A method and system for treatment of biological wastes for preparation of fertilizers is provided. The method and system involves mixing a biological waste with a dilute sulfuric acid in a predetermined ratio. The mixture of the biological waste and the dilute sulfuric acid is then filtered to obtain an organic slurry and an acidic liquid. Thereafter, the organic slurry is thermally cracked at an elevated temperature to obtain at least one of an ammonia gas, one or more flue gases, and char and ash. The method and system further involves utilizing the ammonia gas, the char and ash, and the acidic liquid for preparation of the fertilizers.

A composition includes a first chelating agent, a second chelating agent, and a plurality of metal ions. In one embodiment, the second chelating agent includes citric acid and is different than the first chelating agent. A method for forming a composition includes mixing a first chelating agent, a second chelating agent, and a metal salt together to form a mixture and processing the mixture to form at least one of a granulated composition and a powdered composition. In some embodiments, the second chelating agent includes citric acid and is different than the first chelating agent.

An improved composition comprising substantial spherical UFP particles and an active agent, such as NBPT, and optionally other components is used as an additive for liquid and solid fertilizers, typically containing urea. Methods of making the compositions and their use are also disclosed.

Methods for converting waste streams from the wood pulping industry to high-value fertilizers are described. For example, isolated lignin and lignosulphonate or waste streams containing lignin and lignosulphonate can be converted to methylol derivatives and treated with further reagents to produce controlled release fertilizers, hydrogel fertilizers, and soil stabilizers.

A shovel includes a lower-part traveling body 1, an upper-part swiveling body 3 installed in the lower-part traveling body so as to be rotatable relative to the lower-part traveling body, an attachment attached to the upper-part swiveling body, and a machine guidance device 50 of reporting a visual report or an audible report of a value of a difference between a present position of an end attachment and a target position of the end attachment, wherein the shovel includes a controller 30 that reports possible discontinuity of an accurate guidance in a case where it is determined that a predetermined event occurs. The controller determines that the predetermined event occurs in a case where it is determined that a change occurs in a position of the lower-part traveling body or a posture of the lower-part traveling body, and reports the possible discontinuity of the accurate guidance to the operator.

A device is provided, which makes it possible to perform a failure diagnostics for a filter more accurately even in the case of an internal combustion engine which is constructed to be capable of using both of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel. The device of the invention comprises judging means which judges any failure of the filter by comparing the added-up amount of the particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas as detected by a PM amount detecting sensor during a predetermined period and the added-up amount of the particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas as estimated by PM amount estimating means during the predetermined period, wherein the PM amount estimating means estimates the added-up amount of the particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas on the basis of the predetermined parameter and only a fuel injection amount of the liquid fuel out of a fuel injection amount of the gaseous fuel and the fuel injection amount of the liquid fuel.

A combustion speed, for example, is estimated or evaluated, with a required accuracy, more simply than the conventional art, while reducing man-hours to produce a heat generation rate waveform of an internal combustion engine. An increase rate of a heat generation rate relative to a change in a crank angle in a heat generation rate increasing period (e.g., a first-half combustion period a) in which the heat generation rate increases after ignition of an air-fuel mixture is defined as a heat generation rate gradient b/a that is one of characteristic values of the heat generation rate waveform. The heat generation rate gradient is estimated based on a fuel density (e.g., fuel density ρfuel@dQpeak at heat generation rate maximum time) at a predetermined time set in advance in the heat generation rate increasing period so as to produce the heat generation rate waveform using the estimated heat generation rate gradient.

A method for detecting and controlling a load weight of a vehicle by means of a tire pressure of the vehicle and a device are provided. The method includes the steps of installation setting, detecting the load weight, and controlling an electric switch. The device includes tire pressure detectors installed on rear wheels of the vehicle and connected with a processor which is input with a preset tire pressure value and able to receive the tire pressure detected by the tire pressure detectors. The processor is connected with an electric switch of the vehicle. The processor compares the tire pressure detected by the tire pressure detectors with the preset tire pressure value, and controls the electric switch to turn on/off a power source of the vehicle. The device is capable of detecting and controlling the load weight of the vehicle by detecting a change of the tire pressure.

A method and a system for control of a torque Tqdemand requested from an engine in a vehicle, wherein the engine provides a dynamic torque Tqfw in response to the torque Tqdemand. Control of the requested torque Tqdemand is performed such that the control provides a desired value Tqfw_req for the dynamic torque and/or a desired derivative Tqfw_req for the dynamic torque. This is achieved by basing the control on at least one current value Tqfw_pres for the dynamic torque, on one or several of the desired value Tqfw_req and the desired derivative Tqfq_req for the dynamic torque, and on a total delay time tdelay_total elapsing from determination of at least one parameter value, to when a change of the dynamic torque Tqfw based on the determined at least one parameter value, has been effected.

In one embodiment, a method may include retrieving, via a processor, a fundamental frequency of a cylinder type from a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, receiving, via the processor, a first signal from a first knock sensor disposed on a cylinder. The cylinder is disposed in an engine. The method may also include deriving whether a number of amplitudes of the first signal at the fundamental frequency and one or more harmonic frequencies exceed an undesired installation threshold value, and identifying an asymmetric piston as having an undesired installation if the undesired installation threshold value exceeds the number of amplitudes of the first signal and the one or more harmonic frequencies.

A process of controlling an actuating assembly for a coupling in the driveline of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuating assembly comprises a drive for moving an actuating element for operating the coupling unit, sensing a position signal representing the position of the actuating element; sensing a force signal representing the operating force required for displacing the actuating element; controlling the drive by means of an electronic control unit as a function of the position signal and the force signal. Further an actuating assembly is used for carrying out the process, as well as a drive assembly having such an actuating assembly.

While a vehicle is traveling in a state where any one of gear positions of a mechanical stepped transmission unit is established, until an estimated input torque that is obtained from the equation of motion for an electrical differential unit changes, a hydraulic pressure of a non-engaged intended hydraulic friction engagement device is increased, and a pack end pressure is learned on the basis of the hydraulic pressure at that time. Therefore, irrespective of feedback control, or the like, over motor generators of the electrical differential unit, it is possible to appropriately learn the pack end pressure, so it is possible to appropriately execute hydraulic control over the hydraulic friction engagement devices, that is, engaging and releasing control, or the like, at the time of shifting, irrespective of individual differences of the portions, aging of friction materials, or the like.

An in-vehicle system as a road curvature detection device calculates a curvature of a road in front of a vehicle based on an acquired front scene image. The in-vehicle system receives gradient information from the data map. The gradient information corresponds to a current road section on the road on which the vehicle drives. The in-vehicle system detects a gradient accuracy of the received gradient information. When the current road section has a gradient, i.e. the road is an uphill or downhill road, the in-vehicle system selects an appropriate special detection methods based on the gradient accuracy of the received gradient information, and calculates a road curvature by using the selected special detection method. Each of the special detection methods calculates a road curvature while effectively suppressing influence of a road gradient indicated by the received gradient information.

A travel distance estimation device is provided. The travel distance estimation device includes an estimated velocity determination unit that successively estimates an estimated velocity of a movable object based on an acceleration integrated value and a velocity initial value a travel distance calculation unit that successively calculates an estimated travel distance of the movable object based on the estimated velocity, and a past velocity correction unit that determines corrected past velocities by correcting pre-correction past estimated velocities so that the corrected past velocities are continuous with the velocity initial value determined this time. The pre-corrected past estimated velocities are the estimated velocities that were successively determined. The travel distance estimation device further includes a travel distance correction unit that recalculates based on the corrected past velocities an estimated travel distance.

A navigation system includes at least one inertial sensor configured to detect motion of the system and generate inertial data; at least one aiding device configured to generate aiding device measurement data; at least one processing unit configured to generate an un-smoothed navigation solution inclusive of navigation state variable error resets based on the inertial data and the aiding device measurement data; wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to sum the state variable error resets into a cumulative sum of the state variable error resets; wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to high pass filter the cumulative sum of the state variable error resets; and wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to subtract the high pass filtered cumulative sum of the state variable error resets from the un-smoothed navigation solution to generate a smoothed navigation solution.

A computing system includes: a control circuit configured to: determine environment measurements representing conditions measured about a building structure located at a geographic location; generate a map based on the environment measurements for mapping a tier of the building structure along a vertical direction; and a storage circuit, coupled to the control circuit, configured to store the map for representing the building structure.

A position information correcting device includes a reception processing unit receiving position information transmitted from a nearby mobile object, a position correcting unit performing a position correcting process for correcting, based on map data, the position information of the nearby mobile object such that a corrected position of the nearby mobile object is on a running area of a road, a nearby mobile object type acquiring unit acquiring a mobile object type of the nearby mobile object, and a correction performance determining unit determining, based on the mobile object type acquired by the nearby mobile object type acquiring unit, whether the position correcting process needs to be performed to the position information of the nearby mobile object. The position correcting process is performed to the position information of the nearby mobile object only when the correction performance determining unit determines that the position correcting process needs to be performed.

An embodiment of the invention provides a method that identifies GPS shifting fields for road segments, the GPS shifting fields including areas around the road segments that include false GPS readings of objects that traveled on the road segments. The GPS shifting fields can be revised with a road segment attribute and/or at a driver preference. The road map network can be partitioned into space units, where the road map network can include at least two GPS readings of the object. For each space unit that includes a road segment, a probability that the object was located on the road segment can be calculated for each road segment based on the GPS readings of the object and the GPS shifting fields. The trajectory of the object can be determined based on the computing of the probabilities.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a navigation system and computer-implemented methods for proactively re-routing vehicles to control traffic flow. Consistent with some embodiments, the navigation system seeks to reduce traffic flow along primary navigation routes (e.g., routes with relatively short travel times) by re-routing vehicles to alternative navigation routes (e.g., routes with relatively longer travel times) using incentives. As an example, upon detecting a vehicle traveling along an alternative route instead of a primary route, the navigation system updates a data structure that represents a user account of a vehicle occupant to reflect an increased account balance. Consistent with some embodiments, the amount of value provided to an occupant of a vehicle traveling along an alternative routes may be obtained from user accounts of occupants of other vehicles that are traveling along a primary route.

A method and an electronic device for personalized navigation. The electronic device for personalized navigation acquire history data of a user, the history data comprising location information associated with active time of the user; plan a routine active path of the user according to the acquired history data; acquire navigation paths of the user; and classify the navigation paths into the routine active path and a non-routine active path according to the planned routine active path of the user, and provide navigation information to the user according to the classification result.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a navigation system and computer-implemented methods for proactively re-routing vehicles based on an analysis of input component data obtained from the navigation-enabled devices. The navigation system scores the input component data to obtain a measure of frustration (e.g., a feeling of being upset or annoyed) of the user of the navigation-enabled device. The navigation system may provide a detour suggestion for display on the navigation-enabled device to persuade the user of the device to direct their vehicle to depart from its current location or route in an effort to remove the vehicle from traffic, and thereby reduce the frustration level of the user. The detour suggestion may include an alternative route to the original destination, or an alternative destination.

A destination information provider server is disclosed. The destination information provider server is configured to obtain position information of an information providing target vehicle, recognize a target link, which corresponds to a link of a road on which the information providing target vehicle is traveling, based on the position information, and transmit destination information to the information providing target vehicle, the destination information being indicative of destinations of other vehicles which travel on the target link.

A trip gauge for a vehicle information display may convey vehicle trip information and vehicle range information graphically to assist drivers in qualitatively visualizing and determining whether they can successfully make it to their destination before an on-board energy source is depleted. The trip gauge may include indicators corresponding to the relative locations of the vehicle, the destination, and a projected zero charge location associated with the vehicle's range or distance to empty value. Moreover, the positions of the indicators relative to one another may indicate whether the excess energy is available for the vehicle to reach the destination or whether the energy available is insufficient. Accordingly, drivers may be either reassured that they are expected to reach their destination successfully or warned if they are not so the drivers can modify their driving behavior or change their destination.

Various aspects provide for “parking” an apparatus in a parking configuration. A parking configuration may be a configuration of an apparatus that minimizes damage (e.g., corrosion, wear, and the like) resulting from extended exposure during periods of inactivity. An apparatus may comprise a propulsion system (e.g., for a ship) and/or a steering system. An apparatus may comprise a linkage or other device positioned by an actuator. Some aspects include a water jet based propulsion system having a scoop and a nozzle operable to redirect the water jet, providing a range of forward/backward and port/starboard thrusts.

A remotely controlled motile device system comprises a remotely controlled motile device, and a mobile smart device that comprises a data processor operatively connected to a display screen, a memory, a user input interface, a camera, and a wireless transceiver. The memory stores computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the data processor, cause the mobile smart device to capture images of an optical reference background and the remotely controlled motile device, present the images on the display screen, register a target position relative to the optical reference background and entered via the user input interface, determine a pose of the remotely controlled motile device relative to the optical reference background, and transmit commands to the remotely controlled motile device to move to the target position.

Semi-autonomous vehicle apparatus which is controlled by a plurality of control sources includes a vehicle which may function autonomously and apparatus for control of the vehicle by either an onboard driver or a driver not situated onboard. The vehicle may also be controlled by an off-vehicle computational device. Hierarchy setting apparatus determines which of the possible control entities take priority. Persons using the apparatus are identified by either a password or, preferably by providing identification based on a biologic feature. Management of impaired vehicle operators is provided for.

The invention relates to a method for guiding an aircraft along a reference path, said method comprising: a) when the altitude of the aircraft is greater than a threshold, estimating (E1) a relative location of the aircraft in relation to a taxiing starting point using a map of the platform and reference points on the ground, b) when the altitude of the aircraft is less than said threshold and before the aircraft is located at the taxiing starting point, estimating (E2) a relative location of the aircraft in relation to the taxiing starting point using data relating to the absolute location of the aircraft and the last relative location estimated at step a), c) when the aircraft is located at the taxiing starting point, guiding (E3) the aircraft on the basis of a location of the aircraft relative to the reference path as estimated using data relating to a set of indicators on the ground.

A method for controlling an aerial system with a rotor enclosed by a housing, including: operating the rotor in a flight mode, detecting a grab event indicative of the aerial system being grabbed, and automatically operating the rotor in a standby mode. A method for controlling an aerial system including a central axis extending normal to a lateral plane of the aerial system, including: generating a first aerodynamic force with a set of rotors enclosed by a housing, detecting that an acute angle between the central axis and a gravity vector is greater than a threshold angle, and operating each rotor of the set of rotors to cooperatively generate a second aerodynamic force less than the first aerodynamic force with the set of rotors.

Techniques for navigating semi-autonomous mobile robots are described. A semi-autonomous mobile robot moves within an environment to complete a task. A navigation server communicates with the robot and provides the robot information. The robot includes a navigation map of the environment, interaction information, and a security level. To complete the task, the robot transmits a route reservation request to the navigation server, the route reservation request including a priority for the task, a timeslot, and a route. The navigation server grants the route reservation if the task priority is higher than the task priorities of conflicting route reservation requests from other robots. As the robot moves within the environment, the robot detects an object and attempts to classify the detected object as belonging to an object category. The robot retrieves an interaction profile for the object, and interacts with the object according to the retrieved interaction profile.

Described herein are methods and systems for generating shared collaborative maps for planting or harvesting operations. A method of generating a collaborative shared map between machines includes generating a first map for a first machine based on a first set of data and generating a second map for a second machine based on a second set of data. The method further includes generating at least one shared collaborative map for at least one of the first and second machines based on the first and second maps.

A method for dispatching a plurality of vehicles operating in a work area among a plurality of destination locations and a plurality of source locations includes implementing linear programming that takes in an optimization function and constraints to generate an optimum schedule for optimum production, utilizing a reinforcement learning algorithm that takes in the schedule as input and cycles through possible environmental states that could occur within the schedule by choosing one possible action for each possible environmental state and by observing the reward obtained by taking the action at each possible environmental state, developing a policy for each possible environmental state, and providing instructions to follow an action associated with the policy.

Arrangements related to operating an autonomous vehicle in view-obstructed environments are described. At least a portion of an external environment of the autonomous vehicle can be sensed to detect one or more objects located therein. An occupant viewable area of the external environment can be determined. It can be determined whether one or more of the detected one or more objects is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area. Responsive to determining that a detected object is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area, one or more actions can be taken. For instance, the action can include presenting an alert within the autonomous vehicle. Alternatively or in addition, the action can include causing a current driving action of the autonomous vehicle to be modified.

An autonomous vehicle can encounter an external environment in which an object overhangs a current road of the autonomous vehicle. For example, the branch of a tree may overhang the road. Such an overhanging object can be detected and suitable driving maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle can be determined. Sensor data can be acquired from at least a forward portion of the external environment. One or more floating obstacle candidates can be identified based on the acquired sensor data. The identified one or more floating obstacle candidates can be filtered to remove any floating obstacle candidates that do not meet one or more predefined parameters. A driving maneuver for the autonomous vehicle can be determined at least partially based on a height clearance between the autonomous vehicle and floating obstacle candidates that remain after being filtered out. The autonomous vehicle can be caused to implement the determined driving maneuver.

A map screen determining method and apparatus, which includes obtaining profile data in a track dimension of a target digital person, where the target digital person is generated by a digital person generation system and consists of multiple dimensions of target user profiles corresponding to a target user, and the target user profiles are generated by processing multiple dimensions of data from multiple data sources, determining map data of a target area, where the target area is a specific map area that needs to be presented to a user, and determining a tracing map screen according to the profile data in the track dimension of the target digital person and the map data, where the tracing map screen represents a track feature of the target digital person in the target area.

A method for quantifying classification confidence of obstructions applied to a perception mergence system of a vehicular computer in a vehicle. The method includes steps of: the vehicular computer receiving obstruction information of at least obstruction, image information corresponding to the obstruction information and vehicle body signals, and using a classifier to classify them; calculating a detection result of each range sensor to calculate a existence confidence; using the existence confidences and precision of the classifier to calculate a classification belief assignment of each range sensor corresponding to each obstruction; performing mergence calculation on the classification belief assignments to respectively quantify an obstruction classification confidence of all the range sensor corresponding to each obstruction; and performing a classification ineffectiveness filtering mechanism to exclude the obstruction whose obstruction classification confidence less than a predetermined value. The present invention quantifies the obstruction classification confidence to improve the classification precision.

In one embodiment information regarding device activity of first subscriber to a transportation service is received. A backend server determines independent of a pending transportation request from the first passenger and based at least on the information regarding the device activity of the first subscriber, to send a driver towards a location based on the location of the first subscriber.

A car wash with integrated diagnostic functions is provided that includes the ability to wash and dry a connected vehicle and perform various diagnostic functions. The various diagnostic functions such as tread depth measurement, measuring tire pressures, performing safety inspection, emissions testing and performing vehicle diagnostics and the like may be performed while the connected vehicle is at the car wash. The results of the diagnostic tests may be provided to the driver at the end of the car wash via the driver's wireless computing device.

A system and method for monitoring operation of vehicle automation systems utilizes an electronic vehicle monitor configured to connect to a computer system of a vehicle via the on board diagnostics (“OBD”) port of the vehicle. The electronic vehicle monitor is configured to obtain operational status information of the activation or use of vehicle automation systems of the vehicle, such as of an automated braking system, automated acceleration system, automated steering system, automated vehicle navigation system, automated collision avoidance system, and an automated cruise control system. The electronic vehicle monitor transmits the obtained operational status information to a computing device, such as a mobile computer of a passenger or the vehicle driver, or to a remotely located computer. The electronic vehicle monitor may include a wireless transmitter, and may include a global positioning system module or be configured to obtain location information from a global positioning system of the vehicle

A method of health management of a monitored system includes collecting component condition indicator data used to calculate a plurality of component health indicators. Component fault severity and potential failure modes are determined utilizing the component condition indicator data. The potential failure modes are ranked in order of likelihood to isolate the failure mode. A system of health management for monitored apparatus includes a fault severity module to derive a plurality of component health indicators from collected component condition indicator data, the plurality of component health indicators indicative of fault severity of a plurality of components. A fault isolation module separately derives a ranked listing of potential fault/failure modes utilizing the component condition indicator data. The system further includes a communication portion to which the plurality of component health indicators and the ranked listing of fault/failure modes are transmitted for review and/or action by cognizant personnel.

A system for determining hang time for a machine operating at a worksite is provided. The system includes a sensing module associated with the machine. The sensing module is configured to track at least one parameter associated with the machine. The at least one parameter includes a machine heading, a machine speed, or a machine location. The system also includes a control module communicably coupled to the sensing module. The control module is configured to receive tracked information corresponding to the at least one parameter from the sensing module. The control module is also configured to analyze the tracked information corresponding to the at least one parameter, based on the received tracked information. The control module is further configured to determine the hang time for the machine, based on the analysis.

A system that receives and analyzes a connected vehicle's safety feature activation and the location of activation on a road to determine if a hazard condition exist and providing an alert on a subscriber's vehicle or wireless device. Weather information for the location of the activation, highway engineering information for the location of the activation and other connected vehicles' safety feature activation at the location are also considered in the determination if the hazardous condition exists on the road. The hazardous condition alert can also be sent to the highway transportation department so that the hazardous condition can be mitigated.

A method is provided for traffic lane and traffic signal control identification and traffic flow management. Methods may identify traffic lights controlling lane movements, cataloging the information through analysis of traffic light signal phase and timing, and analyzing traffic movement through an intersection during specific periods of time. In particular, example methods may include identifying each of a plurality of paths through an intersection; identifying states of one or more traffic lights controlling traffic through the intersection; determining vehicle throughput data for the intersection through a predetermined number of cycles of the one or more traffic lights; and matching the vehicle throughput data to each of the plurality of paths of the intersection. The method may optionally include identifying times of movement and times of non-movement of vehicles across the intersection for each of the plurality of paths.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a navigation system and computer-implemented methods for detecting traffic disruption events based on an analysis of input component data obtained from navigation-enabled devices of vehicles near a particular location. Traffic disruption events are events such as accidents, construction road closures, police and speed traps, or road hazards that cause a decrease in the flow of traffic along a particular route and thus, added time delays for occupants of vehicles traveling along those routes. The navigation system scores the input component data associated with each vehicle and aggregates the scored input component data to obtain a frustration score associated with the vehicle. The navigation system may detect traffic disruption events based on a number of vehicles near a particular area having associated frustration scores above a certain threshold.

A collision risk calculation device includes: a movement information obtaining unit that obtains a speed and a movement direction of an obstacle; and a risk map generator that generates a risk map indicating a range within which the obstacle can exist after one unit of time and degree of risk of collision of an own vehicle with the obstacle within the range, on a basis of the speed and the movement direction of the obstacle obtained by the movement information obtaining unit, wherein the risk map generator changes the range in left and right directions with respect to a traveling direction of the obstacle, on a basis of the speed of the obstacle in the traveling direction.

Described herein is an onboard vehicle system configured to capture vehicle information and notify an operator of the onboard vehicle system of potentially dangerous vehicles. In some embodiments, the onboard vehicle system may capture image information related to its surroundings. The image information may be processed to identify one or more vehicle identifiers associated with vehicles in the vicinity of the onboard system. The onboard system may provide vehicle identifiers to a service provider computer, which may subsequently query one or more driver behavior databases for anomalous behavior related to the vehicle identifiers. Upon detecting anomalous behavior for a target vehicle, the service provider computer may generate one or more notifications to be presented to the operator of the onboard system with regard to the target vehicle. In some embodiments, the onboard system may present the notification to the operator in an audio and/or visual format.

Described herein is a vehicle system configured to identify and mitigate inappropriate driving behavior. In some embodiments, the vehicle system may receive input information from one or more input sensors. The vehicle system may identify driving behaviors related to a vehicle from the received input. The vehicle system may determine whether the driving behaviors are inappropriate in light of one or more conditions affecting the vehicle. Upon identifying inappropriate behavior, the vehicle system may generate a set of corrective actions capable of being executed to mitigate the inappropriate driving behavior.

A method for finding an evasive trajectory for avoiding an obstacle for a vehicle on a roadway. A component of a candidate trajectory parallel to the roadway is determined by selecting weighting coefficients of a first weighted sum of orthogonal functions of time. A component of the candidate trajectory orthogonal to the roadway is determined by selecting weighting coefficients of a second weighted sum of the orthogonal functions. An optimization parameter for the candidate trajectory is calculated. At least one coefficient of at least one of the sums is modified and the procedure is repeated when the optimization parameter does not reach a termination criterion.

A system that provides a safety rating for a driver or a vehicle to a rider of the vehicle. Information including diagnostic information such as sensor information and location information is used to determine the safety rating. By having a high safety rating, the rider of the vehicle has some level of assurance that the vehicle will arrive at a designated location.

The present application provides a system and method for enabling a driver to locate a passenger. In one or more implementations, a graphical user interface is provided that is operable to send and receive information associated with passengers and vehicles. A location of a first vehicle, a location of a first passenger and a location of a second passenger are received. Information associated with the locations of the first and second passenger is transmitted and a representation of at least one of the first passenger and the second passenger and the respective location thereof is provided.

A system and method are provided for communication between vehicles within a platoon of vehicles. In one embodiment, each vehicle is equipped with forward and backward directed optical emitters and receivers in operable communication with a controller. In an initialization phase, each vehicle determines its position within the platoon and the identification of all vehicles of the platoon. In a data transmission phase, each vehicle takes part in a token-based data transmission.