Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to receive an emitted polarized light beam at a lidar receiver that determines a polarization pattern and a distance to an object, wherein the polarization pattern is determined by comparing a linear polarization pattern and a circular polarization pattern and identify the object by processing the polarization pattern and the distance with a deep neural network, wherein the identity of the object can be metallic or non-metallic. The instructions can include further instructions to operate a vehicle based on the identified object.

Abstract: A buoy position monitoring method includes a buoy positioning step, an unmanned aerial vehicle receiving step and an unmanned aerial vehicle flying step. In the buoy positioning step, a plurality of buoys are put on a water surface. Each of the buoys is capable of sending a detecting signal. Each of the detecting signals is sent periodically and includes a position dataset of each of the buoys. In the unmanned aerial vehicle receiving step, an unmanned aerial vehicle is disposed on an initial position, and the unmanned aerial vehicle receives the detecting signals. In the unmanned aerial vehicle flying step, when at least one of the buoys is lost, the unmanned aerial vehicle flies to a predetermined position to get contact with the at least one buoy that is lost.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for flight planning for an autonomous aerial vehicle. The systems and methods perform a processor executed process of receiving a request for flight planning and retrieving a model for the structure or the feature of interest from one or more databases. The request identifies a structure or a feature of interest to be surveyed by the autonomous aerial vehicle. The one or more databases include a database including models of terrain, airports and obstacles or a database including models of manufactured articles based on original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications or computer aided design (CAD) models. The process includes computing a flight plan that completely surveys the structure or completely surveys the feature of interest based on the retrieved model. The flight plan defines a search pattern with position values. The process includes uplinking the flight plan to the autonomous aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for autonomous flight control with mode selection an electric aircraft is illustrated. The system comprises an altitude-related sensor and a computing device. The altitude-related sensor is coupled to the electric aircraft and is configured to detect an altitude value. The computing device is communicatively connected to the altitude-related sensor and is configured to receive the altitude value from the altitude-related sensor, to determine a flight mode as a function of the altitude value and an altitude threshold, to determine an aircraft adjustment as a function of a determine flight mode, and to generate an autonomous function configured to enact the determined flight mode and an aircraft adjustment automatically.

Abstract: A transit system includes a road, a plurality of pavement markers spaced apart along a lane line of the road, and a plurality of RF devices carried by the pavement markers. The RF devices are configured to transmit RF navigation signals to motor vehicles traveling along the road.

Abstract: Systems and methods to control gain of an electric aircraft are provided in this disclosure. The system may include gain scheduling to provide stability of the electric aircraft at various dynamic states of operation. The system may include a sensor to obtain measurement datum of an operating state. The system may further include a controller that adjusts a control gain of the electric aircraft as a function of the measurement datum. The gain control may be determined by a gain schedule generated by the controller.

Abstract: A system or optimizing a flight plan for an electric aircraft is provided. The system includes, a computing device, wherein the computing device is configured t receive a plurality of measured flight data from a remote device, identify at least an aircraft requirement as a function of the plurality of measured flight data, generate at least a desired flight plan as a function of at least a plurality of measured flight data and the at least an aircraft requirement, and determine an optimized flight plan as a function of the at least a desired flight plan.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for evaluating the risk factors of a proposed vehicle maneuver using remote data are disclosed. In embodiments, a computer-assisted/autonomous driving vehicle communicates with one or more remote data sources to obtain remote sensor data, and process such remote sensor data to determine the risk of a proposed vehicle maneuver. A remote data source may be authenticated and validated, such as by correlation with other remote data sources and/or local sensor data. Correlation may include performing object recognition upon the remote data sources and local sensor data. Risk evaluation is performed on the validated data, and the results of the risk evaluation presented to a vehicle operator or to an autonomous vehicle navigation system.

Abstract: A method of inspection or maintenance of a curved ferromagnetic surface using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a releasable crawler is provided. The method includes: flying the UAV from an initial position to a pre-perching position in a vicinity of the ferromagnetic surface; autonomously perching the UAV on the ferromagnetic surface; maintaining magnetic attachment of the perched UAV to the ferromagnetic surface; releasing the crawler from the magnetically attached UAV onto the ferromagnetic surface; moving the crawler over the curved ferromagnetic surface while maintaining magnetic attachment of the released crawler to the ferromagnetic surface; inspecting or maintaining the ferromagnetic surface using the magnetically attached crawler; and re-docking the released crawler with the perched UAV.

Abstract: An intelligent vehicle charging system for charging a fleet of autonomous vehicles throughout a network of charging stations dispersed throughout a geographic area. The intelligent vehicle charging system includes a remote control system that is in operative communication with each of the autonomous vehicles in the fleet and each of the charging stations in the network. When an autonomous vehicle is in need of a power charge, or as directed by the remote control system, the remote control system will identify an available charging station, guide the autonomous vehicle to the charging station, verify that the autonomous vehicle has arrived at the charging station, initiate the power charging process, account and bill appropriate fees for the charging process, and log all associated activity. The remote control system is also capable of remotely and instantaneously terminating the power charging process to dynamically return a vehicle back to service.

Abstract: In a driving assistance apparatus, an image acquiring unit acquires a captured image captured by an onboard camera. Based on the captured image acquired by the image acquiring unit, a boundary line recognizing unit recognizes a boundary line that demarcates a traffic lane in which an own vehicle is driving. A road information acquiring unit acquires road information related to a road on which the own vehicle is driving. Based on the road information acquired by the road information acquiring unit, a degree-of-reliability setting unit sets a degree of reliability of the boundary line recognized by the boundary line recognizing unit. Based on the boundary line recognized by the boundary line recognizing unit, a driving assisting unit performs driving assistance of the own vehicle and varies control content of the driving assistance based on the degree of reliability.

Abstract: A population density map of a region is generated by dividing the region into cells and allocating a population of the region only to the cells that are accessible to people, or are believed to be populated. Each of the cells is classified based on one or more ground features of the cells, and an adjustment factor for each of the cells is determined based at least in part on the classifications. Equal shares of the population of the region are allocated to each of the cells that is accessible or populated, and the equal shares are multiplied by the adjustment factors determined for the respective ones of the cells to calculate a population for each of such cells.

Abstract: A personalized notification method for a mobility as a service (MaaS) vehicle includes receiving conditional personalized notification features from a passenger of the MaaS vehicle. The method also includes monitoring current driving environment of the MaaS vehicle to determine whether a condition of the conditional personalized notification features is satisfied. The method further includes notifying the passenger when the condition is satisfied via at least one localized output device in a compartment of the MaaS vehicle.

Abstract: A route generation device includes: an acquisition portion configured to acquire object data; and a controller configured to set a travel route of a moving body. The controller is configured to define a virtual space corresponding to a predetermined real space including a moving range for the moving body, manage a plurality of regions that the virtual space is divided into, the plurality of divided regions each having a predetermined three-dimensional shape, place the object in the virtual space, set a region that overlaps the object among the plurality of divided regions as a no-go zone where the moving body is not allowed to pass, and set a region that does not overlap the object among the plurality of divided regions as an available zone where the moving body is allowed to move.

Abstract: A rotorcraft is described and includes an inertial measurement unit (“IMU”) sensor mounted to the rotorcraft, the IMU sensor oriented relative to the rotorcraft such that a roll attitude of the rotorcraft occurs about a Z-axis and has a range of ±90 degrees, a pitch attitude of the rotorcraft occurs about an X-axis and has a range of ±180 degrees, and a yaw attitude of the rotorcraft occurs about a Y-axis and has a range of ±180 degrees.

Abstract: A video compressor system and device for securement to a drone controller. The device employs a low bandwidth, low latency video compressor, recorder and cellular modem that connect directly to the drone's handheld receiver. The video compressor high quality live video from the drone's receiver to be broadcast over a cellular network at low bandwidth rates and with low latency. The small footprint and low power consumption allows the device to be coupled directly to the drone controller, no external tethering to other larger and less mobile devices is required. The streaming video can be viewed live through a decompression sever on video walls, individual PC's and even handheld mobile devices in the field, which also allows viewers to have complete mobility while maintaining visual connection to the drone video feed.

Abstract: A method and a system for detecting wire or wire-like obstacles, which method and system are designed for an aircraft. The system for detecting wire or wire-like obstacles comprises a detection device, such as a video camera or a LIDAR device, a computer and a display device. The method includes a step of detecting at least one pylon in the surrounding environment of the aircraft via a detection device, a step of identifying a family of pylons to which each detected pylon corresponds, a step of characterizing at least one cable supported by the at least one detected pylon, and a step of determining a prohibited zone that can potentially contain each pylon and each cable and a safe zone not containing either a pylon or a cable. The prohibited zone and the safe zone may be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed that provide an apparatus to analyze vehicle perspectives, the apparatus comprising a profile generator to generate a first profile of an environment based on a profile template and first data generated by a first vehicle; a data analyzer to: determine a difference between the first profile and a second profile obtained from a first one of one or more nodes in the environment; and in response to a trigger event, update the first profile based on the difference; and a vehicle control system to: in response to the trigger event, update a first perspective of the environment based on one or more of second data from the first one of the one or more nodes or the updated first profile; update a path plan for the first vehicle based on the updated first perspective; and execute the updated path plan.

Abstract: A lease management method of an electric power motion apparatus includes acquiring location information, an advancement direction and a battery state of the electric power motion apparatus; additionally adjusting the advancement direction of the electric power motion apparatus to face towards the lease station such that the electric power motion apparatus faces towards the lease station based on normal adjustment and control if the electric power motion apparatus is located outside a lease range of a lease station; and additionally controlling the electric power motion apparatus to decelerate, and additionally adjusting the advancement direction of the electric power motion apparatus to face towards the lease station such that the electric power motion apparatus advances towards the lease station based on normal adjustment and control if a remaining power amount of the electric power motion apparatus approaches a power amount for returning to the lease station.

Abstract: A method and system that provides navigational related audio or haptic feedback to a user traversing a route by mapping an initial route for a user to traverse, the initial route having paths and intersections; determining a current location of the user; inputting a route characteristic change of the initial route; determining possible paths associated with an intersection for the user to traverse when the current location of the user is within the predetermined distance of the intersection; ranking the determined possible paths based upon the initial route and the inputted route characteristic change; determining the head direction of the user when the current location of the user is within the predetermined distance of an intersection; determining which of the possible paths corresponds to the calculated head direction of the user; and providing an audio/haptic cue to the user based upon the ranking of the determined possible path corresponding to the determined head direction of the user.