Abstract: A joint torque augmentation system includes linkage assembly configured to couple to a user. Linkage assembly includes a unidirectional link and a device joint. The linkage assembly is worn by a user or is configured to couple to footwear. An actuator is coupled to the linkage assembly to provide a torque at a joint of the user. A sensor is coupled to the user to measure a position of the user. A control system is coupled to the sensor and actuator. A phase of gait for the user is determined by the control system based on the position measured by the sensor. The actuator produces a tension force on the linkage assembly during a first phase of gait. A compliant element is coupled between the actuator and linkage assembly. The compliant element is tuned based on a load carried by the user.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a charging interface that is configured to connect to a bicycle battery and a processing device programmed to determine a state of charge of the bicycle battery. The processing device further estimates traveling ranges of a vehicle and a bicycle. The vehicle system further includes a navigation module programmed to generate a route to a selected destination based on the estimated traveling ranges of the vehicle and the bicycle.

Abstract: A single passenger carrying mobile robot, includes a single operated member that is operated by a passenger to instruct both a moving direction and a moving speed of the passenger carrying mobile robot, a moving member configured to move the passenger carrying mobile robot and a controller configured to control the moving member based on input information input to the operated member by the passenger, wherein the passenger carrying mobile robot further includes a sensor that acquires obstacle information of a surrounding of the passenger carrying mobile robot, and the controller predicts an expected course of the passenger carrying mobile robot based on the input information and determines based on the obstacle information whether or not an obstacle is located in the expected course, and changes a control of the moving member when determining that the obstacle is located.

Abstract: A method includes maneuvering a robot in (i) a following mode in which the robot is controlled to travel along a path segment adjacent an obstacle, while recording data indicative of the path segment, and (ii) in a coverage mode in which the robot is controlled to traverse an area. The method includes generating data indicative of a layout of the area, updating data indicative of a calculated robot pose based at least on odometry, and calculating a pose confidence level. The method includes, in response to the confidence level being below a confidence limit, maneuvering the robot to a suspected location of the path segment, based on the calculated robot pose and the data indicative of the layout and, in response to detecting the path segment within a distance from the suspected location, updating the data indicative of the calculated pose and/or the layout.

Abstract: An example method includes determining a depth map of at least one static surface of a building, where the depth map includes a plurality of surface contours. The method further includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors on a robotic device that is located in the building. The method also includes determining a plurality of respective distances between the robotic device and a plurality of respective detected points on the at least one static surface of the building. The method additionally includes identifying at least one surface contour that includes the plurality of respective detected points. The method further includes determining a position of the robotic device in the building that aligns the at least one identified surface contour with at least one corresponding surface contour in the depth map.

Abstract: The target-seeking control method and system for mobile robots uses a raw, ultrasonic sensory signal. The present method carries-out reasoning and decision-making in a subjective environment (SE) on-board the robot. This environment has only two links to the objective environment (OE) in which the robot is operating. If the robot is at a safe place in a SE, then it is at a safe place in the corresponding OE. If the robot reaches the target in a SE, then it reaches the target in the corresponding OE, The present method uses relaxed potential fields to base enroute mobility on safety, only without having to accurately estimate the geometry of the surrounding environment, thereby significantly reducing structure complexity and increasing its reliability.

Abstract: A state detecting method applied to a mobile device includes: arranging a depth sensor at the bottom of the mobile device, obtaining a detection signal of the depth sensor, and determining if the mobile device is in a lifted state, a tilted state, or an edge-bordering state, based on the numerical value of the detection signal of the depth sensor. The lifted state is associated with the mobile device without contacting with a support surface. The tilted status is associated with one end of the mobile device contacting the support surface and the other end of the mobile device without contacting the support surface. The edge-bordering state is associated with the mobile device located at the edge of the support surface. Accordingly, when the mobile device is in any of the aforementioned states, an appropriate response can be implemented.

Abstract: A method for accessing information on an electronic version of an navigation information display is described. The method includes displaying navigation information in a first portion of a display of a device, the device incorporating a touch screen, sensing a user touch on the touch screen, determining, by the device, a selected location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred, correlating the selected location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred with a location on the navigation information display, displaying a magnified area of a portion of the navigation information proximate the location on the touch screen where the user touch occurred, and displaying textual information related to the magnified area in a second portion of the display device.

Abstract: A method for modeling aircraft performance including (a) introducing aircraft degradation coefficients in a nominal aircraft performance model of an aircraft and obtaining a degraded aircraft performance model, (b) calculating computed trajectory data in a trajectory computation infrastructure using as inputs aircraft intent which represents trajectory data, weather data, and the degraded aircraft performance model; (c) comparing the trajectory data with the computed trajectory data; (d) obtaining an enhanced aircraft performance model by considering the degraded aircraft performance model as the enhanced aircraft performance model, when the result of the comparison is less than a previously established threshold; and (e) modifying, when the result of the comparison is higher than the previously established threshold, the aircraft degradation coefficients and executing steps (a) to (e) of the method, until the result of the comparison is less than the previously established threshold.

Abstract: The hybrid constructions machine has an engine rotation speed sensor 11A to detect a rotation speed NE of an engine 11, an engine state determination unit 20B to determine the state of output torque TE of the engine 11, a load torque estimation unit 20C to calculate load torque TP of a hydraulic pump 13, and an engine assistance limiting unit 20E to, when the rotation speed NE detected with the engine rotation speed sensor 11A is equal to or greater than a rotation speed N0, and the engine state determination unit 20B determines that the output torque TE of the engine 11 has not become minimum torque Tmin, or the load torque TP calculated with the load torque estimation unit 20C is lower than torque T1, limit motive-power assistance with the motor generator 12 to the engine 11.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, may cause the computer to receive data recorded by a wearable device during a fishing trip. The computer may receive location data that corresponds to the fishing trip. The computer may use the data recorded by the wearable device to determine a time period for a fishing activity during the fishing trip. The computer may use the location data to determine locations corresponding to the time period.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an articulable end effector of a robotic arm employing a digital camera includes commanding the end effector to achieve a plurality of poses. At each commanded end effector pose, an image of the end effector with the digital camera is captured and a scene point cloud including the end effector is generated based upon the captured image of the end effector. A synthetic point cloud including the end effector is generated based upon the commanded end effector pose, and a first position of the end effector is based upon the synthetic point cloud, and a second position of the end effector associated with the scene point cloud is determined. A position of the end effector is calibrated based upon the first position of the end effector and the second position of the end effector for the plurality of commanded end effector poses.

Abstract: A poor fit state is eliminated during an inserting operation for inserting the inserting object piece to the inserting target piece. Vibrators are attached to fingers of a robot hand, at positions contacting an inserting object piece. A controlling apparatus controls a power source to start vibrating the vibrators before the start of the inserting operation and judges as to whether a detection value of force in a Z direction detected by a force sensor exceeds or falls below a threshold value during the inserting operation. When the controlling apparatus judges that the detection value of force in the Z direction detected by the force sensor exceeds the threshold value during the inserting operation, the controlling apparatus controls the power source to change the amplitudes, the frequencies and the phases of vibrations of the vibrators.

Abstract: Methods and systems of determining a location of a target object on a surface are disclosed. A method may include positioning a robotic arm proximate to the target object, moving the robotic arm at a trajectory such that the robotic arm contacts the target object and pushes the target object across the surface into a target area bound by known dimensional coordinates, moving a robotic hand coupled to the robotic arm along a vector that corresponds to one of the known dimensional coordinates such that the robotic hand contacts the target object in the target area, and grasping the target object with the robotic hand.

Abstract: An aspect provides a method, including: capturing, using a sensor, positional information relating to a driver; determining, using a processor, a driver position with respect to an airbag containing component based on the positional information; and adjusting deployment of the airbag based on the determined driver position. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: In an approach for locating parking, a computer identifies driving directions to a destination. The computer receives a navigation input from a user to locate parking associated with the destination. The computer calculates one or more navigation paths based on the destination, wherein the one or more navigation paths include one or more street segments that connect identical starting and ending points with at least one different street segment and overall values indicating priority based on one or more weight factors associated with the one or more street segments. The computer selects a first navigation path from the calculated one or more navigation paths utilizing an ordered ranking of the one or more navigation paths. The computer provides driving directions associated with the first navigation path. The computer determines whether the user locates parking while utilizing the first navigation path.

Abstract: A method for operating a mechanical flight control system is provided. The method provides a torque command to a servo torque control loop, wherein the servo torque control loop comprises at least one position control servo; receives at least one feedback signal from the position control servo, during operation of the position control servo; detects user external load disturbance input to the servo torque control loop, based on the at least one feedback signal; and adjusts operation of the position control servo, based on the detected user external load disturbance input.

Abstract: A method for controlling recharging of a traction battery on a motor vehicle hybrid transmission including a heat engine and at least one electrical machine, wherein the electrical machine is used as a sole motor-driven power source up to a speed threshold beyond which it is possible to couple the heat engine with the wheels, in hybrid modes, to run power supplies from the heat engine and the electrical machine simultaneously with each other. In the method, below the speed threshold, the electrical machine ensures only torque to be transmitted to the wheels, while the heat engine is ignited to provide recharging without contributing to pull of the vehicle when a driver bears on the accelerator pedal, and while the wheels are separate from the heat engine and the electrical machine, when the driver does not bear on the accelerator pedal, to enable recharging of the battery.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for carpet drift estimation are disclosed. In certain implementations, a robotic device includes an actuator system to move the body across a surface. A first set of sensors can sense an actuation characteristic of the actuator system. For example, the first set of sensors can include odometry sensors for sensing wheel rotations of the actuator system. A second set of sensors can sense a motion characteristic of the body. The first set of sensors may be a different type of sensor than the second set of sensors. A controller can estimate carpet drift based at least on the actuation characteristic sensed by the first set of sensors and the motion characteristic sensed by the second set of sensors.

Abstract: A verbal taxi clearance system for an aircraft and a method of controlling the same are provided. The system, for example, may include, but is not limited to a communication system, and a processor communicatively coupled to the communication system, the processor configured to receive, from the communication system, first audio data from air traffic control, convert the first audio data from air traffic control into first taxi route data, receive second audio data from a cockpit of the aircraft, convert the second audio data into second taxi route data, compare the first taxi route data to the second taxi route data, output, when the first taxi route data matches the second taxi route data, a taxi route corresponding to the first and second taxi route data, and generate an alert when the first taxi route data does not match the second taxi route data.