Abstract: A protective warning system for a vehicle is provided. A device comprises: a long-range camera and a stereoscopic camera positioned in a housing to image external objects in a rear-facing direction when the housing is mounted to a vehicle. A controller detects, using images from the long-range camera, an external object in the rear-facing direction and processes stereoscopic images from the stereoscopic camera to determine when the external object is located within a first zone or a second zone extending in the rear-facing direction, the second zone being closer to the stereoscopic camera than the first zone. In response to determining that the external object is located within the first zone or the second zone, the controller controls the one or more notification devices to provide one or more first or second notifications associated with a first or second urgency level.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for operating battery packs. One example method includes obtaining voltages of batteries of the battery pack, which includes a plurality of the batteries connected to a circuit. The method also includes obtaining an output current to be output from the battery pack and selecting a subset of the batteries capable collectively of providing the output current. The subset includes one or more selected batteries selected from among the plurality of the batteries. The subset has a subset voltage being substantially similar to a voltage of each of the selected batteries. The subset may be selected such that the selected batteries have substantially similar voltages and the subset voltage is maximized. The method also includes drawing the output current from the subset of the batteries. Other methods and systems for operating a battery pack are also provided.

Abstract: An electric vehicle noise sniffer and methods of mitigating packet flow interruptions by noise cancellation and avoidance of noise region envelopes are provided. A vehicle comprises: electrical component(s) that operate according to data indications: and a power line that conveys the data indications and power to the electrical component(s). A method comprises: determining an electrical characteristic of the data indications on the power line: determining a present electrical characteristic of noise on the power line and/or estimating a future electrical characteristic of the noise on the power line: and causing the data indications to change to a new electrical characteristic different from the present electrical characteristic and the future electrical characteristic of the noise on the power line to avoid interference of the noise with the data indications. The electrical characteristics are one or more of in frequency space, amplitude space and direct current offset space.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for operating electric vehicles. One example method includes generating, at a first component of the electric vehicle, a message in a first communication protocol and converting, at a first conversion module associated with the first component, the message into a power line communication protocol to form a first converted message. The method also includes transmitting the first converted message over a power line connecting the first component to a second component of the electric vehicle, and converting, at a second conversion module associated with the second component, the first converted message into a second communication protocol to form a second converted message. The second communication protocol is used by the second component. In addition, the method includes receiving the second converted message at the second component.

Abstract: Electric vehicles with battery management and sensors are provided. An electric vehicle may be configured to charge individual main batteries using individual intermediate batteries while the electric vehicle is in operation via suitable control of switches. An electric vehicle may be configured to charge batteries using a regeneration current based on sensor data from sensors, such one or more of a camera, an accelerometer, a gyroscope an atmospheric pressure sensor and a Hall sensor. An electric vehicle may be configured to avoid rear end collisions based on images from a rear-facing camera.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating an electric device. The method includes receiving one or more operating power levels being used by one or more loads on a given circuit of the electric device, and setting a power threshold based on the one or more operating power levels. The method also includes receiving an output power level being delivered to the given circuit by a power source connected to the given circuit, and comparing the output power level with the power threshold. Furthermore, the method includes, if the output power level exceeds the power threshold, reducing the output power level to less than or equal to the power threshold. A related power regulator is also provided.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for operating battery packs. One example method includes obtaining voltages of batteries of the battery pack, which includes a plurality of the batteries connected to a circuit. The method also includes obtaining an output current to be output from the battery pack and selecting a subset of the batteries capable collectively of providing the output current. The subset includes one or more selected batteries selected from among the plurality of the batteries. The subset has a subset voltage being substantially similar to a voltage of each of the selected batteries. The subset may be selected such that the selected batteries have substantially similar voltages and the subset voltage is maximized. The method also includes drawing the output current from the subset of the batteries. Other methods and systems for operating a battery pack are also provided.

Abstract: There are provided robot swarms and methods of operating thereof. Such a swarm may include two or more robots each having a microphone, a speaker, and a communication terminal for sending or receiving an electromagnetic signal to or from a communication partner to affect electromagnetic communication with the communication partner. Upon detection of a disruption to the electromagnetic communication, a given robot of the two or more robots may switch from electromagnetic communication to acoustic communication by exchanging an acoustic signal between one of the speaker and the microphone of the given robot and one of a corresponding microphone and a corresponding speaker of a corresponding communication partner.

Abstract: A method for driving a tractor on a flatbed trailer. The method includes locating a starting position of the tractor, determining a final position for the tractor, and searching for a ramp attached to the flatbed trailer. A driving path is calculated to drive the tractor from the starting position, along the ramp, and to the final position. The tractor is autonomously operated to drive along the driving path. The method may periodically detect an intermediate position of the tractor and determining if the intermediate position is located on the driving path. The driving path may be updated with a course correction to drive the tractor from the intermediate position to the final position. The tractor is stopped after arriving at the final position.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a ring gear, including providing a tube having an inner surface comprising gear teeth, the tube being a hollow tube formed by extrusion. The method also includes inserting a shaping tool into the tube, the shaping tool having tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth, and extended and retracted configurations. The shaping tool may be inserted into the tube in its retracted configuration. Moreover, the method includes extending the shaping tool into its extended configuration to cause the tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth and to exert a radially outward force on the tube. Furthermore, the method includes fixing a shape of an outer perimeter of the tube, retracting the shaping tool into its retracted configuration to reduce the radially outward force exerted by the shaping tool on the tube, and removing the shaping tool from the tube.

Abstract: A protective warning system for a vehicle is provided. A device comprises: a long-range camera and a stereoscopic camera positioned in a housing to image external objects in a rear-facing direction when the housing is mounted to a vehicle. A controller detects, using images from the long-range camera, an external object in the rear-facing direction and process stereoscopic images from the stereoscopic camera to determine when the external object is located with a first zone or a second zone extending in the rear-facing direction, the second zone being closer to the stereoscopic camera than the first zone. In response to determining that the external object is located with the first zone or the second zone, the controller controls the one or more notification devices to provide one or more first or second notifications associated with a first or second urgency level.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising receiving at a controller an input comprising a channel output from an input channel of a vehicle. The input is triggered by an operation of the vehicle by an operator. The input channel has a corresponding direct operational manifestation. The method also comprises comparing at the controller the input with a set of input patterns to select from the set of input patterns a target input pattern corresponding to the input, and generating at the controller a control output corresponding to the target input pattern. The control output is configured to cause in the vehicle a target operational manifestation different than the direct operational manifestation. Furthermore, the method comprises sending the control output from the controller to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a rechargeable battery pack having a plurality of rechargeable batteries. The method includes measuring charge-level for the rechargeable batteries; and selecting a first battery set including a doner battery having a high charge-level, and a recipient battery having a low charge-level that is less than the high charge-level of the doner battery. The method also includes: rebalancing the first battery set; measuring a rest profile of the recipient battery after rebalancing the first battery set; and determining battery health of the recipient battery based on at least the rest profile.

Abstract: There are provided electric motors each having a rotor, a stator, and a plurality of conductive windings each disposed around a corresponding tooth of the stator. The rotor is to rotate about an axis of rotation defining an axial direction. The rotor includes a backiron and a plurality of magnets secured to an inner surface of the backiron. The stator is disposed inside the rotor and centered about the axis of rotation. The stator includes a plurality of teeth each extending radially relative to the axis of rotation towards the inner surface of the backiron and terminating in a corresponding tooth end disposed proximal to the inner surface.

Abstract: A material handling robot including a mobile base, a plurality of drones, and a plurality of docking stations on the mobile base for receiving the drones. The mobile base has motorized wheels for driving the mobile base, and a platform for supporting a load. Each drone has a power source and a drone sensor for monitoring environment around the drone. Each docking station has a power charger for recharging the power source, and a launch mechanism for deploying the drone. The robot also includes a controller for communicating with the mobile base and the drones. The controller has: a material handling mode for transporting loads on the platform of the mobile base; and a security mode where at least one of the drones is deployed to conduct surveillance using the drone sensor.

Abstract: A method for driving a tractor on a flatbed trailer. The method includes locating a starting position of the tractor, determining a final position for the tractor, and searching for a ramp attached to the flatbed trailer. A driving path is calculated to drive the tractor from the starting position, along the ramp, and to the final position. The tractor is autonomously operated to drive along the driving path. The method may periodically detect an intermediate position of the tractor and determining if the intermediate position is located on the driving path. The driving path may be updated with a course correction to drive the tractor from the intermediate position to the final position. The tractor is stopped after arriving at the final position.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating an electric device. The method includes receiving one or more operating power levels being used by one or more loads on a given circuit of the electric device, and setting a power threshold based on the one or more operating power levels. The method also includes receiving an output power level being delivered to the given circuit by a power source connected to the given circuit, and comparing the output power level with the power threshold. Furthermore, the method includes, if the output power level exceeds the power threshold, reducing the output power level to less than or equal to the power threshold. A related power regulator is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a device to be used as a magnet. The device comprises a first member, a second member, and a third member. The first member defines a trench extending along a longitudinal direction. The trench has a top being open. Moreover, the first member comprises a first material being magnetizable. The second member is received in the trench and secured to the first member. The second member comprises a second material being magnetizable. Furthermore, the third member is received in the trench and secured to the first member. The third member comprises a third material being magnetizable. The third member and the second member are disposed side-by-side along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a ring gear, including providing a tube having an inner surface comprising gear teeth, the tube being a hollow tube formed by extrusion. The method also includes inserting a shaping tool into the tube, the shaping tool having tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth, and extended and retracted configurations. The shaping tool may be inserted into the tube in its retracted configuration. Moreover, the method includes extending the shaping tool into its extended configuration to cause the tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth and to exert a radially outward force on the tube. Furthermore, the method includes fixing a shape of an outer perimeter of the tube, retracting the shaping tool into its retracted configuration to reduce the radially outward force exerted by the shaping tool on the tube, and removing the shaping tool from the tube.