University of Michigan

Other

M-bots, Inc.

M-vision Inc.

Sridhar Lakshmanan

Michael W Putty

Bing Ma

Narasimhamurthi Natarajan

Srini G Naidu

Ya Sha Yi

Sean Ahlquist

Russell Andres

Alan Argento

Christopher Bargman

Vin Joe Varghese

Pam McAuslan

Marie Waung

Paul Richardson

Brian Mason

A light projection system and method for use in communicating intent of an automated system to a user. The light projection system includes a light projector for projecting light onto a surface adjacent to the light projection system; and a controller for controlling the light projected by the light projector. The controller is configured to, in response to a vehicle state or a traffic state, cause the light to be projected by the light projector so that the light impinges the surface and is reflected as a displayed graphic conveying an intent based on the vehicle state or the traffic state.

Vehicle state-based light projection communication system

A communication system comprising a light source associated with a first item of interest; a visible light communications system operably coupled to the light source of the first item of interest, the visible light communications system configured to process information as an encoded signal and output the encoded signal via the light source; and a receiver associated with a second item of interest, the receiver configured to receive the encoded signal from the light source and process the encoded signal to obtain the information.

Visible light communications technology for inter-vehicular use

A heating and/or cooling device for contact with a human body is provided having a power source outputting electrical energy, a temperature controller operably coupled to the power source configured to maintain a predetermined temperature parameter, and at least one heating and/or cooling module operably coupled to the temperature controller for selectively receiving the electrical energy and being responsive thereto to heat and/or cool the human body. The at least one heating and/or cooling module having a pair of electrodes spaced apart by a thermoelectric powder and an insulator at least partially surrounding the thermoelectric powder.

Heating and cooling device

A vehicle line-of-sight optical communication system and method for use in ad hoc networks formed with a vehicle during traveling of the vehicle along a roadway. The communication system includes: an electronic control unit (ECU) having an electronic processor that operates under control of a program to process messages sent or received by the communication system; at least one light source that comprises a part of a vehicle external lamp module; a driver circuit electrically connected to the ECU to energize the light source(s) in response to a transmission signal from the ECU so as to send messages via the light source(s); at least one light sensor that comprises a part of the vehicle external lighting system; and a receiver circuit electrically connected to the ECU to provide the ECU with a reception signal indicative of messages received via the light sensor(s).

Line-of-sight optical communication for vehicle-to-vehicle (v2v) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (v2i) mobile communication networks

A method is presented for detecting occlusions on a color camera. The method includes: capturing an image of a scene using the camera; analyzing intensity of electromagnetic radiation forming the at least one image, where the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation is analyzed across the electromagnetic spectrum; detecting an occlusion on a lens of the camera based on variation of intensity of the electromagnetic radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum; and tagging the image with an indicator of the occlusion, where the tagging occurs in response to detecting an occlusion on the camera.

Detection of near-field occlusions in images

A heating and/or cooling device having one or more thermoelectric threads. The thermoelectric thread includes a plurality of individual thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric element having a first side and a second side. A set of first side electrodes connects at least some of the thermoelectric elements at the first side, and a set of second side electrodes connects at least some of the thermoelectric elements at the second side. An electrically insulative covering at least partially surrounds the plurality of individual thermoelectric elements. The electrically insulative covering is configured to be woven into or otherwise integrated with a fabric.

Thermoelectric thread for a heating and/or cooling device

A robotic system has a drive chassis having a drive motor and a drive element attached to the first drive motor. Additionally, a motor controller system provides drive signals to the first drive motor. A logic controller provides control signals to the motor controller. A network system is provided for communicating with the logic controller. At least one peripheral element communicates with the network system. There is additionally provided a wireless arrangement for communicating wirelessly with the network system.

Miniature surveillance robot

A system for distinguishing between a first condition corresponding to a living subject being directly in contact with an object of interest, and a second condition corresponding to the absence of contact between the living subject and the object of interest. A transducer, which may be a MEMs sensor, is disposed in predetermined relationship to the object of interest and produces a transducer signal responsive to a pressure wave resulting from the living subject being directly in contact the object of interest. A database stores data corresponding to the first condition and may contain additional data corresponding to the second condition. A processor calculates an algorithm of a non-linear short-term frequency-selective energy distribution of the transducer signal over time to produce transducer signal data. An arrangement, which may be a human listener or a processor system, determines a threshold between the first and second conditions in response to the transducer signal data and the first and second data. The direct contact may be a tap or stroking contact by a living subject. The transducer can be disposed within, or on the exterior of, the object of interest.

Living being presence detection system

A human being presence detection system automatically determines the presence of human beings without directly attaching sensors to the human body and detects human drowsiness. The detection system characterizes the occupancy of a vehicle seat to determine the characteristics of deployment of vehicle airbags and restraints in the event of a crash/accident. In other applications, the presence of persons hiding in a predetermined space is detected, including caves, underground bunkers, tunnels, etc. The rescue of military personnel or of persons trapped under rubble, behind barriers, within building, etc., is facilitated. In one embodiment, human beings are detected using data obtained from pressure transducers in the space of interest. The pressure signals are processed by a novel signal processing algorithm to determine the presence or absence of a human being, using information from different types of pressure transducers. In addition, the system can identify other characteristics of a human being, such as whether a vehicle seat occupant is normally seated or leaning, once it is determined that a human being occupies the seat.

Human being presence detection system

A method and system are provided for measurement of vibration of an object utilizing a non-contact imaging sensor such as a video camera. An object which does not already have a pair of spaced-apart marks is marked with two parallel lines spaced apart from one another a known, nominal distance. The two lines are perpendicular to an imaging axis of the camera. As such, when the object with the parallel lines is moved toward or away from the video camera, the lines on the object appear to move as two parallel lines in the image plane of the camera. As the object moves or vibrates along the imaging axis, the nominal image plane distance between the two lines changes. This apparent change in the distance between the parallel lines in the image plane is calibrated to the physical movement of the object in space due to deformation or rigid body motions.

Growing community of inventors

Belleville, MI, United States of America

Sridhar Lakshmanan