Patents Issued in April 2, 2020
  • Publication number: 20200103867
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods to coordinate a robot swarm are disclosed. An example system includes an analyzer to create a planning message based on data associated with a first bot and a second bot, the planning message to be communicated to the swarm from a first source. In addition, the example system includes a scheduler to issue a first assignment of a first operation slot and a first role to the first bot based on the planning message, issue a second assignment of a second operation slot and a second role to the second bot based on the planning message, and create a decision message including the first assignment and the second assignment. The decision message is to be communicated to the swarm from a second source different than the first source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Maximilian Von Tschirschnitz, Dibyendu Ghosh, Karthik Narayanan, Arjun Ram S P, Marcel Wagner, Vinayak Honkote
  • Publication number: 20200103868
    Abstract: A machining assist system includes a knowledge database, a receiver, a control unit, and a display. The knowledge database stores various pieces of information indicative of know-how concerning a machining method and a machining facility. The receiver receives a question. The control unit executes a driving solver and a solution-providing solver so as to search the knowledge database using a search condition based on the question and derive a response. The display presents the response. The response includes a plurality of measures, priorities assigned to the measures, and progress information indicative of a search process and a search route. The search process includes a plurality of factors to be used to derive the measures. The search route is a link between the factors. The search process and the search route are visually presented on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kojima, Yoshihiko Yamada, Takayuki Azuma, Toshiki Sakai, Shigetoshi Noritake, Kazunari Teramoto
  • Publication number: 20200103869
    Abstract: A transport system is provided. The transport system includes a stocker configured to store an assigned wafer carrier and having a gate port. The transport system also includes a semiconductor apparatus configured to transmit a request signal including a processed time according to a processing wafer carrier loaded on the semiconductor apparatus. The transport system further includes a vehicle configured to transport the assigned wafer carrier from the gate port to the semiconductor apparatus and a control system configured to control the vehicle. When the control system receives the request signal, the control system controls the stocker to transport the assigned wafer carrier inside of the stocker to the gate port at a start time, which is earlier than the processed time, and the control system controls the vehicle to transport the assigned wafer carrier from the gate port to the semiconductor apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Wei-Pin HUANG, Wen-Chi CHIEN, Yuh-Dean TSAI, Bing-Yuan CHENG
  • Publication number: 20200103870
    Abstract: An automated breadboard wiring assembly includes a breadboard with holes therein defining at least two nodes and at least a primary wiring board. The primary wiring board has a wiring matrix composed of a plurality of interconnected wiring segments, each wiring segment having a switch therealong. A plurality of contacts are interconnected with the wiring matrix with a switch positioned between each contact and the wiring matrix. Each contact is configured to engage a respective one of the breadboard nodes. An input device is configured to indicate desired wires between nodes and the locations of the desired wires define wiring information. A microprocessor configured to receive wiring information from the input device and open selective ones of the switches such that an electrical path along selective ones of the contacts and the wire segments is defined to correspond to each desired wire set forth in the wiring information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Austin Small
  • Publication number: 20200103871
    Abstract: A computing system for receiving operational data including process parameters generated by sensors in a plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Graeme Laycock, Mark Bertinetti, Rahul Nath
  • Publication number: 20200103872
    Abstract: A working system includes multiple modules constituting a work line, a moving body that moves along the work line in which the multiple modules are arranged to supply necessary members to each module, and a line constituent member constituting a part of the work line. The line constituent member can be installed on the moving path of the moving body and has a light projecting section that projects light toward the moving body along the moving path of the moving body. The moving body has a sensor configured to detect the presence of an interfering object; a light receiving section configured to receive light from the light projecting section, and a control section configured to monitor for the presence of the interfering object within a detection range of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya KURODA, Jun IISAKA, Tadashi YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200103873
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for maintaining automated process module autonomy across integrated design environments. An indication to render a plurality of software modules for an automated industrial process into a module that is navigable as a singular unit may be received. The plurality of software modules may be rendered as a single module that is navigable as a singular unit. A modification to a first one of the plurality of software modules that affects at least a second one of the plurality of software modules may be received. A request to remove the second one of the plurality of software modules from the single module may be received, and the second one of the plurality of software modules may be removed from the single module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew R. Stump, Srdjan Josipovic, Matthew R. Ericsson, Michael D. Kalan, Anthony Carrara, Christopher W. Como, Sharon M. Billi-Duran
  • Publication number: 20200103874
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology provide an integrated platform that provides optimization tools that can be used across multiple lifecycle phases of an industrial automation system. In accordance with various embodiments, the integrated platform can take specified designs in a presale phase and easily open up that information in a corresponding tool to address needs in the post-sale phase to allow for all device commissioning, programming, and configuration without any importing, exporting, or recreation of presale files. Various embodiments use a common, cross-platform data file that links activity within each lifecycle phase. As such, any layouts or designs can be easily opened up within the platform by users with differing roles. Moreover, if in the post-sale phase, a control engineer decides that a specific aspect of control system was left out, the control engineer can summon the capability of the presale phase to expand the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Barry M. Jereb, Peter Baron, Brian Dipert, Jessica M. Truong, Jessica L. Korpela, Amit R. Sathe, Eric Rehl, Tracy L. Swartzendruber, Kyle K. Reissner
  • Publication number: 20200103875
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology provide an integrated platform that provides acceleration tools that can be used across multiple lifecycle phases of an industrial automation system to assist users in various lifecycle phases of an industrial automation system. In accordance with various embodiments, the integrated platform can take historical designs and provide various acceleration actions (e.g., initial designs, answering specific questions, expert analysis, etc.) for a current system. Various embodiments can use a common, cross-platform data file that links activity and efficiently provides needed information to a user. Some embodiments provide and manage reviews of layouts or designs by experts (e.g., individuals and expert systems) to aid in identifying needed changes to the design or system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Tracy L. Swartzendruber, Eric Rehl, Brian Dipert, Barry M. Jereb, Kyle K. Reissner, Jessica L. Korpela, Amit R. Sathe, Jessica M. Truong, Peter Baron
  • Publication number: 20200103876
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology provide an integrated platform that provides personalized experiences for users of an integrated platform during various phases of an industrial automation project lifecycle. In accordance with various embodiments, the integrated platform can create personalized experiences for different users based on one or more assigned roles. The roles can include company roles, industry roles, job roles, location-based roles, personalized roles, and the like. For example, some company that only purchases certain brands of components for an industrial automation project can indicate that preference. During interactions with the integrated platform, any user associated with that company (e.g., via the company role) will only be presented with those preferences. As another example, generic requests received via one interaction channel can be analyzed and personalized, specific responses can be generated based on activity within other interaction channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Dipert, Eric Rehl, Barry M. Jereb, Tracy L. Swartzendruber, Jessica L. Korpela, Amit R. Sathe, Jessica M. Truong, Kyle K. Reissner, Peter Baron
  • Publication number: 20200103877
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology provide an integrated platform that provides recommendation tools for various phases of an industrial automation project lifecycle. In accordance with various embodiments, the integrated platform provides a master hub connecting data from multiple parties (e.g., distributors, end users, etc.). The integrated platform can include a security layer identifying which data an individual can access (e.g., based on a current role), ingest that data along with current activity from the user to provide customized recommendations. Various embodiments can use a common, cross-platform data file that links data and activity to efficiently provide needed information to a user. In some embodiments, the data (e.g., historical sales data, maintenance records, etc.) can be used to create installed base evaluations which can be used to create customized spare part inventory recommendations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jessica M. Truong, Barry M. Jereb, Peter Baron, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, Tracy L. Swartzendruber, Amit R. Sathe, Eric Rehl, Brian Dipert
  • Publication number: 20200103878
    Abstract: An industrial automation system may include an automation device and a control system communicatively coupled to the automation device. The control system may include a first module of a number of modules, such that the first module may receive an indication of a target variable associated with the industrial automation device. The first module may then receive parameters associated with the target variable, identify a portion of data points associated with controlling the target variable with respect to the parameters, generate a model of each data point of the portion over time with respect to the parameters based on the data points, determine functions associated with the model. The functions represent one or more relationships between the each data point of the portion with respect to controlling the target variable. The first module may then adjust one or more operations of the automation device based on the functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Bijan SayyarRodsari, Alexander B. Smith, Kadir Liano, Wei Dai, Yash P. Puranik
  • Publication number: 20200103879
    Abstract: A visualization system computer communicating with a memory to execute a stored program contained in a fixed medium of the memory to display information regarding control components based on control component ontologies and knowledge bases. The visualization system includes an inspection agent configured to communicate with one or more autonomous control components of the manufacturing system to request control component information including a control component ontology including a listing of parameters and relations associated with the control component that define the operating characteristics of the control component and a knowledge base including a listing of current states for the parameters and relations of the control component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Marek Obitko, Pavel Vrba, Petr Kadera, Vacalv Jirkovsky
  • Publication number: 20200103880
    Abstract: A mounting system of the present disclosure includes a mounting line having multiple mounting machines aligned side by side in a predetermined arrangement and configured to mount a component on a board, a supply device configured to convey members for use in the mounting machines and supply the members to the mounting machines by traveling in the arrangement direction, and a reporting section configured to issue a warning when the members are not supplied to the mounting machines by the supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mizuho NOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20200103881
    Abstract: Drones (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles, or “UAVs”) equipped with cameras and sensors may be configured to travel throughout the field environment of a process plant to monitor process plant conditions. Onboard computing devices associated with the drones control the movement of the drones through the field environment of the process plant. The onboard computing devices interface with the cameras and other sensors and communicate with user interface devices, controllers, servers and/or databases via a network. The onboard computing devices may receive drone commands from user interface devices and/or servers, or may access drone commands stored in one or more databases. The onboard computing devices may transmit data captured by the cameras and/or other sensors to UI devices, controllers, servers, etc. Accordingly, the user interface devices may display data (including live video feeds) captured by the drone cameras and/or drone sensors to an operator in a human machine interface application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Robert G. Halgren, III, Claudio Fayad, Gary K. Law, Mark J. Nixon
  • Publication number: 20200103882
    Abstract: A collaborative logistic facility management system for a logistic facility includes multiple robot autonomous guided vehicles and a system controller. The vehicles transport logistics goods or pallets between truck portals and storage locations and are configured for autonomous guidance travel, in autonomous mode and include a collaborating operator input for collaborative autonomous guided vehicle navigation and guidance. The system controller commands each vehicle to transfer the logistic goods or pallets between the truck portals and the storage locations, identifies a predetermined truck portal of a corresponding truck to be loaded or to be unloaded, and generates a collaborative zone. The controller generates a queue of robot autonomous guided vehicles on a side of the collaborative zone and commands the multiple robot autonomous guided vehicles disposed to load or unload the corresponding truck to move in autonomous mode into the queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Justin Holwell
  • Publication number: 20200103883
    Abstract: An indicator detection system includes: a data acquiring unit configured to acquire operation data of a machine and operation history data indicating an operation history of the machine; an estimation unit configured to calculate a first estimated value of a parameter of the machine which is to be monitored on the basis of the operation data, the operation history data and an estimation model for estimating a value of the parameter at a time point corresponding to the operation history data for the parameter; and a state evaluating unit configured to evaluate a state of the machine on the basis of a difference between the first estimated value of the parameter from the estimation unit and a measured value or a second estimated value of the parameter included in the operation data acquired by the data acquiring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kishi, Shintaro Kumano, Katsuhiko Abe, Keisuke Yamamoto, Yukihiko Inoue, Shun Niizuma
  • Publication number: 20200103884
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for assisting with testing automated industrial process routines. The addition of a software automation object to a test execution user interface may be received. The software automation object may be added to the test execution user interface from a software object library comprising a plurality of software objects. Each of the software automation objects may include an automated control device layer, a human machine interface layer, and a testing layer. A request to initiate an operational test of the software automation object in the test execution user interface may be received. Upon receiving the request, the operational test may be executed, and test results for the operational test of the automation software object may be displayed on the test execution user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew R. Stump, Srdjan Josipovic, Matthew R. Ericsson, Michael D. Kalan, Anthony Carrara, Christopher W. Como, Sharon M. Billi-Duran
  • Publication number: 20200103885
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to diagnosing a fault in an electric drive of a process plant. The fault diagnosis method includes receiving fault data from an electric drive upon occurrence of the fault. The method further includes obtaining a fault code and a drive type associated with the electric drive from the fault data. In addition, the method comprises determining one or more drive parts to replace by comparing the fault code and the drive type with a mapped data for a plurality of drive types. The mapped data for each drive type includes a relation between a plurality of fault codes and a plurality of drive parts. The method further includes initiating a maintenance operation involving replacement of the one or more drive parts to address the fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Abhilash Pani, Jinendra Gugaliya, Rahul Kumar-Vij, Promodh Narayan Ravichandran
  • Publication number: 20200103886
    Abstract: When two event prediction models produce different numbers of catches, a computer system may be configured to determine which of the two models has the higher net value based on how a “Break-Even Alert Value Ratio” for the models compares to an estimate of the how many false flags are worth trading for one catch. Further, when comparing two event prediction models, a computer system may be configured to determine “catch equivalents” and “false-flag equivalents” numbers for the two different models based on potential-value and impact scores assigned to the models' predictions, and the computing system then use these “catch equivalents” and “false-flag equivalents” numbers in place of “catch” and “false flag” numbers that may be determined using other approaches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Greg Gandenberger
  • Publication number: 20200103887
    Abstract: A method of fault prediction of a cyclically moving machine component is disclosed, wherein each cycle of a plurality of cycles of a motion of the component generates a data distribution of values of measurable movement characteristics during a duration of each cycle. The method comprises, for each cycle; determining said data distribution of the movement characteristics; calculating a measure of central tendency of the values in the data distribution; calculating a quantified measure of a shape of the data distribution over the duration of each cycle; associating the measure of central tendency with said quantified measure of the shape as a coupled set of condition parameters; determining a degree of dispersion of a plurality of coupled sets of condition parameters associated with a plurality of cycles of the cyclically moving component; and comparing the degree of dispersion with a dispersion threshold value, or determining a trend of the degree of dispersion over time, for said fault prediction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Marco Cocconcelli, Luca Capelli, Davide Borghi
  • Publication number: 20200103888
    Abstract: A method for operating an industrial automation system may include receiving, via a first module of a plurality of modules in a control system, a plurality of datasets via at least a portion of the plurality of modules. The plurality datasets may include raw values without context regarding the plurality datasets. The method may then include identifying a subset of the plurality of datasets that influences a value of a target variable by analyzing the data without regard to the context, modeling a behavior of the target variable over time based on the subset of the plurality of datasets, and adjusting one or more operations of an automation device based on the model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Bijan Sayyarrodsari, Alexander B. Smith, Kadir Liano, Wei Dai, Yash P. Puranik
  • Publication number: 20200103889
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detection in an industrial Internet of Things (IoT) data collection environment with intelligent data collection and equipment package adjustment for oil and gas equipment are disclosed. An example monitoring system for data collection in an oil and gas production environment can include a data collector communicatively coupled to a plurality of input channels connected to data collection points operatively coupled to at least one piece of equipment of an equipment package of the oil and gas production environment. The system further includes a data acquisition circuit to interpret detection values from the plurality of input channels and a data analysis circuit to utilize an expert system diagnostic tool to identify an off-nominal process state based on the detection values. The system may further include a response circuit to adjust an equipment package parameter in response to the off-nominal process state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, JR., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Publication number: 20200103890
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detection in an industrial Internet of Things data collection and production environment using a distributed ledger are disclosed. An example monitoring system for data collection in a production environment may include a data collector communicatively coupled to a plurality of input channels, each input channel operatively coupled to at least one piece of equipment of the production environment. The system may further include a distributed ledger to store the detection values and a data acquisition circuit to interpret at least a portion of the detection values. The system may further include a data analysis circuit to identify a status corresponding to the production environment in response to the portion of the detection values and a response circuit to adjust a parameter of the production environment in response to the status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, JR., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Publication number: 20200103891
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a data marketplace in a conveyor environment includes a self-organizing data marketplace. The self-organizing data marketplace includes at least one data collector and at least one corresponding conveyor in an industrial environment, wherein the at least one data collector is structured to collect detection values from at least one sensor of a power roller of the at least one corresponding conveyor; a data storage structured to store a data pool comprising at least a portion of the detection values; a data marketplace structured to self-organize the data pool; and a transaction system structured to interpret a user data request, and to selectively provide a portion of the self-organized data pool to a user in response to the user data request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, JR., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Publication number: 20200103892
    Abstract: Monitoring systems for data collection in a vehicle steering system include a vehicle steering system comprising a rack, a pinion, and a steering column; a data acquisition circuit structured to interpret a plurality of detection values, each of the plurality of detection values corresponding to at least one of a plurality of input sensors, each of the plurality of input sensors operationally coupled to the rack, the pinion, or the steering column, and communicatively coupled to the data acquisition circuit; a signal evaluation circuit comprising: a timer circuit structured to generate at least one timing signal; and a phase detection circuit structured to determine a relative phase difference between at least one of the plurality of detection values and the at least one timing signal from the timer circuit; and a response circuit structured to perform at least one operation in response to the relative phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, JR., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Publication number: 20200103893
    Abstract: Systems and methods for changing a sensed parameter group include a data collector communicatively coupled to a plurality of input sensors, each of the plurality of input sensors operatively coupled to a one of a mixer or an agitator, wherein the one of the mixer or the agitator comprises a component of an industrial environment; a controller, comprising: a data acquisition circuit structured to interpret a plurality of detection values corresponding to a sensed parameter group, wherein the sensed parameter group comprises at least a portion of the plurality of input sensors; a pattern recognition circuit structured to determine a recognized pattern value in response to the plurality of detection values; and a sensor learning circuit structured to update the sensed parameter group in response to the recognized pattern value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, Jr., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Publication number: 20200103894
    Abstract: An industrial machine predictive maintenance system may include an industrial machine data analysis facility that generates streams of industrial machine health monitoring data by applying machine learning to data representative of conditions of portions of industrial machines received via a data collection network. The system may include an industrial machine predictive maintenance facility that produces industrial machine service recommendations responsive to the health monitoring data by applying machine fault detection and classification algorithms thereto. A computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) that produces orders and/or requests for service and parts responsive to the industrial machine service recommendations can be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Strong Force IOT Portfolio 2016, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, JR., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Publication number: 20200103895
    Abstract: A method for operating an industrial automation system may involve receiving, via a first module of a plurality of modules in a control system, an indication that an error between a measurement associated with a target variable that corresponds with at least a portion of the industrial automation system and a modeled value for the target variable. The method may then involve determining, via the first module, whether the error is within a first range of values and retraining a model used to generate the modeled value for the target variable based on a portion of a plurality of sets of data points acquired via a plurality of sensors disposed in the industrial automation system in response to the error being within the first range of values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Bijan SayyarRodsari, Alexander B. Smith, Kadir Liano, Wei Dai, Yash P. Puranik
  • Publication number: 20200103896
    Abstract: A system includes one or more sensor systems, a controller-circuit, a first module, and a second module. The sensor systems are configured to determine position relationship data between a roadway and a host vehicle. The sensor system includes at least one of a computer-vision system, a radar system, and a LIDAR system. The controller-circuit is configured to receive and transform the position relationship data to effect steering control of the host vehicle. The first module is controlled by the controller-circuit to effect the steering control when the steering control transitions from a manual-mode to an automated mode. The second module is controlled by the controller-circuit to effect steering control of the host vehicle after control by the first module and upon meeting a prescribed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Zachary T. Batts, Ludong Sun
  • Publication number: 20200103897
    Abstract: A method for providing adaptive control to a fly-by-wire aircraft includes measuring via at least one first sensor a characteristic of at least one component of the aircraft and measuring via at least one second sensor a state of the aircraft. Using the characteristic of at least one component and the state of the aircraft, a determination of at least one of an actual damage and remaining life of the at least one component is made. The operational envelope of the aircraft is adapted based on the at least one of actual damage and remaining life of the at least one component. Adapting the operational envelope includes adjusting an outer boundary thereof to prohibit operation exceeding a safe operation threshold and generating an intermediate boundary of the operational envelope. Operation of the aircraft within the intermediate boundaries minimizes further damage accrual of the at least one component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher A. Thornberg, Glen A. Knaust, Derek H. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20200103898
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a control having a processor that processes image data captured by a forward viewing camera. When the control system is controlling driving of the vehicle, the control determines a triggering event that requires driving of the vehicle to be handed over to a driver of the vehicle before the vehicle encounters an event point. Responsive to determination of the triggering event, the control (i) determines a total action time until the vehicle encounters the event, (ii) estimates a driver take over time for the driver to take over control and (iii) estimates a handling time for the vehicle to be controlled to avoid encountering the event point, and, responsive to the determination and estimations, the control system (i) allows the driver to take over control of the vehicle or (ii) controls the vehicle to slow down and stop the vehicle before the event point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph Latotzki, Frank Goseberg
  • Publication number: 20200103899
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure disclose a method and an apparatus for calibrating a vehicle control parameter, an on-board controller, and an autonomous vehicle; one embodiment of the method comprises: executing a calibrating step in response to reaching a preset update condition, the calibrating step comprises: obtaining a current offset data set, wherein the current offset data in the current offset data set are determined in a period of time including a current time point; determining a current offset data reference value for characterizing a value feature of the current offset data set; and performing offset correction for the vehicle control parameter based on an offset between the current offset data reference value and a historical offset data reference value. This embodiment implements autonomous calibration of the vehicle parameter based on changes of vehicle offset, such that the vehicle may accurately follow a corresponding control indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Fan ZHU, Lin MA, Qi KONG
  • Publication number: 20200103900
    Abstract: Transportation systems have artificial intelligence including neural networks for recognition and classification of objects and behavior including natural language processing and computer vision systems. The transportation systems involve sets of complex chemical processes, mechanical systems, and interactions with behaviors of operators. System-level interactions and behaviors are classified, predicted and optimized using neural networks and other artificial intelligence systems through selective deployment, as well as hybrids and combinations of the artificial intelligence systems, neural networks, expert systems, cognitive systems, genetic algorithms and deep learning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Charles Cella
  • Publication number: 20200103901
    Abstract: A method for providing medical services to a patient, including: receiving a medical service request associated with a patient location; selecting an aircraft, located at an initial location, from a plurality of aircraft based on the patient location and the initial location; determining a flight plan for flying the aircraft to a region containing the patient location; at a sensor of the aircraft, sampling a first set of flight data; at a processor of the aircraft, autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the flight plan and the set of flight data; selecting a landing location within the region; and landing the aircraft at the landing location, including: sampling a set of landing location data; determining a safety status of the landing location based on the set of landing location data; outputting a landing warning observable at the landing location; at the sensor, sampling a second set of flight data; and in response to determining the safety status and outputting the landing warning, autonomo
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Groden, Mitch Adler, Nur Harell
  • Publication number: 20200103902
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving sensor data sensed from an environment of the autonomous vehicle; receiving comfort data indicating a comfort level of a user of the autonomous vehicle; determining a vibration level based on the sensor data; build a map of vibration data based on the vibration level and an association with a geographic location of a road; selecting a lane for travel along the road based on the map; and controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel in the selected lane when following a route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Maria John Paul Dominic
  • Publication number: 20200103903
    Abstract: An automatic drive assist apparatus includes a storage, an own-vehicle position estimator, a route-information input device, a traveling route setter, and an automatic drive controller including a rerouting request determiner, a course comparator, and a course-change achievability determiner. The automatic drive controller causes an own vehicle automatically traveling along a traveling route determined by the traveling route setter. When the rerouting request determiner determines that a new traveling route is reconstructed in response to a rerouting request, the course comparator reads a candidate route of the new traveling route, compares the candidate route with the traveling route determined before the reconstruction, and determines whether a route change is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Keisuke KUWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20200103904
    Abstract: A system including a controller associated with an agricultural vehicle. The controller is configured to determine route-plan-data that is representative of a route to be taken by the agricultural vehicle in an agricultural field, based on bale-location-data. The bale-location-data is representative of the location of bales in the agricultural field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Joachim Boydens, Thomas Debbaut, Didier Verhaege
  • Publication number: 20200103905
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for automatically adjusting a vehicle feature of a vehicle, where the system includes a first sensor, an onboard computer, a camera, a mirror, a controller; an actuator; and an algorithm. The algorithm instructs the onboard computer in steps for adjusting one or more vehicle features. The first sensor and the controller are in electronic communication with the onboard computer and the controller is in electronic communication with one or more actuators that connect to and adjust the various vehicle features. The onboard computer includes or accesses a database that correlates users, features, and vehicle feature settings. Such vehicle features include seat position and camera viewing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Michael H. Gurin
  • Publication number: 20200103906
    Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous construction vehicle may include defining a boundary of a construction site and automatically creating a site plan for navigating the autonomous construction vehicle within the boundary. The site plan includes a work area within the boundary, a maneuver area positioned between the work area and the boundary, a start point for the autonomous construction vehicle, and a path for the autonomous construction vehicle. A controller can then provide the site plan for review and activate autonomy mode to automatically control the autonomous construction vehicle according to the site plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. O'Donnell, Robert J. McGee
  • Publication number: 20200103907
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a recognizer configured to recognize an obstacle in a moving direction of a vehicle; an estimator configured to estimate at least one of a kind and a shape of the obstacle recognized by the recognizer; and an action plan generator configured to generate an action plan of the vehicle based on an estimation result of the estimator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kaji, Katsuya Yashiro, Toru Kokaki, Masanori Takeda, Hiroshi Oguro
  • Publication number: 20200103908
    Abstract: An operation control system includes: a first detector that detects a transport body that has reached a predetermined reference position on a first transport line; an obstacle sensor and an autonomous traveling control unit provided in each of a plurality of self-propelled carrier bodies traveling on a second transport line; a gate provided on the second transport line; and a gate driving unit that moves the gate to a retracted position when the first detector detects the transport body, and moves the gate to an advanced position when the first detector does not detect the transport body. The autonomous traveling control unit controls the travel of the carrier bodies such that a forward separation distance, a distance between any of the carrier bodies and another carrier body or an obstacle ahead of the carrier body, is equal to or greater than a predetermined collision prevention distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yingchuan CHEN, Masahiro FUJII, Kenji HONDA, Tomiyuki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20200103909
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for an improved control system in autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. More specifically, the methods and systems relate to powering control systems of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles through the use of computer vision based on delta images (i.e., delta-vision).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: EmergeX, LLC
    Inventors: Roy Feinson, Ari Mikhael Katz
  • Publication number: 20200103910
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for generating shared collaborative maps for planting or harvesting operations. A method of generating a collaborative shared map between machines includes generating a first map for a first machine based on a first set of data and generating a second map for a second machine based on a second set of data. The method further includes generating at least one shared collaborative map for at least one of the first and second machines based on the first and second maps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Doug SAUDER, Tavis BONES, Tim REDDY
  • Publication number: 20200103911
    Abstract: An agent for navigating a mobile automated system is disclosed herein. The navigation agent receives a navigation instruction and visual information for one or more observed images. The navigation agent is provided or equipped with self-awareness, which provides or supports the following abilities: identifying which direction to go or proceed by determining the part of the instruction that corresponds to the observed images (visual grounding), and identifying which part of the instruction has been completed or ongoing and which part is potentially needed for the next action selection (textual grounding). In some embodiments, the navigation agent applies regularization to ensures that the grounded instruction can correctly be used to estimate the progress made towards the navigation goal (progress monitoring).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Chih-Yao MA, Caiming XIONG
  • Publication number: 20200103912
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method for determining a vehicle control parameter, an apparatus for the same, a vehicle on-board controller, and an autonomous vehicle. An embodiment of the method comprises: obtaining a lateral offset sequence of a vehicle and a control input sequence of a controller for controlling a lateral output of the vehicle, wherein a lateral offset in the lateral offset sequence is for characterizing an offset between an actual lateral output of the vehicle and a desired lateral output; executing a step of determining a vehicle control parameter; wherein the executing the step of determining the vehicle control parameter includes: with the lateral offset sequence as an input and the control input sequence as the desired output, training a pre-established vehicle dynamic model to obtain a trained vehicle dynamic model; and determining the vehicle control parameter from the trained vehicle dynamic model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Fan ZHU, Lin MA, Qi KONG
  • Publication number: 20200103913
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method for determining a vehicle control parameter, an apparatus for the same, a vehicle controller, and an autonomous vehicle. An embodiment of the method comprises: determining a current vehicle speed and an expected acceleration; determining, from a pre-generated parameter calibration table, a longitudinal control parameter corresponding to the current vehicle speed and the expected acceleration; wherein the parameter calibration table is obtained by: obtaining a training sample set, a training sample in the training sample set including the vehicle speed, the longitudinal control parameter and the acceleration; training a pre-established parameter calibration model with the vehicle speed and acceleration of respective samples in the training sample set as inputs and the longitudinal control parameter value in the training sample as an expected output; and obtaining the parameter calibration table based on the trained parameter calibration model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Fan ZHU, Lin MA, Qi KONG
  • Publication number: 20200103914
    Abstract: One method disclosed includes identifying, in a map of markers fixed in an environment, two co-located markers within a threshold distance of each other, where each of the two co-located markers has a non-overlapping visibility region. The method further includes determining a set of detected markers based on sensor data from a robotic device. The method additionally includes identifying, from the set of detected markers, a detected marker proximate to a first marker of the two co-located markers. The method also includes enforcing a visibility constraint based on the non-overlapping visibility region of each of the two co-located markers to determine an association between the detected marker and a second marker of the two co-located markers. The method further includes determining a location of the robotic device in the environment relative to the map based on the determined association.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Holz, Elizabeth Murphy
  • Publication number: 20200103915
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided that include maintaining a map of a plurality of markers in an environment. The map includes a last detection time of each marker of the plurality of markers. The embodiments also include receiving a set of detected markers from a robotic device that is configured to localize in the environment using the plurality of markers. The embodiments further include updating, in the map, the last detection time of each marker which has a mapped position that corresponds to a detected position of a detected marker in the set of detected markers. The embodiments additionally include identifying, from the plurality of markers in the map, a marker having a last detection time older than a threshold amount of time. The embodiments still further include initiating an action related to the identified marker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Holz, Elizabeth Murphy
  • Publication number: 20200103916
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic guided vehicle includes a vehicle, a contour-detection module, a position-detection module, and a processing device. The contour-detection module is disposed on the vehicle. The contour-detection module is configured to detect a ceiling and a target object, which is disposed on the ceiling, and to generate a contour signal. The position-detection module is disposed on the vehicle. The position-detection module is configured to detect the position of the vehicle and generate a position signal. The processing device is configured to generate a target mark corresponding to the target object according to the contour signal and the position signal. The processing device is configured to automatically control the carrier to move along a movement path. When the contour-detection module detects the target object, the processing device corrects the movement direction of the vehicle according to the target mark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chao-Hui TU, Ching-Tsung CHENG, Yong-Ren LI, Ya-chi CHIU