Abstract: A method for controlling mechatronic systems is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment the method includes planning a nominal path for a mechatronic system using an automatic path planner, receiving information concerning one or more objects detected in the surrounding environment of the mechatronic system and calculating one or more occupancy sets corresponding to the one or more detected objects, and detecting whether the nominal path violates at least one of the one or more Occupancy Sets. In one embodiment, the occupancy sets may represent theoretic system states of the mechatronic system which are potentially occupied by the stationary and dynamic objects at a specific time. Furthermore, a corresponding control system is described.

Abstract: A method for computer-assisted system design includes: providing a textual system description that defines a desired behavior of a vehicle; converting, using a computer, the textual system description into a linear temporal logic (LTL) formula; converting, using the computer, the LTL formula into a first automaton; providing, using the computer, a second automaton representing system dynamics of the vehicle; and generating, using the computer, a testing automaton by combining the first and the second automaton.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein relates to a method for supervising a dynamic system, for example a vehicle. The method includes receiving a system state sample and calculating, for a specific time instant, a reachable set of system states based on a current system state and a system model representing the dynamic system. The method further includes calculating a mathematical representation of a specific manifestation of a generic rule and calculating an allowed subset of system states based on the reachable set and the mathematical representation of the specific manifestation of the generic rule. Furthermore, the method includes testing whether the system state sample is within the allowed subset.

Abstract: A method for computer-assisted system design of dynamic systems is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment the method comprises: providing a textual system description: converting, using a computer, the textual system description into a linear temporal logic LTL formula; converting, using a computer, the LTL formula into a first automaton; providing, using a computer, a second automaton representing the system dynamics; and generating, using a computer, a testing automaton by combining the first and the second automaton.

Abstract: A camera assembly arranged on an unmanned and autonomously navigating aerial vehicle is employed to inspect a surface area of for material defects. The vehicle is automatically flown to the surface area from a launch site, wherein it can fly around obstacles using automatic obstacle detection and avoidance methods. A relative position of the aerial vehicle with respect to the surface area with the aid of a position sensor is continuously measured and a sequence of images of the surface area is recorded. Between the individual images, the aerial vehicle is moved along a flight path overlapping image details of the surface area. The images of the sequence are composed into an overall image of the surface area to allow for the surface area to be inspected for defects and the location of defects to be ascertained on the basis of the overall image.

Abstract: Method for aerial image capturing by means of an unmanned and controllable aircraft comprising a camera, more particularly a drone, during a flight maneuver of said aircraft, comprising continual determining of a camera position and alignment of an optical camera axis and acquiring of a series of aerial images. For each aerial image of said aerial image series, the capturing of the respective aerial image is triggered by flying through a respective image trigger region with said aircraft, wherein the location of said respective image trigger region is determined at least in each case by one trigger position assigned to said respective image trigger region and triggered subject to the alignment of the camera axis when flying through said respective image trigger region, with respect to fulfilling a defined, maximum angle deviation relative to a predetermined spatial alignment.

Abstract: Method for aerial image capturing by means of an unmanned and controllable aircraft comprising a camera, more particularly a drone, during a flight manoeuvre of said aircraft, comprising continual determining of a camera position and alignment of an optical camera axis and acquiring of a series of aerial images. For each aerial image of said aerial image series, the capturing of the respective aerial image is triggered by flying through a respective image trigger region with said aircraft, wherein the location of said respective image trigger region is determined at least in each case by one trigger position assigned to said respective image trigger region and triggered subject to the alignment of the camera axis when flying through said respective image trigger region, with respect to fulfilling a defined, maximum angle deviation relative to a predetermined spatial alignment.

Abstract: Controlling a vehicle to automatically prevent the vehicle from colliding with obstacles includes identifying and locating obstacles in front of the vehicle, wherein relative position of an obstacle is determined; measuring relative speed of the obstacles; assessing whether there is a risk of a collision between the vehicle and the obstacle as a function of the relative position and relative speed. If there is a risk of a collision, the method further includes: calculating an unsafe region around the obstacle as a function of known measurement errors; calculating an evasion point within or on an edge of the unsafe region; defining a protection zone around the evasion point; defining an evasion route which is in the form of a circular path and has a predefined radius of curvature; controlling the vehicle at a critical distance, so that the vehicle follows the evasion route which is tangential to the protection zone.

Abstract: A camera assembly arranged on an unmanned and autonomously navigating aerial vehicle is employed to inspect a surface area of for material defects. The vehicle is automatically flown to the surface area from a launch site, wherein it can fly around obstacles using automatic obstacle detection and avoidance methods. A relative position of the aerial vehicle with respect to the surface area with the aid of a position sensor is continuously measured and a sequence of images of the surface area is recorded. Between the individual images, the aerial vehicle is moved along a flight path overlapping image details of the surface area. The images of the sequence are composed into an overall image of the surface area to allow for the surface area to be inspected for defects and the location of defects to be ascertained on the basis of the overall image.

Abstract: A method for controlling the motion of an object for the avoidance of collisions with obstacles includes: detecting of at least one non-stationary or stationary obstacle; defining a safety zone around the obstacle which moves together with the obstacle; detecting whether the obstacle, including its safety zone, is in a collision course with the object; calculating an avoidance trajectory, which by-passes the obstacle, such that the avoidance trajectory, at least approximately, is circularly shaped and that the circularly-shaped avoidance trajectory, or a straight line tangentially linked thereto, is tangent to the safety zone around the obstacle; and driving the object such that it follows, at least approximately, the calculated avoidance trajectory, whereby the calculated avoidance trajectory is tangentially linked to the previous trajectory.

Abstract: A method for controlling the motion of an object for the avoidance of collisions with obstacles includes: detecting of at least one non-stationary or stationary obstacle; defining a safety zone around the obstacle which moves together with the obstacle; detecting whether the obstacle, including its safety zone, is in a collision course with the object; calculating an avoidance trajectory, which by-passes the obstacle, such that the avoidance trajectory, at least approximately, is circularly shaped and that the circularly-shaped avoidance trajectory, or a straight line tangentially linked thereto, is tangent to the safety zone around the obstacle; and driving the object such that it follows, at least approximately, the calculated avoidance trajectory, whereby the calculated avoidance trajectory is tangentially linked to the previous trajectory.

Abstract: A method for detecting fluids having a certain material composition is disclosed. The method comprises at least the following steps: ionizing the fluid using at least one high-voltage electrode coupled to a high-voltage source, such that the high voltage electrode generates charge carriers and emits these charge carriers which are at least partially re-collected by measurement electrodes; measuring electrical quantities at the plurality of measurement electrodes being spaced apart from each other as well as from the high voltage electrode; determining the spatial distribution of the measured electrical quantities; comparing the spatial distribution of the measured electrical quantities with at least one reference distribution; providing an output signal responsive to the comparison and indicating the presence of a fluid component and/or the concentration of the fluid component in the fluid.

Abstract: Controlling a vehicle to automatically prevent the vehicle from colliding with obstacles includes identifying and locating obstacles in front of the vehicle, wherein relative position of an obstacle is determined; measuring relative speed of the obstacles; assessing whether there is a risk of a collision between the vehicle and the obstacle as a function of the relative position and relative speed. If there is a risk of a collision, the method further includes: calculating an unsafe region around the obstacle as a function of known measurement errors; calculating an evasion point within or on an edge of the unsafe region; defining a protection zone around the evasion point; defining an evasion route which is in the form of a circular path and has a predefined radius of curvature; controlling the vehicle at a critical distance, so that the vehicle follows the evasion route which is tangential to the protection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the velocity of a fluid flow provides electrical charge carriers that are emitted into the fluid flow from an emitter electrode, and wherein an electrical signal caused by this is measured at a sensor electrode. The projection of the envelope of the cross-sectional area of that part of the sensor electrode which projects into the fluid flow into the cross-sectional plane of the fluid flow is small in comparison with the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow at this point, if present at all. The measured current of the sensor electrode is used to serve as a characterizing feature of the velocity of the fluid flow in accordance with a defined allocation function. The measurement method has virtually no delay and can be used in a high temperature and velocity range.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the velocity of a fluid flow provides electrical charge carriers that are emitted into the fluid flow from an emitter electrode, and wherein an electrical signal caused by this is measured at a sensor electrode. The projection of the envelope of the cross-sectional area of that part of the sensor electrode which projects into the fluid flow into the cross-sectional plane of the fluid flow is small in comparison with the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow at this point, if present at all. The measured current of the sensor electrode is used to serve as a characterizing feature of the velocity of the fluid flow in accordance with a defined allocation function. The measurement method has virtually no delay and can be used in a high temperature and velocity range.