Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing supplemental identification abilities to an autonomous vehicle system. The sensor unit of the vehicle may be configured to receive data indicating an environment of the vehicle, while the control system may be configured to operate the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a processing unit configured to analyze the data indicating the environment to determine at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold. Based on the at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold, the processor may communicate at least a subset of the data indicating the environment for further processing. The vehicle is also configured to receive an indication of an object confirmation of the subset of the data. Based on the object confirmation of the subset of the data, the processor may alter the control of the vehicle by the control system.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for operating a multicopter experiencing a failure during flight, the multicopter comprising a body, and at least four effectors attached to the body, each operable to produce both a torque and a thrust force which can cause the multicopter to fly when not experiencing said failure.

Abstract: A communication device includes a first terminal unit connected to an actuator device having a sensor. Transmission of a steering signal transmitted from a steering wireless device to the actuator device, and transmission of detected signal detected by the sensor in the actuator device are conducted via the first terminal unit. The communication device further includes a control unit. The control unit conducts processing to generate a connection error signal representing that the actuator device are not connected on the basis of a result of determination whether the detected signal is acquired from the actuator device via the first terminal unit, and transmit the connection error signal to the steering wireless device side.

Abstract: A method for implementing and canceling an automatic operation of a body of a machine includes receiving a selection of an automatic setting according to a first operation of a hoist mode actuator, determining an activation state of the automatic setting, causing an automatic operation of an engine of the machine to adjust an idle level of the engine and an automatic operation of a hoist system to move the body in a first direction to a first position. The method includes canceling the automatic operation of the engine and the automatic operation of the hoist system and controlling the idle level of the engine according to operations of a throttle, the hoist system to move the body according to the idle level of the engine and respective directions of the second operation the hoist mode actuator and subsequent operations of the hoist mode actuator.

Abstract: A robotic assembly control system is disclosed. The robotic assembly control system includes an exoskeleton apparatus adapted to be worn by a user, at least one robotic assembly, the at least one robotic assembly controlled by the user by way of the exoskeleton, and at least one mobile platform, the at least one mobile platform controlled by the user and wherein the at least one robotic assembly is attached to the at least one mobile platform.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product control a driving mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV). One or more processors detect that an SDV is being operated in manual mode by a human driver. The processor(s) determine that the human driver is unqualified to operate the SDV in manual mode, and then transfer control of the SDV to an SDV on-board computer in order to place the SDV in autonomous mode.

Abstract: A braking force (BF) control system includes: a first required BF calculator that calculates, based on a position of the brake pedal, a first required friction BF allocated to the friction brake and a first required regenerative BF allocated to regenerative control of the drive motor; a second required BF calculator that calculates, based on a position of the acceleration pedal, a second required friction BF allocated to the friction brake and a second required regenerative BF allocated to the regenerative control; a regenerative total BF calculation/execution portion that calculates a regenerative total BF based on the first and second required regenerative BFs and performs the regenerative control based on the regenerative total BF; and a friction total BF calculation/execution portion that calculates a friction total BF based on the first and second required friction BFs and controls the friction brake based on the friction total BF.

Abstract: A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.

Abstract: A system, method, and device may include software and hardware which simplify and quicken configuration of the system for testing a device, enhance testing procedures which may be performed, and provide data via which to easily discern a cause and nature of an error which may result during testing. A camera may capture still images of a display screen of a tested device and another camera may capture video images of the tested device and a partner device. A wizard may be used to generate a configuration file based on one previously generated for a similar device. A mount for a tested device may be structured so that: it is suitable for mounting thereon a plurality of differently structured devices; and adjustments in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in a plane and adjustments of an angle of the device relative to the plane may be easily made.

Abstract: A method for controlling an auto cruise speed of a vehicle includes: determining a feedback torque for correcting a speed error between a target speed set by a driver of the vehicle and a current speed that is a feedback speed detected by a speed sensor of a vehicle; determining a drive resistance according to the target speed by inputting the target speed; determining a first feedforward torque according to the determined drive resistance; determining a second feedforward torque based on a vehicle inertia and a variation of the target speed by inputting the target speed; and outputting a command for generating a wheel required torque that is corrected by adding the first feedforward torque and the second feedforward torque to the feedback torque.

Abstract: A robot control apparatus includes a stop command unit which stops a robot. A first external force judgement value smaller than a stop judgement value and a second external force judgement value smaller than the first external force judgement value are previously determined. The stop command unit inhibits a restart of execution of an operation program when, in a state where the execution of the operation program is temporarily stopped, an external force is continuously equal to or less than the first external force judgement value during a period of a first time length, and additionally, the external force continuously exceeds the second external force judgement value during a period of a second time length.

Abstract: Methods and/or systems are provided that may be utilized to recommend a contextual walking route for a number of venues, for example.

Abstract: A vehicular sensing system, a vehicle and a method of performing one or both of vehicular mapping and navigating operations using the sensing system. The sensing system includes one or more sensors, a retractable mounting structure secured to a roof of the vehicle to be selectively placed within a recess formed in the roof. The mounting structure and sensor cooperative with one another such that the mounting structure selectively moves the sensor between a stowed position and a deployed position. A fairing is used to cover at least a portion of the sensing system and the recess when the sensing system is stowed within the recess. In a deployed position, the sensor is extended away from the roof to permit the sensor to acquire mapping or navigation data, while in its stowed position, the sensor, mounting structure and fairing define aesthetically-pleasing and aerodynamically unobtrusive profile across the portion of the roof that corresponds to the recess.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle, in particular of an electric vehicle, during a driving process for overcoming an obstacle which is close to the ground and has a slow speed. In this context, the method has the following steps: transmission (S1) of a torque to the wheels which are to be driven in order to overcome the obstacle, detection (S6) that the obstacle has been overcome, and automatic reduction in the torque and/or automatic generation (S7) of a braking torque in order to decelerate the motor vehicle directly after the detection.

Abstract: Based on input steering commands, a legged robot may select a target gait. Based on the target gait, the legged robot may obtain a list of gait controllers. Each gait controller may define a gait of the legged robot, and include validity tests and steering commands. The legged robot may apply a cost function to the gait controllers, where the cost for a gait controller is based on a difference between the steering commands of the gait controller and the input steering commands, and a proximity of the legged robot to obstacles should the legged robot operate according the gait controller. The legged robot may reorder the list in increasing magnitude of the cost function, and traverse the list until a validity test associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may actuate its legs according to the steering commands of the particular gait controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic navigation instructions. In one implementation a navigation instruction can be received in relation to a location, the navigation instruction can be processed with respect to one or more prior navigation operations performed with respect to the location, based on a determination that the navigation instruction deviates from the one or more prior navigation operations, a notification can be generated; and the notification can be provided in relation to the location.

Abstract: A master console includes handles configured to control robotic surgical instruments of a slave robot, force/torque detectors configured to detect forces applied to the handles by an operator, a force compensator configured to generate force control signals that cancel out the forces applied to the handles by the operator, and a master controller configured to drive at least one joint of each of the handles in order to control motion of the handles based on motion control signals and the generated force control signals.

Abstract: A robot apparatus 1 includes: a multi-articulated robot 2; and a controller 3 that drive-controls the multi-articulated robot 2 based on an input motion command. The controller 3 includes: a joint angle computing unit 32 that computes each joint angle command for driving the multi-articulated robot 2 based on the motion command; a servo controlling apparatus 30 that moves the multi-articulated robot 2 by rotationally driving each rotational joint based on the joint angle command computed by the joint angle computing unit 32; a singular point calculating unit 51 that calculates a distance between the multi-articulated robot 2 and a singular point of the multi-articulated robot 2; and a maximum joint angle deviation adjusting unit 52 that limits a maximum rotation speed of a rotational joint specified in advance based on a singular point type, if the singular point distance becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for computing a correction to a compass heading for a portable device worn or carried by a user is described. The method involves determining a heading for the device based on a compass reading, collecting data from one or more sensors, determining if the device is indoors or outdoors based on the collected data, and correcting the heading based on the determination of whether the device is indoors or outdoors.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a vehicle, the method including: determining a driving mode based on a speed of the vehicle and a user-selected driving mode, the determining the driving mode comprising driving the vehicle using power supplied from at least one power supply source of power supply sources, the power supply sources including: 1) first and second engine generators, each configured to generate power by using turning force; 2) a battery charged by the first or second engine generator; and 3) an ultra capacitor charged by the first or second engine generator; and determining an alternative driving mode comprising switching from the at least one power supply source of the power supply sources to another power supply source of the power supply sources to drive the vehicle if a failure occurs in the at least one power supply source of power supply sources.