Abstract: The technology includes communicating the current status of a self-driving vehicle to users, such as passengers within the vehicle and other users awaiting pickup. Certain information about the trip and vehicle status is communicated depending on where the passenger is sitting within the vehicle or where the person awaiting pickup is located outside the vehicle. This includes disseminating the “monologue” of a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode to a user via an app on the user's device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet or laptop PC, wearable, or other computing device) and/or an in-vehicle user interface. The monologue includes current status information regarding driving decisions and related operations or actions. This alerts the user as to why the vehicle is taking (or not taking) a certain action, which reduces confusion and allows the user to focus on other matters.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to assisting a passenger in an autonomous vehicle without a driver. For instance, after a door of the vehicle is opened, a predetermined period of time may be waited by processors of computing devices of the vehicle. After waiting the predetermined period of time and when the vehicle's door remains open, a set of instructions for closing the vehicle's door may be played by the processors through a speaker of the vehicle. Once the door of the vehicle is closed, an announcement may be played by the processors through the speaker requesting that the passenger press a first button to initiate a ride to a destination. In response to the first button being pressed, the ride to the destination may be initiated by the processors by maneuvering the vehicle autonomously to the destination.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to prioritizing notifications for a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode. As an example, a set of notifications based on one or more messages received or transmitted by a planning system of the vehicle may be generated. Each notification of the set of notifications is assigned a priority ranking. The set of notifications may be stored in a cache and the one or more processors may determine a first notification for display based on the priority rankings of the set of notifications and the first notification may be displayed on a display of the vehicle to a passenger of the vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing sensor data on a display of a vehicle. For instance, data points generated by a lidar sensor may be received. The data points may be representative of one or more objects in an external environment of the vehicle. A scene including a representation of the vehicle from a perspective of a virtual camera, a first virtual object corresponding to at least one of the one or more objects, and a second virtual object corresponding to at least one object identified from pre-stored map information may be generated. Supplemental points corresponding to a surface of the at least one object identified from the pre-stored map information may be generated. A pulse including at least some of the data points generated by the sensor and the supplemental points may be generated. The scene may be displayed with the pulse on the display.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to assisting a passenger in an autonomous vehicle without a driver. For instance, after a door of the vehicle is opened, a predetermined period of time may be waited by processors of computing devices of the vehicle. After waiting the predetermined period of time and when the vehicle's door remains open, a set of instructions for closing the vehicle's door may be played by the processors through a speaker of the vehicle. Once the door of the vehicle is closed, an announcement may be played by the processors through the speaker requesting that the passenger press a first button to initiate a ride to a destination. In response to the first button being pressed, the ride to the destination may be initiated by the processors by maneuvering the vehicle autonomously to the destination.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to assisting a passenger in an autonomous vehicle without a driver. For instance, after a door of the vehicle is opened, a predetermined period of time may be waited by processors of computing devices of the vehicle. After waiting the predetermined period of time and when the vehicle's door remains open, a set of instructions for closing the vehicle's door may be played by the processors through a speaker of the vehicle. Once the door of the vehicle is closed, an announcement may be played by the processors through the speaker requesting that the passenger press a first button to initiate a ride to a destination. In response to the first button being pressed, the ride to the destination may be initiated by the processors by maneuvering the vehicle autonomously to the destination.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing sensor data on a display of a vehicle. For instance, data points generated by a lidar sensor may be received. The data points may be representative of one or more objects in an external environment of the vehicle. A scene including a representation of the vehicle from a perspective of a virtual camera, a first virtual object corresponding to at least one of the one or more objects, and a second virtual object corresponding to at least one object identified from pre-stored map information may be generated. Supplemental points corresponding to a surface of the at least one object identified from the pre-stored map information may be generated. A pulse including at least some of the data points generated by the sensor and the supplemental points may be generated. The scene may be displayed with the pulse on the display.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting a liquid into live animals, comprising a cradle plate (18) having a cradle (24) for accommodating at least a part of an animal, sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) for detecting a force acting upon the cradle plate, an injection mechanism (16) for injecting liquid into the animal, and a control unit (38) for triggering the injection mechanism (16) in response to signals received from the sensors, wherein at least three sensors (20-1-, 20-2, 20-3) are arranged for measuring forces with which the cradle plate (18) is pressed against a base (12) in at least three non-aligned positions, and the control unit (38) is adapted to trigger the injection mechanism (16) when the forces measured by the sensors are distributed according to a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing sensor data on a display of a vehicle. For instance, data points generated by a lidar sensor may be received. The data points may be representative of one or more objects in an external environment of the vehicle. A scene including a representation of the vehicle from a perspective of a virtual camera, a first virtual object corresponding to at least one of the one or more objects, and a second virtual object corresponding to at least one object identified from pre-stored map information may be generated. Supplemental points corresponding to a surface of the at least one object identified from the pre-stored map information may be generated. A pulse including at least some of the data points generated by the sensor and the supplemental points may be generated. The scene may be displayed with the pulse on the display.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to prioritizing notifications for a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode. As an example, a set of notifications based on one or more messages received or transmitted by a planning system of the vehicle may be generated. Each notification of the set of notifications is assigned a priority ranking. The set of notifications may be stored in a cache and the one or more processors may determine a first notification for display based on the priority rankings of the set of notifications and the first notification may be displayed on a display of the vehicle to a passenger of the vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing an end of trip sequence when a vehicle is nearing its destination. One or more computing devices may generate and display a video indicating a projected trajectory of the vehicle and objects detected by sensors on the vehicle, on a map corresponding to a route the vehicle is currently following, where the video is generated from a perspective of a virtual camera at a default position and default pitch A determination that the vehicle has reached a threshold relative to the route of the vehicle may be made and the position and pitch of the virtual camera may be adjusted to an updated position above the vehicle and a perspective which looks downwards towards a roof of the vehicle. The video may then be generated and displayed from the perspective of the virtual camera at the updated position.

Abstract: Welding torch system for use in welding or cutting operations during which fume is created. The welding torch system has a welding torch comprising a contact tip holder and a coaxial nozzle comprising an inner shield gas conduit having a shield gas outlet for supplying a shield gas. The inner shield gas conduit surrounds the contact tip holder. An outer shell at least partly surrounds said inner shield gas conduit. The welding torch system further comprises a shield gas generator and supply unit for supplying shield gas through the shield gas outlet and a fume extracting assembly for extracting fume and ambient air. The welding torch system is arranged for—during operation—supplying shield gas through the shield gas outlet at a velocity between about 1.5 m/s and 10 m/s. By operating the fume extracting assembly to generate a flow of between 10 and 100 m3/h, preferably a flow of about 55 m3/h a reduction in the area of 90%-95% of hazardous fumes can then be realized.

Abstract: A multi-cyclone dust separating apparatus comprises a housing with an air inflow port, an air outflow port separate from the air inflow port and an air flow channel extending in an air flow direction from the air inflow port to the air outflow port. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of cyclones arranged in a matrix arrangement and in the air flow channel. Each cyclone comprises a cylindrical portion defining an inside vortex space. The cylindrical portion has a top end and a lower end. A conical portion contiguous to the lower end has a dust opening at its bottom. An air inlet is arranged tangentially with regard to the cylindrical portion and opens in the inside vortex space. The air inlet has an effective air passage surface area. An air outlet tube having an air outlet passage is arranged at the top end of the cylindrical portion and extends into the inside vortex space.