Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory, and circuitry which, in operation, performs operations including, storing, in the memory, an object occurrence map defining an occurrence area where there is a possibility that an object appears, detecting the object included in a captured image of a scene seen in a running direction of a vehicle, switching a vehicle drive mode, based on a result of the detection of the object and the object occurrence map, from an automatic drive mode in which the vehicle is automatically driven to a manual drive mode in which the vehicle is driven manually by a driver, and controlling driving of the vehicle in the switched manual drive mode.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus activates a safety device for avoiding a collision of an own vehicle with a target or reducing damage caused by the collision. The vehicle control apparatus sets an activation condition for the safety device. The vehicle control apparatus determines whether each of a plurality of correction conditions for the activation condition is satisfied. The vehicle control apparatus determines whether to activate the safety device on the basis of the activation condition. The vehicle control apparatus sets the activation condition by correcting a reference condition on the basis of a correction value for a satisfied correction condition, and correcting the corrected reference condition on the basis of a correction value (destination correction value) for each destination.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a marine vessel propelled by a marine propulsion device in a selected position includes determining a current global position of the marine vessel and receiving a signal command to maintain the current global position. The current global position is stored as a target global position in response to receiving the signal command. A subsequent global position of the marine vessel is determined and a position error difference between the subsequent global position and the target global position is determined. The method includes determining marine vessel movements required to minimize the position error difference, and causing the marine propulsion device to produce a thrust having a magnitude, a direction, and an angle calculated to result in achievement of the required marine vessel movements. At least one of timing and frequency of discontinuity of thrust production is controlled while the position error difference is minimized.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control device includes: a parallel running vehicle detection sensor; and an electronic control unit configured to perform (i) cruise control, (ii) parallel running vehicle detection processing, (iii) blind zone avoidance control for controlling the speed of the vehicle such that the vehicle is moved to a position behind a blind zone of the parallel running vehicle when the parallel running vehicle is detected, (iv) blind zone getting-out determination processing for determining whether the vehicle can move to a position ahead of the blind zone by traveling according to the cruise condition, and (v) avoidance cancellation processing for prioritizing the control of the speed by the cruise control over the control of the speed by the blind zone avoidance control when it is determined by the blind zone getting-out determination processing that the vehicle can move to the position ahead of the blind zone.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: An automatic steering control apparatus includes a steering controller and a steering instruction unit. The steering controller includes a storage, an instruction value checking unit, and a steering control unit, and controls operation of a steering device of a vehicle. The steering instruction unit includes an instruction value calculator and an estimated instruction value calculator, and outputs an instruction value to the steering controller. The instruction value calculator calculates a latest course and calculates the instruction value. The estimated instruction value calculator calculates a future course and calculates an estimated instruction value. The storage stores the estimated instruction value acquired from the estimated instruction value calculator during a past predetermined period.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining creep measurements and tractive/braking measurements from at least one vehicle system at different locations along a route segment while the at least one vehicle system moves through the route segment. The method also includes calculating tribology characteristics of the route segment at the different locations. The tribology characteristics are based on the creep measurements and the tractive/braking measurements from the at least one vehicle system. The tribology characteristics are indicative of a friction coefficient of the route segment at the different locations. The method also includes determining an effectiveness of a friction modifier applied to the route segment based on the tribology characteristics.

Abstract: The novel technology described in this disclosure includes an example method comprising selecting a target of interest having an obsolete appearance model, the obsolete appearance model describing a prior appearance of the target of interest, navigating a first mobile robot to a location the first mobile robot including a mechanical component providing motive force to the first mobile robot and an image sensor, and searching for the target of interest at the location. The method may include collecting, in the location by the image sensor of the first mobile robot, appearance data of the target of interest, and updating the obsolete appearance model using the appearance data of the target of interest. In some implementations, the method may, in a subsequent meeting between the target of interest and a second mobile robot at a later point in time, recognizing the target of interest using the updated appearance model.

Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle can emit a sequence of light pulses having a first speed, then receive a signal from another vehicle. Following this, the computing device can emit a message as a sequence of light pulses having a second speed based on the signal received from the vehicle, wherein the first speed is different from the second speed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine speed in a hybrid vehicle system during steady-state conditions and in response to transient acceleration and/or deceleration requests. In one example, an engine speed is controlled to an optimal engine speed for fuel economy during steady-state conditions, and in response to an acceleration or deceleration request, a target engine speed is obtained from a rate-limited optimal engine speed to vehicle speed ratio, and the engine is controlled to the target engine speed provided the target speed is below a threshold difference from optimal engine speed. In this way, the vehicle system may simulate a fixed ratio transmission during accelerations and decelerations, while maintaining optimal engine speed for fuel economy at steady state.

Abstract: Provided is a work machine that is equipped with a control unit that executes area limiting control with respect to a work device. The control unit includes: a position computing section that calculates the position, on an operation plane, of the forward end (first reference point) of a bucket and the rear end (second reference point) of the bucket; and a first distance computing section that calculates the distances in the operating plane from the first reference point and the second reference point to the target face A to be controlled. When the smaller one of the two distances is equal to or lower than a threshold during area limiting control, the control unit corrects an operation signal output from an operation lever device so as to reduce the operating speed of a hydraulic actuator that is a control target of the operation signal.

Abstract: Parameters that characterize a current driving situation of the motor vehicle are acquired. On the basis of the acquired parameters a current level of monotony is determined as a characterization of a monotony of the current driving situation. Whether the calculated current level of monotony exceeds a predetermined threshold is checked, and an exercise for the driver to increase concentration on driving the motor vehicle is performed when the threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A method for executing regenerative braking of a mild hybrid system may include performing, when a brake is operated while a vehicle having the mild hybrid system is traveling, regenerative braking only in a state in which a wheel torque is greater than a clutch load torque by a threshold, thereby preventing occurrence of an abnormal engine-off state during regenerative braking.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle that includes an engine including an intake valve and an exhaust valve includes an electric generator, a lock up clutch, and a valve timing controller. The valve timing controller is able to control valve timing of the intake valve or the exhaust valve, or both, to a low efficiency region and a high efficiency region. The valve timing controller controls the valve timing to the high efficiency region on the condition that the electric generator performs regenerative power-generation on decelerated travel of the vehicle. The valve timing controller controls the valve timing to the low efficiency region on the condition that the lock up clutch is switched from an engaged state to a disengaged state, with the valve timing having been controlled to the high efficiency region on the decelerated travel.

Abstract: The novel technology described in this disclosure includes an example method comprising initializing an observability grid with an observation likelihood distribution for an environment being navigated by a mobile detection system, such as but not limited to a robot; searching the environment using the observability grid for an observation point; navigating, using a propulsion system, the robot to the observation point; and observing a target object from the observation point. The observability grid may include two or more spatial dimensions and an angular dimension. In some cases, the method may include sampling the environment with the robot based on the observation likelihood distribution of the observability grid.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods implemented in algorithms, software, firmware, logic, or circuitry may be configured to process data and sensory input in real-time to determine whether an object external to an autonomous vehicle may be a potential collision threat to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may be configured to deploy one or more bladders positioned external to the autonomous vehicle to absorb forces from an impact to the vehicle by the object. A perception system of the vehicle may receive a sensor signal and generate object data associated with the object. A planner system of the vehicle may process the object data to predict an impact time and an impact location on the vehicle. The planner system may cause a drive system of the vehicle to maneuver the vehicle to position an impact-absorbing structure and/or one or more bladders of the vehicle to coincide with the predicted impact location.

Abstract: A method for controlling a motor vehicle take-off from rest including the steps of transitioning the vehicle from a brake holding mode to an engine driving mode and then accelerating the vehicle in a forward direction until a set vehicle target speed has been reached. The method including maintaining the vehicle at the set target speed until a driver of the vehicle intervenes.

Abstract: A method for leveling a jacked vehicle may involve: (a) sensing a pitch angle of the vehicle; (b) sensing a roll angle of the vehicle; (c) producing a pitch reference value that is related to the sensed pitch angle of the vehicle; (d) producing a roll reference value that is related to the sensed roll angle of the vehicle; (e) extending a vehicle jack that affects at least the pitch angle of the vehicle at a speed that is related to the pitch reference value; (f) extending a vehicle jack that affects at least the roll angle of the vehicle at a speed that is related to the roll reference value; and (g) repeating (a)-(f) until the sum of the pitch and roll angles falls below a predetermined angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods to control steering of a vehicle are disclosed. An example system includes a first sensor to measure a tilt angle associated with a vehicle positioned on a road surface. The example system also includes a vehicle controller communicatively coupled to the first sensor to receive the tilt angle. In addition, the example system includes steering system communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller. The vehicle controller provides feedforward control data to the steering system based on the tilt angle. The steering system generates a first steering torque based on the feedforward control data.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a control device for user control of an autonomous vehicle includes a communication interface configured to physically couple the control device to an autonomous vehicle to allow communication with the autonomous vehicle. The control device includes an input device configured to receive user input for controlling one or more features of the autonomous vehicle when the communication interface is coupled to the autonomous vehicle. The control device includes one or more computing devices configured to provide one or more control signals to the autonomous vehicle via the communication interface to allow a user to control the autonomous vehicle via the input device. The autonomous vehicle is in a control mode that allows the user to control the autonomous vehicle.