Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for controlling at least one manipulator, in particular a robot, a plurality of control commands (P, B, F) are worked through, in that in a state machine (ZM) the respective command runs through an active state (-A), wherein in a state machine at least one control command runs through a preliminary state (-E) that is placed ahead of its active state and/or a post-operational state (-P) that is placed after its active state, and/or a plurality of control commands are processed at the same time.

Abstract: A steering wheel within a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors that measure forces applied to the steering wheel. An application executing on a computing device records sensor data from the sensors, and then interprets that data as specific force inputs. The application then translates those force inputs into specific commands that can be executed by subsystems within the vehicle. At least one advantage of the techniques set forth herein is that the driver of a vehicle that implements the force control system need not remove either hand from the steering wheel in order to adjust the operation of subsystems within the vehicle, thereby improving driver safety.

Abstract: A construction board installation robot comprises a frame with attached devices to securely hold and subsequently affix to a substructure a construction board, a robotic system consisting multiple joints and links to position the frame, and a cart containing ancillary equipment needed for the completion of the desired task and the ability to move and position the entire assembly under its own power. Positioning is determined dynamically utilizing a series of laser scanners and optical sensors. To assist a laborer with the mounting of boards, the arm and cart are capable of being easily maneuvered either through the use of integrated sensors that direct the actuation of the arm and/or cart wheels as determined by the push or pull of the operator on the device, a method of remote control, and/or independently with control software.

Abstract: Appropriate vehicle stability control is enabled in a vehicle configured to carry out regeneration enhancement control. A predictive deceleration support control unit is configured to set a position at which the vehicle is predicted to finish deceleration as a target deceleration end position, and guide a driver to release an accelerator pedal so that the deceleration of the vehicle is finished at the target deceleration end position, to thereby carry out regeneration enhancement control under a state in which the accelerator pedal is released so as to generate a larger deceleration than in a normal state. The predictive deceleration support control unit is configured to read a vehicle stability control flag from a brake ECU and stop the regeneration enhancement control when the vehicle stability control is being carried out.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls a driving mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV) when a driver receives a telecommunication message on a telecommunication device. An SDV on-board computer within the SDV detects that the SDV is currently being operated in manual mode by a human driver. The SDV on-board computer detects that a telecommunication device located within the SDV is receiving a telecommunication message. In response to detecting that the telecommunication device within the SDV is receiving the telecommunication message, the SDV on-board computer transfers control of the SDV to the SDV on-board computer in order to place the SDV in autonomous mode, where the SDV is in the autonomous mode when steering, braking, throttle control, and obstacle avoidance by the SDV are all controlled by the SDV on-board computer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable media are provided for generating phase synchronized trajectories for actuators of a robot to enable the actuators of the robot to transition from a current motion state to a target motion state. Phase synchronized trajectories produce motion of a reference point of the robot in a one-dimensional straight line in a multi-dimensional space. For example, phase synchronized trajectories of a plurality of actuators that control the movement of an end effector may cause a reference point of the end effector to move in a straight line in Cartesian space. In some implementations, phase synchronized trajectories may be generated and utilized even when those phase synchronized trajectories are less time-optimal than one or more other non-phase synchronized trajectories.

Abstract: In an aspect, a robotic system is provided and includes at least two digital servo modules, each of which includes a position-controlled motor and a position sensor for sensing a servo position, a plurality of building block elements that are connectable with the digital servo modules to create position-controlled joints of a robotic figure, at least two wheel modules enabling wheeled movement of the robotic figure and a central controller communicating with and controlling the digital servo modules and the wheel modules. The central controller operatively places a selected group of digital servo modules in a learned motion mode, wherein a corresponding group of position-controlled joints is enabled to be manually manipulated, and wherein each of the selected digital servo module periodically transmits servomotor position to the central controller. The central controller can steer the robotic figure wheel modules based on servo positions of the selected digital servo modules.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for active vibration control of a hybrid electric vehicle.

Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle is provided that includes a proximity sensor configured to sense a distance to an obstacle, a parking controller configured to output a distance to target signal and a scheduler configured to process the distance to target signal and output a distance error signal to a control module configured to longitudinally control the vehicle. The scheduler is configured to process both a static and a dynamic distance to target signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for active vibration control of a hybrid electric vehicle. In particular, the method may include: detecting an engine speed or a motor speed; selecting a reference angle signal based on the detected; setting up a period of a fast Fourier transform (FFT) and performing FFT of the engine speed or the motor speed for the period of the FFT from the reference angle signal; setting up a reference spectrum; extracting vibration components based on the reference spectrum; summing vibration components to be removed based on the frequencies and performing inverse FFT; determining a basic amplitude ratio based on the engine speed and an engine load and an adjustable ratio based on a SOC; and performing active vibration control of each frequency based on the the basic amplitude ratio, the adjustable ratio and the engine torque.

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: A measured mark is arranged on a link of an articulated robot. A camera for measuring a position of the measured mark is arranged at a position distant from the articulated robot. A control apparatus of the articulated robot changes posture of the articulated robot, measures positions of the measured mark respectively before and after a change of the posture by the camera, and calculates an actual deflection amount of the link based on a movement amount between the position of the measured mark measured before the change of the posture and the position of the measured mark measured after the change of the posture.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for torsional damping of electric traction drives comprises dual Kalman filters to correct for oscillations based on measured traction motor speed and commanded traction motor torque. A first Kalman filter can perform a state space estimate of the shaft torque providing negative feedback to the final torque command in order to eliminate resonant components from the commanded torque and quickly damp external disturbances. A second Kalman filter provides a state space estimation of the load torque or, equivalently, load acceleration. This second Kalman filter can ignore commanded torque and can provide a damping feedback when the wheel speed deviates from the vehicle speed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for accepting inputs into a vehicle or other conveyance to control functions of the conveyance. A vehicle control system can receive gestures and other inputs. The vehicle control system can also obtain information about the user of the vehicle control system and information about the environment in which the conveyance is operating. Based on the input and the other information, the vehicle control system can modify or improve the performance or execution of user interface and functions of the conveyance. The changes make the user interfaces and/or functions user-friendly and intuitive.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recommending repair facilities to a user based on repair validation/coaching data are disclosed. In one implementation, a repair facility recommendation system receives repair information from a user regarding damage to an automobile, the repair information received via a graphical user interface rendered on a webpage. The repair facility recommendation system identifies a repair facility verified to repair the damage to the automobile based on the repair information and verification information from a verification module, the verification information comprising evaluation information based on evaluation of technicians performing repairs of automobiles at repair facilities. The repair facility recommendation system then provides information regarding the identified repair facility to the user via the graphical user interface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for a robot (1) having a plurality of movable robot axes (2, 4, 6), in particular for a painting robot (1) or a manipulating robot, comprising the following steps: (a) predetermining a robot path by means of a plurality of path points through which a reference point of the robot (1) is intended to travel; (b) controlling drive motors of the individual robot axes (2, 4, 6) according to the predetermined robot path, such that the reference point of the robot (1) travels through the predetermined robot path; (c) precalculating the mechanical loading (My1, Mx1, Fx1, Fy1, Fz1, Fx2, Fy2, Fz2, Mx2, My2, Mz2) that occurs within at least one of the robot axes (2, 4, 6) between two joints when travelling through the robot path ahead; and also (d) adjusting the control of the drive motors of the robot axes (2, 4, 6) on the basis of the precalculated mechanical loading (My1, Mx1, Fx1, Fy1, Fz1, Fx2, Fy2, Fz2, Mx2, My2, Mz2), such that a mechanical overload is avoided.

Abstract: A method for controlling an active aerodynamic element in a vehicle having road wheels with tires in contact with a road surface includes receiving driver input signals and vehicle kinematics data. The driver input signals correspond to a requested aerodynamic performance operating point. Tire coefficients of friction in the longitudinal and lateral directions are provided to the controller. Desired longitudinal and lateral forces acting on the tires are determined using the input signals, kinematics data, and actual force data. Additionally, a desired total aerodynamic downforce for meeting the aerodynamic performance operating point is determined as a function of the tire forces and coefficients. A position of the aerodynamic element(s) is controlled such that the total aerodynamic downforce is achieved. A system includes the aerodynamic element(s), actuator(s), and controller. A vehicle includes the body, road wheels, active aerodynamic element(s), actuator(s), and controller.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a sail path of vessels on a map representative of a marine geographic area, to perform a turn between a start point and an end point, each vessel having a turn radius, the start point, respectively the end point, being associated with a start, respectively an end, circle, the sail path being curvilinear and composed of arcs and straight segments.

Abstract: Deep machine learning methods and apparatus related to manipulation of an object by an end effector of a robot. Some implementations relate to training a semantic grasping model to predict a measure that indicates whether motion data for an end effector of a robot will result in a successful grasp of an object; and to predict an additional measure that indicates whether the object has desired semantic feature(s). Some implementations are directed to utilization of the trained semantic grasping model to servo a grasping end effector of a robot to achieve a successful grasp of an object having desired semantic feature(s).

Abstract: A system, device, and method for presenting aircraft requirements are disclosed. The aircraft requirements presentation system could include a source of maintenance data; an aircraft system(s); an input device; a processing unit (PU); and a display unit. The PU may be configured to acquire maintenance data; identify one or more schedule maintenance actions due at the present time; generate command data to a disable specific functionality of the aircraft system(s); provide the command data to the aircraft system(s); generate an image data set representative of one or more page images, whereon each page there may be image of at least one maintenance strip indicating a maintenance action and at least one a count for the maintenance action; and present the image(s) on the display unit. In some embodiments, a maintenance strip could include a graphical user interface through which a pilot may enable the disabled functionality.