Abstract: Systems and methods for self-driving collision prevention are presented. The system comprises a self-driving vehicle safety system, having one or more sensors in communication with a control system. The control system is configured determine safety fields and instruct the sensors to scan a region corresponding to the safety fields. The control system determines exclusion regions, and omits the exclusion regions from the safety field. The safety system may also include capability reduction parameters that can be used to constrain the drive system of the vehicle, for example, by restricting turning radius and speed in accordance with the safety fields.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a mobile robot is disclosed. The system can include a processor and a plurality of sensors mounted on the mobile robot. The method includes operating the mobile robot to autonomously navigate along a trajectory. While the mobile robot autonomously navigates along the trajectory, the method involves operating the processor to: monitor an angular velocity and a linear velocity of the mobile robot; determine one or more critical sensor regions defined with reference to the mobile robot based at least on the angular velocity and the linear velocity of the mobile robot; and adapt the operation of the plurality of sensors to prioritize capture of sensor data within the one or more critical sensor regions. Each sensor can be operable to capture the sensor data for an adjustable detection region defined with respect to the sensor and the mobile robot.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-driving collision prevention are presented. The system comprises a self-driving vehicle safety system, having one or more sensors in communication with a control system. The control system is configured determine safety fields and instruct the sensors to scan a region corresponding to the safety fields. The control system determines exclusion regions, and omits the exclusion regions from the safety field. The safety system may also include capability reduction parameters that can be used to constrain the drive system of the vehicle, for example, by restricting turning radius and speed in accordance with the safety fields.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-driving collision prevention are presented. The system comprises a self-driving vehicle safety system, having one or more sensors in communication with a control system. The control system is configured determine safety fields and instruct the sensors to scan a region corresponding to the safety fields. The control system determines exclusion regions, and omits the exclusion regions from the safety field. The safety system may also include capability reduction parameters that can be used to constrain the drive system of the vehicle, for example, by restricting turning radius and speed in accordance with the safety fields.

Abstract: A system for path control for a mobile unmanned vehicle in an environment is provided. The system includes: a sensor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle; the mobile unmanned vehicle configured to initiate a first fail-safe routine responsive to detection of an object in a first sensor region adjacent to the sensor; and a processor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle. The processor is configured to: generate a current path based on a map of the environment; based on the current path, issue velocity commands to cause the mobile unmanned vehicle to execute the current path; responsive to detection of an obstacle in a second sensor region, initiate a second fail-safe routine in the mobile unmanned vehicle to avoid entry of the obstacle into the first sensor region and initiation of the first fail-safe routine.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically-powered material-transport vehicle having a vehicle-charging contact on one side of the vehicle, and a second vehicle-charging contact on the opposite side of the vehicle. The vehicle has a load-bearing cap that covers the top of the vehicle, and a cap elevator for raising and lowering the cap. The cap can be raised and lowered to a transit position, a payload-engagement position, a charging position, and a maintenance position. In the transit position and payload-engagement position, the cap covers the vehicle-charging contacts so that they are not exposed. In the charging position, the cap is raised so that the vehicle-charging contacts are exposed. The vehicle can enter a charging-dock with the cap in the charging position in order to recharge the vehicle's battery.

Abstract: A system for path control for a mobile unmanned vehicle in an environment is provided. The system includes: a sensor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle; the mobile unmanned vehicle configured to initiate a first fail-safe routine responsive to detection of an object in a first sensor region adjacent to the sensor; and a processor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle. The processor is configured to: generate a current path based on a map of the environment; based on the current path, issue velocity commands to cause the mobile unmanned vehicle to execute the current path; responsive to detection of an obstacle in a second sensor region, initiate a second fail-safe routine in the mobile unmanned vehicle to avoid entry of the obstacle into the first sensor region and initiation of the first fail-safe routine.

Abstract: A system for path control for a mobile unmanned vehicle in an environment is provided. The system includes: a sensor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle; the mobile unmanned vehicle configured to initiate a first fail-safe routine responsive to detection of an object in a first sensor region adjacent to the sensor; and a processor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle. The processor is configured to: generate a current path based on a map of the environment; based on the current path, issue velocity commands to cause the mobile unmanned vehicle to execute the current path; responsive to detection of an obstacle in a second sensor region, initiate a second fail-safe routine in the mobile unmanned vehicle to avoid entry of the obstacle into the first sensor region and initiation of the first fail-safe routine.

Abstract: A message management method is performed at a computing device, the method including: storing received messages into a plurality of cache queues according to priorities of the received messages; extracting messages from the plurality of cache queues, and storing the extracted messages into a uniform cache queue, wherein the uniform cache queue includes multiple entries, each entry corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of cache queues; scheduling the stored messages in the uniform cache queue to a plurality of outputting scheduling queues according to their respective priorities; and transmitting the stored messages from the scheduling queues to respective terminals by using a transmit channel corresponding to the scheduling queues.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obstacle avoidance with a self-driving vehicle are provided. The system comprises a processor connected to the self-driving vehicle and a sensor in communication with the processor. The sensor is configured to detect objects. The processor is configured to receive a measurement of the self-driving vehicle's speed, and define a sensor region based on the speed. The processor can determine that an object detected by the sensor is within the sensor region, and then initiate a fail-safe routine. The sensor region may be defined based on a range parameter. The sensor region may be defined based on the stopping distance of the vehicle. The sensor region may be redefined when the vehicle's speed changes.

Abstract: A message management method is performed at a computing device, the method including: storing received messages into a plurality of cache queues according to priorities of the received messages; extracting messages from the plurality of cache queues, and storing the extracted messages into a uniform cache queue, wherein the uniform cache queue includes multiple entries, each entry corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of cache queues; scheduling the stored messages in the uniform cache queue to a plurality of outputting scheduling queues according to their respective priorities ; and transmitting the stored messages from the scheduling queues to respective terminals by using a transmit channel corresponding to the scheduling queues .

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-driving collision prevention are presented. The system comprises a self-driving vehicle safety system, having one or more sensors in communication with a control system. The control system is configured determine safety fields and instruct the sensors to scan a region corresponding to the safety fields. The control system determines exclusion regions, and omits the exclusion regions from the safety field. The safety system may also include capability reduction parameters that can be used to constrain the drive system of the vehicle, for example, by restricting turning radius and speed in accordance with the safety fields.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically-powered material-transport vehicle having a vehicle-charging contact on one side of the vehicle, and a second vehicle-charging contact on the opposite side of the vehicle. The vehicle has a load-bearing cap that covers the top of the vehicle, and a cap elevator for raising and lowering the cap. The cap can be raised and lowered to a transit position, a payload-engagement position, a charging position, and a maintenance position. In the transit position and payload-engagement position, the cap covers the vehicle-charging contacts so that they are not exposed. In the charging position, the cap is raised so that the vehicle-charging contacts are exposed. The vehicle can enter a charging-dock with the cap in the charging position in order to recharge the vehicle's battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obstacle avoidance with a self-driving vehicle are provided. The system comprises a processor connected to the self-driving vehicle and a sensor in communication with the processor. The sensor is configured to detect objects. The processor is configured to receive a measurement of the self-driving vehicle's speed, and define a sensor region based on the speed. The processor can determine that an object detected by the sensor is within the sensor region, and then initiate a fail-safe routine. The sensor region may be defined based on a range parameter. The sensor region may be defined based on the stopping distance of the vehicle. The sensor region may be redefined when the vehicle's speed changes.

Abstract: A system for path control for a mobile unmanned vehicle in an environment is provided. The system includes: a sensor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle; the mobile unmanned vehicle configured to initiate a first fail-safe routine responsive to detection of an object in a first sensor region adjacent to the sensor; and a processor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle. The processor is configured to: generate a current path based on a map of the environment; based on the current path, issue velocity commands to cause the mobile unmanned vehicle to execute the current path; responsive to detection of an obstacle in a second sensor region, initiate a second fail-safe routine in the mobile unmanned vehicle to avoid entry of the obstacle into the first sensor region and initiation of the first fail-safe routine.

Abstract: A system for path control for a mobile unmanned vehicle in an environment is provided. The system includes: a sensor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle; the mobile unmanned vehicle configured to initiate a first fail-safe routine responsive to detection of an object in a first sensor region adjacent to the sensor; and a processor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle. The processor is configured to: generate a current path based on a map of the environment; based on the current path, issue velocity commands to cause the mobile unmanned vehicle to execute the current path; responsive to detection of an obstacle in a second sensor region, initiate a second fail-safe routine in the mobile unmanned vehicle to avoid entry of the obstacle into the first sensor region and initiation of the first fail-safe routine.

Abstract: A microvalve device and fluid flow control method, the microvalve device comprising: a microvalve body, the microvalve body being composed of multiple layers and comprising a first layer (1) and a second layer (2) bonded with the first layer (1), the second layer (2) having a plurality of fluid ports (7, 8, 9); a cavity (6) disposed between the first layer and the second layer; a plurality of actuators (3, 4, 5) respectively disposed corresponding to each fluid port, the plurality of actuators (3, 4, 5) controlling the opening and closing of the plurality of fluid ports (7, 8, 9). The fluid flow control method comprising: respectively employing a plurality of actuators to independently control the opening and closing of a plurality of fluid ports.

Abstract: A microvalve device and a manufacturing method therefore are disclosed. The microvalve device includes a body, including a first layer (7) and at least a second layer (8) forming a chamber (8) with the first layer (7), wherein the first layer (7) is provided with at least two fluid ports (4, 5, 6) in fluid communication with the chamber (9); and piezoelectric actuators (1, 2, 3) corresponding to predetermined fluid ports (4, 5, 6), wherein the piezoelectric actuators (1, 2, 3) are arranged in the chamber (9) and strain extending and retracting directions of the piezoelectric actuators are parallel to the first layer (7), wherein free ends of the piezoelectric actuators (1, 2, 3) in the strain extending and retracting directions are used for shielding the fluid ports (4, 5, 6) so as to control opening/closing states of the fluid ports (4, 5, 6).

Abstract: A microvalve device and fluid flow control method, the microvalve device comprising: a microvalve body, the microvalve body being composed of multiple layers and comprising a first layer (1) and a second layer (2) bonded with the first layer (1), the second layer (2) having a plurality of fluid ports (7, 8, 9); a cavity (6) disposed between the first layer and the second layer; a plurality of actuators (3, 4, 5) respectively disposed corresponding to each fluid port, the plurality of actuators (3, 4, 5) controlling the opening and closing of the plurality of fluid ports (7, 8, 9). The fluid flow control method comprising: respectively employing a plurality of actuators to independently control the opening and closing of a plurality of fluid ports.