Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger. For instance, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup area in order to pick up the passenger are received by the vehicle which begins maneuvering to the predetermined pickup area. While doing so, the vehicle receives from the passenger's client computing device the device's location. An indication that the passenger is interested in a fly-by pickup is identified. The fly-by pickup allows the passenger to safely enter the vehicle at a location outside of the predetermined pickup area and prior to the one or more processors have maneuvered the vehicle to the predetermined pickup area. The vehicle determines that the fly-by pickup is appropriate based on at least the location of the client computing device and the indication, and based on the determination, maneuvers itself in order to attempt the fly-by pickup.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples, are devices, methods, systems, and machine readable mediums that provide for automated goods exchange between autonomous vehicles while the autonomous vehicles are still in motion. This may be used to efficiently ship packages long distances as well as to transfer goods to consumers. This allows shippers to transfer goods from one truck to another without having to stop and unload the truck, decreasing costs by limiting human involvement and improving efficiency. Likewise, mobile merchants, such as food trucks, may sell to consumers in cars without having to stop to perform the exchange, increasing the convenience to consumers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices associated with trajectory prediction are provided. For example, trajectory data and goal path data can be accessed. The trajectory data can be associated with an object's predicted trajectory. The predicted trajectory can include waypoints associated with waypoint position uncertainty distributions that can be based on an expectation maximization technique. The goal path data can be associated with a goal path and include locations the object is predicted to travel. Solution waypoints for the object can be determined based on application of optimization techniques to the waypoints and waypoint position uncertainty distributions. The optimization techniques can include operations to maximize the probability of each of the solution waypoints. Stitched trajectory data can be generated based on the solution waypoints. The stitched trajectory data can be associated with portions of the solution waypoints and the goal path.

Abstract: A device comprises motor controller coupled to a drive motor and a battery pack of a vehicle. The motor controller comprises a processor that is configured to: determine that the vehicle is engaged in a neutral braking mode, and after determining that the vehicle is engaged in the neutral braking mode: select a neutral braking torque curve, determine a rotational velocity of the drive motor, based on the determined rotational velocity of the drive motor, determine an amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to the drive motor based on the selected neutral braking torque curve, apply the determined amount of regenerative braking torque to the drive motor, wherein applying the determined amount of regenerative braking torque to the drive motor results in a regenerative current generated by the drive motor, and supply the regenerative current to the battery pack to at least partially recharge the battery pack.

Abstract: A vehicle having a vehicle cabin, a steering wheel adapted to include at least one sensor to measure arteriolo-capillary pulse wave intervals of a driver when the steering wheel is gripped by the driver, a computer, a proximity sensor system, rear tail lights, navigation system and an audio system, wherein the steering wheel, at least one sensor, proximity sensor system, rear tail lights navigation system and audio system are each operably connected to the computer; and when the steering wheel is gripped by the driver, communicating the arteriolo-capillary pulse wave intervals of the driver to the computer to determine whether the driver is experiencing a pulseless condition and if a pulseless condition exceeding about six seconds is determined, the computer will assume control of the vehicle and using the vehicle navigation system, bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.

Abstract: A teleoperations system may be used to modify elements in the mapping data used by an autonomous vehicle to cause the autonomous vehicle to control its trajectory based on the modified elements. In addition, in some instances, a teleoperations system may be used to generate virtual paths of travel for an autonomous vehicle based upon teleoperations system virtual path suggestion inputs.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger. For instance, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup area in order to pick up the passenger are received by the vehicle which begins maneuvering to the predetermined pickup area. While doing so, the vehicle receives from the passenger's client computing device the device's location. An indication that the passenger is interested in a fly-by pickup is identified. The fly-by pickup allows the passenger to safely enter the vehicle at a location outside of the predetermined pickup area and prior to the one or more processors have maneuvered the vehicle to the predetermined pickup area. The vehicle determines that the fly-by pickup is appropriate based on at least the location of the client computing device and the indication, and based on the determination, maneuvers itself in order to attempt the fly-by pickup.

Abstract: Exhaustive driving analytical methods, systems, are apparatuses are described. The methods, systems, are apparatuses relate to utilizing partially available data associated with driver and/or driving behaviors to determine safety factors, identify times to react to events, and contextual information regarding the events. The methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein may determine, based on a systematic model, reactions and reaction times, compare the vehicle behavior (or lack thereof) to the modeled reactions and reaction times, and determine safety factors and instructions based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus for a motor vehicle driver assistance system for an ego vehicle is provided. The apparatus implements a state estimator configured to use a first state of the ego vehicle to calculate a subsequent second state of the ego vehicle, wherein calculating the second state from the first state includes a prediction element and an update element, wherein calculating the second state from the first state includes using an artificial neural network (“ANN”).

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying available charging stations (e.g., charging stations available to be used by an electric vehicle) and/or determining travel routes for electric vehicles are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods receive a request to find an available charging station, determine a state of charge for an electric vehicle associated with the request, identifies one or more available charging stations located within a suitable distance to the electric vehicle, the suitable distance based on the determined state of the charge for the electric vehicle, and present information to the electric vehicle, or an associated mobile device, that indicates the identified charging stations.

Abstract: Techniques for generating trajectories and drivable areas for navigating a vehicle in an environment are discussed herein. The techniques can include receiving a trajectory representing an initial trajectory for a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, to traverse the environment in a drivable area. A location can be determined along the trajectory. A cost associated with the location can determined and can be evaluated with respect to a cost threshold. Further, the techniques can include determining, based at least in part on the cost meeting or exceeding the cost threshold, an action associated with the location, and controlling the autonomous vehicle to traverse the environment based at least in part on the action.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for assisting a customer retrieve a package from an autonomous vehicle. In an example procedure, the autonomous vehicle may detect the customer waiting at a first spot and may determine that the first spot is unsuitable/unsafe for the customer to retrieve a package from a locked compartment in the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may therefore instruct the customer to move to a second spot that is safer and closer to the compartment and may then execute an authentication procedure to authenticate the customer and unlock a door of the compartment. In an alternative approach, the autonomous vehicle may travel to a parking spot that is safer and closer to where the customer is waiting (rather than instructing the customer to move) before authenticating and unlocking the door of the compartment to allow the customer to retrieve the package.

Abstract: This crane is provided with: a operable function unit; an operation unit; an actuator; a generation unit which generates a first control signal for the actuator on the basis of an operation input; a plurality of wire ropes; a plurality of hooks suspended from a leading end section of a boom by the plurality of wire ropes, respectively; a hook detection unit which detects, from among the plurality of hooks, an unused hook suspending no load; a calculation unit which calculates a resonance frequency for a wire rope, among the plurality of wire ropes, that suspends the detected unused hook; a filter unit which generates a filter on the basis of the resonance frequency and generates a second control signal by filtering the first control signal using the filter; and a control unit which controls the actuator on the basis of the second control signal.

Abstract: Techniques and methods for determining regions. For instance, a vehicle may determine a trajectory of the vehicle and a trajectory of an agent, such as a pedestrian. The vehicle may then determine one or more contextual factors. In some examples, the one or more contextual factors are associated with a location of the agent with respect to a crosswalk, a location of the vehicle with respect to the crosswalk, a state of the crosswalk, and/or the like. The vehicle may then determine the region using the trajectory of the vehicle, the trajectory of the agent, and the one or more contextual factors. Additionally, using a time buffer value and a distance buffer value associated with the region, the vehicle may determine whether to yield to the agent within the region.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having first and second ends, a carriage movably mounted to the drive housing, and a shaft extending from the carriage and penetrating the first end, the shaft having an end effector arranged at a distal end. An activating mechanism is secured to the carriage and includes a transmission link pivotably coupled to the carriage, a transmission drive gear rotatably mounted to a transmission link, a drive gear rotatably mounted to the carriage and operatively coupled to the transmission drive gear, and a transmission driven gear rotatably mounted to the transmission link and driven by rotation of the transmission drive gear. The transmission link is pivotable between a first and second positions to actuate the activating mechanism to perform first and second functions, respectively, of the end effector.

Abstract: Techniques are discussed herein for determining truncated simulation regions within a parameter space of simulation scenarios, such as driving scenarios used to analyze and evaluate the responses of autonomous vehicle controllers. Using non-sampling-based parameter selection techniques, parameterized scenarios may be executed as simulations to determine the truncated simulation region. Sampling-based parameter selection techniques may be used to determine additional parameterized scenarios, which may be compared to the truncated simulation region. Parameterized scenarios within the truncated simulation region may be executed as simulations and scenarios outside of the truncated simulation region may be excluded, and the aggregated results may be analyzed to determine scenario/vehicle performance metrics across the scenario parameter space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for incorporating latent states into robotic planning are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying an agent team including at least one robotic agent and at least one human agent. The method also includes receiving sensor data associated with relative physical parameters between the at least one robotic agent and the at least one human agent. The method further includes modeling the latent states of the at least one human agent as a behavior model. The latent states describe cognition of the at least one human agent. The method includes calculating a first belief state based on the relative physical parameters and the behavior model. The method yet further includes predicting future probabilities of future observations at a second the future probabilities.

Abstract: A system having components coupled to an aircraft and components remote from the aircraft processes radar-augmented data, transmits information between aircraft system components and/or remote system components, and dynamically determines locations and states of the aircraft, while the aircraft is in flight. Based on the locations and states of the aircraft, the system generates instructions for flight control of the aircraft toward a flight path appropriate to the locations of the aircraft, and can update flight control instructions as new data is received and processed.

Abstract: Techniques are discussed for modifying map elements associated with map data. Map data can include three-dimensional data (e.g., LIDAR data) representing an environment, while map elements can be associated with the map data to identify locations and semantic information associated with an environment, such as regions that correspond to driving lanes or crosswalks. A trajectory associated with the map data can be updated, such as when aligning one or more trajectories in response to a loop closure, updated calibration, etc. The transformation between a trajectory and an updated trajectory can be applied to map elements to warp the map elements so that they correspond to the updated map data, thereby providing automatic and accurate techniques for updating map elements associated with map data.

Abstract: A method begins by a computing device allocating a plurality of tasks of an agricultural prescription for a farming geographic area to a fleet of farming equipment. While executing tasks of the plurality of tasks, the method continues with at least some of the fleet of farming equipment collecting task execution data. Based on the task execution data, the method continues with the computing device updating at least one of the agricultural prescription, the plurality of tasks, and the allocation of at least one task of the plurality of tasks.