Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided related to controlled interaction between a mobile robot and another entity in an operating environment. In one method, for example, performance of a task for a time is signaled for, wherein the performance of the task involves the entity. The mobile robot is operated to interact with the entity at the time.

Abstract: A vehicle and a method for controlling a vehicle transmission is provided. The vehicle has at least one wheel and a positionable acceleration device. The vehicle includes an engine being responsive to the position of the acceleration device, wherein the engine provides torque to the wheel. In one embodiment, a transmission is coupled to the engine and the wheel, wherein the transmission provides multiple speed ratios and is configured to operate in a continuously variable mode. The vehicle also includes a controller that communicates with the engine and the transmission. The controller senses the position of the acceleration device, determine a shift schedule based on the position of the acceleration device, and set an engine speed limit for the engine. The controller also generates signals for the transmission to provide the speed ratio based on the engine speed limit while the transmission operates in the continuously variable mode.

Abstract: A positioning device that detects a position of a mobile body with a radio navigation positioning unit includes: first and second autonomous sensors obtaining behavioral information on the mobile body; a position detecting unit obtaining an estimated position and an estimated direction by updating a detection result based on the behavioral information from the first autonomous sensor; a map data positioning unit that refers to a map data storage unit based on the estimated position and obtains a map data linked position at a predetermined distance away from a link; a direction detecting unit obtaining a cumulative estimated direction by updating the detection result based on the behavioral information from the second autonomous sensor; and a most probable position estimating unit estimating the position of the mobile body from the estimated positions and directions using the Kalman filter.

Abstract: An article conveying robot system capable of effectively containing an article in a container conveyed by a conveyor by using a robot. A container detecting part measures the distribution of shading of an image of each containing cell based on a detection result of the container, detects the containing state of each cell, and stores the detection result of each cell. An information managing part of a controller of an upstream side robot receives information from a container detecting part of a controller of a downstream side robot, and then generates containing cell information. An information managing part checks the cell information to be processed, and then transmits the cell information to a task executing part only when an article is not located in the corresponding cell. Task executing part controls the robot so as to locate an article in the selected cell based on the cell information.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a refueling indicator module and a diagnostic module. The refueling indicator module selectively indicates when a refueling event occurs. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in a fuel door position sensor when the fuel door position sensor indicates that a fuel door is in one of an open position for less than a first predetermined period when the refueling event occurs and a closed position for greater than a second predetermined period when the refueling event occurs.

Abstract: A traffic information system including a travel history database retaining the data on the travel history of vehicle measured at a constant temporal or running interval; a link cost weighting pattern database for storing patterns for weighting the link costs of road links, used in the determination of the travel paths of vehicles; a vehicle ID/link cost weighting pattern set database retaining the data representing the matching of the vehicle IDs with their associated link cost weighting patterns used to determine the travel paths of the vehicles; a link cost weighting pattern selection unit selecting the patterns for weighting the link costs used to determine the travel paths of the vehicles on the basis of the vehicle IDs; and a vehicle ID/link cost weighting pattern matching unit recording the data representing the matching of the vehicle IDs with their associated link cost weighting patterns.

Abstract: A navigation equipment includes a user position observing unit 15 for calculating the position of the navigation equipment by using the pseudo range and position of each GPS satellite, and a pseudo range error, a user velocity and heading observing unit 16 for calculating the velocity of the navigation equipment from a measured range rate, the position of each GPS satellite, and the position of the navigation equipment, and a user heading searching unit 17 for, when a multipath error is smaller than a specified value, searching for, as the heading of the navigation equipment, a heading whose range rate, which is calculated from a relative movement between the navigation equipment when the navigation equipment changes its heading within a predetermined angle range and a GPS satellite, matches the measured range rate.

Abstract: In order to determine an easily perceived display image for a driver assistance system, in particular a distance-measuring system or a parking assistant, a method makes use of the determination of Bezier curves on the basis of measured distance values on various measuring lines. Wherein different variants for the selection of the reference points and the curve edge points are available for the modeling and parameterization of the Bezier curves taking into account the respective current situation. It is also possible for object positions not to be taken into account under certain conditions in order to obtain smooth illustrative curves.

Abstract: When a system stop instruction is issued in the middle of the operation of an engine to stop the engine, the engagement of the gears in a gear mechanism is pressed toward one side. After the engine has stopped, a torque command for a motor connected to a drive shaft is gradually reduced. When the torque command decreases below a threshold value, the system is stopped. In this way, it is possible to prevent generation of vibration of the drive shaft when the system is stopped.