Abstract: A scanning system for scanning crops is described, the system being arranged to be mounted to a vehicle and to be traversed along rows of crops, the system including: a carrier which is arranged to be mounted to a vehicle; a number of mountings for attaching items of scanning equipment to the carrier; and wherein at least some of the mountings may be adjusted to allow the scanning system to be reconfigured for use in different scanning scenarios.

Abstract: The technology relates to developing a highly accurate understanding of a vehicle's sensor fields of view in relation to the vehicle itself. A training phase is employed to gather sensor data in various situations and scenarios, and a modeling phase takes such information and identifies self-returns and other signals that should either be excluded from analysis during real-time driving or accounted for to avoid false positives. The result is a sensor field of view model for a particular vehicle, which can be extended to other similar makes and models of that vehicle. This approach enables a vehicle to determine when sensor data is of the vehicle or something else. As a result, the detailed modeling allowing the on-board computing system to make driving decisions and take other actions based on accurate sensor information.

Abstract: The technology relates to developing a highly accurate understanding of a vehicle's sensor fields of view in relation to the vehicle itself. A training phase is employed to gather sensor data in various situations and scenarios, and a modeling phase takes such information and identifies self-returns and other signals that should either be excluded from analysis during real-time driving or accounted for to avoid false positives. The result is a sensor field of view model for a particular vehicle, which can be extended to other similar makes and models of that vehicle. This approach enables a vehicle to determine when sensor data is of the vehicle or something else. As a result, the detailed modeling allowing the on-board computing system to make driving decisions and take other actions based on accurate sensor information.

Abstract: One example method involves repeatedly scanning a range of angles in a field-of-view (FOV) of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device. The method also involves detecting a plurality of light pulses intercepted for each scan of the range of angles. The method also involves comparing a first scan of the range of angles with a second scan subsequent to the first scan. The method also involves detecting onset of a saturation recovery period of the light detector during the first scan or the second scan based on the comparison.

Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having articulating sections such as the trailer of a tractor-trailer. Aspects include approaches for tracking the pose of the trailer, including its orientation relative to the tractor unit. Sensor data is analyzed from one or more onboard sensors to identify and track the pose. The pose information is usable by on-board perception and/or planning systems when driving the vehicle in an autonomous mode. By way of example, on-board sensors such as Lidar sensors are used to detect the real-time pose of the trailer based on Lidar point cloud data. The orientation of the trailer is estimated based on the point cloud data, and the pose is determined according to the orientation and other information about the trailer. Aspects also include determining which side of the trailer the sensor data is coming from. A camera may also detect trailer marking information to supplement the analysis.

Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having articulating sections such as the trailer of a tractor-trailer. Aspects include approaches for tracking the pose of the trailer, including its orientation relative to the tractor unit. Sensor data is analyzed from one or more onboard sensors to identify and track the pose. The pose information is usable by on-board perception and/or planning systems when driving the vehicle in an autonomous mode. By way of example, on-board sensors such as Lidar sensors are used to detect the real-time pose of the trailer based on Lidar point cloud data. The orientation of the trailer is estimated based on the point cloud data, and the pose is determined according to the orientation and other information about the trailer. Aspects also include determining which side of the trailer the sensor data is coming from. A camera may also detect trailer marking information to supplement the analysis.

Abstract: The technology relates to operation of a vehicle in a self-driving mode by determining the presence of occlusions in the environment around the vehicle. Raw sensor data for one or more sensors is received and a range image for each sensor based is computed based on the received data. The range image data may be corrected in view of obtained perception information from other sensors, heuristic analysis and/or a learning-based approach to fill gaps in the data or to filter out noise. The corrected data may be compressed prior to packaging into a format for consumption by onboard and offboard systems. These systems can obtain and evaluate the corrected data for use in real time and non-real time situations, such as performing driving operations, planning an upcoming route, testing driving scenarios, etc.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to generating a grid or a visual list to facilitate operator review of labels. The system receives a first set of labels generated by a first labeling source and a second set of labels generated by a second labeling source. The first set of labels and the second set of labels each classify one or more objects perceived in one or more scenes captured by a sensor of a vehicle, such that each of the one or more objects has a corresponding first label and a corresponding second label. The system determines discrepancies between the corresponding first label and the corresponding second label for each of the one or more objects, and generates a grid or a visual list using the determined discrepancies. The system provides the grid or the visual list for display to a human operator.

Abstract: The technology relates to developing a highly accurate understanding of a vehicle's sensor fields of view in relation to the vehicle itself. A training phase is employed to gather sensor data in various situations and scenarios, and a modeling phase takes such information and identifies self-returns and other signals that should either be excluded from analysis during real-time driving or accounted for to avoid false positives. The result is a sensor field of view model for a particular vehicle, which can be extended to other similar makes and models of that vehicle. This approach enables a vehicle to determine when sensor data is of the vehicle or something else. As a result, the detailed modeling allowing the on-board computing system to make driving decisions and take other actions based on accurate sensor information.

Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having articulating sections such as the trailer of a tractor-trailer. Aspects include approaches for tracking the pose of the trailer, including its orientation relative to the tractor unit. Sensor data is analyzed from one or more onboard sensors to identify and track the pose. The pose information is usable by on-board perception and/or planning systems when driving the vehicle in an autonomous mode. By way of example, on-board sensors such as Lidar sensors are used to detect the real-time pose of the trailer based on Lidar point cloud data. The orientation of the trailer is estimated based on the point cloud data, and the pose is determined according to the orientation and other information about the trailer. Aspects also include determining which side of the trailer the sensor data is coming from. A camera may also detect trailer marking information to supplement the analysis.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle configured to detect and avoid pedestrians may use information from LIDAR or other range-based sensors. An example method involves: (a) receiving, at a computing device, range data corresponding to a plurality of objects in an environment of a vehicle, wherein the range data comprises a plurality of first data points; (b) generating a spherical data set comprising a plurality of second data points, wherein spherical coordinates for each second data point are generated based on a corresponding one of the first plurality of data points; and (c) determining a two-dimensional map based on the spherical data set comprising the plurality of second data points, wherein the two-dimensional map comprises a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels is indicative of a plurality of parameters corresponding to the plurality of objects in the environment.

Abstract: A method for seismic event mapping includes adaptively velocity filtering seismic signals recorded at selected positions. The velocity filtered signals are transformed into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.

Abstract: A method for seismic event mapping includes adaptively velocity filtering seismic signals recorded at selected positions. The velocity filtered signals are transformed into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and process using the composition for removing metal ions from aqueous process solutions. These compositions include a non-metallic compound entrapped within or supported onto a substrate. In one embodiment, the non-metallic compound is a thiuram. In another embodiment, the compositions further include non-metallic compound that is a dithiocarbamate. These compositions are contacted with the metal ions in the aqueous process solution to form an organometallic complex precipitate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and process using the composition for removing metal ions from aqueous process solutions. These compositions include a non-metallic compound entrapped within or supported onto a substrate. In one embodiment, the non-metallic compound is a thiuram. In another embodiment, the compositions further include non-metallic compound that is a dithiocarbamate. These compositions are contacted with the metal ions in the aqueous process solution to form an organometallic complex precipitate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and process using the composition for removing metal ions from aqueous process solutions. These compositions include a non-metallic compound and a suitable carrier. In one embodiment, the non-metallic compound is a thiuram. In another embodiment, the non-metallic compound can further include a dithiocarbamate. These compositions are contacted with the metal ions in the aqueous process solution having a wetting agent to form an organometallic complex precipitate. The precipitate can then be separated from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A vehicular lamp has at least one headlamp having a headlamp reflector and a light source provided within a focal area of said headlamp reflector. In order to darken the appearance of the vehicular lamp the inner surface of the headlamp reflector is at least partially darkened.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and process using the composition for removing metal ions from aqueous process solutions. These compositions include a non-metallic compound entrapped within or supported onto a substrate. In one embodiment, the non-metallic compound is a thiuram. In another embodiment, the compositions further include non-metallic compound that is a dithiocarbamate. These compositions are contacted with the metal ions in the aqueous process solution to form an organometallic complex precipitate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for reducing the passive layer on a metal. The process includes reacting a treatment composition having a non-metallic compound with metal ions in the passive layer of a metal, thereby forming an organometallic complex precipitate, and removing the organometallic complex precipitate. In one embodiment the non-metallic compound is a thiuram. In another embodiment, the treatment composition further includes a non-metallic compound that is a dithiocarbamate.

Abstract: A vehicular lamp has at least one headlamp having a headlamp reflector and a light source provided within a focal area of said headlamp reflector. In order to darken the appearance of the vehicular lamp the inner surface of the headlamp reflector is at least partially darkened.