Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the call.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: A robotic device may include a spine defining a yaw axis. The robotic device may also include an arm joint rotatably connected to the spine at a first position along the yaw axis and configured to rotate about the yaw axis. The robotic device may further include an actuator including a ring that defines a bore. The spine may be fixedly connected to the ring at a second position along the yaw axis and may extend through the bore. The actuator may be connected to the arm joint and configured to rotate the arm joint about the yaw axis without rotating the spine.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to providing configurations of robotic devices are provided. A computing device can receive a configuration request for a robotic device including environmental information and task information for tasks requested to be performed by the robotic device in an environment. The computing device can determine task-associated regions in the environment. A task-associated region for a given task can include a region of the environment that the robotic device is expected to reach while performing the given task. Based at least on the task-associated regions, the computing device can determine respective dimensions of components of the robotic device and an arrangement for assembling the components into the robotic device so that the robotic device is configured to perform at least one task in the environment. The computing device can provide a configuration that includes the respectively determined dimensions and the determined arrangement.

Abstract: A robotic device may include a spine defining a yaw axis. The robotic device may also include an arm joint rotatably connected to the spine at a first position along the yaw axis and configured to rotate about the yaw axis. The robotic device may further include an actuator including a ring that defines a bore. The spine may be fixedly connected to the ring at a second position along the yaw axis and may extend through the bore. The actuator may be connected to the arm joint and configured to rotate the arm joint about the yaw axis without rotating the spine.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a mobile robotic device includes a mobile base and a mounting column fixed to the mobile base. The robotic device further includes a seven-degree-of-freedom (7DOF) robotic arm, including a rotatable joint that enables rotation of the 7DOF robotic arm relative to the mounting column. The robotic device additionally includes a perception housing comprising at least one sensor, where the mounting column, the rotatable joint of the 7DOF arm, and the perception housing are arranged in a stacked tower such that the rotatable joint of the 7DOF arm is above the mounting column and below the perception housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to providing configurations of robotic devices are provided. A computing device can receive a configuration request for a robotic device including environmental information and task information for tasks requested to be performed by the robotic device in an environment. The computing device can determine task-associated regions in the environment. A task-associated region for a given task can include a region of the environment that the robotic device is expected to reach while performing the given task. Based at least on the task-associated regions, the computing device can determine respective dimensions of components of the robotic device and an arrangement for assembling the components into the robotic device so that the robotic device is configured to perform at least one task in the environment. The computing device can provide a configuration that includes the respectively determined dimensions and the determined arrangement.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to providing configurations of robotic devices are provided. A computing device can receive a configuration request for a robotic device including environmental information and task information for tasks requested to be performed by the robotic device in an environment. The computing device can determine task-associated regions in the environment. A task-associated region for a given task can include a region of the environment that the robotic device is expected to reach while performing the given task. Based at least on the task-associated regions, the computing device can determine respective dimensions of components of the robotic device and an arrangement for assembling the components into the robotic device so that the robotic device is configured to perform at least one task in the environment. The computing device can provide a configuration that includes the respectively determined dimensions and the determined arrangement.

Abstract: Robotic vehicles and methods described herein relate to robot navigation, physical configuration, and obstacle avoidance. An example robotic vehicle includes a chassis and a sensor coupled to the chassis. Furthermore, the robotic vehicle includes a plurality of multi-wheels coupled to the chassis. As such, each multi-wheel is configured to rotate about a primary axis of rotation. Each multi-wheel includes a plurality of rotatable wheel elements and each rotatable wheel element is configured to rotate about a respective secondary axis of rotation. The robotic vehicle includes an actuator configured to extend or retract at least one rotatable wheel element such that a position of at least one rotatable wheel element is adjustable relative to the primary axis of rotation. Yet further, the robotic vehicle includes a motor configured to drive the rotatable wheel elements about their respective secondary axes of rotation and drive the respective multi-wheels about their primary axes.