Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

Abstract: A vehicle external environment recognition apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes a position calculation processor, a three-dimensional object determination processor, an identification object identifying processor, and a vehicle tracking processor. The position calculation processor calculates three-dimensional positions of respective blocks in a captured image. The three-dimensional object determination processor groups the blocks to put any two or more of the blocks that have the three-dimensional positions differing from each other within a predetermined range in a group and thereby determines three-dimensional objects. The identification object identifying processor identifies a preceding vehicle relative to the vehicle and a sidewall on the basis of the three-dimensional objects. The vehicle tracking processor estimates a future position of the preceding vehicle to track the preceding vehicle.

Abstract: A method for certifying map elements for safety-critical driving functions by a control unit, at least one observation variable of at least one mapping step being ascertained by at least one map element after an implementation of the mapping step by a monitoring function, and being compared with a setpoint value of the observation variable, at least one result value being calculated based on a comparison of the observation variable with the setpoint value of the observation variable for the at least one mapping step by the monitoring function, the at least one result value being stored as a certificate and being linked with the at least one map element. A control unit, a computer program as well as a machine-readable memory medium are also described.

Abstract: A robotically controlled system including a fence enclosure that can move and/or shape-shift itself autonomously and automatically without manual intervention. The system includes coils of electric fence wire that are spring-loaded or otherwise tensioned so that the length of electric fence wire between each post robot is able to contract or expand as the system of robots adapts to optimize the shape of the fence enclosure as the entire enclosure is moved by the robots around a field or other grazing pasture on an area of land. At least one of the post robots is able to provide an earth ground connection that is movable as the fence enclosure is moved.

Abstract: A lane following assist apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The lane following assist apparatus includes a camera that captures an image in front of a vehicle and a processor that receives a forward image from the camera. The processor obtains line information from the forward image, calculates a vehicle offset based on the line information, variably sets a target look-ahead distance depending on whether the vehicle offset is greater than a threshold, and performs lane following assist control using the target look-ahead distance.

Abstract: An autonomous tool including a multi-sensor package enabling identification of the position of the tool in a construction site so that the tool may navigate to locations where tasks are performed. The tool may include at least one sensor from the group of a drive system encoder, stereo camera, inertial measurement unit, optical flow sensor, and LiDAR. The tool may include a holonomic drive allowing at least one tool of the mobility platform to reach the extremities of a construction site. The platform may be used as part of a system that receives design information relating to the construction site and tasks to be performed by the tool and then generates commands that control the tool to navigate along a path generated to include landmarks within range of and therefore detectable by the sensors for a large percentage of the path.

Abstract: A system for controlling harvesting implement height of an agricultural harvester may include a computing system configured to monitor the height of a harvesting implement of the harvester relative to a field surface based on the received sensor data. Additionally, the computing system may be configured to determine an implement height error signal by comparing the monitored height of the harvesting implement to a predetermined target height. Moreover, the computing system is configured to divide the determined implement height error signal into a first and second frequency portions, with the second frequency portion having a greater frequency than the first frequency portion. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to control the operation of first and second actuators of the harvester based on the first and second frequency portions of the implement height error signal, respectively.

Abstract: In a method for detecting obstacles for a rail vehicle, 3D sensor data is detected from a surrounding region, 3D image data is generated from the 3D sensor data, and 2D image data is generated on the basis of the 3D image data. A 2D anomaly mask is ascertained or generated by comparing the 2D image data with reference image data which is free of a collision obstacle. In the process, image regions are identified as mask regions in the 2D image data which differ from the corresponding image regions in the reference image data. By fusing the 2D anomaly mask with the 3D image data, a 3D anomaly mask is generated in the 3D image data. Finally, the 3D image data which is part of the 3D anomaly mask is interpreted as a possible collision obstacle. There is also described an obstacle detection device and a rail vehicle.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for driver data guided spatial planning. A spatial structure is generated comprising a plurality of nodes connected by edges. At least some of the nodes and edges represent a path to navigate a vehicle from a first point to a second point. Edges of the spatial structure are labeled as useful based on a distance metric. The spatial structure is pruned by removing one or more edges from the spatial structure according to a respective label of the edges, wherein an extent of the removal is based on a predetermined graph size, a predetermined performance, or any combinations thereof to obtain a pruned graph. A path from the first point to the second point on the pruned graph is identified and the vehicle is navigated in accordance with the path from the first point to the second point on the pruned graph.

Abstract: Improved mobile robots and systems and methods thereof, described herein, can enhance security and monitoring services of grounds and property. And, such mobile robots and systems and methods thereof can enhance policing as well as customer service and help desk functionality. In some embodiments, the mobile robots and systems and methods thereof can enhance exploration, such as space exploration.

Abstract: A control device for a work vehicle configured or programmed to travel autonomously includes a vehicle position calculator to calculate a vehicle position, a travel direction calculator to calculate a travel direction that is a front-back direction of the vehicle body, a steering state detector to obtain data on a steering state, a vehicle position estimator to calculate an estimated vehicle position at which the work vehicle is to be present after performing predetermined travel from the vehicle position of the work vehicle, a deviation calculator to calculate a deviation of the work vehicle at the estimated vehicle position from the target travel path, a target steering amount calculator to calculate a target steering amount based on the deviation, and an autonomous travel controller to control steering based on the target steering amount.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

Abstract: Described is a system for training a neural network for estimating surface normals for use in operating an autonomous platform. The system uses a parallelizable k-nearest neighbor sorting algorithm to provide a patch of points, sampled from the point cloud data, as input to the neural network model. The points are transformed from Euclidean coordinates in a Euclidean space to spherical coordinates. A polar angle of a surface normal of the point cloud data is estimated in the spherical coordinates. The trained neural network model is utilized on the autonomous platform, and the estimate of the polar angle of the surface normal is used to guide operation of the autonomous platform within the environment.

Abstract: A degradation estimation device includes a storage device and an execution device. The storage device is configured to store mapping data that defines a map that outputs an output variable indicating a degree of degradation of a seal member when an input variable is input. The map includes a thermal history variable and a load history variable as the input variable. The thermal history variable is a variable indicating a period during which the seal member has been exposed to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range. The load history variable is a variable indicating the number of times a load has acted on the seal member. The execution device is configured to perform an acquisition process of acquiring the input variable and a calculation process of outputting a value of the output variable by inputting the input variable acquired in the acquisition process to the map.

Abstract: This application is directed to generic obstacle detection for at least partially autonomous vehicle driving. A first vehicle obtains a road image. The road image includes a road surface along which the first vehicle is travelling. The first vehicle identifies one or more identifiable objects on the road surface in the road image. The first vehicle detects a plurality of objects on the road surface in the road image. The first vehicle eliminates the one or more identifiable objects from the plurality of objects in the road image to determine one or more unidentifiable objects on the road surface in the road image. The first vehicle at least partially autonomously drives the first vehicle by treating the one or more unidentifiable objects differently from the one or more identifiable objects.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling a vehicle includes receiving, via a processor, from two or more IX control devices disposed at a two or more stationary positions having known latitudes longitudes and orientations, first sensory data identifying the position and dimensions of a feature in a mapped region. The processor generates a plurality of IX nodes based on the first sensory data received from the IX control devices, and receives LiDAR point cloud that includes LiDAR and other vehicle sensory device data such as Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data received from a Vehicle (AV) driving in the mapped region. The LiDAR point cloud includes a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) map having second dimension information and second position information associated with the feature in the mapped region. The processor generates, without GPS and/or real-time kinematics information, an optimized High-Definition (HD) map having Absolute accuracy using batch optimization and map smoothing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electric bike controlled using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The electric bike includes a mobile mount that is configured to receive a mobile device. A controller is configured to capture user information via a front camera. Further, sensors configured in the mobile device and the electric bike capture sensor information associated with the electric bike. The electric bike includes a rear camera to capture path information associated with a path being used to ride the electric bike. A first mobile application converts each of user information, sensor information, and path information into corresponding information states and determines whether these information states are deviating from associated predefined thresholds. In response to determining a deviation an alert signal is generated and a deactivating signal is transmitted to the controller to progressively curtail one functioning of the electric bike.

Abstract: Aspects relate to methods and systems for parking a vehicle. An exemplary system includes a first plurality of sensors located on the vehicle and configured to detect first sensor data as a function of objects over a first height range, a second plurality of sensors located on the vehicle and configured to detect second sensor data as a function of objects over a second height range at least partially greater than the first height range, and a computing device configured to receive the first sensor data from the first plurality of sensors and the second sensor data from the second plurality of sensors, and determine the space proximal the vehicle is suitable for parking the vehicle as a function of the first sensor data, the second sensor data, and a height of the vehicle.

Abstract: A parking assistance apparatus includes at least one camera sensor installed in a vehicle, a control unit configured to analyze an image obtained through the camera sensor to recognize a space and object in a parking lot by matching a detailed parking lot map to an object, search for an available parking space by calculating a parking region on the basis of recognized space and object information, and generate a path to the available parking space searched for, or perform autonomous parking until reaching the available parking space, and a storage unit configured to store the detailed parking lot map for recognizing the space and object.

Abstract: Provided is an intelligent safe vehicle speed measurement method and an system capable of considering a state of a road surface, including: a laser scanning unit configured to obtain road surface textures and simulate contact under different vehicle loads and tire patterns; a wireless communication unit configured to obtain the model, load and tire information of incoming vehicles, offer a best-matching braking distance by search through database; a skid resistance prediction unit configured to obtain environmental parameters to correct the obtained best-matching braking distance, and offer a safe speed for incoming vehicles; and a warning reminder unit configured to broadcast the safe running speed to incoming vehicles. This system communicates between the vehicle and road, obtains the information from incoming vehicles in real time, and broadcasts the safe speed to incoming vehicles, ensuring the safety of the incoming vehicle during running.