Abstract: System, apparatuses, and methods for bringing a shopping container to a customer in a shopping space are provided. A system for bringing a shopping container to a customer in a shopping space comprises a plurality of sensors, a plurality of motorized transport units, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: receive a shopping container request from a user interface device associated with the customer, determine at least one available shopping container based on data collected by the plurality of sensors, the at least one available shopping container being empty and not used by another customer, select an available shopping container based at least on a location information of the user interface device, select a motorized transport unit to transport the available shopping container, and provide instructions to the motorized transport unit to bring the available shopping container to the customer.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system comprising: a first, controller operable to assume one of a plurality of respective states, in a first state the first controller being configured to generate a first controller powertrain signal in order to cause a powertrain to develop drive torque, and a first controller brake signal in order to cause application of a brake to one or more wheels, the first controller being configured to generate the first controller powertrain signal and first controller brake signal to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with the target speed value, wherein when the first controller is in a predetermined one or more states the first controller is configured automatically to perform a brake wipe operation in which the first controller generates the first controller brake signal in dependence on one or more predetermined conditions while continuing to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with the target speed value.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying at least one position indicator for an aircraft. The display device includes at least one unit for generating information for determining, during a flight of the aircraft, a control value representative of the movement by a first pilot of his joystick relative to at least one of the roll and pitch axes of the aircraft, at least one computation unit for computing a piloting command representative of the control value determined by the unit for generating information, and one display unit for displaying at least one symbol on at least one screen intended for the second pilot and directly visible by the latter, the symbol representing the position indicator and being displayed on the screen in a position illustrating the piloting command on the screen.

Abstract: Technology for determining a position of a platform is described. A location of a horizon line can be determined using a sensor onboard the platform. One or more celestial objects in the sky can be detected using the sensor onboard the platform. Differential angular measurements between the horizon line and at least one of the celestial objects in the sky can be determined over a duration of time. The position of the platform can be determined based on the differential angular measurements between the horizon line and the celestial objects.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods to receiving onboard diagnostic data associated with an operational state of a vehicle of a user and pushing a message to the user, the message including information associated with the onboard diagnostic data.

Abstract: A navigational system includes: a sender communication and data transfer device (“cdd”); a receiver cdd; a first cellular service having a first global positioning satellite (“GPS”) or multi-tower calculator (“MTC”) operating with the sender cdd; a second cellular service having a second GPS or MTC operating with receiver cdd; and an application server in operable communication with the first cellular service and the second cellular service, the application server including processing and memory operating with software programmed to enable a navigational route to be initiated by a user operating the sender cdd and, in cooperation with the first and second cellular services, generate and send the route to the receiver's cdd, wherein the route is selected from multiple route options, at least one of the route options using a location obtained by one of the first and second GPS's or MTC's.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) performance optimization system can receive vehicle data from human-driven vehicles, and determine a set of performance metrics for determining AV performance in relation to human performance based on the vehicle data. Thereafter, the system can receive AV data from AVs operating or configured for operation throughout a given region. Based on the AV data, the system can determine a performance score for each of the set of performance metrics for the AV.

Abstract: Methods of controlling a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are described. The CVT has a group of spherical power adjusters. Each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission. The CVT has a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a drive system having a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: In a charging station for charging a battery installed on an autonomously navigating utility vehicle equipped with a prime mover powered by the battery to travel about a working area delineated by a boundary wire, there are provided with a pair of charging terminals installed on the station to be capable of connecting with a pair of charging terminals installed on the vehicle, a first wire installed on the station at a location inside of the working area and being formed as a circular shape having a center, and a second wire installed on the station to be formed as a shape that is symmetrical with respect to a center line obtained by connecting a midpoint of the terminals and the center of the first wire.

Abstract: A powertrain assembly includes a transmission, an engine, first and second motor/generators and a controller. The controller includes a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for controlling engine pulse torque cancellation commands. The controller is programmed to determine an engine pulse torque (TP). The controller is programmed to calculate a first motor torque pulse command (TA) for the first motor/generator as a product of a first gear factor (G1), the engine pulse torque (TP) and a first ratio (IA/IE) of a predetermined first moment of inertia (IA) for the first motor/generator and a predetermined engine moment of inertia (IE). Similarly, the controller is programmed to calculate a second motor torque pulse command (TB) for the second motor/generator. The controller is programmed to control the first and second motor/generators in response to the first and second motor torque pulse commands, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crane (101). The crane (101) has a hoist (113) for performing a lifting operation and a controller (125) for controlling operation of the crane. At least one sensor (127) is provided for detecting the presence of a person in a safety region (129). The controller (125) is configured to inhibit operation of the crane (127) when the sensor (127) detects a person in the safety region (129). The present invention also relates to a crane control system and a method of operating a crane (101).

Abstract: A system for skydiving trajectory and coordination feedback for a user. The system includes a controller coupled to a plurality of sensor inputs. The controller determines a user drag through air based on input data from the plurality of sensor inputs. The controller also receives a user flightpath and determines a projected user trajectory based on the user drag. The controller also determines user drag adjustments to align the projected user trajectory with the received user flightpath. At least one of an aural, haptic, or visual feedback device is coupled to the controller to provide feedback to the user in response to the user drag adjustments.

Abstract: A driving assist device includes a driver state detection unit for detecting an inattentive state as a driver state, an alerting unit for altering the driver upon detection of the inattentive state of the driver, a driving operation unit for being operated by the driver for driving operations; and a driving state switching unit that switches at least one of the driving operations in an automated driving state to a manual driving state when the driver's operation of the driving operation unit is detected during the automated driving state of the vehicle. When at least one of the driving operations in the automated driving state is switched to the manual driving state by the driving state switching unit, the driver state detection unit detects whether the state of the driver is an excited state. When the excited state of the driver is detected, the alerting unit alerts the driver.

Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.

Abstract: A lane guidance system for a vehicle for guiding a vehicle to a recommended lane in which the vehicle is recommended to run out of traffic lanes included in a route from a first point to a second point through the use of an output unit mounted on the vehicle includes: a calculating unit that calculates a predicted value of an occurrence probability of sudden lane change as information indicating the occurrence probability of sudden lane change when the vehicle runs in sections corresponding to a plurality of links; a setting unit that sets the recommended lane on the basis of the predicted value; and a generating unit that generates guidance information for the recommended lane and that outputs the guidance information to the output unit.

Abstract: Modern farming is currently being done by powerful ground equipment or aircraft that weigh several tons and treat uniformly tens of hectares per hour. Automated farming can use small, agile, lightweight, energy-efficient automated robotic equipment that flies to do the same job, even able to farm on a plant-by-plant basis, allowing for new ways of farming. A hybrid airship-drone has both passive lift provided by a gas balloon and active lift provided by propellers. A hybrid airship-drone may be cheaper, more stable in flight, and require less maintenance than other aerial vehicles such as quadrocopters. However, hybrid airship-drones may also be larger in size and have more inertia that needs to be overcome for starting, stopping and turning.

Abstract: A method for estimating steering assistance provided by a power steering system of a vehicle may include correlating an internal torque applied by an adaptive steering system of the vehicle with an external torque applied to a steering assembly of the vehicle. The method may also include estimating the steering assistance based on the correlation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for radio frequency spectral analysis. Accordingly, flight instructions are executed on a first UAV to fly in a first flight pattern relative to a signal source. The first UAV detects radio signal(s) from the signal source and associated signal data. Flight instructions are concurrently executed on a second UAV to fly in a second flight pattern, relative to the first flight pattern of the first UAV. The second UAV also detects radio signal(s) from the signal source and associated signal data. The stored signal data from the drones may then be processed for visualization.

Abstract: A computer identifies a location that is associated with a task, included in a first list of tasks, based on a first information. The computer determines a first travel time from a second location that is associated with a mobile device to the first location based on a second information. The second information indicates an amount of travel time that is associated with a route from the second location to the first location. The computer generates a plurality of permutations of the tasks included in the first list of tasks. The computer selects a permutation from the plurality of permutations based on the first travel time. The computer generates a second list of tasks using the selected permutation. The organization of the tasks included in the second list of tasks reduces the travel time that is required to complete those tasks.

Abstract: A system comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive data values from a sensor to detect infrared light. The sensor is in a line of sight to a vehicle foot well. The controller is further programmed to activate a knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the data values, that an object is present in the foot well. The controller is yet further programmed to deactivate the knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the data values, that there is no object in the foot well.