Abstract: In one aspect, a system for illuminating a field of view of a vision-based sensor mounted on an agricultural machine may include an agricultural machine having a vision-based sensor. The system may also include a light source configured to emit supplemental light to illuminate at least a portion of the field of view of the vision-based sensor. Furthermore, the system may include a controller communicatively the light source. The controller may configured to control an operation of the light source based on an input indicative of ambient light present within the field of view of the vision-based sensor.

Abstract: A method and system of determining or estimating a descent profile includes receiving a final approach fix for a target destination, repeatedly back-calculating a set of subsequent models, determining a descent profile based on the repeated back-calculating the set of subsequent models, and operating the aircraft in accordance with the descent profile.

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

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementation of human-like vehicle control for an autonomous vehicle. Recorded human driving data are first received, which include vehicle state data, vehicle control data, and environment data. For each piece of recorded human driving data, a vehicle kinematic model based vehicle control signal is generated in accordance with a vehicle kinematic model based on a corresponding vehicle state and vehicle control data of the piece of recorded human driving data. A human-like vehicle control model is obtained, via machine learning, based on the recorded human driving data as well as the vehicle kinematic model based vehicle control signal generated based on vehicle kinematic model. Such derived human-like vehicle control model is to be used to generate a human-like vehicle control signal with respect to a target motion of an autonomous vehicle to achieve human-like vehicle control behavior.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, coordinate dynamic adjustments of a trailer based in part on a user profile associated with a user physically present at the trailer and an activity profile associated with an activity selected to be performed at the trailer. A dynamic adjustment may modify a tilt of a lower surface of the trailer. A dynamic adjustment may modify a dimension(s) of the trailer based in part on a detected object(s). Various dynamic adjustments may occur concurrently, individually and/or sequentially. The trailer may be a moveable trailer for temporary attachment with a vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed are technologies for autonomous tracking. An initial coordinate of a beacon device carried by a user is registered as a dead reckoning waypoint with a drone configured to track the user. The drone receives IMU measurements from the beacon as the user moves. For each IMU measurement, a displacement vector characterizing user movement is calculated. Estimated beacon locations are calculated by dead reckoning, based on the displacement vectors and the dead reckoning waypoint. Later, an updated dead reckoning waypoint is calculated by obtaining the current location coordinate of the drone and performing optical triangulation to determine a relative position of the user with respect to the drone. The updated dead reckoning waypoint does not depend on previously estimated beacon locations, and accumulated IMU/estimation error is eliminated. Tracking continues, where subsequent estimated locations of the beacon are calculated by dead reckoning based on the updated dead reckoning waypoint.

Abstract: A pedestrian crosswalk through which a subject vehicle is expected to pass is specified as a target pedestrian crosswalk. Road configurations close to the target pedestrian crosswalk are detected. Traffic lines of moving objects crossing the target pedestrian crosswalk are estimated on the basis of the road configurations. An area including the estimated traffic lines is set as a detection area of a detector detecting objects around the subject vehicle. The moving objects are detected by the detector in the detection area. Travel of the subject vehicle is controlled on the basis of a detection result of the detector.

Abstract: An agricultural work machine is provided comprising a surroundings detection device for detecting a surroundings in sections, and one or more controllable working elements, wherein the surroundings detection device generates surroundings detection signals, which can be processed in a control and regulating device assigned to the agricultural work machine, wherein the surroundings detection device is designed as a scanner, which scans the surroundings in scanning planes, and wherein each scanning plane is assigned to the control of working elements.

Abstract: An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) making use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for more than one task. The inventors discovered that an improved UAS could be provided by combining one or more of these three elements: (1) hot-swappable modular kits (e.g., a plurality of components useful in UAVs to perform particular user-selectable tasks); (2) an interconnection mechanism for each component with identification protocols that provides both a physical and a data connection; and (3) an intelligent system that interprets the identification protocols and determines the configuration for a selected task, error checking, airworthiness, and calibration. The system and associated methods for the task based drone configuration and verification reduces the possibility of task failure by an operator.

Abstract: A mobile computing device such as a smartphone is used to find a parking garage with available spaces for a motor vehicle. The smartphone has a navigation app which receives a destination and computes an estimated time of arrival to that destination. It then broadcasts a request to parking garages in the vicinity of the destination with the ETA. Parking service systems associated with those garages respond with predicted parking availability. A cognitive system analyzes the responses and provides optimal recommendations based on user preferences such as cost, distance and safety. The user selects one of the recommended garages, and the computing device sends a reservation to the selected garage. The navigation app provides first directions to the destination until the vehicle is proximate thereto, and then switches to directions to the garage. The cognitive system can analyze a history of user selections and updating the user's preferences.

Abstract: By exchanging basic traffic messages among vehicles for safety applications, a significantly higher level of safety can be achieved when vehicles and designated infrastructure-locations share their sensor data. While cameras installed in one vehicle can provide visual information for mitigating many avoidable accidents, a new safety paradigm is envisioned where visual data captured by multiple vehicles are shared and fused for significantly more optimized active safety and driver assistance systems. The sharing of visual data is motivated by the fact that some critical visual views captured by one vehicle or by an infrastructure-location are not visible or captured by other vehicles in the same environment. Sharing such data in real-time provides an invaluable new level of awareness that can significantly enhance a driver-assistance, connected vehicle, and/or autonomous vehicle's safety-system.

Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating an inertial measurement unit (IMU) via images of a calibration target are provided herein. The method may include: measuring parameters via an IMU; capturing a plurality of calibration images of a scene that contains at least one calibration target, wherein the calibration images are taken from different locations and/or orientations, wherein each of the calibration images shares a common calibration target with at least one other calibration image; calculating, based on the at least one common calibration target, a position and orientation of the sensing device relative to the calibration target, for each location of the capturing of the calibration images; and calibrating the IMU by comparing relative motion between two of the calibration images based on the calculated relative position and orientation, to measurements of the parameters taken by the IMU in time ranges corresponding to the at least two calibration images.

Abstract: A system for predicting injuries includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor data and an apparatus having an input-output interface and a processor coupled to the input-output interface and wherein the processor is coupled to a memory, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations including receiving the sensor data, applying analytics to the sensor data, based on the applying step, predicting a likely injury, and transmitting a report based on the predicting step.

Abstract: A mobile computing device such as a smartphone is used to find a parking garage with available spaces for a motor vehicle. The smartphone has a navigation app which receives a destination and computes an estimated time of arrival to that destination. It then broadcasts a request to parking garages in the vicinity of the destination with the ETA. Parking service systems associated with those garages respond with predicted parking availability. A cognitive system analyzes the responses and provides optimal recommendations based on user preferences such as cost, distance and safety. The user selects one of the recommended garages, and the computing device sends a reservation to the selected garage. The navigation app provides first directions to the destination until the vehicle is proximate thereto, and then switches to directions to the garage. The cognitive system can analyze a history of user selections and updating the user's preferences.

Abstract: A method for the driverless guidance of a motor vehicle within a parking lot that includes sensing one or a plurality of road user(s) within the parking lot, predicting a respective movement of the one or the plurality of road user(s), and automatic driverless guidance of the motor vehicle within the parking lot based on the respective predicted movement. A corresponding device, a parking lot, as well as a computer program, are also described.

Abstract: A method of creating a local map includes: receiving, at a mobile electronic data processing apparatus, a request from a server to generate a map of a specified destination; sending to the server a message accepting the request to generate the map responsive to receiving, at a user input of the mobile electronic data processing device, a user command indicating acceptance of the request; generating, using a processor, information related to construction of the map; an transmitting, from the mobile electronic data processing apparatus, the information related to construction of the map.

Abstract: A package delivery apparatus uses an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a package containing a product to a delivery destination area. The UAV uses GPS signals to guide it to the delivery destination area and an altimeter to determine its height above the delivery destination area. The UAV then adjusts its height to a preferred drop or release height for that package and product and releases the package. An optional camera allows a human operator to view the delivery destination area. An expandable foam package surrounds the product to protect the product from impact and moisture. The package may be streamlined to reduce air resistance and increase the range of the UAV. The package characteristics, such as its thickness, are determined based one or more of the weight and fragile nature of the product, and the drop height.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an illumination system for a vehicle. The illumination system includes an illumination device having a light source and a bracket connected to the light source. The bracket is adapted to be rotatably connected on an inner surface of a movable closure of the vehicle, and the bracket is adjacent to a top of the vehicle when the movable closure is in an opened position.

Abstract: A system for adjusting at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of a vehicle (10) is disclosed. The system may include an exterior sensor (44) configured to generate a signal indicative of an identity a user before the user enters the vehicle (10), and a controller (60) in communication with the exterior sensor (44) and an actuator (40) configured to adjust the at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38). The controller (60) may be configured to automatically cause the actuator (40) to adjust the at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) responsive to the signal.

Abstract: A method and system of route guidance for a vehicle alerts traffic restriction considering its towing status. The vehicle's towing status may be obtained either by automatically detecting a towed vehicle or manually setting such status by a user. When it is determined that the vehicle is towing another vehicle, traffic restriction information such as a speed limit and a dimension limit associated with each link in a route is obtained by accessing to a map database including such traffic restriction information. Based on the traffic restriction information, it is possible to provide the best route with a more correctly estimated time of arrival, while avoiding links which have dimension limits not suitable for the towing vehicle.