Abstract: A mobile robot system is provided that includes a docking station having at least two pose-defining fiducial markers. The pose-defining fiducial markers have a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to one another and/or to a reference point on the docking station such that a docking path to the base station can be determined from one or more observations of the at least two pose-defining fiducial markers. A mobile robot in the system includes a pose sensor assembly. A controller is located on the chassis and is configured to analyze an output signal from the pose sensor assembly. The controller is configured to determine a docking station pose, to locate the docking station pose on a map of a surface traversed by the mobile robot and to path plan a docking trajectory.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining whether a vehicle should continue through an intersection. For example, the one or more of the vehicle's computers may identify a time when the traffic signal light will turn from yellow to red. The one or more computers may also estimate a location of a vehicle at the time when the traffic signal light will turn from yellow to red. A starting point of the intersection may be identified. Based on whether the estimated location of the vehicle is at least a threshold distance past the starting point at the time when the traffic signal light will turn from yellow to red, the computers can determine whether the vehicle should continue through the intersection.

Abstract: Vector Field SLAM is a method for localizing a mobile robot in an unknown environment from continuous signals such as WiFi or active beacons. Disclosed is a technique for localizing a robot in relatively large and/or disparate areas. This is achieved by using and managing more signal sources for covering the larger area. One feature analyzes the complexity of Vector Field SLAM with respect to area size and number of signals and then describe an approximation that decouples the localization map in order to keep memory and run-time requirements low. A tracking method for re-localizing the robot in the areas already mapped is also disclosed. This allows to resume the robot after is has been paused or kidnapped, such as picked up and moved by a user. Embodiments of the invention can comprise commercial low-cost products including robots for the autonomous cleaning of floors.

Abstract: A drive system (DS) for a land craft comprises a machine system (M1, M2) for driving the land craft, the machine system comprising at least a first and a second electric machine (M1, M2) acting on a common drive shaft (S) for driving the land craft, and a control device (PE, PE1, PE2) which is adapted to control the machine system for operating in at least two rotating speed operation ranges (OR1, OR2) with different rotating speeds of the drive shaft (S). The first electric machine (MI) is controlled to operate in both rotating speed operation ranges (OR1, OR2) to provide a first drive torque, and the second electric machine (M2) is controlled to operate in only one of the rotating speed operation ranges (OR1) to provide a second drive torque in addition to the first drive torque.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a rotor (10) of an electric machine, the rotor (10) comprising a rotor body (14) adapted to be rotated about a rotor axis (A) as well as at least one rotor component (16) to be mounted to the rotor body (14), said method comprising the steps of: arranging the rotor component (16) on the rotor body (14) and winding a wire-like structure (20) around an outer circumference (12) of the rotor body having the rotor component (16) arranged thereon so as to form a bandage (18), with the wire-like structure (20) during winding thereof being held under an adjustable bias.

Abstract: A drive system (DS) for a land craft comprises a machine system (M1, M2) for driving the land craft, the machine system comprising at least a first and a second electric machine (M1, M2) acting on a common drive shaft (S) for driving the land craft, and a control device (PE, PE1, PE2) which is adapted to control the machine system for operating in at least two rotating speed operation ranges (OR1, OR2) with different rotating speeds of the drive shaft (S). The first electric machine (Ml) is controlled to operate in both rotating speed operation ranges (OR1, OR2) to provide a first drive torque, and the second electric machine (M2) is controlled to operate in only one of the rotating speed operation ranges (OR1) to provide a second drive torque in addition to the first drive torque.

Abstract: Vector Field SLAM is a method for localizing a mobile robot in an unknown environment from continuous signals such as WiFi or active beacons. Disclosed is a technique for localizing a robot in relatively large and/or disparate areas. This is achieved by using and managing more signal sources for covering the larger area. One feature analyzes the complexity of Vector Field SLAM with respect to area size and number of signals and then describe an approximation that decouples the localization map in order to keep memory and run-time requirements low. A tracking method for re-localizing the robot in the areas already mapped is also disclosed. This allows to resume the robot after is has been paused or kidnapped, such as picked up and moved by a user. Embodiments of the invention can comprise commercial low-cost products including robots for the autonomous cleaning of floors.

Abstract: Vector Field SLAM is a method for localizing a mobile robot in an unknown environment from continuous signals such as WiFi or active beacons. Disclosed is a technique for localizing a robot in relatively large and/or disparate areas. This is achieved by using and managing more signal sources for covering the larger area. One feature analyzes the complexity of Vector Field SLAM with respect to area size and number of signals and then describe an approximation that decouples the localization map in order to keep memory and run-time requirements low. A tracking method for re-localizing the robot in the areas already mapped is also disclosed. This allows to resume the robot after is has been paused or kidnapped, such as picked up and moved by a user. Embodiments of the invention can comprise commercial low-cost products including robots for the autonomous cleaning of floors.

Abstract: Vector Field SLAM is a method for localizing a mobile robot in an unknown environment from continuous signals such as WiFi or active beacons. Disclosed is a technique for localizing a robot in relatively large and/or disparate areas. This is achieved by using and managing more signal sources for covering the larger area. One feature analyzes the complexity of Vector Field SLAM with respect to area size and number of signals and then describe an approximation that decouples the localization map in order to keep memory and run-time requirements low. A tracking method for re-localizing the robot in the areas already mapped is also disclosed. This allows to resume the robot after is has been paused or kidnapped, such as picked up and moved by a user. Embodiments of the invention can comprise commercial low-cost products including robots for the autonomous cleaning of floors.

Abstract: An electric machine comprises a rotor (200) equipped with permanent magnets (204, 206, 208, 210), and a stator (100) equipped with electromagnetic poles. The electric machine is characterized in that several adjacent electromagnetic poles respectively constitute an electromagnetic pole group in which the adjacent electromagnetic poles are spaced apart at a first electromagnetic pole spacing, that adjacent electromagnetic poles belonging to different electromagnetic pole groups are spaced apart at an electromagnetic pole spacing greater than said first electromagnetic pole spacing, that each electromagnetic pole group has an even number of electromagnetic poles, and that adjacent electromagnetic poles of an electromagnetic pole group are linked to each other so as to generate magnetic fields of opposite direction in operation.

Abstract: An electric drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising: (a) a stub axle; (b) an electric motor having a stator that is fixed with respect to the stub axle and having a rotor that is rotatably supported with respect to the stub axle; (c) a gear system having its input connected to the rotor for torque transmission; (d) a wheel carrier that is rotatably supported with respect to the stub axle and is connected to the output of the gear system for torque transmission; characterized in (e) that air cooling with air circulation is provided for cooling the rotor of the electric motor; (f) and in that the electric motor has provided therein a heat sink for taking up heat from the circulating air.

Abstract: An electric drive unit for a motor vehicle comprises an electric motor having a motor housing, a stator mounted in the motor housing and having coil-wound poles, a rotor arranged internally of the stator with an air gap present between the stator and the rotor, and a planetary gear system having a sun wheel, a planet carrier, planet wheels and a ring gear. The planet wheels have a maximum diameter and axial positioning that an imaginary common envelope cylinder for all maximum diameters of the planet wheels is located radially inside of the winding heads present on one axial side of the stator and axially beside the portion of the rotor adjoining the air gap and that the planet wheels project in axial direction outwardly beyond said winding heads either not at all or with less than 50% of their tooth width in engagement with the sun wheel.

Abstract: An electric drive unit for a motor vehicle comprises an electric motor having a motor housing, a stator mounted in the motor housing and having coil-wound poles, a rotor arranged internally of the stator with an air gap present between the stator and the rotor, and a planetary gear system having a sun wheel, a planet carrier, planet wheels and a ring gear. The planet wheels have a maximum diameter and axial positioning that an imaginary common envelope cylinder for all maximum diameters of the planet wheels is located radially inside of the winding heads present on one axial side of the stator and axially beside the portion of the rotor adjoining the air gap and that the planet wheels project in axial direction outwardly beyond said winding heads either not at all or with less than 50% of their tooth width in engagement with the sun wheel.

Abstract: An electric drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising: (a) a stub axle; (b) an electric motor having a stator that is fixed with respect to the stub axle and having a rotor that is rotatably supported with respect to the stub axle; (c) a gear system having its input connected to the rotor for torque transmission; (d) a wheel carrier that is rotatably supported with respect to the stub axle and is connected to the output of the gear system for torque transmission; characterized in (e) that air cooling with air circulation is provided for cooling the rotor of the electric motor; (f) and in that the electric motor has provided therein a heat sink for taking up heat from the circulating air.