Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, road features of an upcoming road based on at least one of sensor data and map data; computing, by the processor, a required viewing angle of a sensor based on the road features; computing, by the processor, an operational envelope based on the required viewing angle and a sensor profile, wherein the operational envelope includes points along a map where the sensor can sense; and generating a control signal to disable autonomous control of the vehicle based on the operational envelope.

Abstract: A method of operating a robotic system to efficiently remove material from a workpiece based on a density distribution of the material of the workpiece. The density distribution of the material of the workpiece is determined from a three-dimensional representation and evaluated by classifying the plurality of points or voxels into a first density classification and a second density classification. A navigation computer generates a first tool path and a second tool path for the tool based on the evaluated density distribution. The first tool path is associated with the first density classification, and the second tool path is associated with the second density classification. The position of the tool relative to the workpiece is tracked with a navigation computer and controlled with a manipulator controller based on the generated tool path to remove material along the first tool path, and remove material along the second tool path.

Abstract: A teleoperation system includes a robot comprising an actuator configured to move at least a portion of the robot, and a remote computing device comprising: one or more processors, one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, a non-transitory memory component communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the non-transitory memory component. The remote computing device obtains information about a user proximate to the remote computing device, identifies the user based on the obtained information, obtains an action of a user, retrieves an individual profile for the user based on the identified user, determines an intended instruction related to a task based on the action of the user related to the task and the individual profile for the user, and instructs the robot to implement the task with the actuator based on the intended instruction.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle (100), the vehicle (100) having an autonomous mode of operation, the system comprising: one or more sensors (102) configured to measure one or more parameters associated with an operator (110) controlling the vehicle (100) to perform a first operation; and one or more processors (106) configured to: determine that measurements taken by the one or more sensors (102) fulfil one or more predetermined criteria; responsive to determining that the measurements taken by the one or more sensors (102) fulfil the one or more predetermined criteria, determine a second operation for performance by the vehicle (100); and control the vehicle (100) in the autonomous mode such that the vehicle (100) performs the second operation.

Abstract: The present application relates to a flexible manipulator including at least one flexible member (bend) controlled by an input device in the form of a joystick. Specifically, to prevent the flexible manipulator inserted into a narrow space from contacting surrounding objects, the flexible manipulator according to the present invention is configured to maintain the shape when the operator releases the joystick. However, when the flexible manipulator is shaped to be at a target position and subsequently needs to be returned to the original shape, the operator manipulates the joystick using complicated and time consuming manipulation techniques. A control device in communication with the flexible manipulator is configured to allow the operator to select an input method for maintaining the shape of the flexible manipulator after the joystick is released. In addition, an input method for returning the flexible manipulator to the original shape may be selected.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for prevention of unintended lane change maneuver in an ADAS equipped motor vehicle performed by a sensor for detecting a driver engagement level, a memory operative to store the driver engagement level, a user interface for providing a user alert in response to an alert signal, a selector operative to generate a request for a lane change operation, and a processor operative to receive the request for the lane change operation, to compare the driver engagement level to a threshold engagement level, and to generate the alert signal in response to the driver engagement level being less than the threshold engagement level.

Abstract: An end effector calibration assembly includes an electronic controller, a first camera assembly communicatively coupled to the electronic controller, and a second camera assembly communicatively coupled to the electronic controller. A first image capture path of the first camera assembly intersects a second image capture path of the second camera assembly. The electronic controller receives image data from the first camera assembly, receives image data from the second camera assembly, and calibrates a position of the robot end effector based on the image data received from the first camera assembly and the second camera assembly.

Abstract: A jointed mechanism includes a passive pendulum system attached to and suspended from the multi-axis robot. The system includes one or more position sensors configured to measure a joint angle on the pendulum system, at least one arm, and an end-effector attached to a distal end of the pendulum system. A controller implements a method to selectively control motion of the robot in a plurality of control modes. The control modes include a Cooperative Mode and an Autonomous Mode. The controller is configured to detect contact with the end-effector when operating in the Autonomous Mode, and to automatically initiate a control action in response to the contact. The pendulum system may be a parallelogram arrangement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for addressing a user-reported vehicle condition are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving a service request for a vehicle service for a user. The service request is indicative of a location associated with the user. The method includes sending first control signal(s) to an autonomous vehicle that is configured to provide the vehicle service. The first control signal(s) indicate that the autonomous vehicle is to travel to the location associated with the user. The method includes receiving a communication indicative of an existence of a condition that reduces a suitability of the autonomous vehicle to provide the vehicle service. The condition is identified by the user. The method includes determining action(s) to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based, at least in part, on the existence of the condition. The method includes sending second control signal(s) to the autonomous vehicle to perform the action(s).

Abstract: A navigation system for a dynamic platform includes an inertial navigation system (INS) unit for measuring, in real-time, linear accelerations and angular velocities of the dynamic platform, and determining, using dead reckoning, initial estimates of current poses of the dynamic platform based on a previous pose of the dynamic platform and the linear accelerations and angular velocities of the dynamic platform. The navigation system further includes an exteroceptive sensor for acquiring sequential images of an environment in which the dynamic platform is traveling, a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) unit for estimating visual odometer (VO) pose changes of the dynamic platform using the sequential images, and a sensor fusion engine for determining estimates of current poses of the dynamic platform based at least in part on the initial estimates of current poses determined by the INS unit and the VO pose changes estimated by the local sub-map tracker.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining a navigation route based on vulnerable road user data. The approach, for example, involves generating one or more candidate navigation routes for a vehicle. The approach also involves querying a geographic database for vulnerable road user data for a respective set of road links comprising each of the one or more candidate navigation routes. The approach further involves selecting the navigation route from among the one or more candidate navigation routes based on the vulnerable road user data.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a robotic device, and a surgical tool coupled to the robotic device and comprising a distal end. The system further includes a neural monitor configured to generate an electrical signal and apply the electrical signal to the distal end of the surgical tool, wherein the electrical signal causes innervation of a first portion of a patient's anatomy which generates an electromyographic signal, and a sensor configured to measure the electromyographic signal. The neural monitor is configured to determine a distance between the distal end of the surgical tool and a portion of nervous tissue based on the electrical signal and the electromyographic signal, and cause feedback to be provided to a user based on the distance.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle climate system having a plurality of zones, wherein the plurality of zones includes a primary zone for a driver of the vehicle and one or more secondary zones for one or more passengers of the vehicle, the method including determining whether one or more of the plurality of zones is occupied by a person, receiving data indicative of a target temperature of each of the occupied zones, receiving data indicative of a target temperature in the primary zone, determining when one or more of the occupied zones becomes unoccupied, and adjusting the target temperature of one or more of the unoccupied zones to an adjusted target temperature. The adjusted target temperature is a function of the target temperature in the primary zone.

Abstract: An autobrake selection interface for an aircraft includes a cockpit mounted user selectable display. The display includes autobrake selection options and braking information. The autobrake selection options include at least one of an autobrake off option, a rejected takeoff (RTO) option, a constant deceleration option, and a runway exit selection option. The braking information includes at least one of an estimated brake temperature, an estimated brake cooling time, and an estimated landing distance. The autobrake selection interface also includes a braking parameters determiner configured to determine at least one of the estimated brake temperature and the estimated landing distance according to user selection of the autobrake selection options.

Abstract: A flight control module for detecting anomalies ILS localizer signals during landing of an aircraft is provided. The flight control module includes a communication interface coupled to a processor. The communication interface is configured to receive an ILS localizer deviation. The processor is configured to compute a plurality of localizer deviations and compare the ILS localizer deviation to an average of the plurality of localizer deviations to detect a low-frequency anomaly in the ILS localizer deviation. The processor is configured to initiate a transition from controlling the aircraft based on the ILS localizer deviation to controlling the aircraft based on a selected one of the plurality of localizer deviations when the low-frequency anomaly is detected.

Abstract: A method for a vehicle localization system includes providing vehicle sensor data including information for an environment and/or an ego movement of the vehicle. A digital map of the environment of the vehicle is provided and a scenario based on the environment of the vehicle is ascertained based on the sensor data and/or based on the digital map. A degree of robustness for the localization system is derived from the ascertained scenario, a current degree of robustness of the localization system is derived, and a current degree of robustness of the localization system is adapted on that basis. Using an allocation module of the localization system, sensor data are allocated to the digital map based on the adapted degree of robustness. Using a position-determination module of the localization system, a position and/or an orientation of the vehicle is/are ascertained based on the sensor data allocated to the digital map.

Abstract: A system that includes a lead locomotive in communication with one or more remote vehicles, and the lead locomotive including one or more processors configured to execute program instructions to perform functions based on the program instructions. These functions include determining a first characteristic related to the lead locomotive or the one or more remote locomotives, receiving historical data related to the first characteristic, comparing the first characteristic to the historical data to determine a change in first characteristic value, and determining a second characteristic related to the lead locomotive or the one or more remote locomotives. In response to the change in first characteristic value exceeding a threshold percentage, the one or more processors ignore the change in first characteristic value exceeding the threshold percentage based on the second characteristic.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for selecting a to-be-cleaned area.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map are disclosed. An example apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface may include an inspection visualization circuit to provide an inspection map to a user device in response to inspection data provided by a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to an inspection robot traversing the inspection surface, wherein the inspection map corresponds to at least a portion of the inspection surface. The apparatus may further include a user interaction circuit to interpret a user focus value from the user device, and an action request circuit to determine an action in response to the user focus value. The inspection visualization circuit may further update the inspection map in response to the determined action.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle calculates a required drive force based on an accelerator position. The control device also calculates a required torque of the engine based on the required drive force. The control device further calculates a target torque for the engine by subjecting the required torque to a gradual change process for lessening a change in a value and performs an engine control such that an engine torque becomes equal to the target torque. The control device also performs a torque control on the motor such that a drive force of the hybrid vehicle becomes equal to the required drive force in a state in which the engine torque is equal to the target torque.