Abstract: The disclosure relates to a transport operation control method and apparatus. The method includes determining to interchange a vehicle to be changed selected among a plurality of vehicles with a vehicle for replacement, transmitting an instruction such that the vehicle for replacement travels a circuit between the vehicle to he changed and a vehicle traveling behind, and transmitting an instruction such that over a time period from the vehicle for replacement starting traveling on the path until finishing one lap of the path, In the method, a time interval at which each of all remaining vehicles other than the vehicle to be changed among the plurality of vehicles and the vehicle for replacement passes an arbitrary point on the path becomes approximately constant. The method further includes instructing the vehicle to be changed to leave the path after the vehicle for replacement finishes the lap of the path.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to techniques for implementing conditional automation systems and in particular, for facilitating conditional automation in the context autonomous vehicle (AV) transportation services. Some aspects of the disclosed technology include methods that include steps for receiving an event trigger at a conditional autonomous vehicle (AV) platform, mapping the event trigger onto a conditional output, and sending the conditional output to an autonomous vehicle (AV) associated with the event trigger, wherein the conditional output is configured to update a navigation instruction followed by the AV. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mitigating the risks associated with operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by using calculated route traversal values to select less risky travel routes and/or modify vehicle operation. Various approaches to achieving this risk mitigation are presented. A computing device is configured to generate a database of route traversal values. This device may receive a variety of historical route traversal information, real-time vehicle information, and/or route information from one of more data sources and calculate a route traversal value for the associated driving route. Subsequently, the computing device may provide the associated route traversal value to other devices, such as a vehicle navigation device associated with the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. An insurance company may use this information to help determine insurance premiums for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles by analyzing and/or mitigating the risk associated with operating those vehicles.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems that are designed for receiving a request for transporting one or more end users towards a destination location; providing a travel plan for facilitating the one or more end users to travel to the destination location from a starting location, the travel plan identifying at least two route legs including at least one transport route leg that calls for at least one transportation vehicle unit to transport the one or more end users over the transport route leg; and directing the at least one transportation vehicle unit to rendezvous with the one or more end users at a rendezvous location in order to transport the one or more end users over the transport route leg. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for establishing direction based traffic events and lane-level traffic associated therewith. Methods may include receiving a plurality of probe data points, where each probe data point includes location information associated with the respective probe apparatus; determining a path through an intersection from among a plurality of paths through the intersection for each probe apparatus based, at least in part, on a sequence of probe data points from each respective probe apparatus; determining, for each path through the intersection, an average speed of probe apparatuses traveling along the respective path and an average travel time along a road link approaching the intersection of the probe apparatuses traveling along the respective path; and determining a direction based traffic event in response to the differential amount of time between the highest average travel time and the lowest average travel time.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for routing an autonomous vehicles based on an assessment of its limitations. The autonomous vehicle can avoid problematic routes by applying a set of rules to a map, where the set of rules are associated with a feature that causes a failure of the autonomous vehicle due to an autonomous vehicle limitation. Based on the application of the set of rules, a portion of a route on the map that is associated with the feature can be identified, and an identifier can be applied to the identified portion of the route associated with the feature on a routing map. The portion of the route can be omitted from a routable graph applied to the routing map, such that the route for the autonomous vehicle is generated in accordance with the routable graph.

Abstract: This application provides a method and an apparatus for generating road network data of an intersection area, and the intersection area connects a plurality of roads. The method includes: obtaining data of a road link of each of the plurality of roads, where the road link includes an entry link and an exit link; calculating coordinates of an intersection point of an extension line of the entry link of each road and an extension line of an exit link of a neighboring road based on the data of the road link of each of the plurality of roads, where the coordinates of the intersection point are coordinates of an intersection node; and the neighboring road is a road counterclockwise adjacent to the road; or the neighboring road is a road clockwise adjacent to the road, where two intersection nodes in sequence are endpoints of an intra-intersection link.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and computer systems are disclosed herein as implemented by an autonomous recharging vehicle (ARV) as well as one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, servers, and/or sensors.

Abstract: A method of generating a flight path for an aircraft is provided. The method includes modeling geographic space and time that includes a plurality of mobile communication nodes. The model includes locations of each of the plurality of mobile communication nodes as those nodes move over time. The model also provides an indication of wireless connectivity between a radio on each of the plurality of communication nodes and a radio of the aircraft at their respective location. The method further includes running a plurality of flight paths through the model in order to identify a selected flight path that provides a desired level of connectivity between the aircraft and the plurality of communication nodes.

Abstract: A method for distributing navigation map data to a plurality of work machines which are part of a network of work machines and perform work orders in this network, wherein the navigation map data are needed in the work machines to carry out the work orders, and work orders are planned on the basis of navigation map data, includes detecting work orders for work machines, which work orders exist in the network and were planned on the basis of old navigation map data. The method includes checking the work orders which exist in the network in order to determine whether these work orders can be carried out with new navigation map data, and terminating work orders which cannot be carried out with new navigation map data. The new navigation map data is then installed.

Abstract: Optimizing performance of an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes acquiring information pertaining to a plurality of factors associated with the AV. The plurality of factors includes a route to be traversed by the AV for a ride, a type of a road included in the route, a real-time location of the AV, a time of travel, and a weather condition at the time of travel. An optimal configuration is selected based on the acquired information for operating components of the AV. The components are configured in real time to operate at the optimal configuration. When the components operate at the optimal configuration, a power consumed by the components is reduced and a durability of the components is increased relative to when the components operate at a first configuration that is different from the optimal configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for routing autonomous vehicles by simulating an autonomous vehicle traversing a route on a map representing a physical area. A router flag can be generated at a specific location on the map. A router flag rule that defines a factor that caused a failure of the autonomous vehicle can then be created at the location, and the autonomous vehicle can be simulated traversing the to identify at least one other area on the map where the autonomous vehicle is likely to fail. An identifier can be applied to the other area on the map where the autonomous vehicle is likely to fail according to the router flag rule. The other area with the applied identifier can be omitted from a routable graph applied to the routing map, such that the route for the autonomous vehicle is generated in accordance with the routable graph.

Abstract: User equipment comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate data with infrastructure equipment and controller circuitry configured to: operate in a first mode using a first communication protocol and operate in a second mode using a second communication protocol, wherein the first communication protocol has a higher bandwidth than the second communication protocol; and switch operation from the second mode to the first mode when the user equipment is at or below a threshold speed.

Abstract: A filter element analysis system for analyzing a filter element within a vehicle, the system including various filter sensors so as to provide information regarding various filter element parameters, a locator which configured provide vehicle position information such that conditions regarding the vehicle environment can be tracked and correlated to the location, as well as a means for transmitting information to a remote server for analysis and tracking of the filter element information with regard to environmental conditions such that a filter element status, remaining filter life, or particle load and replacement timeline can be calculated and updated so as to provide more accurate predictive models of the filter element conditions. As well as provide alerts regarding the need and scheduling of replacement or cleaning of a particular filter element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating container transportation. A method of autonomously transporting a cargo container includes aligning a distribution vehicle with the cargo container. The distribution vehicle is aligned with and hitched to the cargo container. An attachment can be connected to the cargo container for mating systems of the cargo container with the distribution vehicle. A system has inputs for vehicle and container location, arrival and departure times, facility plans, and can coordinate the autonomous movement of containers in a facility or a yard.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor acquires a first image at a first time and a second image at a second time later than the first time from a monocular camera mounted on a vehicle, calculates an amount of movement of the vehicle based on a sensor value acquired during a measurement period between the first time and the second time, outputs a result of distance measurement using a first distance measurement method to perform distance measurement using the first image or the second image or a second distance measurement method to perform distance measurement using the first image and the second image, depending on the amount of movement and outputs a result of calculation of a route to guide the vehicle to a parking space, based on the result of distance measurement.

Abstract: A steering system includes an actuator, a steering wheel that generates inputs for the actuator in a manual steer-by-wire control state, and a controller that determines operating conditions for the actuator, the steering wheel, or both. The controller determines blended steering angles based on manual steering angles of the steering wheel and automatic steering angles associated with an automated steer-by-wire control state. The controller transitions operation of the steering system from the manual steer-by-wire control state to the automated steer-by-wire control state when all operating conditions are satisfied and uses a blending function that applies weighting values to the manual steering angles and the automated steering angles to determine the blended steering angles. The controller controls the actuator using the blended steering angles.

Abstract: A steering system on a marine vessel includes at least one propulsion device, a steering actuator that rotates the propulsion device to effectuate steering, at least one trim device moveable to adjust a running angle of the vessel, and a trim actuator configured to move the trim device so as to adjust the running angle. The system further includes a control system configured to determine a desired roll angle and at least one of a desired turn rate and a desired turn angle for the marine vessel based on a steering instructions. The control system then controls the steering actuator to the rotate the at least one propulsion device based on the desired turn rate and/or the desired turn angle, and to control the trim actuator to move the at least one trim device based on the desired roll angle so as to effectuate the steering instruction.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring, manipulating and displaying inspection data obtained by sensors associated with submersible inspection vehicle within a housing having a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. A control system including an electronic controller is operably coupled with the inspection vehicle and is configured to display data transmitted from the sensor and overlay input data from an operator on the display to facilitate real time analysis during the inspection event.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for dispatching autonomous vehicles. A service arrangement system may receive error data describing an error state at a first autonomous vehicle executing a first transportation service. The first transportation service may include moving a payload from a transportation service start point to a transportation service end point. The service arrangement system may determine, using the error data, a first property of the first autonomous vehicle associated with the error state and select a second autonomous vehicle that does not have the first property. The service arrangement system may send to the second autonomous vehicle a transportation service request requesting that the second autonomous vehicle travel to a rendezvous location to meet the first autonomous vehicle and transport the payload from the rendezvous location to the transportation service end point.