Abstract: Techniques and systems are described that enable evasive steering assist (ESA) with a pre-active phase. An ESA system predicts that a collision with an object is imminent and enters a pre-active phase. The pre-active phase causes a required drop in steering force to occur prior to determining that the collision is imminent. At a later time, the ESA system determines that the collision is imminent and enacts an active phase. The active phase causes a steering force effective to avoid the collision. By enacting the pre-active phase prior to the determination of the imminent collision, the ESA system may provide the additional steering force needed to avoid the collision without delay while simultaneously shielding a driver of vehicle from feeling the drop in steering force.

Abstract: The technology involves determining a minimum lateral gap distance between a vehicle configured for autonomous driving and one or more other objects in the vehicle's environment. The minimum lateral gap is used when determining whether to have a driver take over control of certain driving operations. This provides a measure of safety during disengagements or other change of control events. Determining the minimum lateral gap includes calculating a budgeted distance based on a cross-track error for a lateral position of the vehicle, an allowed actual gap distance to an object in the vehicle's environment, and a perception error associated with a location of the object in the vehicle's environment. This determination can be done for a set of possible operating speeds and steering rate limit combinations. The vehicle's control system may notify the driver to take control, for instance with audible, visual and/or haptic notifications.

Abstract: A device, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for automatic detection of ritual travel is described. The device includes a processing circuitry configured to determine a relative location and an angle of travel of a user device relative to a central landmark, a first endpoint, and a second endpoint; detect an initial lap around the central landmark based on the relative location and the angle of travel; detect a number of laps taken around the central landmark and a pace of the number of laps; detect a route of travel between the first endpoint and the second endpoint; and provide instructions for completion of ritual travel based on the number of laps taken around the central landmark and the route of travel between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated control apparatus for active and passive safety apparatuses, which includes a sensor unit comprising a plurality of sensors for detecting a driving state of a vehicle and a controller configured to process information detected through the sensor unit, determine a driving state of the vehicle based on the processed information, compare the processed information with a preset pre-safe seat belt (PSB) threshold value, and operate a PSB for each vehicle driving state based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A system and methods for enhancing operator situational awareness are disclosed. For example, one method includes monitoring a plurality of radio transmissions associated with a plurality of vehicles in a first traffic flow pattern, monitoring a second traffic flow pattern in a vicinity of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring at least one weather value for a destination site for the plurality of vehicles, proposing a destination approach for the vehicle in response to the monitoring, evaluating an impact of the proposed destination approach on an existing travel path for the vehicle, and generating a second travel path for the vehicle in response to the evaluating.

Abstract: In an embodiment, computer processes are programmed to determine planting plans based on planting characteristics data received for an agricultural field and a plurality of management zone delineation options defined for the agricultural field. Each of the planting plans specifies different planting recommendations for the agricultural field. A first graphical representation of the planting plans, and an interactive object is generated and displayed on a computing device. The interactive object is configured to receive input specifying a relative importance ratio between the planting plans for determining a new planting plan for the agricultural field. A particular relative importance ratio is received via the interactive object, and is used to determine the new planting plan, which specifies new planting recommendations for the agricultural field. Information about the new planting plan is displayed on the computer device.

Abstract: A method for preparing an empty section of a parking-facility for operation of the parking-facility, including: measuring the empty section of the parking-facility, using a time-of-flight measuring-sensor situated in a stationary manner within the parking-facility, by emitting a time-of-flight measuring-signal with the time-of-flight measuring-sensor in the direction of the section and checking whether a reflection signal associated with the emitted time-of-flight measuring-signal is received with the time-of-flight measuring-sensor; if no reflection signal associated with the emitted time-of-flight measuring-signal is received with the time-of-flight measuring-sensor, implementing one or multiple measure(s) intended to cause a reflection signal associated with a time-of-flight measuring-signal emitted with the time-of-flight measuring-sensor in the direction of the empty section to be receivable with the time-of-flight measuring-sensor.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for routing an autonomous vehicle. A vehicle autonomy system may generate first route data describing a first route for the autonomous vehicle to a first target location and control the autonomous vehicle using the first route data. The vehicle autonomy system may determine that the autonomous vehicle is within a threshold of the first target location and select a second target location associated with at least a second stopping location. The vehicle autonomy system may generate second route data describing a route extension of the first route from the first target location to the second target location and control the autonomous vehicle using the second route data.

Abstract: A system for context-aware decision making of an autonomous agent includes a computing system having a context selector and a map. A method for context-aware decision making of an autonomous agent includes receiving a set of inputs, determining a context associated with an autonomous agent based on the set of inputs, and optionally any or all of: labeling a map; selecting a learning module (context-specific learning module) based on the context; defining an action space based on the learning module; selecting an action from the action space; planning a trajectory based on the action S260; and/or any other suitable processes.

Abstract: An automatic parking system includes a sensor detecting parking areas depending on a size of a subject vehicle and a controller controlling the subject vehicle to be parked in an optimal parking area among the parking areas, in which the sensor may detect the parking areas in consideration of a length and a width of the subject vehicle and detect a spaced distance from surrounding vehicles positioned on a side of the subject vehicle in the optimal parking area and the controller may calculate a moving path between a current position of the subject vehicle and the optimal parking area and compare a predetermined reference distance and the spaced distances to control the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A method for logging and reporting driver activity and operation data of a vehicle. The method utilizes an onboard recorder operatively connected to a data bus of the vehicle and configured to continuously electronically monitor and obtain vehicle operation data including vehicle mileage data. A transmitter is adapted for transmitting the vehicle operation data from the onboard recorder to a remote terminal outside of the vehicle. Data processing software is operable for generating an hours of service log and a vehicle fuel tax log.

Abstract: A vehicle running status field model-based information transmission frequency optimization method in the Internet of Vehicles belongs to the technical field of network communications. The method establishes a running status field model according to the real-time running status of a road vehicle to describe the degree of risk of the vehicle, the degree of risk can be used to dynamically adjust the transmission frequency of safety-critical information, and the transmission frequency of non-safety-critical information is adjusted through the real-time transmission frequency of safety-critical information to achieve the purpose of improving the utilization ratio of link. The method establishes the running status field model of a moving vehicle, uses the risk intensity of the vehicle in the running status field to describe the current running risk of the vehicle, and takes account of different application scenarios, thereby having generality.

Abstract: A method for broadcasting a basic safety message (BSM) packet from a host vehicle includes receiving sensor data from one or more vehicle sensors provided at the host vehicle. The method includes determining whether the sensor data indicates a lane change of the host vehicle. The method includes performing a corrective action on at least one path history entry that is stored in a database in response to the sensor data indicating the lane change. The method includes generating and broadcasting the BSM packet based on the at least one path history entry.

Abstract: One method disclosed includes identifying, in a map of markers fixed in an environment, two co-located markers within a threshold distance of each other, where each of the two co-located markers has a non-overlapping visibility region. The method further includes determining a set of detected markers based on sensor data from a robotic device. The method additionally includes identifying, from the set of detected markers, a detected marker proximate to a first marker of the two co-located markers. The method also includes enforcing a visibility constraint based on the non-overlapping visibility region of each of the two co-located markers to determine an association between the detected marker and a second marker of the two co-located markers. The method further includes determining a location of the robotic device in the environment relative to the map based on the determined association.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing method. The image processing method includes receiving images acquired from a plurality of vehicles positioned on a road; storing the received images according to acquisition information of the received images; determining a reference image and a target image based on images having the same acquisition information among the stored images; performing an image registration using a plurality of feature points extracted from each of the determined reference image and target image; performing a transparency process for each of the reference image and the target image which are image-registered; extracting static objects from the transparency-processed image; and comparing the extracted static objects with objects on map data which is previously stored and updating the map data when the objects on the map data which is previously stored and the extracted static objects are different from each other.

Abstract: One variation of a method for autonomously navigating along a crosswalk includes: at a first time, navigating autonomously along a sidewalk toward a crosswalk coinciding with a navigation route assigned to the autonomous vehicle; recording optical data of a scene proximal the autonomous vehicle via an optical sensor integrated into the autonomous vehicle; aligning an anteroposterior axis of the autonomous vehicle to the crosswalk detected in the optical data; identifying a pedestrian proximal the crosswalk in the optical data; in response to the pedestrian entering the crosswalk at a second time succeeding the first time, predicting right of way of the autonomous vehicle to enter the crosswalk; and, in response to predicting right of the autonomous vehicle to enter the crosswalk, autonomously navigating from the sidewalk into the crosswalk and autonomously navigating along the crosswalk to an opposing sidewalk according to the navigation route.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for autonomously driving a vehicle. The method includes: recognizing a centerline of a lane on which a current vehicle is driving; acquiring a lateral distance between the current vehicle and the centerline of the lane, and a real-time speed and a real-time motion curvature of the current vehicle; calculating the lateral distance, the real-time speed, and the real-time motion curvature, based on a preset first spiral line equation, to acquire parameters of a reference spiral line; calculating the parameters, the real-time speed, and the real-time motion curvature, based on a preset second spiral line equation, to acquire a current spiral line; and determining an steering angle instruction of a steering wheel based on a first curvature of the current spiral line; and controlling the current vehicle for autonomous driving based on the steering angle instruction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for landing a drone using a parachute. The technique includes a parachute deployment system (PDS) that can deploy a parachute installed in a drone and land the drone safely. The parachute may be deployed automatically, e.g., in response to a variety of failures such as a free fall, or manually from a base unit operated by a remote user. For example, the PDS can determine the failure of the drone based on data obtained from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a barometer of the drone and automatically deploy the parachute if any failure is determined. In another example, the remote user can “kill” the drone, that is, cut off the power supply to the drone and deploy the parachute by activating an onboard “kill” switch from the base unit.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe techniques for automatic annotation of environmental features in a map during navigation of a vehicle. The techniques include receiving, by the vehicle located within an environment, a map of the environment. Sensors of the vehicle receive sensor data and semantic data. The sensor data includes a plurality of features of the environment. A geometric model of a feature of the plurality of features is generated. The feature is associated with a drivable area within the environment. A drivable segment is extracted from the drivable area. The drivable segment is segregated into a plurality of geometric blocks, wherein each geometric block corresponds to a characteristic of the drivable area and the geometric model of the feature includes the plurality of geometric blocks. The geometric model is annotated using the semantic data. The annotated geometric model is embedded within the map.

Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus includes: an active sensor configured to sense a dynamic behavior of a vehicle; a passive sensor configured to sense a collision of the vehicle; and a pedestrian protection module configured to: predict a possibility of a pedestrian collision in response to active information received from the active sensor, the pedestrian collision being a collision of the vehicle that involves a pedestrian; adjust a threshold value for sensing the collision of the vehicle determined by passive information received from the passive sensor in response to predicting the possibility of the pedestrian collision; and deploy a protection module in response to determining the pedestrian collision using the adjusted threshold value and the passive information received from the passive sensor.