Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain, with a simple operation, a target route for autonomous travel suited to, for example, a user's sense of values. A target route generation system for a work vehicle includes a storage part 30A that stores basic data necessary for generating a target route P for autonomous travel, a priority item selection part 34 that prompts selection of a priority item with regard to generation of the target route P, and a target route generation part 30D that generates the target route P based on the basic data and the selected priority item.

Abstract: A vehicle having a control element for the speed, acceleration or direction of the vehicle, two identical or redundant computing devices (e.g., each implemented as a system on chip (SoC)) to separately generate driving commands in parallel during autonomous driving of the vehicle, and a command controller coupled between the control element and the computing devices. In response to the commands from the identical or redundant computing devices, the command controller determines whether the commands are identical (or agree with each other); and if so, the command controller forwards one of the commands to the control element for execution. When there is a mismatch in the commands from the computing devices, the command controller tests the memories of the computing devices to identify a faulty one of the computing devices.

Abstract: A decentralized control unit of a motor vehicle, the decentralized control unit having a communication controller, which when installed, communicates via an antenna arrangement with a wireless communication network external to the vehicle by means of a mobile communication standard in order to provide a peripheral function. According to the invention, the communication controller, when installed, generates digital data signals in a preprocessing routine from antenna signals received via the antenna arrangement, and communicates the data signals to a central control unit of the motor vehicle via a communication network internal to the motor vehicle for completion of the peripheral function there.

Abstract: Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transportation networks for cities and metropolitan areas. However, VTOL aircraft may be noisy. To accommodate this, the aircraft may utilize onboard sensors, offboard sensing, network, and predictive temporal data for noise signature mitigation. By building a composite understanding of real data offboard the aircraft, the aircraft can make adjustments to the way it is flying and verify this against a predicted noise signature (via computational methods) to reduce environmental impact. This might be realized via a change in translative speed, propeller speed, or choices in propulsor usage (e.g., a quiet propulsor vs. a high thrust, noisier propulsor). These noise mitigation actions may also be decided at the network level rather than the vehicle level to balance concerns across a city and relieve computing constraints on the aircraft.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a delivery system having unmanned aerial delivery vehicles and a logistics network for control and monitoring. In certain embodiments, a ground station provides a location for interfacing between the delivery vehicles, packages carried by the vehicles and users. In certain embodiments, the delivery vehicles autonomously navigate from one ground station to another. In certain embodiments, the ground stations provide navigational aids that help the delivery vehicles locate the position of the ground station with increased accuracy.

Abstract: A cutting system includes knives attached to a continuously moving belt-type carrier. The carrier motion moves the knives past stationary counterknife fingers which are attached to or uniform with a cutterbar, as the cutting system is driven through a field of crop stalks, which are cut by the interaction between the knives and counterknives. One or more sensing devices produce signals or images related to the condition of the knives when the knives are moving past the sensing devices. A processing unit processes the signals or images and derives therefrom one or more parameters representative of the condition of the knives, and compares the parameters to a reference, to thereby monitor the condition. An agricultural implement such as a combine harvester, can be equipped with the cutting system.

Abstract: A method is provided for offloading autonomous vehicle (AV) data to a download pole. The AV may include a transceiver. The download pole may include a transceiver. The method may include identifying, by the AV, the download pole in a parking spot that is close to the AV. The method may also include establishing short range wireless link between the AV and the download pole. The method may also include positioning the AV so that the transceiver of the AV is aligned with the transceiver of the download pole based on instructions received over the Bluetooth connection from the download pole. The method may further include establishing a first link between the transceiver of the AV and the transceiver of the download pole.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchors. One or more wayside units placed on or near a track may be configured to form a work zone network, based on ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, corresponding to a work zone in an area surrounding or in proximity to the one or more wayside units. When the work zone network is formed, at least one wayside unit of the one or more wayside units may be configured to obtain ranging information to a train traversing the track, based on communications of UWB signals with at least one train-mounted unit deployed on the train, and the one or more wayside units are configured to generate, based on the ranging information, notifications relating to the train and/or the work zone.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes monitoring for a presence of an assigned authorization element in the vehicle during operating the vehicle and operating the vehicle in a secure state when the assigned authorization element is not detected, where a performance parameter of the vehicle is at least temporarily modified in the secure state.

Abstract: A system can autonomously or semi-autonomously guide a driver to a dock or parking location. The system can include a sensor or sensors that collect data to create a map of the dock or parking location, a user interface that allows the driver to select a dock or a feature in the map and to determine the final pose of the tractor and trailer, and a planner that creates a kinematically-correct and obstacle-free trajectory from the current location to the dock or parking location. The system can provide user aids, such as a ground guide avatar or avatars, that provide the distance to the dock, speed and turning directions, or other guidance.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, operations may comprise obtaining a pose graph that comprises a plurality of nodes. The operations may also comprise dividing the pose graph into a plurality of pose subgraphs, each pose subgraph comprising one or more respective pose subgraph interior nodes and one or more respective pose subgraph boundary nodes. The operations may also comprise generating one or more boundary subgraphs based on the plurality of pose subgraphs, each of the one or more boundary subgraphs comprising one or more respective boundary subgraph boundary nodes and comprising one or more respective boundary subgraph interior nodes. The operations may also comprise obtaining an optimized pose graph by performing a pose graph optimization. The pose graph optimization may comprise performing a pose subgraph optimization of the plurality of pose subgraphs and performing a boundary subgraph optimization of the plurality of boundary subgraphs.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a control system, a sensing system that senses an environment of the vehicle, and a propulsion system, a braking system, and a steering system that are operated by the control system to navigate the vehicle according to the sensing system and without direct human control. The propulsion system and the braking system are operated by the control system to cooperatively decelerate the vehicle. The braking system includes an inboard friction brake that is associated with one or more wheels of the vehicle and does not form unsprung mass of the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques relating to monitoring map consistency are described. In an example, a monitoring component associated with a vehicle can receive sensor data associated with an environment in which the vehicle is positioned. The monitoring component can generate, based at least in part on the sensor data, an estimated map of the environment, wherein the estimated map is encoded with policy information for driving within the environment. The monitoring component can then compare first information associated with a stored map of the environment with second information associated with the estimated map to determine whether the estimated map and the stored map are consistent. Component(s) associated with the vehicle can then control the object based at least in part on results of the comparing.

Abstract: Provided is a first robot including: a machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor of the first robot effectuates operations including: executing, with the processor of the first robot, a task; and transmitting, with the processor of the first robot, a signal to a processor of a second robot during execution of the task when its power supply level reduces below a predetermined threshold; and the second robot including: a machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor of the second robot effectuates operations including: executing, with the processor of the second robot, the remainder of the task upon receiving the signal transmitted from the processor of the first robot; and wherein the first robot navigates to a charging station when its power supply level reduces below the predetermined threshold and wherein the first robot and second robot provide the same services.

Abstract: A method involves determining, at a mobile device or a service, an uncertainty in height above a reference altitude, an estimated 2D position of the mobile device, and an uncertainty in terrain height above the reference altitude using the estimated 2D position. An uncertainty in height above terrain, of the mobile device, is determined at the mobile device or a server using the uncertainty in height above the reference altitude and the uncertainty in terrain height above the reference altitude.

Abstract: Provided are a distributed robot-based object movement system and an object movement method using the same. The distributed robot-based object movement system includes a first robot that moves to a reference location where a target object is located, and acquires path information for moving the target object from the reference location to a predetermined destination location, and a second robot that moves to the reference location, provides a driving force for lifting the target object, and drives according to the path information while lifting the target object.

Abstract: A method for enhancing driving safety is provided. A sound receiving unit receives sound with respect to a space of a vehicle. A processing unit determines whether an in-vehicle atmosphere is related to a negative emotion based on the sound thus received, and defines at least one of an unsafe driving condition or a safety enhancement program based on the determination. When a current operation of the vehicle meets the unsafe driving condition, the safety enhancement program is executed to enhance driving safety.

Abstract: In an approach for reducing economic loss due to traffic events, a processor receives a set of transportation operation information from one or more transportation service providers about a traffic event. A processor analyzes the set of transportation operation information to identify an area affected by the traffic event and one or more users affected by the traffic event. A processor gathers a set of information about each user of the one or more users affected by the traffic event. A processor prioritizes the one or more users affected by the traffic event. A processor determines an alternative plan for each user of the one or more users affected by the traffic event based on the set of information and a priority number given to each user. A processor proposes the alternative plan to each user of the one or more users affected by the traffic event.

Abstract: Techniques to control flight of an aircraft are disclosed. In various embodiments, a set of inputs associated with a requested set of forces and moments to be applied to the aircraft is received. An optimal mix of actuators and associated actuator parameters to achieve to an extent practical the requested forces and moments is determined.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for intervention behavior prediction. One of the methods includes receiving data characterizing a scene that includes a first agent and a second agent in an environment. A confounder prediction input generated from the data is processed using a confounder prediction model. A plurality of predicted conditional probability distributions is generated, wherein each predicted conditional probability distribution is conditioned on: (i) a planned intervention by the second agent, and (ii) the confounder variable belonging to a corresponding confounder class.