corrected current position of the vehicle based the RSU as shown in the sensor data and the location of the RSU indicated in the V2X messages.

Vehicle positioning using V2X RSU messaging and vehicular sensors

Smart tolling for vehicles is provided. A toll advertisement message (TAM) is received by a vehicle, broadcast from a road-side unit (RSU) via V2X communication, the TAM defining a plurality of toll road tariff data elements, each of the toll road tariff data elements specifying a set of tolling factors indexed by a unique toll context identifier. Roadway usage of the vehicle is determined. A charge for the roadway usage is determined according to the set of tolling factors of the TAM. A toll usage message (TUM) is sent via the V2X communication, the TUM indicating, to the RSU, the tariff for the roadway usage of the vehicle.

Toll advertisement message road topologies

An on-board unit (OBU) of a vehicle receives one or more data messages indicative of intersection geometry for an upcoming intersection along a roadway being traversed by the vehicle and traffic control status of a traffic control of the intersection. An outbound direction for the vehicle through the intersection is identified. A first traffic message is sent to preempt the traffic control to allow the vehicle to perform a maneuver to traverse the intersection in the outbound direction. The maneuver is indicated as complete and a second traffic message is sent to discontinue the preempt of the traffic control.

Growing community of inventors

Northville, MI, United States of America

Sathyanarayana Chary Palakonda