Abstract: The present embodiments are directed to a device for generating radio frequency signals, including high power radio frequency signals. In certain embodiments, the device comprises multiple transmission lines driven in parallel at their input and connected in series at their output. The electromagnetic transit lengths of the transmission lines may be unequal. A series connection of the transmission lines at the output may produce an output signal from each transmission line driving the same polarity signal to the load. The series connection of transmission lines at the output may produce a bipolar output signal. One section of the device may convert a unipolar input signal into a bipolar signal. One section of the device may duplicate the input signal. Multiple sections may be arranged to convert a unipolar input signal into multiple radio frequency oscillations.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for autonomous vehicle driver confirmation in a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a situation wherein driver confirmation is desired, acoustically request driver confirmation via vehicle speakers, and receive verbal driver confirmation via vehicle microphones.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an actuator, a sensor, and a controller configured to selectively control the actuator in an autonomous driving mode. The controller is configured to identify an adjacent driving lane proximate a current driving lane based on signals from the sensor. The controller is configured to access a current lane preference value and an adjacent lane preference value from non-transient data memory. The controller is configured to calculate a relative position and relative velocity of a target object external to the vehicle. The controller is configured to calculate a current lane weight value for the current driving lane and an adjacent lane weight value for the adjacent driving lane. The controller is configured to, in response to the adjacent lane weight value exceeding the current lane weight value, automatically control the actuator to perform a lane change maneuver from the current driving lane to the adjacent driving lane.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for lane changes performed by an assisted driving control system in a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a requirement for a lane change, to determine a first headway between a host vehicle and a lead vehicle and a second headway between the host vehicle and an adjacent vehicle occupying the desired lane. The velocity of the host vehicle is adjusted in response to the first headway and the second headway and the lane change is initiated in response to the second headway exceeding an adequate distance.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes at least one actuator configured to control vehicle steering, shifting, acceleration, or braking, at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of road geometry in the vicinity of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to selectively control the actuator in an autonomous driving mode based on signals from the sensor. The controller is configured to automatically determine a first time parameter based on a distance to a merge location between a current driving lane of the vehicle and a target lane adjacent the current driving lane in response to signals from the sensor, to automatically determine a second time parameter based on a calculated merge completion time, and to automatically discontinue autonomous control of the actuator based on a difference between the first time parameter and the second time parameter.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for driving automation control of a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a vehicle maneuver, such as a lane change, and provide a first kinesthetic cue to a supervisory driver or vehicle occupant indicating the start of a vehicle maneuver. The system and method are then operative to complete the vehicle maneuver and provide a second kinesthetic cue indicating the completion of the vehicle maneuver.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for autonomous vehicle driver confirmation in a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a situation wherein driver confirmation is desired, acoustically request driver confirmation via vehicle speakers, and receive verbal driver confirmation via vehicle microphones.

Abstract: A construction system is provided. The construction system includes at least one machine. The construction system also includes a gantry system having a beam member. The construction system further includes a reference member provided proximal to a predetermined path of the at least one machine. The construction system includes a sensing unit associated with the at least one machine. The sensing unit is configured to determine distance of a portion of the at least one machine from the reference member. The construction system also includes a control unit in communication with the at least one machine and the sensing unit. The control unit is configured to receive inputs indicative of distance of the portion of the at least one machine from the reference member. The control unit is also configured to move the at least one machine to move the gantry system along the reference member for a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous host vehicle. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, wherein the measured data relates to one or more target vehicles in the host vehicle's field of view, calculating a desired speed command based on a driver-selected set-speed and the measured data, detecting initiation of a host vehicle lane change to a desired adjacent lane, and in response to initiation of the lane change, selecting an acceleration profile based on at least one set of operating conditions, calculating a modified speed command by adjusting the desired speed command according to the selected acceleration profile; and controlling a host vehicle speed based on the modified speed command.

Abstract: The methods and system described herein may be used to assist an automated driving system of a host vehicle. The methods and system may, in an exemplary embodiment, be used to determine whether a host vehicle or a target vehicle is cutting out and, accordingly, control the acceleration and/or other driving features of the host vehicle. Generally, the methods described herein contain the steps of determining that a vehicle is cutting out, determining which vehicle is cutting out, and then controlling the acceleration of the host vehicle based on the previous determinations. The determination of which vehicle is cutting out is made based on readings gathered by the host vehicle from one or more automated driving sensors. By using target vehicle sensor data in conjunction with lane marking sensor data, the host vehicle can determine, not only that a vehicle is cutting out, but which vehicle(s) are cutting out.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first axle system operatively connected to a first set of wheels, a second axle system operatively connected to a second set of wheels, a first drive system operatively connected to the first set of wheels, a second drive system operatively connected to the second set of wheels independent of the first set of wheels, and a traction management control module electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second drive systems. The traction management control module calculates a torque capability of the corresponding one of the first and second axle systems and selectively transmits an axle torque command to the corresponding one of the first and second axle systems based on the torque capability.

Abstract: Systems, processes, and techniques for calibrating an onboard sensor of a vehicle are presented here. The vehicle has a control system that is capable of performing at least some of the tasks related to the calibration procedure. An exemplary methodology collects vehicle status data and obtains navigation map data during operation of the vehicle. A current calibration factor is calculated for the onboard sensor, based on the collected vehicle status data and the obtained navigation map data. More specifically, the vehicle status and navigation map data can be used to determine when the current conditions are suitable for performing calibration. When the current conditions are satisfactory, the calibration factor is calculated. Thereafter, the onboard sensor can be calibrated in response to the current calibration factor.

Abstract: A method for localizing a vehicle in a digital map. GPS raw measurement data is retrieved from satellites. A digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the raw measurement data is retrieved from a database. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by earth-fixed coordinates. Roadside objects are sensed in the region traveled by the vehicle using distance data and bearing angle data. The sensed roadside objects are matched on the digital map. A vehicle position is determined on the traveled road by fusing raw measurement data and sensor measurements of the identified roadside objects. The position of the vehicle is represented as a function of linearizing raw measurement data and the sensor measurement data as derived by a Jacobian matrix and normalized measurements, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous host vehicle. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, wherein the measured data relates to one or more target vehicles in the host vehicle's field of view, calculating a desired speed command based on a driver-selected set-speed and the measured data, detecting initiation of a host vehicle lane change to a desired adjacent lane, and in response to initiation of the lane change, selecting an acceleration profile based on at least one set of operating conditions, calculating a modified speed command by adjusting the desired speed command according to the selected acceleration profile; and controlling a host vehicle speed based on the modified speed command.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively reducing or filtering data provided by one or more vehicle mounted sensors before using that data to detect, track and/or estimate a stationary object located along the side of a road, such as a guardrail or barrier. According to one example, the method reduces the amount of data by consolidating, classifying and pre-sorting data points from several forward looking radar sensors before using those data points to determine if a stationary roadside object is present. If the method determines that a stationary roadside object is present, then the reduced or filtered data points can be applied to a data fitting algorithm in order to estimate the size, shape and/or other parameters of the object. In one example, the output of the present method is provided to automated or autonomous driving systems.

Abstract: The methods and system described herein may be used to assist an automated driving system of a host vehicle. The methods and system may, in an exemplary embodiment, be used to determine whether a host vehicle or a target vehicle is cutting out and, accordingly, control the acceleration and/or other driving features of the host vehicle. Generally, the methods described herein contain the steps of determining that a vehicle is cutting out, determining which vehicle is cutting out, and then controlling the acceleration of the host vehicle based on the previous determinations. The determination of which vehicle is cutting out is made based on readings gathered by the host vehicle from one or more automated driving sensors. By using target vehicle sensor data in conjunction with lane marking sensor data, the host vehicle can determine, not only that a vehicle is cutting out, but which vehicle(s) are cutting out.

Abstract: A construction system is provided. The construction system includes at least one machine. The construction system also includes a gantry system having a beam member. The construction system further includes a reference member provided proximal to a predetermined path of the at least one machine. The construction system includes a sensing unit associated with the at least one machine. The sensing unit is configured to determine distance of a portion of the at least one machine from the reference member. The construction system also includes a control unit in communication with the at least one machine and the sensing unit. The control unit is configured to receive inputs indicative of distance of the portion of the at least one machine from the reference member. The control unit is also configured to move the at least one machine to move the gantry system along the reference member for a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improved target grouping of sensor measurements in an object detection system. The method uses road curvature information to improve grouping accuracy by better predicting a new location of a known target object and matching it to sensor measurements. Additional target attributes are also used for improved grouping accuracy, where the attributes includes range rate, target cross-section and others. Distance compression is also employed for improved grouping accuracy, where range is compressed in a log scale calculation in order to diminish errors in measurement of distant objects. Grid-based techniques include the use of hash tables and a flood fill algorithm for improved computational performance of target object identification, where the number of computations can be reduced by an order of magnitude.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a position of a vehicle relative to other vehicles on a road is provided. The method includes controlling a position of a host vehicle travelling in a lane of a road using an automated driving system and monitoring positions of one or more side vehicles located on either side of the host vehicle and traveling in adjacent lanes. The method further includes detecting a condition in which the host vehicle is or will be positioned in a blind spot of a side vehicle disposed on in an adjacent lane and adjusting the position of the host vehicle in response to the condition using the automated driving system such that the amount of time the host vehicle is or will be positioned in the blind spot of the side vehicle is reduced.

Abstract: A method for localizing a vehicle in a digital map. GPS raw measurement data is retrieved from satellites. A digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the raw measurement data is retrieved from a database. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by earth-fixed coordinates. Roadside objects are sensed in the region traveled by the vehicle using distance data and bearing angle data. The sensed roadside objects are matched on the digital map. A vehicle position is determined on the traveled road by fusing raw measurement data and sensor measurements of the identified roadside objects. The position of the vehicle is represented as a function of linearizing raw measurement data and the sensor measurement data as derived by a Jacobian matrix and normalized measurements, respectively.