Abstract: A method for enhancing a vehicular driving assistance system includes obtaining in-vehicle test data representative of performance of the vehicular driving assistance system of a vehicle during operation of the vehicular driving assistance system and determining, using the in-vehicle test data, a second order transfer function that models operation of the vehicular driving assistance system. The second order transfer function matches a magnitude response of the in-vehicle test data. The method includes providing a simulation environment. The simulation environment simulates the vehicular driving assistance system using the second order transfer function. The method includes determining, using the simulation environment, a feedforward contribution and a feedback contribution of the vehicular driving assistance system, and enhancing the vehicular driving assistance system based on adjustment of the feedforward contribution and the feedback contribution of the vehicular driving assistance system.

Abstract: A smart locker automated transfer system includes one or more lockers, a transfer system, and an autonomous delivery robot. Each locker includes a retractable base plate configured to hold the package. The transfer system may include a rack and rail system, one or more conveyor belts, or both. The autonomous delivery robot may be configured to receive the package from the transfer system. The autonomous delivery robot may be configured to deliver the package to a destination.

Abstract: A smart locker automated transfer system includes one or more lockers, a transfer system, and an autonomous delivery robot. Each locker includes a retractable base plate configured to hold the package. The transfer system may include a rack and rail system, one or more conveyor belts, or both. The autonomous delivery robot may be configured to receive the package from the transfer system. The autonomous delivery robot may be configured to deliver the package to a destination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inertial reference system alignment are provided. In certain embodiments, a system comprises an inertial reference system, the inertial reference system providing motion measurements; and a processing system coupled to receive the motion measurements from the inertial reference system. Further, the processing system is configured to execute instructions that direct the processing system to identify one or more frequencies in the spectrum of the motion measurements that are associated with vibrations; attenuate the motion measurements at the one or more frequencies; and use the attenuated measurements to aid in the production of navigation information.

Abstract: A method to level an inertial reference system of a helicopter with reference to the local vertical frame is provided. The method includes powering up the helicopter; outputting sensor data from at least one gyroscope and at least one accelerometer to a mode-selecting processor; executing a fast Fourier transform algorithm on the sensor data at the mode-selecting processor; and selecting one of a plurality of operation modes of the helicopter as a current-operation mode based on the execution of the fast Fourier transform algorithm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for airspeed estimation using actuation signals are provided. In one embodiment, an on-board avionics airspeed estimation system is provided. The system comprises: a flight control surface for an aircraft; a control surface actuator coupled to the flight control surface, wherein the control surface actuator receives an actuator control output signal from an actuator control system and drives the flight control surface into a position based on the actuator control output signal; a wind estimator coupled to a plurality of aircraft sensors, wherein the plurality of aircraft sensors output a set of aircraft measurements to the wind estimator and wherein the actuator control output signal is further provided to the wind estimator; wherein the wind estimator calculates a wind speed estimate by applying the actuator control output and the set of aircraft measurements to an onboard aircraft model.

Abstract: A method to level an inertial reference system of a helicopter with reference to the local vertical frame is provided. The method includes powering up the helicopter; outputting sensor data from at least one gyroscope and at least one accelerometer to a mode-selecting processor; executing a fast Fourier transform algorithm on the sensor data at the mode-selecting processor; and selecting one of a plurality of operation modes of the helicopter as a current-operation mode based on the execution of the fast Fourier transform algorithm.

Abstract: A method to filter outliers in an image-aided motion-estimation system is provided. The method includes selecting eight-image-points in a first image received from a moving imaging device at at least one processor; selecting eight-image-points in a second image that correspond to the selected eight-image-points in the first image at the at least one processor, the second image being received from the moving imaging device; scaling the selected image-points at the at least one processor so the components of the selected image-points are between two selected values on the order magnitude of 1; building an 8-by-9 matrix (A) from the scaled selected image-points at the at least one processor; determining a condition number for the 8-by-9 matrix at the at least one processor; and rejecting the 8-by-9 matrix built from the selected image-points when the determined condition number is greater than or equal to a condition-number threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for airspeed estimation using actuation signals are provided. In one embodiment, an on-board avionics airspeed estimation system is provided. The system comprises: a flight control surface for an aircraft; a control surface actuator coupled to the flight control surface, wherein the control surface actuator receives an actuator control output signal from an actuator control system and drives the flight control surface into a position based on the actuator control output signal; a wind estimator coupled to a plurality of aircraft sensors, wherein the plurality of aircraft sensors output a set of aircraft measurements to the wind estimator and wherein the actuator control output signal is further provided to the wind estimator; wherein the wind estimator calculates a wind speed estimate by applying the actuator control output and the set of aircraft measurements to an onboard aircraft model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inertial reference system alignment are provided. In certain embodiments, a system comprises an inertial reference system, the inertial reference system providing motion measurements; and a processing system coupled to receive the motion measurements from the inertial reference system. Further, the processing system is configured to execute instructions that direct the processing system to identify one or more frequencies in the spectrum of the motion measurements that are associated with vibrations; attenuate the motion measurements at the one or more frequencies; and use the attenuated measurements to aid in the production of navigation information.

Abstract: A method to filter outliers in an image-aided motion-estimation system is provided. The method includes selecting eight-image-points in a first image received from a moving imaging device at at least one processor; selecting eight-image-points in a second image that correspond to the selected eight-image-points in the first image at the at least one processor, the second image being received from the moving imaging device; scaling the selected image-points at the at least one processor so the components of the selected image-points are between two selected values on the order magnitude of 1; building an 8-by-9 matrix (A) from the scaled selected image-points at the at least one processor; determining a condition number for the 8-by-9 matrix at the at least one processor; and rejecting the 8-by-9 matrix built from the selected image-points when the determined condition number is greater than or equal to a condition-number threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for takeoff assistance and analysis are provided.

Abstract: A testbed for testing health of software includes an input model, a hardware model, and a resource modeler. The input model represents an input system used in conjunction with the software. The hardware model represents one or more hardware components used in conjunction with the software. The resource modeler is coupled to the input model and the hardware model, and is configured to estimate effects on the software of conditions of the hardware components, the input system, or both.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in an aircraft is disclosed. The method involves predicting at least one state of the aircraft and tuning at least one threshold value to tightly upper bound the size of a mismatch between the at least one predicted state and a corresponding actual state of the non-faulted aircraft. If the mismatch between the at least one predicted state and the corresponding actual state is greater than or equal to the at least one threshold value, the method indicates that at least one fault has been detected.

Abstract: A method of controlling an autonomous vehicle with a vision-based navigation and guidance system. The method includes capturing image frames at a predetermined frame rate. Detecting image points that define an edge in each image frame. Using image points in each image frame to locate a determined edge. Dynamically predicting the location of image points that define an edge in a subsequent image frame. Using the prediction of the location of image points that define an edge to narrow the search area for the edge in the subsequent image frame. Determining offset distances between determined edges in sequential image frames and controlling the vehicle based at least in part on determined offset distances between determined edges in sequential image frames.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in an aircraft is disclosed. The method involves predicting at least one state of the aircraft and tuning at least one threshold value to tightly upper bound the size of a mismatch between the at least one predicted state and a corresponding actual state of the non-faulted aircraft. If the mismatch between the at least one predicted state and the corresponding actual state is greater than or equal to the at least one threshold value, the method indicates that at least one fault has been detected.

Abstract: A testbed for testing health of software includes an input model, a hardware model, and a resource modeler. The input model represents an input system used in conjunction with the software. The hardware model represents one or more hardware components used in conjunction with the software. The resource modeler is coupled to the input model and the hardware model, and is configured to estimate effects on the software of conditions of the hardware components, the input system, or both.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a navigational state of a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one pivotable wheel and a plurality of front wheels. The apparatus comprises a steering angle sensor coupled to the at least one pivotable wheel for determining a steering angle, a plurality of wheel speed sensors each coupled to a different one of the plurality of pivotable wheels for determining an angular velocity of each of the plurality of pivotable wheels, a GPS receiver coupled to the vehicle for receiving GPS positioning data, and a processor coupled to the steering angle sensor, the plurality of wheel speed sensors, and the GPS receiver. The processor is configured to determine a yaw rate for the vehicle based on the positioning data, the steering angle, and the longitudinal angular velocity of each of the plurality of front wheels, and integrate the yaw rate to determine a heading for the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of controlling an autonomous vehicle with a vision-based navigation and guidance system. The method includes capturing image frames at a predetermined frame rate. Detecting image points that define an edge in each image frame. Using image points in each image frame to locate a determined edge. Dynamically predicting the location of image points that define an edge in a subsequent image frame. Using the prediction of the location of image points that define an edge to narrow the search area for the edge in the subsequent image frame. Determining offset distances between determined edges in sequential image frames and controlling the vehicle based at least in part on determined offset distances between determined edges in sequential image frames.