Abstract: One variation of a method includes: accessing a 2D color image recorded by a 2D color camera and a 3D point cloud recorded by a 3D depth sensor at approximately a first time, the 2D color camera and the 3D depth sensor defining intersecting fields of view and facing outwardly from an autonomous vehicle; detecting a cluster of points in the 3D point cloud representing a continuous surface approximating a plane; isolating a cluster of color pixels in the 2D color image depicting the continuous surface; projecting the cluster of color pixels onto the plane to define a set of synthetic 3D color points in the 3D point cloud, the cluster of points and the set of synthetic 3D color points representing the continuous surface; and rendering points in the 3D point cloud and the set of synthetic 3D color points on a display.

Abstract: One variation of a method includes: accessing a 2D color image recorded by a 2D color camera and a 3D point cloud recorded by a 3D depth sensor at approximately a first time, the 2D color camera and the 3D depth sensor defining intersecting fields of view and facing outwardly from an autonomous vehicle; detecting a cluster of points in the 3D point cloud representing a continuous surface approximating a plane; isolating a cluster of color pixels in the 2D color image depicting the continuous surface; projecting the cluster of color pixels onto the plane to define a set of synthetic 3D color points in the 3D point cloud, the cluster of points and the set of synthetic 3D color points representing the continuous surface; and rendering points in the 3D point cloud and the set of synthetic 3D color points on a display.

Abstract: One variation of a method for calculating nominal paths for lanes within a geographic region includes: serving a digital frame of a road segment to an annotation portal; at the annotation portal, receiving insertion of a lane marker label, for a lane marker represented in the digital frame, over the digital frame; calculating a nominal path over the road segment and defining a virtual simulator environment for the road segment based on the lane marker label; during a simulation, traversing the virtual road vehicle along the nominal path within the virtual simulator environment and scanning the virtual simulator environment for collisions between the virtual road vehicle and virtual objects within the virtual simulator environment; and, in response to absence of a collision between the virtual road vehicle and virtual objects in the virtual simulator environment, updating a navigation map for the road segment with the nominal path.

Abstract: One variation of a method includes: accessing a 2D color image recorded by a 2D color camera and a 3D point cloud recorded by a 3D depth sensor at approximately a first time, the 2D color camera and the 3D depth sensor defining intersecting fields of view and facing outwardly from an autonomous vehicle; detecting a cluster of points in the 3D point cloud representing a continuous surface approximating a plane; isolating a cluster of color pixels in the 2D color image depicting the continuous surface; projecting the cluster of color pixels onto the plane to define a set of synthetic 3D color points in the 3D point cloud, the cluster of points and the set of synthetic 3D color points representing the continuous surface; and rendering points in the 3D point cloud and the set of synthetic 3D color points on a display.

Abstract: One variation of a method includes: accessing a 2D color image recorded by a 2D color camera and a 3D point cloud recorded by a 3D depth sensor at approximately a first time, the 2D color camera and the 3D depth sensor defining intersecting fields of view and facing outwardly from an autonomous vehicle; detecting a cluster of points in the 3D point cloud representing a continuous surface approximating a plane; isolating a cluster of color pixels in the 2D color image depicting the continuous surface; projecting the cluster of color pixels onto the plane to define a set of synthetic 3D color points in the 3D point cloud, the cluster of points and the set of synthetic 3D color points representing the continuous surface; and rendering points in the 3D point cloud and the set of synthetic 3D color points on a display.

Abstract: One variation of a method for calculating nominal paths for lanes within a geographic region includes: serving a digital frame of a road segment to an annotation portal; at the annotation portal, receiving insertion of a lane marker label, for a lane marker represented in the digital frame, over the digital frame; calculating a nominal path over the road segment and defining a virtual simulator environment for the road segment based on the lane marker label; during a simulation, traversing the virtual road vehicle along the nominal path within the virtual simulator environment and scanning the virtual simulator environment for collisions between the virtual road vehicle and virtual objects within the virtual simulator environment; and, in response to absence of a collision between the virtual road vehicle and virtual objects in the virtual simulator environment, updating a navigation map for the road segment with the nominal path.

Abstract: In an aspect, the invention relates to a decoupler that is positionable between a shaft (eg. for an alternator) and an endless power transmitting element (eg. a belt) on an engine. The decoupler includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, and a pulley that engages the endless power transmitting element, an isolation spring between the hub and the shaft. The decoupler provides at least a selected damping torque between the hub and the pulley.

Abstract: In one aspect, a decoupler assembly is provided for use between a shaft and an endless drive member that is used to drive the shaft. The decoupler assembly includes a pulley, a hub and an isolator spring that is preferably a coiled torsion spring. The two ends of the spring are engageable, at least indirectly, with the pulley and the hub for the transfer of torque therebetween. At least one of the ends of the spring engages an engagement structure (on either the pulley or the hub) that includes a helical axial shoulder and a driver wall. The spring transfers torque in one direction through the driver wall (e.g. when the pulley overruns the hub), but the spring end is not fixedly connected to the driver wall. When the hub overruns the pulley, there is relative rotation between the spring and whichever of the hub and pulley it is not fixedly connected to. Accordingly, there is relative rotation between the spring end and the helical axial shoulder and the driver wall.

Abstract: In one aspect, a decoupler assembly is provided for use between a shaft and an endless drive member that is used to drive the shaft. The decoupler assembly includes a pulley, a hub and an isolator spring that is preferably a coiled torsion spring. The two ends of the spring are engageable, at least indirectly, with the pulley and the hub for the transfer of torque therebetween. At least one of the ends of the spring engages an engagement structure (on either the pulley or the hub) that includes a helical axial shoulder and a driver wall. The spring transfers torque in one direction through the driver wall (e.g. when the pulley overruns the hub), but the spring end is not fixedly connected to the driver wall. When the hub overruns the pulley, there is relative rotation between the spring and whichever of the hub and pulley it is not fixedly connected to. Accordingly, there is relative rotation between the spring end and the helical axial shoulder and the driver wall.

Abstract: In one aspect, a decoupler assembly is provided for use between a shaft and an endless drive member that is used to drive the shaft. The decoupler assembly includes a pulley, a hub and an isolator spring that is preferably a coiled torsion spring. The two ends of the spring are engageable, at least indirectly, with the pulley and the hub for the transfer of torque therebetween. At least one of the ends of the spring engages an engagement structure (on either the pulley or the hub) that includes a helical axial shoulder and a driver wall. The spring transfers torque in one direction through the driver wall (e.g. when the pulley overruns the hub), but the spring end is not fixedly connected to the driver wall. When the hub overruns the pulley, there is relative rotation between the spring and whichever of the hub and pulley it is not fixedly connected to. Accordingly, there is relative rotation between the spring end and the helical axial shoulder and the driver wall.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a decoupler assembly is provided for use between a shaft and an endless drive member that is used to drive the shaft. The decoupler assembly includes a pulley, a hub and an isolator spring that is preferably a coiled torsion spring. The two ends of the spring are engageable, at least indirectly, with the pulley and the hub for the transfer of torque therebetween. At least one of the ends of the spring engages an engagement structure (on either the pulley or the hub) that includes a helical axial shoulder and a driver wall. The spring transfers torque in one direction through the driver wall (e.g. when the pulley overruns the hub), but the spring end is not fixedly connected to the driver wall. When the hub overruns the pulley, there is relative rotation between the spring and whichever of the hub and pulley it is not fixedly connected to. Accordingly, there is relative rotation between the spring end and the helical axial shoulder and the driver wall.

Abstract: In an aspect, the invention relates to a decoupler that is positionable between a shaft (eg. for an alternator) and an endless power transmitting element (eg. a belt) on an engine. The decoupler includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, and a pulley that engages the endless power transmitting element, an isolation spring between the hub and the shaft. The decoupler provides at least a selected damping torque between the hub and the pulley.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting impacts on areas to be monitored on a running vehicle (2), created by objects projected due to its velocity, wherein vibration sensors (11a-11d) are arranged in direct contact with areas to be monitored on said running vehicle (2) and the signals from the vibration sensors (11a-11d) are analyzed to detect impacts. The invention also relates to an impact detection system on areas to be monitored on a running vehicle (2).

Abstract: This specification discloses a rail car for carrying hot coke from a coke oven to a quenching station in combination with a control system for automatically controlling the acceleration, deceleration, stopping and starting of the rail car to achieve optimum cycle times having regard to track conditions. The rail car includes a chassis supporting a load container and a plurality of wheeled bogies supporting the chassis and container, at least the forward bogie being directly driven by two electric traction motors and being located at the position of maximum weight of the rail car. The motors provide both acceleration and braking torques for the rail car and are controlled by the control system. The control system includes a slip detection circuit connected to a speed regulator for modifying the regulation applied by the speed regulator to remove wheel slip. The speed regulator is controlled via a ramp generator which dictates the acceleration and deceleration profiles for the motors.