Abstract: A driver assistance system for assisting a driver in achieving consumption-controlled driving combines haptic and visual acknowledgment functions, particularly in the form of a drive configuration, a display concept, and/or a deceleration assistant. A modified characteristic accelerator pedal curve is utilized, and ECO tips of the interactive output of efficient driving instructions are provided.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to have the angles of each of the drive shafts of the first articulated drive system infallibly reach the angle of the work completed position, while maintaining the rate of movement and position of the working parts of an articulated robot. If exception conditions are not satisfied, the drive shafts of first and second articulation drive systems are driven individually (S64) on the basis of interpolated points calculated in step 5 (S5).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a robotic control apparatus includes a physical parameter switching unit, an observer unit, and a state feedback unit. The physical parameter switching unit switches a physical parameter set in accordance with a value of a mass of an end effector load of a robotic arm. The observer unit estimates an angular velocity of a link based on a simulation model of a motor angular velocity control system which undergoes gain proportional-integral control equivalent to a proportional-integral control of the angular velocity control system. The state feedback unit calculates an axial torsional angular velocity based on a difference between the angular velocity of the motor, and the angular velocity of the link, and feed the calculated axial torsional angular velocity back to the angular velocity control system.

Abstract: A lost communications link recovery method for a remotely-operated robot comprising the following steps: monitoring command and control (C2) signals transmitted over a wireless network from an operator control unit (OCU) to the robot; storing the C2 signals in a sliding window buffer; monitoring the wireless network for communication link breaks between the OCU and the robot; and creating, and issuing to the robot, reverse C2 commands based on the stored C2 signals upon detecting a communication link break.

Abstract: In a multiaxial robot, a path along which the end effector of the robot moves in the shortest time duration is generated. The robot includes a first link and a second link positioned closer to an end effector than the first link. Start and end points are specified, and velocity patterns are generated for joints driving the first and second links based on the specified start end points. The velocity patterns enable a movement of the second link to cause i) a reaction for increasing an acceleration force generated by the first joint when the end effector is started to be moved from the start point toward the end point, and ii) a reaction for increasing a deceleration force generated by the first joint when the end effector is stopping to the end point.

Abstract: The transfer position teaching apparatus is provided with a teaching substrate having a shape identical to a semiconductor wafer to be processed by substrate processing apparatuses and having an electrically conductive coating thereon. The transfer position teaching apparatus is also provided with a base member having insulator coating thereon and on the base member, entrance contact members, Y-direction contact members, X-direction contact member are vertically arranged.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for determining real time traffic conditions. A candidate road is divided into road segments by perpendicular bisectors. A spatial sliding window is positioned over at least a portion of a road segment, wherein the spatial sliding window corresponds to a front end of the road segment in a direction of travel of the road segment. Real time probe data is received from mobile devices in probe vehicles or on travelers of the at least portion of the road segment within the spatial sliding window. The real time probe data is analyzed, and a computer program assists in determining the real time traffic conditions of the at least portion of the road segment within the spatial sliding window. Based on the analysis, the real time traffic conditions are reported.

Abstract: A master-slave device grips an object and performs a task while being in contact with a to-be-treated object. A force detection unit measures force information given to a slave mechanism. A force correction determination unit determines a force correction part serving as information from correction start to end times of force information transmitted to a master mechanism and, as a correcting method to perform correction, a first method determining a gain such that a reduction in absolute value of force information at the force correction part is maintained for a predetermined period of time or a second method determining a gain such that a reduction and an increase in the absolute value are repeated within a range that is not more than a value by reducing the absolute value. A force correction unit corrects information of a type of a force based on the force correction part and the gain.

Abstract: Painting robots processing a part moving on a conveyor are synchronized by creating for each of the robots a master sequence of computer program instructions for a collision-free movement of robots along associated master sequence paths relative to the moving part, each of the master sequence paths including positions of the associated robot and the conveyor at pre-defined synchronization points, and running each of the master sequences on a controller connected to the associated robot to move the associated robot and comparing a current path of the associated robot and the conveyor against the master sequence path. The method further includes operating the controllers to adjust the current paths based on the comparison between the master sequence path and the current path, and operating the controllers to request a conveyor motion hold as necessary to facilitate synchronization between movement of the robots and the conveyor.

Abstract: A method for operating a braking system of a vehicle having at least one brake-able wheel, a braking force variable, which represents a braking force, of a braking device associated with the wheel being increased during a braking operation until a locking tendency of the wheel is recognized, and then reduced to a certain value. It is provided that the braking force variable is subsequently set to a setpoint braking force variable, which corresponds to a selectable portion of the braking force variable present at the recognition of the locking tendency, for a certain time period. Also described is a control unit for implementing the method.

Abstract: A method for controlling a manipulator includes determining by a control device one or more contact force values between the manipulator and a first workpiece. Each of the contact force values is based on an actual driving force of the manipulator and a drive force according to a dynamic model of the manipulator. The method also includes at least one of a) measuring in multiple stages an orientation and location of the first workpiece based on at least one of the one or more determined contact force values or b) joining a second workpiece and the first workpiece under a compliant regulation, where a joining state of the first and second workpieces is monitored based on at least one of an end pose of the manipulator obtained under the compliant regulation, a speed of a temporal change of the manipulator, or at least one of the one or more determined contact force values.

Abstract: A method of determining if any usable life remains in a brake component of a brake, the method comprising the steps of using a processor to determine a total number of brake events, and using a processor to determine from the total number of brake events if any usable life remains in the brake component.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recognizing machine-readable information on three-dimensional (3D) objects are described. A robotic manipulator may move at least one physical object through a designated area in space. As the at least one physical object is being moved through the designated area, one or more optical sensors may determine a location of a machine-readable code on the at least one physical object and, based on the determined location, scan the machine-readable code so as to determine information associated with the at least one physical object encoded in the machine-readable code. Based on the information associated with the at least one physical object, a computing device may then determine a respective location in a physical environment of the robotic manipulator at which to place the at least one physical object. The robotic manipulator may then be directed to place the at least one physical object at the respective location.

Abstract: A vehicle event recorder is provided that includes a camera for capturing a video as discrete image frames, and that further includes a managed loop memory and a management system for generating a virtual ‘timeline dilation’ effect. To overcome size limits in the buffer memory of the video event recorder, the maximum time extension of a video series is increased by enabling a reduction in temporal resolution in exchange for an increase in the temporal extension. Memory cells are overwritten in an ‘interleaved’ fashion to produce a reduced frame rate for the recording of certain time periods connected to an event moment. In time periods furthest from the event moment, the resulting frame rate is minimized while in time periods closest to the event moment, the resulting frame rate is maximized.

Abstract: A system for developing a digital signature identifying a specific person operating a vehicle uses a computerized appliance and software or firmware executing from a non-transitory medium on the computerized appliance and providing a first function collecting raw data regarding vehicle operation from sensors implemented in the vehicle during operation by the specific person, a second function analyzing the raw data and identifying at least one pattern of behavior associated with the specific person; and a third function developing a digital signature from the analyzed data for that specific person.

Abstract: A method of removing a vehicle telematics unit from an invalid state includes sensing that the vehicle telematics unit wirelessly received an invalid state code that deactivates the communication function of the vehicle telematics unit from a base station of a wireless carrier system; determining at the vehicle telematics unit that a reset trigger applicable to invalid state codes has been activated; and commanding the vehicle telematics unit to reset the invalid state code when the reset trigger has been activated thereby permitting the vehicle telematics unit to resume its communication function.

Abstract: A method of training a robotic device to perform predetermined movements utilizing wearable sensors worn by a user. A position and movement of the user is sensed in response to signals from the wearable sensors. The wearable sensors include at least one six-degree of freedom accelerometer. Gestures are recognized by a gesture recognizer device in response to the signals. A position, orientation, and velocity of the user are estimated by a position and orientation processing unit. The sensed gesture inputs and the estimated position, orientation, and velocity inputs of the wearable sensors are received within a service requester device. The gestures, orientations, positions, and velocities are converted into predefined actions. Controls signals are output from the service requester device to a robot controller for executing the predefined actions.

Abstract: A system in accordance with one embodiment comprises a marking device attached to a holonomic-motion crawler vehicle capable of movement on non-horizontal surfaces. Modular attachment and motion control interfaces on the platform allow attachment of various types of marking and non-destructive inspection (NDI) sensor modules. The crawling vehicle marks the location of sub-surface features on an aircraft skin or overlaid patch (doubler) using a pen or sticker or tape applicator that is guided based on either a 3-D CAD model or NDI data collected as the vehicle crawls. A second embodiment utilizes an automated NDI scanner to collect 2-D image data of the substructure to enable manual or automated feature/edge selection for marking. Location tracking of the marking device can be implemented using a local positioning system or a motion capture system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for displaying license plate information and regulating the use of a vehicle's license plate through the use of a multi-function electronic display license plate system are disclosed. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the multi-function electronic display license plate system utilizes a combination of motion sensors, position sensors, identification verification systems, and the like to allow a vehicle owner to regulate who may use the vehicle, while providing for a safer and more efficient use of the vehicle.

Abstract: An input apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus being used for operation input to various vehicular electronic devices, sets position input permission areas on a two-dimensional operation surface of an operation input device discretely by control of a main controller. In control modes of a reaction force, a guide input mode where position indication operations to the areas on the operation surface by the operation input device are guided along unique paths defined in the respective area and an arbitrary mode where the position indication operations are not guided but performed freely can be changed. The guide input mode is set at least during a vehicle travel.