Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that uses data from different types of on-board sensors to determine whether meteorological precipitation is failing near the vehicle. The vehicle may include an on-board camera capturing image data and an on-board accelerometer capturing accelerometer data. The image data may characterize an area in front of or behind the vehicle. The accelerometer data may characterize vibrations of a windshield of the vehicle. An artificial neural network may run on computer hardware carried on-board the vehicle. The artificial neural network may be trained to classify meteorological precipitation in an environment of the vehicle using the image data and the accelerometer data as inputs. The classifications of the artificial neural network may be used to control one or more functions of the vehicle such as windshield-wiper speed, traction-control settings, or the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing engine vacuum production and catalyst heating of a hybrid powertrain are described. In one example, a motor/generator rotates an engine at idle speed while the engine combusts air and fuel without providing torque sufficient to rotate the engine so that spark timing may be advanced or retarded from minimum spark timing for best torque to heat a catalyst and generate vacuum for vacuum consumers.

Abstract: Methods and a system are disclosed for providing autonomous driving system functions. The system includes a controller providing functions for automated user recognition in the autonomous vehicle, at least one environmental sensor configured to scan an environment of the autonomous vehicle and to transmit scan data of the environment to a biometric recognition module of the autonomous vehicle, and a biometric recognition module configured to analyze the scan data of the environment based on a gesture recognition algorithm by using a processor. The gesture recognition algorithm analyzes the scan data of the environment based on at least one biometric feature by using the processor. The at least one biometric feature comprises at least a flagging down gesture and the controller is configured to stop the autonomous vehicle at a position relative to the user and to configure the autonomous vehicle to offer to the user the use of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An electric bicycle includes a motor and a controller. A heart rate monitor is programmed to communicate a heart rate signal representing a heart rate of an occupant to the controller. The controller is programmed to receive a destination distance of the electric bicycle relative to a predetermined destination. The controller is programmed to provide instruction to adjust power to the motor based at least on the heart rate signal and the destination distance.

Abstract: A method for determining a vehicle system prognosis includes detecting a predetermined characteristic of a vehicle with one or more sensors, obtaining a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the predetermined characteristic, receiving the plurality of sensor signals from the one or more sensors and determining an input time series of data based on the sensor signals, generating, a matrix of time series data based on the input time series of data, clustering the matrix of time series data based on predetermined clustering criteria into a predetermined number of clusters, generating a sparse temporal matrix based on the predetermined number of clusters, extracting extracted features that are indicative of an operation of a vehicle system from the sparse temporal matrix and determining an operational status of the vehicle system based on the extracted features, and communicating the operational status of the vehicle system to an operator or crew member of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control system of an autonomous vehicle (AV) can receive sensor data from a sensor array of the AV. The sensor data can comprise raw radar data from a radar system of the sensor array, and in many examples, a live LIDAR data from a LIDAR system of the sensor array. In certain implementations the control system can access a current localization map or a live LIDAR map of a surrounding area of the AV, and compare the raw radar data with the current localization map or the live LIDAR map to identify multipath objects in the raw radar data. The control system may then remove the multipath objects or track the actual objects corresponding to the multipath objects accordingly.

Abstract: A highly automated driving function for controlling a motor vehicle includes a plurality of function components. A method for controlling the motor vehicle includes steps of executing the driving function using a first function component, comparing the behavior of the first function component to a specified behavior, ascertaining that the behavior of the first function component deviates from the specified behavior, ascertaining a first accident risk if the driving function continues to be executed with the aid of the first function component, ascertaining a second accident risk if the execution of the driving function continues with the aid of a second function component, and executing the driving function with the aid of the particular function component whose allocated accident risk is the lowest.

Abstract: A vehicle regenerative speed control device is provided that includes a controller which performs a regenerative speed control for downshifting a belt-type continuously variable transmission to the low gear ratio side and increasing a rotational speed of a transmission input shaft to which a motor generator is connected when there is a request for an increase in the regeneration amount while decelerating. The controller also imposes the limitation of staying within a Pri end command rotational speed change rate for the Pri end command rotational speed when performing a regenerative speed control for increasing the Pri end command rotational speed based on a braking operation in a brake switching region for switching from regenerative braking to hydraulic braking due to a decrease in vehicle speed.

Abstract: A guidance system identifies a path on a field and then calculates a position and heading of a trailer relative to the path. The guidance system steers a vehicle connected to the trailer based on the calculated trailer position and heading to minimize the trailer positional error and more quickly and accurately align the trailer with the path. The guidance system may align the trailer with the path while steering the vehicle in a reverse direction and may steer the vehicle based on a predicted trailer position and heading.

Abstract: An intelligent and information multi-vehicle collaboratively operating municipal refuse collection and transfer system and method are provided. The system comprises an automated system with multiple-degree of freedom intelligent dustbin grabbing, an operating system with two types of refuse vehicles collaborating, a multi-vehicle collaborative operation information system, and a fixed-point refuse collection operation confirmation and remote monitoring information management system for coordinating overall operation of the systems. The automated system with multiple-degree of freedom intelligent dustbin grabbing system is used for the refuse vehicles to automatically collect dustbins; the operating system with two types of refuse vehicles collaborating comprises a plurality of small- and medium-sized refuse vehicles and large capacity refuse vehicles.

Abstract: An automatic stop controller (including a deceleration setting unit and a deceleration instruction unit) performs automatic stop control of a vehicle by using a first deceleration in response to (i) the detection or estimation of a stop intention by a stop intention detector or (ii) the detection or estimation of an unable-to-drive state of the driver of the vehicle by an unable-to-drive state detector while the vehicle is traveling. The automatic stop controller performs automatic stop control of the vehicle by using a second deceleration larger than the first deceleration in response to (i) the detection or estimation of the stop intention by the stop intention detector and (ii) the detection or estimation of the unable-to-drive state of the driver by the unable-to-drive state detector.

Abstract: Optical detectors and methods of optical detection for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are disclosed. The disclosed optical detectors and may be used to dynamically position UUVs in both static-dynamic systems (e.g., a fixed light source as a guiding beacon and a UUV) and dynamic-dynamic systems (e.g., a moving light source mounted on the crest of a leader UUV and a follower UUV).

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for determining positions of a navigation unit and correcting for errors. The navigation unit can receive a guided surface wave using a guided surface wave receive structure. The navigation unit can then determine a potential location of the guided surface wave receive structure. Finally, the navigation unit can determine an accuracy of the potential location based at least in part on a secondary data source.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle retrofit system includes: a central computer; and a braking interface to decelerate a wheel of a vehicle via actuation of a brake caliper, the braking interface further including a brake pedal; a first master cylinder assembly, mechanically coupled to the brake pedal such that actuation of the brake pedal causes actuation of the first master cylinder assembly; a second master cylinder assembly, coupled to the central computer such that the central computer controls actuation of the second master cylinder assembly; and an actuator selector, hydraulically coupled to the brake caliper, that selectively actuates the brake caliper in response to actuation of at least one of the first master cylinder assembly and the second master cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A harvester grain unloading auger may have auger flights within an unloader housing, wherein a discharge speed adjustment mechanism is coupled to the unloader housing to receive grain from the grain unloading auger at a first speed. The discharge speed adjustment mechanism discharges the grain at a second speed greater than the first speed.

Abstract: Robotic work tool (100) configured for improved turning in a slope (S), said robotic work tool comprising a slope detector (190), at least one magnetic field sensor (170), a controller (110), and at least two driving wheels (130?), the robotic work tool (100) being configured to detect a boundary wire (250) and in response thereto determine if the robotic work tool (100) is in a slope (S), and if so, perform a turn by rotating each wheel (130?) at a different speed thereby reducing a risk of the robotic work tool (100) getting stuck.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus including a torque sensor to detect a steering torque and a motor control unit to control a motor that applies an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, including: a function to switch a control system of the motor between a torque control system to control a motor output torque and a position/speed control system to control a steering angle of a steering in accordance with a predetermined switching trigger. The fade processing time from the torque control system to the position/speed control system and the fade processing time from the position/speed control system to the torque control system are individually set.

Abstract: Provided is a control device for an electric vehicle capable of stabilizing vehicle behavior when performing slip control of drive wheels. The control device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention is a control device for an electric vehicle to be used in an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including: a motor which is connected to the drive wheels of the electric vehicle via a differential gear and a drive shaft, and which is configured to generate a braking or driving torque for each of the drive wheels; and a mechanical braking device capable of independently generating a braking force for each of the drive wheels.

Abstract: A steering control device restrains not only a steered angle but also a steering angle from exceeding their upper limit values. A maximum value selection circuit selects a maximum value of a target steered angle and a target steering angle as an end angle and outputs the end angle to a limiting reaction force setting circuit. The limiting reaction force setting circuit increases a limiting reaction force rapidly if the end angle becomes equal to or larger than a common threshold. A target steering angle setting circuit sets a target steering angle based on torque applied to the steering minus the limiting reaction force etc. A steering angle control circuit sets reaction torque as a manipulated variable for feedback controlling the steering angle to the target steering angle. An operation signal generation circuit outputs an operation signal to a reaction force motor so as to achieve the reaction torque.

Abstract: A MG-ECU includes, as a regeneration limiting value, a limited value set according to a state of a battery, and an unlimited value enabling generation of braking force greater than the limited value. In a state in which regenerative braking is being limited, the MG-ECU causes frictional braking force to be generated based on a difference between the unlimited value and the drive force demand of a driver. In cases in which the frictional braking force is also limited in a state of the regenerative braking, the MG-ECU switches the regeneration limiting value from the limited value to the unlimited value, and requests a motor-generator to generate regenerative braking based on the limited value.