Abstract: A robot platform includes perceptors, locomotors, and a system controller, which executes instructions for autonomously navigating a robot. The instructions repeat, on each iteration through an event timing loop, the acts of defining an event horizon based on the robot's current velocity, detecting a range to obstacles around the robot, testing for an event horizon intrusion by determining if any range to the obstacles is within the event horizon, and adjusting rotational and translational velocity of the robot accordingly. If the event horizon intrusion occurs, rotational velocity is modified by a proportion of the current rotational velocity reduced by a proportion of the range to the nearest obstacle and translational velocity is modified by a proportion of the range to the nearest obstacle. If no event horizon intrusion occurs, translational velocity is set as a ratio of a speed factor relative to a maximum speed.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a mining machine. In the method a route is determined for a mining machine (14) in the form of successive, interconnected segments in a coordinate system fixed in a relation to the mine, the segments in turn being determined as successive points located at a distance from one another. The location of each point is determined in the coordinate system fixed in relation to the mine and the data associated with the points is sent wirelessly (17) to the mining machine.

Abstract: A follow running control system of the present invention includes a running control device for performing running control of the present vehicle based on data of the preceding vehicle and a signal from the driving operation detecting device. If advancing of the preceding vehicle is detected by a preceding vehicle advancing detecting device while the advancing request information is stored by a advancing request storing device, the running control device changes a control state of the present vehicle with respect to a follow running control device and starts follow running control.

Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.

Abstract: A transmission control system is provided for a work machine that has a transmission and a traction device with a brake mechanism. The transmission control system has a speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the work machine. The transmission control system also has a controller in communication with the speed sensor and the brake mechanism. The controller is configured to determine when a transmission gear change is desired. The controller is further configured to adjust operation of the brake mechanism in response to the signal from the speed sensor when the transmission gear change is desired.

Abstract: An autonomous robot is controlled by the local robot information controller which is connected to a robot application network to which the transceiver to communicate with the autonomous robot is attached. The robot application network, a user LAN adaptive controller an information distribution manager and the third party information provider subsystem are linked with a public network. The information distribution manager acquires the information from the third party information provider subsystem on the schedule which is set by the user LAN adaptive controller. The local robot information controller receives the information distribution manager and convert it into the data that generates robot gestures. The robot performs actions in accordance to the gesture data received from the local robot information controller.

Abstract: A method (200, 600) and an apparatus (700) for a wireless portable communication device (102) for determining coarse position information are provided. The wireless portable communication device (102) receives information about a plurality of visible satellites (106, 108, 110), and determines a coarse position of the wireless portable communication device (102) and uncertainty parameters expected at the coarse position, using the determined coarse position and uncertainties to acquire satellites.

Abstract: In a method and a device for regulating the speed of a vehicle including an object detection system in the sense of an adaptive distance and speed control system, the adaptive distance and speed control system includes at least two operating modes. In the first operating mode, a vehicle speed between standstill and a limiting speed is set, and in the second operating mode, a vehicle speed between a limiting speed and a maximally regulable speed is set. In the first operating mode, in the absence of a speed-limiting object, the vehicle speed is increased beyond the limiting speed and thereafter is set to the limiting speed.

Abstract: A damping device comprises a device (4, 7) for determining a mechanical state variable (??MODEL, ??ACTUAL) reproducing the torsion of a drivetrain (3) of an internal combustion engine (1) and an actuator (2) to activate an internal combustion engine (1) with a control variable as a function of the mechanical state variable (??MODEL, ??ACTUAL). It is proposed that the mechanical state variable (??MODEL, ??ACTUAL) be determined by a predictor element (4) that contains a model of the drivetrain (3) and/or the internal combustion engine (1).

Abstract: There is provided a navigation system using a wireless communication system and a route guidance method thereof. In the navigation system, an information center searches out an optimum route between a present vehicle position and a destination referring to map data in its map database and generates route guidance data. A navigation terminal inside the vehicle calculates the present position of the vehicle, transmits the vehicle's current position information to the information center, receives the route guidance data, and announces a notification message. A wireless communication network connects the information center to the navigation terminal wirelessly.

Abstract: An in-vehicle navigation device in which a route search block outputs a search result of a guiding route from an exit of the expressway to an entrance of the expressway by way of the selected facility to a display block to make the display block display the search result in a case where a present position detected by a present position detection block is on an expressway and where position of a target facility selected by a facility information selection block is outside the expressway.

Abstract: A route searching apparatus includes a map data acquiring unit for acquiring map data defined by nodes and road links, a route searching unit for searching for a route to a destination in consideration of road links corresponding to specific roads, on which determination of whether or not a vehicle is allowed to travel can be performed according to a condition of the vehicle before the condition of the vehicle is set, the road links being included in the map data acquired by the map data acquiring unit, and an output unit for outputting the route searched for by the route searching unit.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the state of travel, whether stationary or moving along, of a vehicle. The method includes equipping at least one wheel (2) with a magnetic sensor (4) having an axis of maximum sensitivity, measuring a signal at the terminals of the magnetic sensor (4) so as to deliver a signal representative of the variations in the values of the magnetic field as detected by the magnetic sensor, and in providing either information that the vehicle is stationary if there are no variations in the signal delivered, or information that the vehicle is moving along when there is a cyclic variation in the signal.

Abstract: A torque request generation system for use with a coordinated torque control system of a vehicle includes an input receiving a vehicle speed and an axle torque command. A datastore records a three-dimensional torque surface defined in terms of a coordinate system having a first axis related to the axle torque command, a second axis related to the vehicle speed, and a third axis related to an axle torque request. A torque request generation module accesses the datastore and generates a torque request based on a correlation between the axle torque command and the vehicle speed respective of the three-dimensional torque surface.

Abstract: A lane departure prevention apparatus is configured for reducing risk of a vehicle while preventing lane departure. The lane departure prevention apparatus basically comprises a lane departure tendency determining section, a running condition determining section and a braking force control section. The lane departure tendency determining section determines a lane departure tendency of the host vehicle from a driving lane. The running condition determining section determines a running condition of the host vehicle. The braking force control section controls a braking force to selectively produce at least one of a yaw moment on the host vehicle in accordance with the lane departure tendency of the host vehicle to avoid departure of the host vehicle from the driving lane, and a deceleration on the host vehicle in accordance with the running condition of the host vehicle.

Abstract: In a drive system switching control method of an automotive four-wheeled vehicle for switching two drive systems comprising a two-wheel drive and a four-wheel drive. The method has a step of detecting a steering angle, and a step of inhibiting the drive system switching if the detected steering angle is over a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A robot apparatus that is able to determine whether to ask a user for help, according to robot's situations. The robot apparatus determines based on an external or internal situation of the robot and its serious level whether to ask for help. When the robot apparatus decides to ask for help, it selects an action asking for help, according to the external or internal situation and the serious level, and takes the action.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a robot apparatus and a walking control method thereof capable of changing walking control modes in accordance with floor surfaces by discriminating states of the floor surfaces for walking without modifying a step-based walking schedule and capable of providing stable walking even if floor surface states change greatly. A robot apparatus comprises: an action control section 11 to output a walking start instruction; a floor surface discrimination section 12 to discriminate a category for a current floor surface; and a walking control section 13 to compute an adaptive operation amount. The walking control section 13 obtains sensor values of a foot sole sensor and the like from the current floor surface by means of an in-place stepping motion and the like. Based on the sensor value, the walking control section 13 computes the adaptive operation amount as a correction amount from a standard gait model.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises a set (3) of information sources, an information processing unit (4), a display means (6) comprising a display screen (8), and a configuration means (9) allowing an operator to configure said device (1), according to one of the three configuration states, a first configuration state, for which the display means (6) presents aircraft piloting information, a second configuration state, for which the display means (6) presents aircraft navigation information, and a third configuration state, for which the display means (6) presents both piloting information and navigation information.

Abstract: A device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest includes at least one inertial sensor, having at least one preferential detection axis, and a converter, which is coupled to the inertial sensor and supplies a first signal correlated to forces acting on the first inertial sensor according to the preferential detection axis; the device further includes at least one processing stage for processing the first signal, which supplies a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of the first signal, and at least one threshold comparator, which supplies a pulse when the second signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold.