Abstract: A computing device is connected to a motor vehicle's diagnostic port or communication port to acquire vehicle sensor data, for example from various pressure, temperature, oxygen, fuel and other sensors typically installed on a motor vehicle for other reasons. Acquired sensor data is wirelessly transmitted to a remote server where the acquired sensor data can be compared to a database of stored sensor data to identify the motor vehicle. Additional functionality is described that leverages uploaded sensor data. Sensor data may be uploaded to the server in near-real time, and/or buffered locally and uploaded by periodic or episodic, push or pull communication protocols.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a semantic point cloud map. Voice input is received via a microphone and converted into text via speech-to-text synthesis. The text is decomposed into semantic data comprising a number of words, and it is determined whether keywords of the semantic data are present in an autonomous driving (AD) ontology. In response to the keywords of the semantic data being present in the AD ontology, coordinates of a point cloud map corresponding to the semantic data are determined. An association between a semantic label determined from the words of the semantic data and coordinates in the point cloud map corresponding to the semantic data is generated and stored in a memory of the computer vision system.

Abstract: A braking control device for a vehicle includes an anti-lock controller and a resonance controller. The anti-lock controller is configured to perform an anti-lock control that includes making an adjustment to the braking torque command, to cause suppression of one or more wheels from being locked during braking of the vehicle. The resonance controller is configured to correct the braking torque command, to control resonance of a power transmitter. The resonance controller includes a resonance generation processor that is configured to generate the resonance while imposing a limitation on magnitude of the resonance. The resonance controller is configured to suppress the resonance except during the anti-lock control, and allow the resonance generation processor to generate the resonance while imposing the limitation on the magnitude of the resonance during the anti-lock control.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system of an ADV perceives a driving environment surrounding the ADV using a plurality of sensors mounted on the ADV. The system identifies a blind spot based on the perceived driving environment surrounding the ADV. The system in response to identifying the blind spot, receives an image having the blind spot from an image capturing device disposed within a predetermined proximity of the blind spot. In some embodiments, the system receives the image having the blind spot from a remote server communicatively coupled to the image capturing device. The system identifies an obstacle of interest at the blind spot of the ADV based on the image. The system generates a trajectory based on the obstacle of interest at the blind spot to control the ADV to avoid the obstacle of interest.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a following vehicle. A leading vehicle is guided along an actual trajectory, and a desired trajectory is produced for the following vehicle. The actual trajectory of the leading vehicle is captured by the following vehicle, and a trajectory similarity is determined by comparing the captured actual trajectory of the leading vehicle and the produced desired trajectory of the following vehicle. Automatic control of the following vehicle along the desired trajectory is activated if the trajectory similarity exceeds a particular value. Also disclosed is a system for automatically controlling a following vehicle using a leading vehicle.

Abstract: In embodiments, an apparatus for providing wireless connectivity based routing for a vehicle may include a user interface to receive one or more wireless connectivity preferences and a navigation request from a user and to display a recommended route to a destination for the user, the recommended route to meet the one or more wireless connectivity preferences while the vehicle follows the recommended route to the destination. The apparatus may further include a local database to store geotagged wireless connectivity data for various geolocations, collected by one or more geotagged wireless connectivity scanners of the vehicle, and a route determination engine coupled to the user interface and to the local database to determine the recommended route, wherein the user interface, the local database and the route determination engine are disposed in the vehicle.

Abstract: A method controls a remote robotic avatar based on a description of a physical object. A message transmitter transmits a message to a remote robotic avatar instructing the remote robotic avatar to identify a physical object at a remote second location, where an appearance of the physical object is described in the message. The message transmitter also transmits an instruction to the remote robotic avatar to approach the physical object at the remote second location and to initiate a teleoperative session between an entity in a first location and the remote robotic avatar at the remote second location.

Abstract: A method of operating a payload-carrying vehicle having two laterally disposed wheels positioned along a central axis is described. The method includes measuring a force applied by a user to the hand truck, where the measured force comprising a direction and a magnitude, and providing torque to each wheel to cause each wheel to rotate in a respective direction as a function of the measured magnitude and direction. The amount of torque provided to each wheel in response to the force from the user is such that the magnitude of measured force applied by the user is not greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a system where a processor(s) monitors movement of users within a physical environment including routes and transports, where the physical environment includes readers of signals or images of decodable indicia to monitor locations via these signals or images associated with the users, and where the signals or the images are valid for a pre-defined period of time. The processor(s) identifies a given user of the users. The processor(s) generates a movement profile for the given user that includes machine learned movement patterns and a proficiency measure. The processor(s) generates and transmits, based on the movement profile and the locations of the users, route guidance for the given user including a recommendation, consistent with the proficiency measure, for taking a specific route to a specific transport and comprises an optimized route to minimize wait time at the transports and maximize time spent on the routes.

Abstract: An electromechanical front gear changer for a bicycle is provided, the bicycle having a chain, including a base member attachable to the bicycle. A linkage is movably coupled to the base member. A chain guide is movably coupled to the linkage for contacting the chain. A motor is supported by the base member. A gear transmission is driven by the motor to move the linkage. A CPU is provided for controlling the motor and a power supply is supported by the base member to power the motor and the CPU. A manually operated device is disposed on the electromechanical front gear changer.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided to reduce instances of accidents along a path and mitigate accidents that occur. Upon detecting an incident, the traffic system can be controlled to operate in a partially-adapted state providing safer recovery from the occurrence of one or more incidents along a path. The partially-adapted state of the traffic system may provide routing of certain vehicular traffic away from detected turbulence or incident while routing other vehicular traffic toward the detected turbulence or incident. The methods and systems provided herein may determine to move an incident from a particular area, or point, along a path to a different zone to control the negative effect on traffic flow and/or reduce the likelihood of secondary incidents or harm from occurring at, or near, the point of the incident.

Abstract: A vehicle braking device includes a storage unit storing a first relationship between the brake operation amount and a first differential pressure when the brake operation amount is within a range less than a first brake operation amount and is increasing, and a second relationship between the brake operation amount and the first differential pressure when the brake operation amount is within a range less than the first brake operation amount and is decreasing. In the first relationship a relationship in which the first differential pressure increases as the brake operation amount increases, and in the second relationship a relationship in which the first differential pressure is reduced as the brake operation amount is reduced. The first differential pressure per unit reduction in the brake operation amount in the second relationship is greater than the first differential pressure per unit increase of the brake operation amount in the first relationship.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to identifying and displaying traffic lanes that are available for autonomous driving. This information may be displayed to a driver of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode, in order to inform the driver of where he or she can use the autonomous driving mode. In one example, the display may visually distinguishing between lanes that are available for auto-drive from those that are not. The display may also include an indicator of the position of a lane (autodrive or not) currently occupied by the vehicle. In addition, if that lane is an autodrive lane the display may include information indicating how much further the vehicle may continue in the autonomous driving mode in that particular lane. The display may also display information indicating the remaining autodrive distance in other lanes as well as the lane with the greatest remaining autodrive distance.

Abstract: A system for operating a vehicle includes a perception sensor, vehicle controls, a controller circuit, and a leveling actuator. The perception sensor is operable to determine a slope of an area within an operable range of a vehicle. The vehicle controls are operable to control movement of the vehicle. The controller circuit is in communication with the perception sensor, the vehicle controls, and the leveling actuator. The controller circuit is configured to determine, using the perception sensor, a first slope of a first site within the area to stop the vehicle, and compare the first slope to a slope threshold. In response to a determination that the first slope is steeper than the slope threshold, the controller circuit is configured to access a digital map that indicates a plurality of slopes coinciding with a plurality of locations at least comprising a second site characterized by a second slope that is not steeper than the slope threshold.

Abstract: A driving supporter includes: a departure-possibility-value obtainer that obtains a departure-possibility value; a relative positional relationship obtainer that detects another vehicle located diagonally at a rear of an own vehicle and obtain a relative positional relationship between them; a support executer that executes a lane-departure prevention support; and a support controller that controls the support executer to execute the lane-departure prevention support when the departure-possibility value is greater than or equal to a threshold value. The support controller includes a threshold-value determiner that determines the threshold value to a smaller value when the relative positional relationship is a set relationship than when the relative positional relationship is not the set relationship. The set relationship is a relationship in which there is a possibility of collision of the own vehicle with the other vehicle in an event of departure of the own vehicle from a lane.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) which fly to destinations (e.g., for delivering items) may land on transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks, etc.) for temporary transport. An agreement with the owner of the transportation vehicles (e.g., a shipping carrier) may be made, and the associated transportation vehicles that are available for landings may be identified by markers on the roof or other identification techniques. Different types of communications may be provided as part of a landing process (e.g., a notification regarding a proposed landing may be sent including a request for a confirmation that the proposed landing is acceptable, etc.). The routes of the transportation vehicles may be known and utilized to determine locations where UAVs will land on and take off from the transportation vehicles.

Abstract: A vibration control system for a rotor hub provides vibration attenuation in an aircraft by reducing the magnitude of rotor induced vibratory. The system can include a force generating device attached to a rotor hub which rotates along with the rotor at the rotational speed of the rotor. Vibratory shear force is generated by rotating unbalanced weights each about an axis non-concentric with the rotor hub axis at high speed to create large centrifugal forces. The rotational speed of the weights can be a multiple of the rotor rotational speed to create shear forces for canceling rotor induced vibrations. The amplitude of the generated shear force is controlled by indexing the positions of the unbalanced weights relative to each other, while the phase of the shear force is adjusted by equally phasing each weight relative to the rotor.

Abstract: An initial geometry including one dimensional representation of a path is accessed. The initial geometry may be based on traffic data. An envelope size is identified based on the path. The envelope size may be derived from a width, functional classification, or lane quantity associated with the path. A processor calculates a supplemental geometry based on the envelope size for the path and generates a two dimensional representation of the path based on the initial geometry, the supplemental geometry, and the envelope size.

Abstract: A steering wheel includes a wheel frame, and a cover layer covering the wheel frame. The cover layer includes a touch sensor which generates touch information based on a touch of a user, and the touch sensor includes a plurality of sensor pixels which senses a capacitance change corresponding to the touch.

Abstract: A system for providing manual guidance of a vehicle includes a first inertial measurement unit (IMU) attached to a steering wheel, a second IMU attached to a fixed part of the vehicle, a global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) receiver, a data storage device for storing a pre-planned path, and a feedback module. The feedback module is configured to determine a current angle of the steering wheel, determine a deviation of the current position of the vehicle from the pre-planned path, determine a current heading of the vehicle, determine a current velocity of the vehicle, and determine a desired angle of the steering wheel relative to the vehicle. The system further includes a user interface configured to provide a visual indication of the desired angle of the steering wheel or a deviation of the current angle of the steering wheel from the desired angle of the steering wheel.