Abstract: A method for collision monitoring of a robot includes ascertaining an actual value of an axis load of at least one axis of the robot and identifying a collision of the robot if a deviation between this actual value and a reference value of the axis load exceeds a threshold value. The threshold value is ascertained as a function of at least one preceding deviation between the actual value and the reference value and/or at least one preceding reference value and/or the reference value, is ascertained as a function of a preceding actual value.

Abstract: A method for instructing operation of a robotic floor-cleaning device based on the position of the robotic floor-cleaning device within a two-dimensional map of the workspace. A two-dimensional map of a workspace is generated using inputs from sensors positioned on a robotic floor-cleaning device to represent the multi-dimensional workspace of the robotic floor-cleaning device. The two-dimensional map is provided to a user on a user interface. A user may adjust the boundaries of the two-dimensional map through the user interface and select settings for map areas to control device operation in various areas of the workspace.

Abstract: A small electric vehicle includes: left and right motors connected so as to respectively transmit power to left and right driving wheels; left and right rotation speed sensors; an inclination sensor; a joystick-type operation element; and a control unit, wherein it is configured to calculate target rotation speeds of the left and right motors, based on a target vehicle speed provided by an inclination angle in consideration of the pitch angle and the roll angle detected through the inclination sensor and by an operation position of the operation element, and on a target vehicle angular velocity provided by the inclination angle, by the operation position of the operation element and by the actual speed of the vehicle, and control the left and right motors such that actual rotation speeds of the left and right motors follow the respective target rotation speeds.

Abstract: A personal watercraft has a hull, a deck, a motor, a motor control unit operatively connected to the motor for controlling at least one parameter associated with the motor, a seat assembly including a seat portion selectively connected to the deck, and a raised seating system including a seat support selectively connected to the deck for selectively supporting the seat portion above the deck. A sensor is connected to at least one of the hull and the deck and is communicating with the motor control unit. In response to the seat support being connected to the deck, the sensor detects a presence of the seat support, and in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the seat support, the motor control unit limits at least one of the at least one parameter associated with the motor. A method for adjusting performance of a personal watercraft is also provided.

Abstract: An unmaned aerial vehicle includes an inductive charging coil for receiving an electric charge from the electrical grid by traveling within the electric field generated by power lines or by landing on a charging platform powered by the electrical lines. The unmaned aerial vehicle is able to navigate its route by sensing the electrical or heat signature generated by power lines and a map of the electrical lines to determine its geographic position at a given time and a route to a desired destination.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may provide a method for management of vehicles at intersections. Methods may include: receiving probe data from probe apparatuses proximate an intersection between two or more road segments; identifying a first vehicle approaching the intersection from the probe data; determining, for the first vehicle approaching the intersection, a safe stop distance, where the safe stop distance includes a distance to stop the first vehicle from a current speed of the first vehicle; generating a warning message in response to the safe stop distance of the first vehicle being greater than a distance of the first vehicle from the intersection; and providing the warning message to one or more other vehicles approaching, at, or within the intersection, where the warning message provides an indication that the first vehicle cannot safely stop before entering the intersection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating and presenting an electronic display of guidance for performing a robotic medical procedure may include receiving a plurality of prior procedure data sets; receiving or identifying objective data defining one or more of a duration or a patient outcome of the robotic medical procedure; executing an algorithm to identify a pattern across the plurality of prior procedure data sets; receiving information about an instance of the robotic medical procedure to be performed in the future for a patient outside the population; automatically generating guidance for performing the robotic medical procedure; and generating and presenting an electronic display of the guidance for performing the robotic medical procedure.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicles including ladders and related methods are disclosed. An example system includes an autonomous vehicle including an integrated ladder and a processor to detect a state of the ladder as being in one of a stowed state, a deployed state, or a use state; in response to detecting that the ladder is in the stowed state, cause the autonomous vehicle to operate in a first drive mode and a second drive mode; in response to detecting that the ladder is in the deployed state, cause the autonomous vehicle to operate in the second drive mode and to restrict from operating in the first drive mode; and in response to detecting that the ladder is in the use state, cause the autonomous vehicle to refrain from operating in the first drive mode and the second drive mode.

Abstract: A robotic system for manipulating an object with a robotic manipulator is provided. The robotic system is configured to collect a digital representation of a task for manipulating the object; solve a robust control problem to optimize a sequence of control forces to be applied by the robotic manipulator to change a state of the object, where an evolution of the state of the object is governed by a stochastic complementarity system modeling the task with a predefined probability. The robust control problem optimizes a cost function to generate the sequence of control forces performing the task subject to joint chance constraints including a first chance constraint on the state of the object being manipulated and a second chance constraint on stochastic complementarily constraints modeling manipulation of the object. The robotic system is further configured to control the manipulation of the object based on the sequence of control forces.

Abstract: A brake control device forming a brake device includes an acquisition unit acquiring an operation value which is a value relating to an operation of a brake pedal in each control cycle, a target derivation unit deriving a final target braking power BPTrF which is a target of a braking power at a point in time when a prescribed time passes from a start of the operation of the brake pedal based on an increase state of the operation value when the operation of the brake pedal is started, and a brake controller increasing a vehicle braking power BP toward the final target braking power BPTrF.

Abstract: A method enabling an authorized control system operator to remotely override a primary means of communication therewith, the control system including a primary controller integrated with, and configured to control an operation of a vehicle/vessel, a machine, etc. A remote controller communicates with the primary controller via a first mode of communication. An auxiliary controller module, integrated with the control system, communicates with the base controller via a different, second mode of communication, such that the auxiliary controller module functions as an emergency backup to take over control of the control system, in place of the primary controller, when, for example, the primary controller is rendered non-responsive to authorized operator-attempted communication from the remote controller to the primary controller, wherein the second mode of communication relies upon a coded messaging scheme.

Abstract: A system for path selection, the system comprising a computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to receive a plurality of alimentary elements and a plurality of destinations. Computing device may compute, using the plurality of alimentary elements and the plurality of destinations, a projected combination as a function of an objective function, wherein computing is based on completion time and destination. Computing device may determine a combination ranking by generating a batching objective function, wherein the function generates an output ranking according to at least a target criterion and selects a combination. Computing device may provide batching instructions to a user. Computing device may determine a predicted path for the plurality of alimentary elements wherein the predicted path is updated as a function of each alimentary element that has reached its destination. Computing device may provide the predicted path to a user.

Abstract: A parking assist system with improved avoidance steering control and a method thereof are provided. The parking assist system includes a sensor fusion calculation module that fuses sensing data of an ultrasonic sensor and image data of an SVM camera to calculate position information of an object with respect to a current location of a vehicle and a parking assist module that avoids the object based on the position information and performs steering control of the vehicle for autonomous parking. The parking assist system accurately detects the object on a position departing from a field of view (FOV) of the ultrasonic sensor and performs avoidance steering robust to a surrounding object upon autonomous parking.

Abstract: A control system for use with a turf maintenance vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system may provide a discrete engine speed input that may provide one engine speed command upon actuation, but result in additional engine speed commands depending on an actuation time of the input. In other embodiments, the vehicle may include an electronic controller (EC) providing resettable property statistics for one or more properties. In still another embodiment, the EC may provide a maintenance monitor onboard the vehicle that indicates maintenance status, when maintenance tasks are due or past due, and permanently records historical information regarding maintenance tasks. The maintenance monitor may further adjust a maintenance interval before the maintenance task is again due based upon inputs to the maintenance monitor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical robot (10) comprising a motorized mobile base (13), spatial-location sensors (17) secured to the mobile base, and a control unit (16) that stores in memory an intervention plan comprising at least one action to be performed on the anatomy of interest of a patient (30). The control unit is configured to: —detect, from information coming from the spatial-location sensors (17), a position of the anatomy of interest of the patient with respect to the medical robot, —identify, from the position of the anatomy of interest of the patient and from the intervention plan, at least one favourable position of the mobile base of the medical robot for which position the medical robot is capable of performing the action or actions from the intervention plan, —move the mobile base of the medical robot into an optimal position selected from among the favourable position or positions identified.

Abstract: A method tar operating a vehicle where at least one comfort function is offered to at least one vehicle user for activation. The at least one comfort function is offered to the at least one vehicle user for activation after a start of an electrical charging process of at least one energy storage device of the vehicle. The comfort function is offered to the vehicle user depending on an expected necessary charging time of the electrical charging process of the energy storage device of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control mode of speed control includes a first control mode in which an actual speed is caused to follow a target speed through active use of a brake and a second control mode in which the actual speed is caused to follow the target speed while use of the brake is suppressed. An autonomous driving system changes a threshold value to a value larger than a value in the first control mode when the control mode is switched from the first control mode to the second control mode, and changes the threshold value to a value smaller than a value in the second control mode when the control mode is switched from the second control mode to the first control mode.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a kinematic structure by manual motion of a link coupled to the kinematic structure include a system having a kinematic structure configured to support an instrument and a processor. The processor is configured to place the system in a clutching mode; transition the system from the clutching mode to a set-up mode in response to detecting a joint operation of the kinematic structure; while in the set-up mode, determine an input displacement of a link from an initial positional relationship relative to a portion of the kinematic structure to a displaced positional relationship relative to the portion of the kinematic structure; and while in the set-up mode and in response to the determined input displacement, drive the kinematic structure so that the link returns toward the initial positional relationship relative to the portion of the kinematic structure.

Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner includes multiple occupiable space sensors for position and/or proximity sensing. Data from the occupiable space sensors can be used determine areas of occupiable space in proximity to the autonomous floor cleaner. Methods for exiting a trapped condition, obstacle avoidance, and path planning are disclosed.

Abstract: Three-dimensional measurement data is obtained (step S1). The poses of bulk parts are calculated (step S2). The gripping poses of a hand relative to the bulk parts are calculated (step S3). Individual evaluation indices are calculated (step S4). Overall evaluation indices are calculated (step S5). The gripping poses are sorted using the overall evaluation indices (step S6). The calculated gripping poses appear on a screen (step S7). The gripping poses are sorted by a user in an intended order (step S8). Determination is performed as to whether the difference between the results of the sorting in step S6 and in step S8 is small (step S9). In response to the difference being sufficiently small, parameters used in the calculation of the overall evaluation indices are stored (step S11). In response to the difference not being sufficiently small, the parameters are updated (step S10) and the processing returns to step S5.