Abstract: A braking control system associated with a towed apparatus is provided. The braking control system includes an intelligent control, an accelerometer electrically coupled to the intelligent control, a global positioning receiver electrically coupled to the intelligent control, and a visual indicator operatively coupled to the intelligent control. The braking control system may also include a wireless RF receiver operatively coupled to the intelligent control.

Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for controlling a robot, in particular a human-collaborating robot, a robot- or task-specific redundancy of the robot is resolved, wherein, in order to resolve the redundancy, a pose-dependent inertia variable of the robot is minimized.

Abstract: Serial communication verification and safety control is disclosed. A multi-part system such as a battery management system can include distributed or subsidiary components for determining status of various parts of the system with the components in serial or point-to-point communication with a collective main controller. A safety controller can be implemented to passively be coupled to the serial or point-to-point communication between the main controller and the subsidiary units. The safety controller can monitor and verify the communication between the main controller and the subsidiary units and send a safety command or verification indicator in another line of communication separate from the communication bus between the main controller and the subsidiary units.

Abstract: A robotic system has a plurality of user selectable operating modes. To select one of the operating modes, a user performs a distinguishing action which uniquely identifies a desired operating mode among the plurality of user selectable operating modes. A method implemented by a processor in the robotic system identifies the distinguishing action and places the robotic system in the user selected operating mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a robot and a method for controlling a robot. The distance between an object and the robot and/or the derivative thereof or a first motion of the object is detected by means of a non-contact distance sensor arranged in or on a robot arm of the robot and/or on or in an end effector fastened on the robot arm. The robot arm is moved based on the first motion detected by means of the distance sensor, a target force or a target torque to be applied by the robot is determined based on the distance detected between the object and the robot, and/or a function of the robot or a parameterization of a function of the robot is triggered based on the first motion detected and/or a target distance between the object and the robot and/or the derivative thereof detected by means of the distance sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (2, 6) for manually controlling a robot system, comprising an input device (2), which can be operated by means of at least two hands and has a sensor system (7, 10) for detecting control specifications of a first hand (12) and control specifications of a second hand (13). According to the invention, the control device (2, 6) comprises a first control unit (19), which performs a position control function in dependence on the control specifications of the first hand (12), and a second control unit (20), which performs a velocity control function or a position control function in dependence on the control specifications of the second hand (13).

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to techniques that may reduce power consumption and improve user experience when using a personal navigation device or other mobile device to navigate along familiar routes or road segments. In particular, in response to a current position associated with the device corresponding to a familiar road segment (e.g., based on an index indicating how often the road segment was previously traversed), voice assistance and a display may be disabled and/or a frequency at which a receiver acquires signals to determine the current position may be reduced. Furthermore, a navigation application executing on the device may be automatically exited if the familiar road segment further includes a route destination. In other use cases, road segment familiarity and travel histories may be used in route planning, managing incoming calls or messages, and media playback, among other things.

Abstract: A robot may include: a multi-tool module having redundancy, the multi-tool module including a guide tube and a plurality of tools configured to operate while interacting with the guide tube and extended from the guide tube; and/or a controller configured to generate a control signal regarding motion of the multi-tool module in a joint space based on motion instruction information regarding distal ends of the plurality of tools in a task space. The redundancy may reflect that a number of degrees of freedom of the multi-tool module in the joint space is greater than a number of degrees of freedom of the task space. The control signal may be generated using the redundancy.

Abstract: This invention concerns a fuel delivery system for an aircraft engine, including a fuel delivery regulator arranged to receive fuel from a plurality of fuel sources for supply to the engine. An engine operating condition sensor reading is received by a control unit arranged to control operation of the regulator. The control unit actuates the regulator based on a received signal from the engine operating condition sensor in order to vary the volume of fuels from the plurality of fuel sources supplied to the engine during at least a portion of the landing/take-off (LTO) cycle relative to a further portion of the aircraft flight. The different fuels may include kerosene and an alternative fuel, such as a biofuel.

Abstract: A method is provided for aligning at least one rear view mirror and/or another optical component of a motor vehicle. The current eye position of the driver is determined by an interior sensor system upon actuation of a control element. The at least one rear view mirror is automatically aligned as a function of the determined current eye position of the driver. An indication is output when the eye position of the driver cannot be determined.

Abstract: A system for performing industrial operations comprises at least one tool head provided with a tool and at least one sensor associated to the tool head. The system further comprises a control module mounted on the tool head including a data-acquisition unit connected to the sensor configured for acquiring the data coming from said at least one sensor, and a wireless transmission unit connected to the acquisition unit for receiving the aforesaid acquired data and for transmitting the data acquired to a receiving unit in a wireless mode. The module further comprises a device for storing electrical energy for electrical supply of the control module. The system further comprises a wireless charging system for charging the device for storing electrical energy comprising a first charging device carried by the tool head and connected to the energy-storage device and a second charging device associated to a stationary workstation.

Abstract: A monitoring control method in an electronic device is provided. The method includes displaying an area map for monitoring, and determining a virtual boundary on the area map. The area map is a specific space of the indoor or outdoor and displays objects or articles that are within the specific space of the indoor or outdoor. The virtual boundary constitutes a movement area for a monitoring target therewithin.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for holding the position of a watercraft stationary. An exemplary method includes measuring a velocity of an auxiliary water vessel relative to the watercraft with a first sensor, where the auxiliary water vessel is deployed at a depth between the watercraft and a ground surface of the body of water. The method further includes measuring a velocity of current in the body of water relative to the watercraft with a second sensor. The method further includes processing the velocity measurement of the auxiliary water vessel and the velocity measurement of the current to determine a net movement of the watercraft, and controlling a propulsion system to compensate for the net movement of the watercraft to hold the watercraft in a stationary position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an underwater exploration system using a multi-joint underwater robot having a novel complex movement concept in which the multi-joint underwater robot moves through walking or swimming with multi-joint legs closely to a seafloor, differently from a conventional underwater robot to obtain a thrust through a propeller scheme. The underwater exploration system includes the multi-joint underwater robot having the complex movement function according, a depressor, and a mother ship to store data of an underwater state transmitted from the multi-joint underwater robot and to monitor and control a movement direction of the multi-joint underwater robot. The depressor is connected to the mother ship through a primary cable, the multi-joint underwater robot is connected to the depressor through a second cable, and resistance force of the primary cable is applied to the depressor without being transmitted to the multi-joint underwater robot.

Abstract: A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulated instruments extending out of its distal end. A controller is configured to command manipulation an articulated instrument in response to operator manipulation of an associated input device while generating a force command to the input device that nudges the operator to command the instrument to a preferred pose. When a transition is to occur between first and second preferred poses, one is phased in while the other is phased out. Virtual barriers may be imposed to prevent the articulated instrument from being commanded to an undesirable pose.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device, an autonomous movement system, and an autonomous movement method, each having an obstacle avoidance capability, are provided. The autonomous mobile device includes an avoidance pattern determination unit for determining the travel pattern of the local device according to the state of motion, relative to the autonomous movement device, of a mobile obstacle other than the autonomous movement device; and a travel controller for causing the autonomous movement device to travel according to the travel pattern determined by the avoidance pattern determination unit. One of avoidance patterns is selected in accordance with a relative velocity to a mobile obstacle.

Abstract: A mobile inspection robot that includes a robot body and a drive system supporting the robot body and configured to maneuver the robot over a work surface. A controller communicates with the drive system and a sensor system. The controller executes a control system that includes a control arbitration system and a behavior system in communication with each other. The behavior system executes an inspection behavior, the inspection behavior influencing execution of commands by the control arbitration system based on sensor signals received from the sensor system to identify and inspect electrical equipment.

Abstract: A method operable by a computing device is provided. The method may include receiving a request for a given task to be performed by a robotic system. The method may also determining one or more subtasks required to perform the given task, where the one or more subtasks include one or more parameters used to define the one or more subtasks. The method may also include determining an arrangement of the one or more subtasks to perform the given task, and providing for display an indication of the one or more undefined parameters for the given task. The method may also include receiving an input defining the one or more undefined parameters for the given task, and executing the one or more subtasks in the determined arrangement and in accordance with the one or more defined parameters to cause the robotic system to perform the given task.

Abstract: A system may determine, based on vehicle data received from vehicle sensors, a maintenance indication indicative of vehicle maintenance required according to a vehicle maintenance schedule, identify a maintenance time indication for which a maintenance procedure unrelated to the vehicle maintenance schedule should be performed, and generate a maintenance recommendation to provide in a vehicle human-machine interface offering to perform the vehicle maintenance and the unrelated maintenance procedure.

Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes a first electric motor; a differential mechanism having a rotating element coupled to the first electric motor, a rotating element that is an output rotating member coupled to drive wheels in a power transmittable manner, and a rotating element coupled to a non-rotating member by actuation of a lock mechanism; and a second electric motor coupled to the drive wheels in a power transmittable manner. During motor running for running with output torques from the first electric motor and the second electric motor used together in an actuated state of the lock mechanism, a drive torque shared by the first electric motor is made smaller in a requested drive torque when a rotation speed of a pinion making up the differential mechanism is higher.