Abstract: Among other things, a determination is made of an ability of an autonomous vehicle to safely or robustly travel a road feature or a road segment or a route that is being considered for the autonomous vehicle as of a time or range of times. Route root conforms to properties of stored road network information. The road feature or road segment or route is eliminated from consideration if the computer has determined that the road feature or road segment or route cannot be safely or robustly traveled by the autonomous vehicle. The determination by the computer is based on properties of the environment in which the autonomous vehicle travels.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle drives autonomously on a trajectory through a road network to a goal location based on an automatic process for planning the trajectory without human intervention; and an automatic process alters the planning of the trajectory to reach a target location based on a request received from an occupant of the vehicle to engage in a speed-reducing maneuver.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle drives autonomously on a trajectory through a road network to a goal location based on an automatic process for planning the trajectory without human intervention; and an automatic process alters the planning of the trajectory to reach a target location based on a request received from an occupant of the vehicle to engage in a speed-reducing maneuver.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle drives autonomously on a trajectory through a road network to a goal location based on an automatic process for planning the trajectory without human intervention; and an automatic process alters the planning of the trajectory to reach a target location based on a request received from an occupant of the vehicle to engage in a speed-reducing maneuver.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle drives autonomously on a trajectory through a road network to a goal location based on an automatic process for planning the trajectory without human intervention; and an automatic process alters the planning of the trajectory to reach a target location based on a request received from an occupant of the vehicle to engage in a speed-reducing maneuver.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle drives autonomously on a trajectory through a road network to a goal location based on an automatic process for planning the trajectory without human intervention; and an automatic process alters the planning of the trajectory to reach a target location based on a request received from an occupant of the vehicle to engage in a speed-reducing maneuver.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle drives autonomously on a trajectory through a road network to a goal location based on an automatic process for planning the trajectory without human intervention; and an automatic process alters the planning of the trajectory to reach a target location based on a request received from an occupant of the vehicle to engage in a speed-reducing maneuver.

Abstract: Among other things, a signal is emitted from a signaling device and is captured by stimulus detectors location on a vehicle, including an autonomous vehicle. Properties of the signal are analyzed, potentially in concert with other information, to determine the precise location of the signaling device and therefore the precise goal location for picking up a rider of the autonomous vehicle. In response to the calculation of the precise goal location, the autonomous vehicle attempts to travel to a location as near as possible to the precise goal location to facilitate entry of the rider into the vehicle.

Abstract: Among other things, a signal is emitted from a signaling device and is captured by stimulus detectors location on a vehicle, including an autonomous vehicle. Properties of the signal are analyzed, potentially in concert with other information, to determine the precise location of the signaling device and therefore the precise goal location for picking up a rider of the autonomous vehicle. In response to the calculation of the precise goal location, the autonomous vehicle attempts to travel to a location as near as possible to the precise goal location to facilitate entry of the rider into the vehicle.

Abstract: Among other things, a signal is emitted from a signaling device and is captured by stimulus detectors location on a vehicle, including an autonomous vehicle. Properties of the signal are analyzed, potentially in concert with other information, to determine the precise location of the signaling device and therefore the precise goal location for picking up a rider of the autonomous vehicle. In response to the calculation of the precise goal location, the autonomous vehicle attempts to travel to a location as near as possible to the precise goal location to facilitate entry of the rider into the vehicle.

Abstract: An arm unit having an improved configuration to simply change stiffness according to varying situations and a robot having the same are provided. The robot includes an arm unit, and a drive unit to drive the arm unit. The arm unit includes a plurality of links to come into rolling contact with one another via at least two regions thereof, and a plurality of wires penetrating the plurality of links to connect the links to one another.

Abstract: Among other things, stored data is maintained indicative of potential stopping places that are currently feasible stopping places for a vehicle within a region. The potential stopping places are identified as part of static map data for the region. Current signals are received from sensors or one or more other sources current signals representing perceptions of actual conditions at one or more of the potential stopping places. The stored data is updated based on changes in the perceptions of actual conditions. The updated stored data is exposed to a process that selects a stopping place for the vehicle from among the currently feasible stopping places.

Abstract: Among other things, a planning process is associated with an autonomous vehicle. The planning process has inputs including static map data and dynamic data from sensors on the autonomous vehicle and outputs including a route to be driven through a road network to reach a goal position, a continually updated choice of a currently selected stopping place in the vicinity of the goal position, and a trajectory to be executed through a road network to reach the currently selected stopping place. A communication element communicates information about the updated choice of a currently selected stopping place to a device of a passenger, receives from the device of the passenger information about the goal position, and delivers the information to the planning process as an input.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle is caused to drive autonomously through a road network toward a defined goal position. Current information is analyzed about potential stopping places in the vicinity of the goal position, to make a choice of a currently selected stopping place that is acceptable and feasible. The vehicle is caused to drive autonomously toward the currently selected stopping place. The activities are repeated until the vehicle stops at a currently selected stopping place.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle is caused to drive autonomously through a road network toward a defined goal position at which a stopped activity is to occur. A set of acceptable stopping places is identified in the vicinity of the goal position. The identifying of the set includes: identifying a proximity region in the vicinity of the goal position, identifying a goal region within the proximity region, discretizing the goal region to identify acceptable stopping places given characteristics of the vehicle and of the stopped activity analyzing current information about potential stopping places in the goal region in the vicinity of the goal position to make a choice of a currently selected stopping place that is acceptable and feasible. Current information is analyzed about the potential stopping places, to make a choice of a currently selected stopping place that is acceptable and feasible the vehicle is caused to drive autonomously toward the currently selected stopping place.

Abstract: Among other things, a vehicle is caused to drive autonomously through a road network toward a defined goal position, and, if no potential stopping place that is in the vicinity of the goal position and is acceptable and feasible can be identified, a human operator not onboard the vehicle is enabled to drive the vehicle to a stopping place.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a variably flexible pipe including at least one flap member having variable flexibility and a tube formed of an elastically deformable material and accommodating the at least one flap member, and a manipulator having the same. The at least one flap member may include a plurality flap parts and a connection part to which one side of each of the plurality of flap parts is connected, and the tube changes pressure applied to the plurality of flap parts according to a controlled change of the inner pressure of the tube, thereby causing the variably flexible pipe to be effectively selectively maintained in a deformed state.

Abstract: In general, an indication is received through a user interface of an intention of a potential rider to use an autonomous vehicle. In response to the receipt of the indication, a hailing request is sent by a signaling mode to at least one autonomous vehicle that can receive the hailing request directly in accordance with the signaling mode.

Abstract: Among other things, a hailing request carried by a signaling mode is received directly at a receiving device of an autonomous vehicle. The hailing request corresponds to an indication of an intention of the potential rider to use an autonomous vehicle. The hailing request is processed at the autonomous vehicle to determine whether to respond to the hailing request.

Abstract: Among other things, information is received about a function-related feature of an environment of a vehicle that has been identified in connection with a location of the vehicle. Execution of a function of the vehicle is affected to alter performance characteristics of the function based on the identified function-related feature.