Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot apparatus and a method for avoiding collision due to rush-out, being applicable under the circumstances where persons and robots come and go each other, comprises an obstacle detector unit 3, which detects an obstacle, a route producer unit 7, which determines a route for reaching to a destination while avoiding the obstacle detected by the obstacle detector unit upon basis of a predetermined avoiding method, as well as, a velocity thereof, and a moving unit 2, which loads the obstacle detector unit and the route producer unit thereon and moves, thereby operating under circumstances mixing with a human being(s), wherein the obstacle detector unit, further, detects a terminal point of an article lying in an advancing direction of the autonomous mobile robot apparatus, and a distance between the terminal point and the autonomous mobile robot apparatus, and the route producer unit, when the obstacle detector unit detects the terminal end of said article, controls at least either one of

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot device, comprises an obstacle detecting unit, which is configured to detect an obstacle, a path producing unit, which is configured to produce a path for reaching to a goal while avoiding the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, upon basis of a predetermined avoidance method, and a moving unit, which is configured to move while mounting the obstacle detecting unit and the path producing unit thereon, and further comprises an avoidance method noticing unit, which is configured to notice information relating to an avoidance method of the autonomous mobile robot device itself to the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, an other's avoidance method obtaining unit, which is configured to obtain information relating to the avoidance method of the obstacle from the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, an avoidance method memorizing unit, which is configured to memorize one or more of the avoidance method(s) determined, to

Abstract: A guide robot device including a guide display unit for displaying the guide information to an unguided person and a moving unit adapted to move with the guide display unit mounted thereon is disclosed. The guide robot device further includes the guide display unit variable in the direction of the guide information, a destination position setting unit for setting the destination position of the unguided person, an unguided person position detection unit for detecting the position of the unguided person, and a guide position calculation unit for calculating the guide position as related to the destination position, the detected position of the unguided person and the distance from the guide robot device to the unguided person. The guide robot device is moved to the calculated guide position and the direction of the guide information determined.

Abstract: An elevator system which an autonomous mobile robot and human user can utilize safely and efficiently. The system has an available area detection unit to detect an available area in a cage, and a riding possibility/impossibility determination unit to determine whether or not the autonomous mobile robot can get on the cage based on information on size and position of the available area detected by the available area detection unit. The autonomous mobile robot gets on the cage only when the riding possibility/impossibility determination unit determines that riding is possible.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot apparatus and a method for avoiding collision due to rush-out, being applicable under the circumstances where persons and robots come and go each other, comprises an obstacle detector unit 3, which detects an obstacle, a route producer unit 7, which determines a route for reaching to a destination while avoiding the obstacle detected by the obstacle detector unit upon basis of a predetermined avoiding method, as well as, a velocity thereof, and a moving unit 2, which loads the obstacle detector unit and the route producer unit thereon and moves, thereby operating under circumstances mixing with a human being(s), wherein the obstacle detector unit, further, detects a terminal point of an article lying in an advancing direction of the autonomous mobile robot apparatus, and a distance between the terminal point and the autonomous mobile robot apparatus, and the route producer unit, when the obstacle detector unit detects the terminal end of said article, controls at least either one of

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot device, comprises an obstacle detecting unit, which is configured to detect an obstacle, a path producing unit, which is configured to produce a path for reaching to a goal while avoiding the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, upon basis of a predetermined avoidance method, and a moving unit, which is configured to move while mounting the obstacle detecting unit and the path producing unit thereon, and further comprises an avoidance method noticing unit, which is configured to notice information relating to an avoidance method of the autonomous mobile robot device itself to the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, an other's avoidance method obtaining unit, which is configured to obtain information relating to the avoidance method of the obstacle from the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, an avoidance method memorizing unit, which is configured to memorize one or more of the avoidance method(s) determined, to

Abstract: In cleaning using a self-propelled cleaning device, firstly the cleaning device moves alongside a wall surface and then a reference direction is set. Next, the cleaning device advances alongside the wall surface at a prescribed distance, makes a right-angle turn, and travels in the reference direction. When the cleaning device reaches the surface of an opposing wall, it moves in a spiraling manner. At that time, the orientation angle of the cleaning device, which is estimated using a gyro sensor, is checked and corrected. If an obstacle is encountered while traveling, the cleaning device travels on a path that avoids the obstacle or travels in a spiral manner in a region in front of the obstacle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear actuator, including: a screw unit rotatably driven by a driving motor; a nut unit screwed to the screw unit; a slider attached to the nut unit, in which the slider and the nut unit move linearly by the rotation of the screw unit; a guide restricting both surfaces of the slider; a first antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider; a second antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider, and opposing the first antenna; and a third antenna attached to both side walls of the slider, being interposed between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein position of the slider is detected based on a change in capacitance due to displacement of the third antenna with respect to the first antenna and the second antenna.

Abstract: A guide robot device including a guide display unit for displaying the guide information to an unguided person and a moving unit adapted to move with the guide display unit mounted thereon is disclosed. The guide robot device further includes the guide display unit variable in the direction of the guide information, a destination position setting unit for setting the destination position of the unguided person, an unguided person position detection unit for detecting the position of the unguided person, and a guide position calculation unit for calculating the guide position as related to the destination position, the detected position of the unguided person and the distance from the guide robot device to the unguided person. The guide robot device is moved to the calculated guide position and the direction of the guide information determined.

Abstract: A vehicle warning system has an obstacle sensor for detecting approach of an obstacle to a vehicle, tactile information-generating elements for notifying a driver of the obstacle information based on information received from the obstacle sensor, and a controller for controlling the actuation of the tactile information-generating elements. The tactile information-generating elements are installed in the cushion of a driver seat, with a fore-and-aft and/or left-right arrangement. The controller controls the tactile information-generating elements based on the information from the obstacle sensor as well as information from one or more of a steering wheel-sensor, a blinker sensor, a brake sensor, and a vehicle speedometer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear actuator, including: a screw unit rotatably driven by a driving motor; a nut unit screwed to the screw unit; a slider attached to the nut unit, in which the slider and the nut unit move linearly by the rotation of the screw unit; a guide restricting both surfaces of the slider; a first antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider; a second antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider, and opposing the first antenna; and a third antenna attached to both side walls of the slider, being interposed between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein position of the slider is detected based on a change in capacitance due to displacement of the third antenna with respect to the first antenna and the second antenna.

Abstract: The present invention ensures easy identification of an approaching object by the driver, and guides the driver to a destination by a car navigation system by allowing the driver to keep watching ahead. Wherein a warning is not issued if the driver has been aware of an approaching obstacle and that his vehicle is being guided to the destination. (Means of Solving the Problems) A vehicle warning system comprises: an obstacle sensor for detecting approach of an obstacle to a vehicle; tactile information-generating elements for notifying a driver of the obstacle information based on the information of the obstacle sensor; and a controller for controlling the actuation of the tactile information-generating elements. The tactile information-generating elements are installed in a cushion of a driver seat with a fore-and-aft arrangement and/or a left-right arrangement.

Abstract: An approach position input device includes a plurality of antennas arranged in the form of a lattice. An oscillator applies a high-frequency ac voltage to the antennas. A signal processing circuit processes signals from the antennas. A change-over switch including switching elements sequentially changes over a connection between the antennas and the signal processing circuit. CPU sends a selection signal to the change-over switch for antenna selection. CPU calculates an approach position of a human body according to signals from the signal processing circuit. CPU instructs the change-over switch to apply the ac voltage from the oscillator only to the antenna selected according to the selection signal.

Abstract: An approach position input device includes a plurality of antennas arranged in the form of a lattice. An oscillator applies a high-frequency ac voltage to the antennas. A signal processing circuit processes signals from the antennas. A change-over switch including switching elements sequentially changes over a connection between the antennas and the signal processing circuit. CPU sends a selection signal to the change-over switch for antenna selection. CPU calculates an approach position of a human body according to signals from the signal processing circuit. CPU instructs the change-over switch to apply the ac voltage from the oscillator only to the antenna selected according to the selection signal.

Abstract: In the cleaning using the self-propelled cleaning device, firstly the cleaning device moves alongside the wall surface and then a reference direction is set. Next, the cleaning device advances alongside the wall surface by a prescribed distance, makes a right-angle turn, and travels in the reference direction. When the cleaning device reaches the surface of the opposing wall, it moves in a spiraling manner. At that time, the orientation angle of the cleaning device estimated using a gyro sensor is checked and corrected. If an obstacle is encountered while traveling, the cleaning device travels on a path that avoids the obstacle or travels in a spiral manner in a region in front of the obstacle.