Abstract: Flight based infrared imaging systems and related techniques, and in particular unmanned aerial system (UAS) based systems, are provided for aiding in operation and/or piloting of a mobile structure. Such systems and techniques may include determining environmental conditions around the mobile structure with the UAS detecting the presence of objects and/or persons around the mobile structure and/or determining the presence of other structures around the mobile structure. Instructions for the operation of such mobile structures may then be accordingly determined responsive to such data.

Abstract: A train simulator test set is disclosed that can be operably coupled to a railroad track to measure the resting impedance of that track circuit and simulate a train by varying the railroad track inductance over a set period of time. The test set can select the speed, direction, and number of trains to simulate. By applying a variable inductance on the railroad tracks, the test set can simulate a train moving at variable speeds toward and away from the island. The test set can apply inductances to the railroad tracks to simulate two or more trains moving in each direction of the tracks at the same time, along with multiple looks and routes. The train simulator test set can include simulation software to vary the parameters of the train simulation and couple a variable inductance on the railroad tracks.

Abstract: An autonomy system for use with a vehicle in an environment. The autonomy system comprising a processor operatively coupled with a memory device, a plurality of sensors operatively coupled with the processor; a vehicle controller, a situational awareness module, a task planning module, and a task execution module. The situational awareness module being configured to determine a state of the environment based at least in part on sensor data from at least one of the plurality of sensors. The task planning module being configured to identify, via the processor, a plurality of tasks to be performed by the vehicle and to generate a task assignment list from the plurality of tasks that is based at least in part on predetermined optimization criteria. The task execution module being configured to instruct the vehicle controller to execute the plurality of tasks in accordance with the task assignment list.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating the corrosion levels of a steering rack of a vehicle. Measurements of torsional force applied to the steering rack are taken with respect to the displacement of the steering rack from a neutral position and the moving velocity of the vehicle, and compared to the expected values corresponding to a non-corroded steering rack. The degree of difference between the measured and expected values may then be used to estimate the level of corrosion of the steering rack.

Abstract: A flight deck system for an aircraft includes a display device for providing a graphical interface for displaying flight-related information including a plurality of windows to an operator. The display device is configured for displaying the plurality of windows within a plurality of regions. The plurality of regions can each have a predefined shape and orientation on the display screen according to a regular grid layout. A touch interface is coordinated with the display device for receiving touch information from the operator and allowing the operator to interact with the graphical interface. A processor is communicatively coupled with the touch interface device and operatively coupled with the display device. The processor can be configured to dynamically recreate a selected window of flight-related information within one or more of the plurality of regions corresponding to an operator-selected icon. In such embodiments, the operator can operate the graphical interface through direct touch.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for constructing, using, and updating the sparse map for autonomous vehicle navigation. A system may comprise a processor and a memory. The memory may include instructions, which when executed on the processor, cause the processor to maintain a map; determine, based on analysis of image data, an existence of a non-transient condition that is inconsistent with the map, the image data from a camera integrated with the autonomous vehicle; and update the map.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a steer by wire steering system includes a handwheel actuator, a roadwheel actuator, and a resynchronization module to dynamically adjust handwheel position that is used for rack position reference calculation. The dynamic adjustment includes determining a desynchronization amount based on a difference in an actual handwheel position and a synchronized handwheel position. The dynamic adjustment further includes computing a handwheel adjustment using the desynchronization amount, a vehicle speed, and a handwheel speed. The dynamic adjustment further includes computing an adjusted handwheel position based on the handwheel adjustment and the actual handwheel position. The dynamic adjustment further includes updating the reference rack position based on the adjusted handwheel position. The dynamic adjustment is continuously repeated until the handwheel adjustment is substantially equal to zero.

Abstract: A steering control device for controlling a rotation angle of a motor that drives a steering mechanism according to a rotation angle of a steering wheel, includes a torque controller to control torque of the motor with the rotation angle of the steering wheel as a command value, and a phase advance processor to perform feedback control on the torque of the motor with at least one of the rotation angle and angular velocity of the motor as a command value, and advance a phase of a signal waveform to be fed back for a partial frequency range that includes a resonance frequency of the motor and the steering mechanism in an entire frequency range.

Abstract: A drive assist device installed in a tractor vehicle having a connection portion to be connected to a vehicle to be towed, includes: an image acquisition unit which acquires an image taken from a camera that shoots a scene in a shooting range including the connection portion; a position detection unit which detects a position of a counterpart connection portion, to be connected to the connection portion, of the vehicle to be towed; a predicted line generation unit which generates a predicted course line that the connection portion is expected to follow based on a steering angle of the tractor vehicle; a deviation calculation unit which calculates a deviation between the counterpart connection portion and the predicted course line as defined herein; a support image generation unit which generates a support image as defined herein; and an image synthesis unit which generates a synthesized image as defined herein.

Abstract: An infrastructure to vehicle communications system includes a full spectrum camera disposed on a vehicle. A sign, disposed away from the vehicle, includes a message thereon. The sign reflecting visible light, and at least a portion of the message being an optical code; the optical code not reflecting visible light and reflecting invisible light. The full spectrum camera captures the image of the sign including the optical code. A smart vision device receives the image and determines the existence of the sign from the reflected visible light and the optical code thereon from the reflected invisible light. A data base stores one or more optical codes and one or more messages associated with a respective optical code, an on board unit communicating with the database and retrieves the message as a function of the optical code, and displays the message at a display in the vehicle.

Abstract: A train overspeed protection method includes: acquiring, when emergency braking is triggered for a train, an initial speed limit location point of each speed limit region among a preset number of speed limit regions, and a first speed limit value corresponding to each initial speed limit location point so as to obtain a plurality of first speed limit values; acquiring a current traveling location point of the train and a corresponding second speed limit value, and acquiring a current traveling speed of the train; determining a plurality of decelerations of the current traveling speed relative to each first speed limit value, selecting a deceleration satisfying a preset condition from the plurality of decelerations, and determining the initial speed limit location point corresponding to the deceleration satisfying the preset condition as a target speed limit location point; determining an emergency braking speed according to a relative deceleration of the second speed limit value relative to the first speed li

Abstract: A metric priority is accessed, which identifies a priority of a plurality of different control metrics that are used in controlling an agricultural implement. Control signals are generated to control the implement to bring the metrics within corresponding predefined ranges in descending order of priority.

Abstract: A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for constructing, using, and updating the sparse map for autonomous vehicle navigation. A method may comprise processing, by a mapping server, collected navigation information from a plurality of vehicles obtained by sensors coupled to the plurality of vehicles, wherein the navigation information describes road lanes of a road segment; collecting data about landmarks identified proximate to the road segment, the landmarking including a traffic sign; generating, by the mapping server, an autonomous vehicle map for the road segment, wherein the autonomous vehicle map includes a spline corresponding to a lane in the road segment and the landmarks identified proximate to the road segment; and distributing, by the mapping server, the autonomous vehicle map to an autonomous vehicle for use in autonomous navigation over the road segment.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage comprises a wheel assembly that attaches to a shopping cart. In some embodiments the wheel assembly includes a wheel, a brake that can be activated to inhibit rotation of the wheel, a controller that controls the brake, a VLF receiver, and an RF transceiver. The RF transceiver may, for example, operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some implementations, the RF transceiver may be used to detect entry of the shopping cart into a checkout area of the store, and the VLF receiver may be used to detect that the shopping cart is exiting the store. The controller may activate the brake if the shopping cart attempts to exit the store without first passing through a checkout area.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a steering wheel including an annular rim portion and a spoke portion that extends inward from the rim portion, an indicator that is disposed on the spoke portion and is able to be lit, and a controller that controls a lighting state of the indicator according to a state of driving assistance.

Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a controller that receives the scene data and identifying the trailer within the area to the rear of the vehicle, derives a backing path to align a hitch ball mounted on the vehicle to a coupler of the trailer, outputting a powertrain control signal to the vehicle powertrain control system, and a brake control signal to the vehicle brake system to maneuver the vehicle, including reversing along the backing path and stopping the vehicle at an endpoint of the path, and outputs a video image to the vehicle human-machine interface including a graphical overlay on the image data. The graphical overlay indicates potential movement of the hitch ball past the coupler and being positioned in the image data between a bumper of the vehicle and the hitch ball.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.