Abstract: This disclosure relates to system and method for cleaning surfaces using drones. The method includes identifying, by a first drone, a cleaning strip in contact with a surface. The cleaning strip connects a second drone and a third drone. The second drone is communicatively coupled with the third drone. The first drone is communicatively coupled with each of the second drone and the third drone. The method further includes releasing a cleaning agent at a preconfigured pressure upon a current target region of the surface near the cleaning strip. The method further includes relocating the cleaning strip upon the current target region. The method further includes performing a set of oscillations through the cleaning strip across the current target region. Each of the set of oscillations includes coordinating a displacement of the cleaning strip by a predefined distance, alternating towards each of ends of the cleaning strip.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a process is performed during controlling Autonomous Driving Vehicle (ADV). Microphone signals sense sounds in an environment of the ADV. The microphone signals are combined and filtered to form an audio signal having the sounds sensed in the environment of the ADV. A neural network is applied to the audio signal to detect a presence of an audio signature of an emergency vehicle siren. If the siren is detected, a change in the audio signature to make a determination as to whether the emergency vehicle siren is a) moving towards the ADV, or b) not moving towards the ADV. The ADV can make a driving decision, such as slowing down, stopping, and/or steering to a side, based on if the emergency vehicle siren is moving towards the ADV.

Abstract: There is provided a handheld device for navigating about a selected geographical zone. The handheld navigating device includes a processor circuit with a screen on which an image representative of a geographical map of a selected geographical zone is displayed. The geographical map of the selected geographical zone includes representations corresponding respectively with points of interest having locations and categories. The geographical map is configured so that (a) at least part of the representations corresponding respectively with points of interest are clustered within at least one viewing area, (b) the at least one viewing area is distinguished by a visible pattern having both a selected appearance and a first visual state that do not reveal the locations and the categories of the points of interest. The handheld navigation device includes a geographical position locating subsystem for determining when a selected relationship exists between the user and one or more of the points of interest.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location based on a direction sign. A method includes receiving a map of a physical area that includes a plurality of nodes connected by a links, where each link represents a travel path between connected nodes and has an associated distance value. The method includes receiving image data that indicates at least a first destination point of interest (POI) associated with a first physical direction and a second destination POI associated with a second physical direction. The method includes associating the first destination POI with a first node and associating the second destination POI with a second node. The method includes determining a location node of the plurality of the nodes according to the distances and directions of shortest paths to the first and second nodes, and returning a physical location corresponding to the determined location node.

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a blade assembly, a drive shaft coupled to the blade assembly and an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and operable to provide rotational energy to the drive shaft to rotate the blade assembly. The propulsion assembly includes a landing assistance turbine coupled to the drive shaft and operable to selectively provide rotational energy to the drive shaft during an underpowered descent to rotate the blade assembly and provide upward thrust, thereby reducing a descent rate of the rotorcraft prior to landing.

Abstract: A position estimating device is provided with an image acquiring unit that acquires images around a moving body, a moving body movement amount estimating unit that estimates an amount of movement of the moving body based on the images, and a moving body position estimating unit that estimates the position of the moving body based on the estimated amount of movement. The moving body movement amount estimating unit includes a tracking unit that tracks a first feature point to a second feature point, a distance calculating unit that calculates the distance from the moving body to the second feature point, an azimuth estimating unit that estimates the azimuth of the moving body based on the distance from the moving body to the second feature point, and a movement amount estimating unit which estimates the amount of movement of the moving body based on the azimuth of the moving body.

Abstract: Integrated circuit resistor elements ideally suited for load devices in static MOS RAM cells are made in second-level polycrystalline silicon by an ion implant step compatible with a self-aligned N-channel silicon-gate process. The cell size is reduced as the resistors can overly the first-level poly or MOS transistors. The second-level poly does not form transistor gates, so it is less critical, and an efficient layout provides a very small cell area.