Abstract: An example of a drone includes a drone chassis, a plurality of motors attached to the drone chassis and a plurality of propellers coupled to the plurality of motors. The drone also includes a net assembly mounted above the drone chassis. The net assembly includes an enclosure and a hinged portion that extends upwards from the enclosure in an open position and folds down in a closed position.

Abstract: A towing assistance device includes an acquirer, a determiner, and a notifier. The acquirer acquires a coupling angle between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The determiner determines whether the towed vehicle is movable backward in a coupling posture with the coupling angle maintained, when the towing vehicle is moved backward at a current steering angle. The notifier issues information on a steering angle at which the towed vehicle is movable backward in the coupling posture, among selectable steering angles of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes a Lidar sensor and a processor. The processor is programmed to detect, using Lidar sensor data, a low-density area comprising a plurality of Lidar beam reflections less than a threshold, to determine dimensions of the area, and to determine that the area represents a physical object based on the detection and determination.

Abstract: The invention obtains a controller and a control method capable of appropriately assisting with an operation by a driver while preventing a motorcycle from falling over. In the controller and the control method according to the invention, in a control mode to make the motorcycle perform an automatic cruise deceleration operation, automatic deceleration that is deceleration of the motorcycle generated by the automatic cruise deceleration operation is controlled in accordance with a change rate of a state amount that is related to posture of the motorcycle during turning travel.

Abstract: Provided is a stable flight control method for a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle based on finite-time neurodynamics, comprising the following implementation process: 1) acquiring real-time flight orientation and attitude data through airborne sensors, and analyzing and processing kinematic problems of the aerial vehicle through an airborne processor to establish a dynamics model of the aerial vehicle; 2) designing a finite-time varying-parameter convergence differential neural network solver according to a finite-time varying-parameter convergence differential neurodynamics design method; 3) solving output control parameters of motors of the aerial vehicle through the finite-time varying-parameter convergence differential neural network solver using the acquired real-time orientation and attitude data; and 4) transmitting results to speed regulators of the motors of the aerial vehicle to control the motion of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling automated driving operations of a vehicle includes determining vehicle origin and destination data, and generating a graphical representation of a road network with multiple candidate routes between the vehicle's origin and destination. Road-level data, including speed, turn angle, and/or gradient data, is received for each candidate route, and respective total energy uses are estimated for the vehicle to traverse across the candidate routes. Multiple candidate driving strategies, each having respective speed and acceleration profiles, are determined for the candidate route with the lowest estimated total energy use. An optimal candidate driving strategy is selected through a cost evaluation of the associated speed and acceleration profiles and forward movement simulations of the vehicle over a prediction horizon.

Abstract: A method for reducing slack in a linkage chain of a vehicle truck assembly is provided. In one example, the method includes responding to a request to de-lift a lift mechanism by reducing pressure in an actuator coupled to the lift mechanism, where the lift mechanism is configured to transfer a load from a first axle to a second axle of the vehicle during the de-lift, and during the de-lift, maintaining the pressure in the actuator at or above a threshold pressure to maintain tension in a weight transfer device of the lift mechanism.

Abstract: If an external environment recognition unit recognizes a traffic signal indicating a stop instruction at a point in time when a distance detection unit detects a distance less than or equal to a first distance, an operation determination unit performs deceleration control at a first rate of deceleration at a point in time when the distance detection unit detects a distance less than or equal to a second distance shorter than the first distance, and if the external environment recognition unit does not recognize the traffic signal at the point in time when the distance detection unit detects the distance less than or equal to the first distance, the operation determination unit performs the deceleration control at a second rate of deceleration smaller than the first rate of deceleration at the point in time when the distance detection unit detects the distance less than or equal to the first distance.

Abstract: A driving assistance device (10) is mounted in a mobile body (100). An abnormality detection unit (22) detects an abnormality in a sensor mounted in a peripheral body moving on a periphery of the mobile body (100). An assistance determination unit (23) reads a control pattern corresponding to a sensing area of a sensor whose abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detection unit (22), from a pattern storage unit (31). A path generation unit (24) generates path data indicating a moving path of the mobile body (100) to correspond to the control pattern.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an autonomous driving system perceives a driving environment surrounding an ADV based on sensor data obtained from various sensors, including identifying one or more objects. For each of the objects, an arc curve is generated connecting the object and a current location of the ADV using a predetermined algorithm. A curvature of the arc curve is calculated. One of the arc curves is selected in which the curvature of the selected arc curve satisfies a predetermined condition, such as the lowest curvature amongst all objects. A reference line is then generated by connecting the selected object and the current location of the ADV. The connected line between the selected object and the ADV is utilized as a part of a reference line. The reference line is utilized to generate a trajectory to drive the ADV.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for automatically obtaining a profile for a set of accelerator pedal position sensors in a target vehicle. The profile can comprise a correlation of the position of the pedal to an output signal for one or more sensor in the set of sensors. A pedal position sensor signal reader can be used to automatically detect signals from one or more pedal position sensor in the target vehicle's accelerator pedal, while the pedal is released, depressed, and moving between the released and depressed positions. A pedal profile can be automatically generated using the output signals and corresponding pedal positions. Obtained data can be used to program a speed control device for the target vehicle. Correlated output can be used to adjust the speed of the vehicle by sending an emulated signal to the ECM, which may adjust the speed control system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a control device for a braking system of a motor vehicle, wherein the control device receives a braking request from a driver assistance system and determines a target value of a braking operation parameter of the braking system and determines an ideal temporal process for the braking operation parameter, which gradually leads to the target value, complying with a predetermined jerk criterion, and a determines a control fault of an actual value of the braking operation parameter in relation to the ideal process and determines a request value for a controller of a brake pressure pump of the braking system from the control fault on the basis of a controller unit.

Abstract: A method of maneuvering a vehicle-trailer assembly in reverse travel with a backing system includes: initiating a backing mode for the backing system; determining a current relative position representing a relative angle between the vehicle and the trailer; retrieving an operator proficiency setting selected by an operator; determining a maximum allowable relevant position for the current trailer based on the selected operator proficiency setting and the current trailer calibration data; receiving a position adjustment request via an input device; determining a new relative position request based upon the position adjustment request and the selected operator proficiency setting; comparing the new relative position request to the maximum allowed relative position setting to determine if the new relative position is below the maximum allowed relative position setting; setting a new relative position to the new relative position request when the new relative position request is within the maximum allowed relativ

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method for autonomous vehicle control includes determining whether a cargo container is attached to the vehicle base. The method includes controlling a front shield associated with an autonomous vehicle to move from a closed position to an opened position when a cargo container is determined to be attached to a vehicle base associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes controlling the front shield to move from the opened position to the closed position when the cargo container is not attached to the vehicle base.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes a user input unit that receives identification information of a driver within the vehicle during autonomous driving and an information collection unit that acquires a global route of the vehicle and surrounding environment information. A controller determines a learning section on the global route based on the surrounding environment information and outputs a driving pattern of the driver by performing repetitive learning based on operation information of the driver in the learning section. Autonomous driving of the vehicle is then executed based on the output driving pattern of the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle is described, and includes an on-board controller, an extra-vehicle communication system, a GPS sensor, a spatial monitoring system, and a navigation system that employs an on-vehicle navigation map. Operation includes capturing a 3D sensor representation of a field of view and an associated GPS location, executing a feature extraction routine, executing a semantic segmentation of the extracted features, executing a simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) of the extracted features, executing a context extraction from the simultaneous location and mapping of the extracted features, and updating the on-vehicle navigation map based thereon. A parsimonious map representation is generated based upon the updated on-vehicle navigation map, and is communicated to a second, off-board controller. The second controller executes a sparse map stitching to update a base navigation map based upon the parsimonious map representation. The on-vehicle navigation map is updated based upon the off-board navigation map.

Abstract: A deployable device mountable on a carrier vehicle and configured to collect situation awareness data. The deployable device includes at least one recorder device configured to collect situation awareness data. The deployable device is capable of being ejected from the carrier vehicle and can be configured to operate as a vehicle and/or be towed by the carrier vehicle. The deployable device can continue collection of situation awareness data after being ejected.

Abstract: A system for collection of rainwater in the open ocean may include: (a) one or more ocean-going vessels, wherein each ocean-going vessel is configured for collection and storage of rainwater, wherein each ocean-going vessel is configured to drift with surface ocean currents in order to navigate to one or more delivery locations, wherein each delivery location is on or near to a land mass; and (b) one or more delivery stations located at the one or more delivery locations, wherein each delivery station is configured to receive stored rainwater from one or more of the ocean-going vessels.

Abstract: A system and method to distribute pesticides, fertilizers, water, and other materials on a farm with accuracy and precision is disclosed in order to combat the problems imposed on the environment due to over-fertilization and over use of pesticides. This system and method is a social networking control system in which multiple farms have independent grids of sensors capable of detecting the presence of pesticides, fertilizers, water, and other materials in the air, in the top-soil, and in the groundwater. These grids of sensors detect the location and concentration of these materials and reports them back to a social control system for analysis. The control system regulates the deposition of further chemicals through computer control of the chemical dispersal systems.

Abstract: A braking force control apparatus for a vehicle has a control unit that executes a braking force reduction control that controls a braking device such that a braking force is gradually reduced when it is determined that a drive request for driving the vehicle is generated during execution of the braking force holding control for controlling the braking device to hold a braking force applied to the vehicle when the vehicle stops in the uphill direction on a slope. The control unit controls the braking device such that the braking force during execution of the braking force reduction control is larger when the drive request is generated by the driving support control than when the drive request is generated by the driver's driving operation.