Abstract: An accessory device is provided that emits ultraviolet (UV) light and that receives electrical power from an electronic device (e.g., a smart phone). The accessory device notifies a user when the amount of UV light emitted by the accessory device is sufficient to sanitize a surface when the accessory device has been held at a predetermined distance from the surface.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicle fleet management systems are provided herein. An example method includes receiving, via a control module of a first electric vehicle, trip characteristics data associated with a second electric vehicle. The trip characteristics data includes information such as vehicle location, a trip destination, and a route plan associated with the second electric vehicle. The control module or a connected control server selects a charging station for recharging the first electric vehicle based at least in part on the trip characteristics data and at least one route optimization option associated with the first electric vehicle. The example method further includes determining a travel route to the charging station and navigating the first electric vehicle to the charging station along the travel route using an autonomous vehicle navigation system associated with the control module.

Abstract: A fish tape tool includes a housing and a chamber defined in the housing. A drum is configured to be inserted into the chamber of the housing. The drum contains a fish tape. The drum is rotatable relative to the housing to dispense or retract the fish tape from the housing. The drum is one of a plurality of drums that are insertable into and removable from the chamber of the housing. Each drum contains a different type of fish tape.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for enhanced human-robot interactions. A device such as a robot may send one or more pulses. The device may identify one or more reflections associated with the one or more pulses. The device may determine, based at least in part on the one or more reflections, a cluster. The device may associate the cluster with an object identified in an image. The device may determine, based at least in part on an image analysis of the image, a gesture associated with the object. The device may determine, based at least in part on the gesture, a command associated with an action. The device may to perform the action.

Abstract: A bake-steering apparatus for controlling autonomous navigation of an electric scooter includes at least one electric motor coupled to at least one wheel of the scooter to provide driving power to enable forward momentum of the scooter, at least a pair of brake pads on the scooter such that each brake pad is adapted to make mechanical braking contact with respective ones of the wheels to provide navigational steering of the scooter, and a computational module on the scooter and electrically connected to each brake pad. The computational module is adapted to receive electrical signals and compute them into corresponding braking commands so as to determine the mechanical braking contact to generate corresponding slowing and turning of the forward momentum of the scooter so as to provide navigational steering of the scooter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for managing a transportation device fleet using teleoperation. Teleoperation may be beneficial for performing fleet management tasks such as rebalancing, relocation of devices to charging stations, and/or assisting devices operating autonomously that encounter obstacles and are unable to proceed autonomously.

Abstract: Systems and methods for swapping mobile robot batteries on battery charging stations are disclosed herein. An example system may comprise at least one mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot may be optionally coupled to a modular component, and wherein the mobile robot and the modular component may each have robot batteries configured to be detachably removed from the mobile robot and the modular component. An example system may also comprise at least one battery charging station for receiving robot or modular component batteries for charging, and also for providing charged batteries to mobile robots or modular components. Finally, the system may comprise a service provider and a network that may be used to manage data and handle interactions between the mobile robots and the battery charging stations.

Abstract: A recipe management system includes a versioning system that tracks the revision history of templates and their child instances. Modifications to templates and instances create new records with new primary key identifiers and version identifiers. However, each new version of a template or instance has the same root identifier as the prior versions. When a template is modified, a flag is set in its child instances, but they are not modified automatically. When an instance is modified, it has no effect on the parent template. At runtime, a recipe model is loaded to an equipment model to execute a recipe on a piece of equipment. Only approved versions of equipment models are used during execution, even if newer versions exist. During execution, new equipment models can be created. The recipe management system includes an execution engine that can be hosted as a standalone executable or in a system platform.

Abstract: Implementations of this disclosure are directed to systems, devices and methods for monitoring parameters associated with a body of liquid. In one embodiment, a device includes a container configured to be partially submerged in a liquid and includes sensors disposed within a submerged portion of the container to measure parameters associated with the liquid. An electronic component disposed within an unsubmerged portion of the container transmits information related to the parameters based upon which one or more actions related to treatment of the body of liquid are suggested.

Abstract: The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for predicting the movement intent of objects. In one aspect, a mobile robot predicts the movement intent of pedestrians from past pedestrian trajectory data and landmark proximity. In another aspect, a host mobile robot predicts the movement intent of other robots/vehicles using motion analysis models for different driving behaviors, including curve negotiation, zigzagging, rapid acceleration/deceleration, and tailgating. In a further aspect, a mobile robot can self-predict movement intent and share movement intent information with surrounding robots/vehicles (e.g., through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication). The mobile robot can self-predict future movement by comparing the operating values calculated from the monitored components to the operating limits of the mobile robot (e.g., an adhesion limit between the tires and ground).

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to identify a mobile vehicle position based on global position coordinates of a stationary location transmitter and a localized trajectory of a vehicle that is based on vehicle component data collected after passing the stationary location transmitter and to actuate a vehicle component based on the identified vehicle position.

Abstract: An expansion tool includes a housing, a motor supported within the housing, a mandrel, and a drive mechanism configured to convert a rotational input from the motor into translational movement of the mandrel. The drive mechanism includes a cam and a drive shaft coupled to the cam. The expansion tool further includes a frame including a hub and a neck extending from the hub and having an opening. A working element is coupled to the neck and has a plurality of jaws movable from a closed position toward an expanded position in response to movement of the mandrel from a retracted position toward an extended position. The mandrel extends through the opening to engage the jaws, and the drive shaft is rotatably supported by the hub.

Abstract: Implementations of this disclosure are directed to systems, devices and methods for monitoring parameters associated with a body of liquid. In one embodiment, a device includes a container configured to be partially submerged in a liquid and includes sensors disposed within a submerged portion of the container to measure parameters associated with the liquid. An electronic component disposed within an unsubmerged portion of the container transmits information related to the parameters based upon which one or more actions related to treatment of the body of liquid are suggested.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for using an autonomous vehicle to provide navigation assistance to a delivery robot. In one exemplary implementation, the delivery robot is transported by the autonomous vehicle to a delivery destination such as a residence or a workplace. The delivery robot disembarks at the delivery destination for delivering a package to a recipient at the residence or workplace. A computer system in the autonomous vehicle communicates with a navigation assistance system of the autonomous vehicle to obtain information pertaining to a terrain between the autonomous vehicle and a package drop-off spot at the residence or workplace, and uses the information to generate a route map of the terrain. The autonomous vehicle may transmit the route map and/or navigation instructions derived from the route map, to the delivery robot to assist the delivery robot navigate around obstacles and reach the package drop-off spot.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to multi-use mobile robots that cater to both goods delivery and people mobility. These robots allow for seamless and dynamic transition between a rideable personal transport vehicle that may be driven by a user sitting in a removable robot seat, driven by the user standing onboard the vehicle, or driven by a second individual walking behind the multi-use robot. The multi-use robot may also function as an autonomous delivery vehicle, and can provide an option to allow both people and goods to be transported simultaneously. The multi-use robots can also integrate with mobile warehouses and neighborhood storage lockers and mobile warehouses, and provide last-mile handling of goods and supplies.

Abstract: A drain cleaner including a cable configured to be inserted into a drain, a drum supporting the cable, a first motor operable to rotate the drum, and a cable feed control mechanism configured to feed the cable in a linear direction along a first axis. The cable feed control mechanism includes a second motor, a drive wheel rotatable by the second motor about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and a driven wheel rotatable about a third axis that is parallel to the second axis. The drive wheel and the driven wheel are configured to engage the cable to feed the cable along the first axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for swapping mobile robot batteries on battery charging stations are disclosed herein. An example system may comprise at least one mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot may be optionally coupled to a modular component, and wherein the mobile robot and the modular component may each have robot batteries configured to be detachably removed from the mobile robot and the modular component. An example system may also comprise at least one battery charging station for receiving robot or modular component batteries for charging, and also for providing charged batteries to mobile robots or modular components. Finally, the system may comprise a service provider and a network that may be used to manage data and handle interactions between the mobile robots and the battery charging stations.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for maintaining contact information associated with a contact. In some embodiments a request associated with a contact may be received. Contact information may be obtained from one or more external or internal sources. One or more confidence scores may be generated for the obtained contact information and for one or more values received with the request. Based on the confidence score(s), one or more values associated with the contact may be incorporated in one or more data stores. In some embodiments, suggestions for contact related information may be generated. Responses to the suggestions may be used to update the generated confidence score(s).

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for maintaining contact information associated with a contact. In some embodiments a request associated with a contact may be received. Contact information may be obtained from one or more external or internal sources. One or more confidence scores may be generated for the obtained contact information and for one or more values received with the request. Based on the confidence score(s), one or more values associated with the contact may be incorporated in one or more data stores. In some embodiments, suggestions for contact related information may be generated. Responses to the suggestions may be used to update the generated confidence score(s).

Abstract: A drain cleaner including a carrier configured to be carried by a user, a cable configured to be inserted into a drain, a drum positioned and rotatable within the carrier, the drum supporting the cable, a motor positioned within the carrier and operable to rotate the drum, and a cable feed control mechanism coupled to the motor to control operation of the motor. The cable feed control mechanism is configured to feed the cable out of the drum and is positioned at a distance from carrier so a length of the cable extends from the drum to the cable feed control mechanism. The cable feed control mechanism is configured to be carried by the user separately from the carrier.