Abstract: Movement of an autonomously motile device may be controlled by a user device. The user device may display image data captured by a camera of the autonomously motile device; a user may provide input, such as a touch gesture on a display screen, indicating a command for the autonomously motile device to move to a location indicated by the input. The autonomously motile device determines a coordinate of the input and a time of the touch input; the autonomously motile device then determines a direction and distance of a corresponding movement.

Abstract: A hub is configured to provide voice control without assistance from a remote system, which allows the hub to provide a user with the ability to control second devices in an environment by issuing voice commands, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet). The hub is also configured to execute rules without assistance from the remote system, which allows the hub to execute rules, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet).

Abstract: A method for generating a calibration curve of asphalt concrete of a known mix. Initially, a single sample of the known asphalt concrete mix is obtained. The single sample has a known percent voids. A dielectric measurement of the single sample is obtained. Using only the dielectric measurement of the single sample, the sample's known percent voids, and a dielectric of air, a theoretical ideal dielectric for the asphalt concrete mix at 0% voids is computed. A dielectric vs. percent voids calibration curve is generated based on the computed ideal dielectric.

Abstract: A hub is configured to provide voice control without assistance from a remote system, which allows the hub to provide a user with the ability to control second devices in an environment by issuing voice commands, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet). The hub is also configured to execute rules without assistance from the remote system, which allows the hub to execute rules, even when the hub is unable to communicate with the remote system over a wide area network (e.g., the Internet).

Abstract: A method for calculating the change in percent voids between a reference location and a second location in a medium. The method includes obtaining a reference reflection coefficient of an electromagnetic wave reflection at the reference location, and a second reflection coefficient of an electromagnetic wave reflection at the second location. The obtained reflection coefficients are used to calculate a percent change in reflection coefficient. A reflection conversion factor correlating the change in the reflection coefficient to a change in percent voids in the medium is calculated and is used to calculate a change in percent voids between the reference and second locations based on the calculated percent change in reflection coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club with an adjustable shaft angle and a method of adjusting the same. More specifically, the invention provides a golf club head, a rotating mechanism and a shaft. The rotating mechanism comprises a sphere easily rotatable within predetermined limits so that the angle of the shaft may be adjusted to desired values which fall under the restrictions of golfing ruling authorities. A method is also provided so as to adjust the angle of the above-mentioned shaft.

Abstract: Movement of an autonomously motile device may be controlled by a user device. The user device may display image data captured by a camera of the autonomously motile device; a user may provide input, such as a touch gesture on a display screen, indicating a command for the autonomously motile device to move to a location indicated by the input. The autonomously motile device determines a coordinate of the input and a time of the touch input; the autonomously motile device then determines a direction and distance of a corresponding movement.

Abstract: A ground penetrating radar device and/or other sensor such as LIDAR, pressure, or temperature sensors is mounted on a mobile device, and is adapted, during motion of the mobile device, to sense characteristics of asphalt pavement on which the mobile device is moving, prior to compaction of the asphalt pavement by rollers. A processor, functionally associated with at least one sensor, receives from the sensor signals relating to characteristics of the asphalt pavement on which the mobile device is moving, and computes, based on the received signals, at least one compaction characteristic of the asphalt pavement. The processor provides a mapping of computed desired change in compaction characteristics to regions of the asphalt pavement during the rolling process. During rolling, at least one sensor measures the change in compaction and assesses when the change in compaction matches the desired optimal compaction based on the pre-generated map.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device (AMD) uses sensors to explore a physical space and determine the locations of obstacles. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques are used by the AMD to designate as keyframes some images and their associated descriptors of features in the space. Each keyframe indicates a location and orientation of the AMD relative to those features. Anchors are specified relative to keyframes. A marker is specified relative to one or more anchors. Because markers are associated with features in the physical space, they maintain their association with the physical space through various processes such as SLAM loop closures. Markers may specify locations in the physical space, such as navigation waypoints, navigation destinations such as a goal pose for exploring an unexplored area, as an observation target to facilitate exploration, and so forth. Markers may also be used to specify block listed locations to be avoided during exploration.

Abstract: A method for generating a calibration curve of asphalt concrete of a known mix. Initially, a single sample of the known asphalt concrete mix is obtained. The single sample has a known percent voids. A dielectric measurement of the single sample is obtained. Using only the dielectric measurement of the single sample, the sample's known percent voids, and a dielectric of air, a theoretical ideal dielectric for the asphalt concrete mix at 0% voids is computed. A dielectric vs. percent voids calibration curve is generated based on the computed ideal dielectric.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device (AMD) moves through a physical space without human intervention. Data from sensors on the AMD are used to determine an occupancy map indicative of obstacles and their locations in the physical space. A navigation map is created from the occupancy map by inflating the apparent size of the obstacles indicated by the occupancy map. In one implementation the inflation process dynamically skips some portions of the occupancy map based on the presence of an obstacle and a designated inflation distance. The extent of the inflation is based on a size of the AMD. The navigation map is then used for path planning.

Abstract: A robot comprises a plurality of sensors on a mobile chassis and may move about an environment in which people may be expected to follow particular cultural conventions. Movement of the robot may be constrained to honor these cultural conventions that are appropriate for the people in the environment. For example, when the robot is used within the United States, the robot tends to move along the right-hand side of a hallway. In comparison, when the robot is used within Japan the robot tends to move along the left-hand side of the hallway. The cultural conventions may be implemented as one-way gates present at specified locations in an occupancy map of the environment. The gates have no physical presence in the environment, but have the effect of placing a constraint on where the robot is permitted to move.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device (AMD) moves through a physical space without human intervention. Data from sensors on the AMD is used to determine an occupancy map indicative of obstacles and their locations in the physical space. Obstacles may be static, variable, or dynamic. For example, walls are static, doors which open and close are variable, and people moving through the environment are dynamic. Regions in the occupancy map that the AMD has visited but which are shown by the occupancy map as containing obstacles are identified as being variable regions. To determine possible paths through the physical space during autonomous movement, the variable regions are considered to be unoccupied by obstacles and traversable. Information about how often the variable region transitions between traversable and impassible states may also be used to determine the possible paths.

Abstract: Movement of an autonomously motile device may be controlled by a user device. The user device may display image data captured by a camera of the autonomously motile device; a user may provide input, such as a touch gesture on a display screen, indicating a command for the autonomously motile device to move to a location indicated by the input. The autonomously motile device determines a coordinate of the input and a time of the touch input; the autonomously motile device then determines a direction and distance of a corresponding movement.

Abstract: A method for generating a calibration curve of asphalt concrete of a known mix. Initially, a single sample of the known asphalt concrete mix is obtained. The single sample has a known percent voids. A dielectric measurement of the single sample is obtained. Using only the dielectric measurement of the single sample, the sample's known percent voids, and a dielectric of air, a theoretical ideal dielectric for the asphalt concrete mix at 0% voids is computed. A dielectric vs. percent voids calibration curve is generated based on the computed ideal dielectric.

Abstract: A point cloud or map of an environment is generated by determining sets of landmark points from multiple images, such as through use of a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm. Images acquired using a depth camera are used to determine depth points indicative of at least one object not represented by the landmark points. A combined map is generated to include both the landmark points and the depth points. The set of depth points is mapped to a corresponding set of landmark points based on proximity of the points, similarity of the camera poses, or times that the images were acquired. The relationship between the depth and landmark points may be determined. When the landmark points are moved, such as to account for error in the SLAM algorithm, the depth points may be moved to a modified location relative to the landmark points so that the relationship remains constant.

Abstract: A device implementing antennas transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves for measuring the bulk dielectric properties of a material under test having over a pre-defined surface area. The sample of the material under test might be cylindrical in shape. The device includes a spacer of known dielectric properties and geometries, placed between the material under test and the transmitting and receiving antennas, as well as at least one plate of a material having known electromagnetic properties placed below the material under test.

Abstract: A robotic assistant comprises a plurality of sensors on a mobile chassis. An occupancy map includes obstacle cost values for particular areas or cells of the map. These obstacle cost values may be based on whether an obstacle is detected and the confidence value of that detection, estimated precision of the location of the detected object, and so forth. A set of rules for preferred locations of robot movement is used to assess the occupancy map and to determine constraint cost value for the particular areas. For example, the area in a center of a hallway may be associated with a relatively high constraint cost value. An aggregate cost value may be calculated by summing the obstacle cost value and the constraint cost value for the particular area. The aggregate cost value may be used to determine a maximum permissible speed for the robot while traversing the particular area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club with an adjustable shaft angle and a method of adjusting the same. More specifically, the invention provides a golf club head, a rotating mechanism and a shaft. The rotating mechanism comprises a sphere easily rotatable within predetermined limits so that the angle of the shaft may be adjusted to desired values which fall under the restrictions of golfing ruling authorities.

Abstract: A device implementing antennas transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves for measuring the surface dielectric of a pre-defined surface area is disclosed herein. This area can be a small portion of a large surface, or a surface of a sample extracted from a larger volume. The sample might be cylindrical in shape. The device includes a dielectric spacer of known dielectric properties and geometries, placed between the material under test and the transmitting and receiving antennas. The dielectric value and thickness of the dielectric spacer are selected so as to control the effective area over which the dielectric is measured.