Abstract: The present technology is effective to cause at least one processor to receive attributes of a sidewalk section within a threshold distance from a location selected by a passenger, determine a potential location for pick-up or drop-off of the passenger by the autonomous vehicle, receive an authorization from the passenger, and navigate the autonomous vehicle to the potential location for pick-up or drop-off. The attributes may include a respective curb height of the sidewalk section within the threshold distance. The potential location may be determined based upon a height of a portion of an autonomous vehicle and the respective curb height of the sidewalk section within the threshold distance. The authorization may confirm the potential location for pick-up or drop-off.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for calculating a TTC for an object and a vehicle for a calculation device, including: generating a timestamp matrix in accordance with a series of event data from a DVS coupled to the vehicle; scanning events in the timestamp matrix in a predetermined scanning direction, so as to calculate a time gradient of each event in the predetermined scanning direction; creating at least one subset consisting of a first quantity of consecutive events in the predetermined scanning direction and each with a positive time gradient; calculating a spatial position of each event in each subset in accordance with intrinsic and extrinsic parameter matrices of the DVS; and calculating the TTC in accordance with the spatial position and the timestamp of each event in the subset. The present disclosure further provides the calculation device and a corresponding vehicle.

Abstract: Data including current locations of candidate clouds to be seeded is obtained; based on same, a vehicle is caused to move proximate at least one of the candidate clouds to be seeded. Weather and cloud system data are obtained from a sensor suite associated with the vehicle, while the vehicle and sensor suite are proximate the at least one of the candidate clouds to be seeded. Vehicle position parameters are obtained from the sensor suite associated with the vehicle. Based on the weather and cloud system data and the vehicle position parameters, it is determined, via a machine learning process, which of the candidate clouds should be seeded, and, within those of the candidate clouds which should be seeded, where to disperse an appropriate seeding material. The vehicle is controlled to carry out the seeding on the candidate clouds to be seeded, in accordance with the determining step.

Abstract: A navigation program for an autonomous vehicle, the navigation program configured to: receive an initial model of an object to be inspected by the autonomous vehicle; identify an inspection target associated with the initial model of the object; and determine an inspection location for the autonomous vehicle from which inspection target is inspectable by an inspection system of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the initial model includes one or more convex shapes representing the object.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an interior and an exterior, a surface within the interior, and a movable seat positioned over a first portion of the surface. The vehicle also includes a processor, a seat control system able to move the seat to expose the portion of the surface, and a light source able to illuminate a larger second portion of the surface which includes the first portion. The vehicle further includes a sensor to capture an image of the second portion of the surface, illuminated by the light source, and a cleaning element able to clean the second portion of the surface. The processor is configured to detect foreign material on the second portion of the surface, based on a comparison between the image and a stored image. The processor is also configured to activate the cleaning element, after detecting the foreign material on the second portion of the surface.

Abstract: To encourage users to improve their carbon footprint, a transport may be provided with an enhanced operating manner in response to external events that lower the carbon footprint of one or more occupants of the transport. Events, such as lowering the energy consumption of a person's home dwelling, may be communicated to the transport and trigger an enhanced mode in the transport, such as an enhanced driving mode (e.g. sport mode) or an enhanced charging mode.

Abstract: Navigating a transportation network by receiving an equipment identifier, querying a section of interest database to obtain at least one section of interest associated, accessing geolocation data from one or more geolocation sensors, querying a one section of interest using geolocation data to identify a next section of interest. With geolocation data, calculating at least one of a time to a next section of interest or a distance to a next section of interest, and determining that a reduction in speed is required, where a reduced speed is an amount of speed by which the speed must be reduced in order for the equipment to achieve a target speed associated with the next section of interest, and providing an alert configured to escalate to the user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for periodic real-time reporting of in-flight turbulence experienced by aircraft using the existing Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) messaging system. The invention includes both broadcast to and reception from other aircraft and ground stations using the ADS-B system. Systems and methods for displaying the received turbulence reports on a cockpit display system are also disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods accomplish the objectives of the invention on a non-interference basis with existing ADS-B system functionality by utilizing currently reserved message types and/or unused data fields for the turbulence reporting. The invention is applicable to both 1090ES and 978 UAT ADS-B systems.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is provided. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, sensors and a processing element. The sensors are deployed on the vehicle body to sense surroundings of the vehicle body. The processing element is coupled to the vehicle body and the sensors. The processing element is configured to receive information from the sensors and to control driving operations of the vehicle body in accordance with the received information. The processing element is also configured to interpret at least a portion of the received information as being indicative of a troublesome incident and to deduce that a need for help to address the troublesome incident exists.

Abstract: Provided are an electronic device for generating map data and an operating method of the electronic device. The operating method of the electronic device includes: obtaining image data of a first resolution and image data of a second resolution for each of a plurality of nodes generated while the electronic device moves; obtaining location information with respect to each of the generated nodes, by using the image data of the second resolution; generating and storing map data by matching the obtained location information with the image data of the first resolution for each node; and estimating a current location of the electronic device by using the generated map data and the image data of the first resolution.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to verifying the location of an object of a particular type. For instance, a plurality of images of an environment of the vehicle may be received. Associated objects of the particular type may be identified in ones of the plurality of images. A plurality of estimated locations may be determined for the object using a plurality of different localization techniques. For each image of the ones of the plurality of images, determine a reprojection error for each of the plurality of estimated locations. For each of the plurality of estimated locations, an error score is determined based on the reprojection errors. An estimated location may be selected from the plurality of estimated locations based on the determined error score. This selected location may be used to control a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicle navigation is disclosed. An example lawn mower includes a vision sensor configured to capture an image of an area being approached. The lawn mower includes a processor in communication with the vision sensor and configured to divide the image into a grid of separate image sections. Each of the image sections corresponds to a respective portion of the area being approached. For each of the image sections in the grid the processor is further configured to calculate a percentage of the image section categorized as corresponding with unmowable material and assign a result value based on a comparison between the calculated percentage and one or more movement thresholds. The lawn mower includes a drive system in communication with the processor and configured to control movement of the lawn mower based on an arrangement of the result values in the grid of the image sections.

Abstract: A mobile outdoor power equipment machine for performing a controlled task within a work area includes a drive system for providing movement of the machine, a working apparatus for performing the task, and a scanning system for scanning an area surrounding the machine. The scanning system is configured to provide detection of physical elements in the environment to aid in navigation of the machine. In an embodiment, the scanning system and a control system are configured to scan the area, determine the presence of a physical element in the area, determine that the physical element is located within the work area, determine the proximity of the physical element to the machine, and direct a behavior of the machine.

Abstract: A management device for an energy storage device mounted on a vehicle includes a management unit, a component that operates according to an instruction from the management unit and that generates an operation sound, and an acquisition unit that acquires information. The management unit operates the component and diagnoses a failure of the component when the information acquired by the acquisition unit satisfies a predetermined condition indicating a possibility that no person stays within the vehicle and within a certain distance from the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided is a self-position estimation apparatus capable of appropriately estimating a self-position of a mobile object regardless of an environment around the mobile object. The self-position estimation apparatus is for estimating a self-position of a mobile object, and includes: N types of sensors (where N is a natural number equal to or greater than two) that detect information with different contents from each other regarding a moving status of the mobile object; an environment determiner that determines an environment around the mobile object; a selector that selects information detected by one or more but less than the N types of sensors based on a determination result of the environment determiner; and an estimator that estimates the self-position of the mobile object based on the information selected by the selector.

Abstract: A system and method includes an autonomous agent having a communication interface that enables the autonomous agent to communicate with a plurality of infrastructure sensing devices; a plurality of distinct health monitors that monitor distinct operational aspects of the autonomous agent; an autonomous state machine that computes a plurality of allowed operating states of the autonomous agent based on inputs from the plurality of distinct health monitors; a plurality of distinct autonomous controllers that generate a plurality of distinct autonomous control instructions; and an arbiter of autonomous control instructions that: collects, as a first input, the plurality of autonomous control instructions generated by each of the plurality of distinct autonomous controllers; collects, as a second input, data relating to the plurality of allowed operating state of the autonomous agent; and selectively enables only a subset of the autonomous control instructions to pass to driving components of the autonomous agent

Abstract: A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode can obtain sensor data from one or more sensors observing one or more aspects of an environment of the vehicle. At least one aspect of the environment of the vehicle that is not observed by the one or more sensors could be inferred based on the sensor data. The vehicle could be controlled in the autonomous mode based on the at least one inferred aspect of the environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A parking assistance system is remote-controlled for automated parking and exiting from a parking space. The parking assistance system has a receiver for receiving a movement direction of the vehicle selected by the user. A control device which is coupled to the receiver is configured to decide independently, without the user making any specification about the presence of a parking situation or parking-space-exiting situation, whether there is a parking situation or parking-space-exiting situation. If the control device decides that the parking situation is present, the vehicle is parked in the parking space in accordance with the received selected movement direction by forward driving or driving in reverse. Otherwise, if the control device decides that the parking-space-exiting situation is present, the vehicle is made to exit the parking space in accordance with the received selected movement direction by forward driving or driving in reverse.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining appropriate energy replenishment and controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. An example computer-implemented method can include obtaining one or more energy parameters associated with an autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining a refueling task for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the energy parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The refueling task comprises a first refueling task that is interruptible by a vehicle service assignment or a second refueling task that is not interruptible by the vehicle service assignment. The method can include communicating data indicative of the refueling task to the autonomous vehicle or to a second computing system that manages the autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining whether the refueling task for the autonomous vehicle has been accepted or rejected.

Abstract: Provided is an aircraft seat that enhances passenger comfort and reduces the burden on cabin attendants. The aircraft seat includes a base with a relatively movable seat portion and a backrest portion; an actuator for relatively moving the seat portion and the backrest portion; a biometric sensor installed on the base and configured to obtain biometric information of a passenger; a plurality of elastic members installed on the base; a modification device configured to change an elastic force of at least one elastic member, and a control device, wherein the control device operates the actuator or the modification device in response to a signal from the biometric sensor.