Abstract: Techniques are described for developing and using applications and skills with autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, a development platform is provided that enables access to a developer console for developing software modules for use with autonomous vehicles. For example, a developer can specify instructions for causing an autonomous vehicle to perform one or more operations. To control the behavior of an autonomous vehicle, the instructions can cause an executing computer system at the autonomous vehicle to generate calls to an application programming interface (API) associated with an autonomous navigation system of autonomous vehicle. Such calls to the API can be configured to adjust parameters of a behavioral objective associated with a trajectory generation process performed by the autonomous navigation system that controls the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The instructions specified by the developer can be packaged as a software module that can be deployed for use at autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (10) for remote and/or autonomous harvesting at least a portion of a tree, said system (10) comprising: a remotely and/or autonomously controlled means (110) configured for harvesting said at least a portion of a tree, a remotely and/or autonomously controlled Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (100), UAV, comprising, at least one means for holding (105) said harvested portion of said tree and being configured for transporting said harvested portion of said tree away from the original location of the tree, wherein said system comprising at least one means for detecting said tree to be harvested, and a base station (120) for communication with said means configured for harvesting at least a portion of a tree and/or said UAV. The invention also relates to a method for remotely and/or autonomously harvesting a tree.

Abstract: Technology for generating and displaying a graphical user interface for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed herein that generates and updates a representation of a spline flight path. In various implementations, a graphical user interface detects user interactions with a remote control device directing the flight control subsystem of the UAV to record keyframes and to compute a spline based on the keyframes during flight. The graphical user interface displays a real-time perspective of the UAV with a representation of the spline and the keyframes overlaying the view. The graphical user interface continually updates the representation as the UAV flies and when the spline is updated as the keyframes are updated.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a propulsion system of a vehicle includes determining a health indicator from a diagnostic signal based on electrical outputs from a resolver connected to an electric motor of the propulsion system, the diagnostic signal related to a resolver offset and/or a resolver wobble, calculating a reference value based on values of the health indicator determined during a first time period, and monitoring the health indicator over a second time period, where the monitoring includes continuously or periodically calculating a trend value of the health indicator over a plurality of cycles. The method also includes comparing each trend value to the reference value and estimating a difference between the trend value and the reference value for each cycle, predicting whether a fault will occur based on the difference, and based on the predicting indicating that a fault will occur, outputting a fault indication.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a magnetic sensor and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: collect path data based on first magnetic data related to movement of the electronic device, by using the magnetic sensor; identify a plurality of pieces of second magnetic data, which have at least a predetermined level of mutual similarity, from among the path data; determine, to be an intersection area related to the movement of the electronic device, an area range in which the plurality of pieces of second magnetic data are collected; determine, on the basis of the intersection area, a first space and a second space related to the movement of the electronic device; and determine, on the basis of third magnetic data, the space in which the electronic device is located from among the first space and the second space.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for path planning for UAVs. A set of UAVs is logically arranged into a plurality of swarms, each having a swarm-leader UAV. A first path planning algorithm is applied to determine navigation instructions to steer the swarm-leader UAVs towards respective destinations for the swarms and to deconflict the swarm-leader UAVs from one another. A set of second path planning algorithms is applied to determine navigation instructions to steer non-swarm-leader UAVs in each swarm toward their respective swarm leaders and to deconflict the UAVs from other UAVs in the swarm. Separate QUBO path planning algorithms may be used for the first path planning algorithm and the set of second path planning algorithms. If merging criteria for combining two swarms are met, a single QUBO may be used to control all non-swarm-leader UAVs in merged swarms.

Abstract: A method and a system dynamically adapt a passenger transport capacity of a transport line to the number of passengers determined for the transport line. The system contains a main evaluator configured for automatically determining, as a function of the time, the number of passengers for the transport line, and a processor configured for acquiring the number of passengers as a function of the time, a nominal timetable, and a nominal passenger transport capacity of each vehicle of the line. The processor applies a trained function to the number of passengers, and the trained function has been trained by a machine learning algorithm for predicting a future temporal evolution of the number of passengers. The processor is configured for determining a measure for adapting the transport capacity of the line to the future temporal evolution. The system is further configured for applying the measure to the transport line.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and at least one computer-readable medium for selecting a velocity profile for an electric vehicle. In some embodiments, a first parameter value may be determined for a road segment in a selection horizon, and a second parameter value may be determined for an energy storage device of the electric vehicle. The first and second parameter values may be used to predict a plurality of velocity profiles over the selection horizon, wherein each velocity profile is predicted based on a corresponding value of a variable relating to a driving style of a driver of the electric vehicle. An energy consumption cost and a travel time cost may be computed for each velocity profile. A velocity profile may be selected from the plurality of velocity profiles, based on the respective energy consumption costs and the respective travel time costs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sets of measurement parameters associated with a sensed object and respectively captured by sensors. The method includes determining a relative orientation between the sensors based on comparison of the received sets of measurement parameters. The method includes determining one or more calibration factors based on comparing the determined relative orientation between sensors to an expected relative orientation between the sensors. The method includes applying at least one of the determined calibration factors to one or more of the measurement parameters captured by the sensors.

Abstract: The present invention is for an autonomous aerial vehicle that enables near real-time and offline data processing among heterogenous devices that are in unreliable or unconnected network service areas, wherein the heterogenous devices are associated with heavy industrial systems. The autonomous aerial vehicle may obtain data from a first physical asset, and segment the obtained data as suitable for a local area compute node and/or a cloud compute node. The autonomous aerial vehicle may identify a location associated with the one or more destination devices and may compute a flight path to the destination location. The aerial device may thereafter travel to the destination location and upload relevant data to the at least one destination upon arrival.

Abstract: A magazine for loading projectiles into a launch assembly by gravity feed. The magazine has a plurality blades radially extending from a central axis and defining a like plurality of compartments in an axially rotatable ring. The ring rests upon a stationary deck plate having a hole for gravity feed of the projectile into the launch assembly below. Projectiles having different fight characteristics are deposited into the compartments at a safe location, supported by the deck plate and the launch assembly with an associated device are transported to a hostile environment. A first projectile is launched by the launch assembly in a longitudinal direction. The launch assembly is retracted, automatically indexing the rotatable ring and dropping the next projectile through the hole and into the launch assembly for subsequent launch.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for use of a vehicle to conduct a site survey. An example method can include receiving navigation guidance to move a vehicle along a pre-defined path on a property for executing a site survey operation of the property. The site survey operation can include a staking procedure performed by a robotic arm attached to the vehicle, an image capture procedure performed by use of a camera in the vehicle, and/or a subterranean scanning procedure for detecting a buried object. In an example implementation, the staking procedure can include inserting at a first location on the property, a stake having affixed thereon, a barcode label. A barcode scanner can be used to read the barcode label for obtaining information associated with an object present at the first location.

Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including: a battery pack electrically connected to an electric machine and a plurality of electrical loads, wherein the motor vehicle is operable in a full power mode in which power can flow from the battery pack to the electric machine and each of the plurality of electrical loads, and a battery save mode in which a flow of power is prevented between the battery pack and either or both of the electric machine or at least some of the plurality of electrical loads; and a controller configured to command the motor vehicle to operate in the battery save mode if the motor vehicle has been parked in a known extended parking location for a first time period, or if the motor vehicle has been parked in a location other than a known extended parking location for a second time period longer than the first time period.

Abstract: A method of controlling a drive axle system of a vehicle. The temperature of a first electric power source that is configured to store electrical energy and provide electrical energy to an electric motor to provide propulsion torque may be reduced when an upper temperature limit is exceeded. The temperature of the first electric power source may be increased when the temperature is below a lower temperature limit.

Abstract: A communication system for sending surveillance signals in a hostile environment to an operator. The communication system comprises a plurality of relay sensors to transceive collected data between sequential relay sensors and ultimately to an operator. The communication system has a tractor for dispensing plural relay sensors throughout the hostile environment. The sensors may be dispensed by an elevator to a position where a relay sensor can be retrieved by a drone for placement to maintain line of sight communication. And relay sensors can be dispensed directly from the tractor to the ground or water. Direct dispensing of the relay sensors can occur through a hole in tractor or off a ramp.

Abstract: A method controlling an ego vehicle in an environment includes determining, via a flow model of a parked vehicle recognition system, a flow between a first representation of the environment and a second representation of the environment. The method also includes determining, via a velocity model of the parked vehicle recognition system, a velocity of a vehicle in the environment based on the flow. The method further includes determining, via a parked vehicle classification model of the parked vehicle recognition system, the vehicle is parked based on the velocity of the vehicle and one or more of features associated with the vehicle and/or the environment. The method still further includes planning a trajectory of the ego vehicle based on determining the vehicle is parked.

Abstract: A system for providing security functions to a vehicle may comprise a chassis and a drone. The chassis may be configured to be mounted on top of the vehicle. The chassis may include a drone port for housing a drone. The drone may include a camera. The camera of the drone may be configured to capture images of objects outside of the chassis while the drone is positioned in the drone port. A device including the chassis may be a light bar and further include lights positioned at a periphery of the device.

Abstract: An autonomous drone is provided. When a remote control circuit of a remote controller is triggered to output a remote control signal, a main controller of a drone records the remote control signal and a flight control panel of the drone controls the drone to fly according to the remote control signal. When the remote controller is triggered to output an automatic flight signal, a signal receiver of the drone receives and transmits the automatic flight signal to the main controller. At this time, the main controller instructs the flight control panel to control the drone to fly according to movement instruction messages of the remote control signal previously recorded.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) system for energy transport includes a UAV having an energy tank configured to transport energy, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, may cause the system to receive a first location for collecting or releasing the energy, determine an energy level of the energy tank, and transport the energy by the UAV to or from the first location based on the determined energy level.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control method for a hybrid vehicle having a drive motor, a battery supplying electric power to the drive motor, and an engine for power generation configured to supply electric power to the battery and the drive motor includes operating the engine at a higher engine rotation speed in an operating state in which a fuel consumption device that contributes to improved fuel consumption performance does not operate than in an operating state in which the fuel consumption device operates.