Abstract: A height of a case body (54) for covering an actuating device (1) is so designed as to be lower than a height of an operator. The actuating device (1) and the case body (54) will not largely project from a rooftop (50) of the building in which an ascending and descending cage (52) is disposed, and cost for the case body (54) can be lowered.

Abstract: A medium thickness detecting apparatus detects the thickness of a recording medium. A displacement section is disposed in a transport path through which a recording medium passes. When the recording medium passes the displacement section, the displacement section displaces in a direction substantially normal to the surface of a recording medium. An amplifying section amplifies a displacement of the displacement section by a predetermined factor. A thickness determining section outputs a signal representative of an amplified value of the displacement. The displacement section may be one of two rollers between which the recording medium passes, and displaces upward when the recording medium passes between the two rollers. Alternatively, the displacement section my be positioned to sit on a stage provided in the transport path such that the displacement section is pushed away from the stage when the recording medium passes between the displacement section and the surface.

Abstract: A navigation system for navigating an autonomous vehicle along a path that is confined by walls that are within range of on-board sensors is described. The system determines the relative location and orientation of the walls with respect to the vehicle. The system controls the steering angle and the ground speed of the vehicle by employing: (a) range data to establish free space in front of vehicle; (b) active contours to generate a desired path; (c) driving hints to guide the active contours along arcs and open areas; (d) steering hints to confine the active contours to a specific domain of free space, at, for instance, intersections; and (e) a desired path to generate steering demand or velocity.