Abstract: The object is to provide a vehicle system capable of suppressing a decrease in article transport efficiency while ensuring a route of an operator. The vehicle system includes a grid-patterned rail, a vehicle traveling on the rail, a controller that controls the vehicle, a work terminal that transmits identification information indicating an actual location to the controller, and a scaffold for allowing an operator carrying the work terminal to walk below the rail, the scaffold being provided below the rail. If entry permission to one or more cells formed by the rail is obtained from the controller, the vehicle enters the one or more cells. If entry permission to the one or more cells is not obtained from the controller, the vehicle does not enter the one or more cells.

Abstract: A system and method for driver guidance are presented. A position sensor is mounted to a vehicle. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle. A device is configured to generate a plurality of outputs. A controller is connected to the position sensor and the display device. The controller is configured to access, via a wireless communications network, a database to identify a target loading location for the vehicle, determine a location and a heading of the target loading location for the vehicle, and modify at least one of the plurality of outputs of the display device based upon at least one of the location and the heading of the target loading location.

Abstract: A flexible material handling system for can handle varied loads and placements including operation in varying weather conditions, and integrates safety systems to tolerate pedestrians and manual vehicles in an operating environment. An autonomous vehicle is operable along a vehicle traversal path within a predetermined set of environmental conditions. A GPS base station is operatively in communication with the autonomous vehicle. A supervisor/orchestrator is operatively in communication with the autonomous vehicle and the GPS base station and is operative to coordinate movement of the autonomous vehicle along the vehicle traversal path and assign one or more tasks for the autonomous vehicle to accomplish.

Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, a system for the intralogistic transport of products, comprising—a number of vehicles, where each vehicle is designed to turn on a vertical turning axis where, viewed from above, there is a maximum distance amax between the vertical turning axis and a point on the periphery of the vehicle; —a central control device that is designed to transmit control signals to on-board control devices of the vehicles, wherein the central control device and/or the on-board control device of at least a portion of the number of vehicles comprise a digitized grid of grid points that represents a movement area or at least a portion thereof, which grid points are arranged at least partially according to a hexagonal pattern where the distance between neighbouring grid points is equal to distance d, which distance d is greater than 2.

Abstract: A device for determining a position of a vehicle includes a camera system, a digital headlight system having a left digital headlight and a right digital headlight, and a data processing unit. The data processing unit is configured to assign a first detected reflected light beam by the camera system to the left digital headlight with a first angle, assign a second detected reflected light beam by the camera system to the right digital headlight with a second angle, and trigonometrically determine a distance of the vehicle from a charging module in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and an offset in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis on a basis of the first and second angles and a distance between the left digital headlight and the right digital headlight.

Abstract: A controller for an autonomous vehicle may include: one or more processors configured to: determine a maneuver planned for the vehicle based on a safety driving model and based on a first message from a network component external to the vehicle, the first message including a respective assessment for each proposed maneuver of at least two maneuvers proposed for the vehicle, and provide an in-vehicle instruction to perform the maneuver planned for the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision avoidance method and system for a mobile robot crossing a road. When a mobile robot approaches a road, it senses road conditions via at least one first sensor, and initiates road crossing if the road conditions are deemed suitable for crossing. As it crosses the road, the mobile robot senses, via at least one second sensor, a change in the road conditions indicating the presence of at least one hazardous moving object. In response to determining that at least one hazardous object in present, the mobile robot initiates a collision avoidance maneuver. A mobile robot configured to avoid collisions while crossing a road includes: at least one first sensor configured to sense road conditions, at least one second sensor configured to sense road conditions, and a processing component configured to carry out one or more collision avoidance maneuvers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a cooperative driving method based on driving negotiation and an apparatus for the same. The cooperative driving method is performed by a cooperative driving apparatus for cooperative driving based on driving negotiation, and includes determining whether cooperative driving is possible in consideration of a driving mission of a requesting vehicle that requests cooperative driving with neighboring vehicles, when it is determined that cooperative driving is possible, setting a responding vehicle from which cooperative driving is to be requested among the neighboring vehicles, performing driving negotiation between the requesting vehicle and the responding vehicle based on a driving negotiation protocol, and when the driving negotiation is completed, performing cooperative driving by providing driving guidance information for vehicle control to at least one of the requesting vehicle and the responding vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes an autonomous vehicle (AV) comprising a sensor, a control subsystem, and an operation server. The control subsystem receives sensor data comprising location coordinates of the AV from the sensor. The operation server detects an unexpected event from the sensor data, comprising at least one of an accident, an inspection, and a report request. The operation server receives a message from a user comprising a request to access particular information regarding the AV and location data. The operation server associates the AV with the user if the location coordinates of the AV match location data of the user. The operation server establishes a communication path between the user and a remote operator for further communications.

Abstract: System is configured to receive article information corresponding to articles to be transported by computer-controlled vehicles, the articles comprising a first article and a second article, each having a maximum article dimension. System is also configured to assign travel routes about a grid comprising grid cells for the vehicles to travel thereon. The travel route of a first vehicle carrying the first article includes a turning maneuver at a first grid cell. System is configured to control the turning maneuver of the first vehicle in the first grid cell such that there is no contact between the first article carried on the first vehicle with a second article carried on a second vehicle present in a second grid cell that is adjacent to the first grid cell when the first vehicle is undertaking the turning maneuver.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a vehicle suspension, may include a variable damper provided between a vehicle body and a wheel, a sensor that measures a vehicle body vertical acceleration and a wheel vertical acceleration, and a controller that estimates a road surface roughness based on the vehicle body vertical acceleration and the wheel vertical acceleration, predicts a road surface grade based on the estimated road surface roughness, and adjusts damping force of the variable damper corresponding to the predicted road surface grade.

Abstract: Four-wheel steering of a vehicle, e.g., in which leading wheels and trailing wheels are steered independently of each other, can provide improved maneuverability and stability. Steering angle constraints may be used to limit or prevent saturation of steering by only one set of wheels as well as to reduce sideslip. The steering angle constraints are vehicle independent and applicable across a fleet of different vehicles based on vehicle speed. For instance, the steering angle constraints establish angle limits that dynamically adjust based on vehicle speed to ensure vehicle velocity and acceleration remain within predefined limits as established by autonomous vehicle system design.

Abstract: A method for a leading transportation vehicle and for taking over control of a transportation vehicle to be controlled, including identifying the transportation vehicle to be controlled; determining a dynamic holding area relative to the leading transportation vehicle for the transportation vehicle to be controlled, wherein the dynamic holding area is defined so that the transportation vehicle to be controlled remains behind the leading transportation vehicle and uses a different lane; and transmitting a message relating to the dynamic holding area to the transportation vehicle to be controlled.

Abstract: A vehicle operating system includes a function memory for storing functions or applications and an interface for emitting set sensor data to the functions or applications. An interface is also included for forwarding control commands generated by the functions or applications to actuators of the vehicle. A memory is provided in which, on the part of the vehicle, set permissible value ranges for the control commands are stored. The interface for forwarding the control commands forwards the control commands only in the framework of the value ranges stored in the memory.

Abstract: An equipment inspection system receives data captured by a sensor of an autonomous vehicle (AV). The captured data describes a current state of equipment for servicing the AV. The equipment inspection system compares the captured data to a model describing an expected state of the equipment. The equipment inspection system determines, based on the comparison, that the equipment differs from the expected state. The equipment inspection system may transmit data describing the current state of the equipment to an equipment manager. The equipment manager may schedule maintenance for the equipment based on the current state of the equipment.

Abstract: An automatic driving system includes a control device that controls automatic driving of a vehicle, and a storage device that contains external environment information indicating an external environment of the vehicle. A driving transition zone is a zone in which a driver of the vehicle takes over at least a part of driving of the vehicle, from the control device. A termination target velocity is a target velocity of the vehicle at an end point of the driving transition zone. The control device variably sets the termination target velocity, depending on the external environment at the end point or the external environment surrounding the end point. Then, the control device controls the velocity of the vehicle in the driving transition zone, such that the velocity of the vehicle at the end point is the termination target velocity.

Abstract: A driving assistance device is the driving assistance device used in a vehicle capable of switching between autonomous driving and driving that requires operation by the driver, and includes a different vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires autonomous driving information on different vehicles on a traveling road of the vehicle, an autonomous driving ratio acquisition unit that acquires a ratio of autonomous driving in the different vehicles from the autonomous driving information on the different vehicles acquired by the different vehicle information acquisition unit, and a notification control unit that provides information for supporting determination on switching between autonomous driving and driving that requires operation by a driver if the ratio of autonomous driving in the different vehicles is equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: Provided is an autonomous wheeled device. A first sensor obtains first data indicative of distances to objects within an environment of the autonomous wheeled device and a second sensor obtains second data indicative of movement of the autonomous wheeled device. A processor generates at least a portion of a map of the environment using at least one of the first data and the second data and a first path of the autonomous wheeled device. The processor transmits first information to an application of a communication device paired with the autonomous wheeled device and receives second information from the application.

Abstract: Spin controller that can enable an autonomous vehicle (AV) to spin in place. A model predictive controller (MPC) can trigger the spin controller any time the MPC determines that a spin in place is required. In some configurations, the spin controller can move the AV to within 5° of the destination point. Spin controller can determine spin method based on the configuration of the AV, calculate an optimum turning path based at least on device mode and obstacles, and can enable the AV to spin in place.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-controlled method for adjusting a height of a header reel, the method comprising: measuring a rotational speed of the reel; measuring a force opposing rotation of the reel; determining a target load for the reel based on the measured rotational speed and the measured force and a first input; and causing movement of the reel according to the target load based on a change in load on the reel.