Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes positioning a lidar on a platform, measuring at least a first data point using the lidar, measuring at last a second data point using the lidar, processing the at least first data point and the at least second data point to identify a first estimated location of the vertex, and determining whether the first estimated location of the vertex meets the specification, wherein when it is determined that the first estimated location of the vertex meets at least one specification associated with the lidar, the lidar is verified. The platform rotates about a first axis, wherein when the platform rotates about the first axis, the lidar rotates about the first axis. The data points measured with respect to a target, the target having at least a first edge, a second edge, and a vertex at which the first edge meets the second edge.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes obtaining an assembly, the assembly including at least a first assembly sensor and a second assembly sensor of a plurality of assembly sensors, and calibrating the first assembly sensor and the second assembly sensor. The method also includes calibrating the first assembly sensor and the second assembly sensor together, wherein calibrating the first assembly sensor and second assembly sensor together includes placing the assembly in at least a first pose relative to a plurality of calibration targets. The assembly is coupled on a vehicle, and the plurality of assembly sensors are calibrated after coupling the assembly on the vehicle. Calibrating the plurality of assembly sensors after installing the assembly on the vehicle includes causing the vehicle to move relative to the plurality of calibration targets and using the plurality of assembly sensors to make measurements using the plurality of calibration targets.

Abstract: An autonomous robotic vehicle includes a chassis, wheels movably mounted to the chassis by a suspension system, and a vehicle pose system. The vehicle pose system includes a ride height sensor system, a processor, and memory. The sensor system is configured to measure wheel displacement of the wheels relative to the chassis. The sensor system includes ride height sensors that determine wheel positions of the wheels with respect to the chassis as the vehicle travels along a surface. The memory has instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor cause the vehicle pose system to determine a plane of the surface corresponding to the wheel positions so that the pose system can determine a pose of the vehicle based on an angle of the surface with respect to the vehicle.

Abstract: An orchestrator for a fleet management system is disclosed herein. The orchestrator is configured to monitor completion of an assigned job by an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of autonomous vehicles. For example, the autonomous vehicle may have an assigned job of delivering cargo from one location to another location. The orchestrator can identify a plurality of tasks to be completed by a plurality of subsystems of the fleet management system in order to enable completion of the assigned job by the autonomous vehicle. For example, the subsystems may include a troubleshooting subsystem, a remote operations subsystem, a fleet operations subsystem, a fleet coordinator, and/or an interface. The orchestrator can coordinate completion of the tasks by the plurality of subsystems.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a vehicle includes a chassis, a propulsion system carried on the chassis, a control system carried on the chassis, and a components arrangement carried on the chassis. The propulsion system configured to propel the vehicle, and the control system is configured to enable the vehicle to operate autonomously. The components arrangement includes at least a frame, a panel having a surface, a wiper arrangement having at least one wiper, and a fluid distribution arrangement. The frame is configured to interface with the chassis and to support the panel, the wiper arrangement, and the fluid distribution arrangement. The fluid distribution arrangement is configured to dispense a fluid onto the surface and the wiper is configured to sweep over the surface.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an overall airbag system of an autonomous vehicle uses a combination of sensors to deploy one or more external airbags in advance of a collision or as a collision occurs, for the purpose of protecting vulnerable persons. By using sensor data, combined with perception and prediction algorithms, an autonomous driving system may deploy a substantially optimal combination of external airbags for a given the size of a vulnerable person, vehicle speed, and/or collision timing. In addition to cushioning impact during a collision, the deployment of multiple external airbags may also control kinematics of vulnerable persons, as for example by addressing brain injuries in pedestrians due to rotational kinematics.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes obtaining, at a monitoring arrangement, a first supervisory request from a first vehicle, the first supervisory request arranged to indicate that the first vehicle has identified a first potential issue. The method also includes processing, at the monitoring arrangement, the first supervisory request, wherein processing the first supervisory request includes determining whether the first potential issue is to be mitigated. When it is determined that the first potential issue is to be mitigated, information is provided from the monitoring arrangement to a control arrangement, and the control arrangement takes control of the first vehicle based on the information.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes identifying a first signal, which carries or otherwise includes data, to be provided to a system by a vehicle. The method includes determining a first amount of bandwidth, the first amount of bandwidth being associated with the signal, determining a second amount of bandwidth, the second amount of bandwidth being an available bandwidth associated with a plurality of modems included on the vehicle to enable the vehicle to communicate with the system, and dividing the first signal into a first plurality of portions based at least on the first amount of bandwidth and the second amount of bandwidth. The first plurality of portions is provided to the plurality of modems for transmission from the vehicle to the system, and is transmitted to the system using the plurality of modems and a plurality of channels associated with the plurality of modems.

Abstract: A system for providing remote assistance to an autonomous vehicle is disclosed herein. The system includes at least one remote assistance button configured to be selectively activated to initiate remote assistance for the autonomous vehicle. Each remote assistance button corresponds to a dedicated remote assistance function for the autonomous vehicle. For example, the system can include remote assistance buttons for causing the autonomous vehicle to stop, decelerate, or pull over. The system includes a controller configured to detect activation of the remote assistance button(s) and to cause remote assistance to be provided to the autonomous vehicle in response to the activation. For example, the autonomous vehicle may perform an action corresponding to the activated button with input assistance from the controller but without the system taking over control of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes identifying a machine arranged to be monitored using teleoperations, and obtaining a first request from a first teleoperations arrangement to monitor the machine. The first teleoperations arrangement includes a first teleoperations equipment. The method also includes determining whether to accept the first request from the first teleoperations arrangement, wherein determining whether to accept the first request from the first teleoperations arrangement includes verifying that a first operator of the first teleoperations equipment is certified by the platform and verifying that the teleoperations equipment meets a standard. The first request is accepted when it is determined that the request is to be accepted, wherein accepting the first request includes assigning the first teleoperations arrangement to monitor the machine during a first shift. Finally, the method includes monitoring the first teleoperations arrangement and the machine during the first shift.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an apparatus includes a first system that generates heat, and a cooling arrangement. The cooling arrangement cools the first system, and includes a coolant source and a distribution arrangement. The coolant source provides a coolant in a first state that is distributed by the distribution arrangement to absorb the heat. The cooling arrangement includes a control arrangement and a heating arrangement. The control arrangement maintains the coolant in the first state at least a set point, the set point being a temperature that is above a dew point, by determining when to activate the heating arrangement to warm the coolant in the first state and, when it is determined by the control arrangement that the heating arrangement is to be activated, activating the heating arrangement to warm the coolant in the first state to maintain the temperature of the coolant at the set point.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a platform for providing at least one item to a customer is disclosed. The platform includes an autonomous, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous vehicle that includes at least one compartment configured to contain a first item ordered by the customer and to contain a second item not ordered by the customer. The platform further includes an application including an ordering module configured to obtain an order from the customer that includes the first item, and a release detection module configured to determine when the first item has been removed from the at least one compartment and configured to determine when the second item has been removed from the at least one compartment. In one embodiment, the second item is predicted using a machine learning algorithm.

Abstract: According to one aspect, headlights of a vehicle are used to communicate information that may be understood by a user or other person in the vicinity of the vehicle. A method includes operating a vehicle and determining a status of the vehicle. The vehicle has a park gear arranged to be engaged to cause the vehicle to be in a parked state, and the vehicle includes a first optical assembly that has a first optical arrangement and a first optical controller. The method also includes causing the first optical arrangement to visually communicate a first indication, the first indication being arranged to indicate the status of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rapid deceleration mechanism for a vehicle is provided herein. The rapid deceleration mechanism includes a cutting mechanism configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle, e.g., via a tether. An actuating mechanism is configured to selectively actuate (e.g., release or propel) the cutting mechanism towards a road surface on which the vehicle is driving to cause the cutting mechanism to cut a channel in the road surface. The channel defines a bollard area in the road surface. At least a portion of the cutting mechanism is disposed at least partially within the channel, against the bollard area, to anchor the body of the vehicle relative to the road surface.

Abstract: An autonomous robot vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a conveyance system and a compartment coupled to the conveyance system. The conveyance system autonomously drives the autonomous robotic vehicle between one or more storage locations and one or more delivery locations. The compartment receives one or more items stored at the one more storage locations. The compartment includes a temperature control module configured to maintain the compartment within a predetermined temperature range to provide temperature control for the one or more items as the conveyance system drives between the one or more storage locations and the one or more delivery locations.

Abstract: Methods are provided for remotely starting up one or a plurality of vehicles. These methods involve starting up hardware and/or software modules of the vehicle in a particular order so as to account for dependencies among the various modules. In one form, states of various hardware and/or software modules in the vehicle, and errors observed in starting up various modules and troubleshooting is applied in an automated manner. Moreover, the methods may involve ensure proper startup of modules for performing a localization procedure for the vehicle.

Abstract: A managing apparatus for positioning rental vehicles includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the managing apparatus to access model information and location information for a plurality of autonomous vehicles, receive a request including a delivery location and a chosen model for renting, select an autonomous vehicle of the chosen model from among the plurality of autonomous vehicles based on the model information, the location information, and the delivery location, instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to fully-autonomously or semi-autonomously travel to the delivery location, and instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to switch to manual operation mode at the delivery location for manual operation by a vehicle rental customer.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a lidar system is a lidar system which includes one set of mechanical, e.g., optical, components, and two or more sets of electrical and/or software components. The beams which are provided by the optical components are effectively alternated between a first and second sets of electrical and/or software components. The redundancy provided by the first and second sets of electrical and/or software components allows the lidar system to remain operational in the event that one set of electrical and/or software components becomes non-operational.