Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus and method for moving and parking a vehicle double-parked around a parked vehicle are provided. The vehicle control apparatus includes a detector that detects departure intention information of the first vehicle and surrounding information of the second vehicle. A vehicle controller controls autonomous movement of the second vehicle and a processor detects a departure intention of the first vehicle based on the departure intention information. A movement plan of the second vehicle is generated based on the surrounding information when departure intention is detected and the vehicle controller moves the second vehicle based on the movement plan.

Abstract: A parking control method calculates a first control instruction and causing a control device of a vehicle to execute the first control instruction on the basis of an operation command acquired from an operator. The first control instruction is for moving the vehicle along a first route to a target parking space. The parking control method includes: when detecting an object after start of execution of the first control instruction, presenting the operator with selection information for selecting a first mode in which the execution of the first control instruction is continued or a second mode in which the control device of the vehicle is caused to execute an alternative control instruction for moving the vehicle along an alternative route different from the first route; and causing the control device to execute the first control instruction or the alternative control instruction in accordance with selection input information from the operator.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a detector configured to detect a specific operation performed on a vehicle from an outside of the vehicle, a vicinity situation recognizer configured to recognize a vicinity situation of the vehicle, and a driving controller configured to control steering, and acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle on the basis of a vicinity situation recognized, wherein, when the specific operation is detected by the detector before the vehicle arrives at a boarding area in automated exit processing, the driving controller is configured to bring the vehicle into a stopped state, the boarding area being area in which a user of the vehicle is allowed to get on the vehicle, the automated exit processing being process in which the vehicle is caused to exit from a parking lot and allowing the user to get on the vehicle in the boarding area.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided a vehicle control device including a recognizer configured to recognize a surrounding environment of a vehicle, a driving controller configured to perform driving control based on speed control and steering control of the vehicle on the basis of a recognition result, and an acquirer configured to acquire the remaining amount of energy of the vehicle, wherein the driving controller causes the vehicle to move from a first parking area to a second parking area where parking is possible according to traveling based on the driving control and traveling based on manual driving in a state in which the vehicle is parked or has been parked in the first parking area where the vehicle is parked according to the traveling based on the driving control and when the remaining amount of energy acquired is less than or equal to a threshold value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a body parameters supporting system of a vehicle for supporting obtaining body parameters of a person. The body parameters supporting system determines—with input from one or more surrounding detecting sensors adapted to capture a surrounding exterior of the vehicle—one or more body parameters capturing conditions for a person present outside the vehicle. The body parameters supporting system further communicates one or more instruction signals indicating one or more body motion and/or obstruction removal instructions, wherein the one or more instruction signals are determined in consideration of counteracting, changing and/or overcoming at least one of the one or more body parameters capturing conditions. The disclosure also relates to a body parameters supporting system in accordance with the foregoing, and a vehicle comprising such a body parameters supporting system.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an error between a predicted steerable path of a vehicle based on data collected according to a first protocol and a predicted lane path based on data collected according to a second protocol and to identify a path fault when the error exceeds an error threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing a scenario-based overlay torque request signal in a steer torque manager (1) during driver-override of an auxiliary steering assistance system (2) function in a road vehicle (3) having an EPAS system (4). The steer torque manager (1) has a wheel angle controller (1b) for providing an assistance torque request related signal, and a driver-in-the-loop functionality (1a) for determining driver-override and providing a driver-override related signal.

Abstract: An ACC function for performing constant speed cruise according to a target speed when there is no preceding other vehicle in a vehicle's own driving lane and performing following cruise by maintaining a predetermined inter-vehicle distance when there is a preceding other vehicle, an LKA function for maintaining cruise in the vehicle's own driving lane by following control to a target path, a function for performing automated lane change to a neighboring lane when there is no other vehicle in a predetermined range in the neighboring lane, an override function for stopping the automated lane change function by a driver's operation intervention, and a function for performing fallback control of the automated lane change function, with notifying the driver of stopping the automated lane change function and operation takeover.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for controlling a vehicle, includes a traveling control unit configured to control traveling of the vehicle including a course change, and a regulation unit configured to regulate a plurality of course changes of the vehicle within a predetermined period by the traveling control unit. Regulation by the regulation unit is changed based on a situation of the vehicle at the time of traveling.

Abstract: An information processing method and apparatus, and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: collecting at least two pieces of first information obtained based on driving behaviors; obtaining at least two pieces of first feature information according to the at least two pieces of first information; identifying the at least two pieces of first feature information to obtain label information respectively corresponding to the at least two pieces of first feature information; obtaining a sample set according to the at least two pieces of first feature information and the label information; establishing a relation model according to the sample set; and selecting a lane to be changed, according to the relation model. An accuracy on changing a lane is increased.

Abstract: A vehicle control unit includes: a lane change control unit that performs lane change control in which a host vehicle changes lanes on the basis of a surrounding situation of the host vehicle; and a lane change control suppression unit that allows the lane change control in a case where there is no operation history indicating that an operation of a notification unit for notifying a direction to which a traveling direction of the host vehicle is changed is not normal, and suppresses the lane change control in a case where the operation history indicating that the operation of the notification unit is not normal is present.

Abstract: A method for controlling a motor vehicle (10) traveling on a roadway (12) in a current lane (14) is described, wherein the roadway (12) has at least one additional lane (16) that is adjacent to the current lane (14) of the motor vehicle (10). The method has the following steps: Multiple different driving maneuvers are generated and/or received. At least two driving maneuver classes that are defined based on at least one characteristic variable of the driving maneuvers are determined, wherein the driving maneuvers of various driving maneuver classes differ by at least one characteristic variable. The driving maneuvers are classified in one of the at least two driving maneuver classes. In addition, a control unit (30) for controlling a motor vehicle (10) is described.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a control instruction unit (ALC switch) that gives an instruction to perform one of lane change assistance control in which guidance of lane change is provided to a vehicle occupant through a notification unit (HMI) and automated lane change control in which travel control required for movement from a travel lane to a target lane is automatically performed as lane change control performed in the lane change in accordance with vehicle occupant's operation.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle is configured to determine an amount of torque to be generated by a propulsion source of the vehicle during a shift from an initial gear of a transmission of the vehicle to a target gear of the transmission. The controller is configured to determine the amount of torque based on a position of an acceleration pedal of the vehicle, a first pedal map for the initial gear, and a second pedal map for the target gear. The controller is further configured to output, during the shift from the initial gear to the target gear, one or more commands to control one or more operating parameters of the propulsion source to generate the amount of torque.

Abstract: A method and a system for a vehicle comprising: one or more power sources including at least one electrical machine; and a drivetrain for transferring torque between the one or more power sources and at least one drive wheel of the vehicle. The method comprises: controlling, when no positive drive torque (Tdrive) is transferred from the drivetrain to the at least one drive wheel, the at least one electrical machine to provide a backlash torque (Tbacklash) to the drivetrain, the backlash torque (Tbacklash) having a controlled value for turning the drivetrain if there is a backlash present in the drivetrain.

Abstract: An in-vehicle information processing device includes: a control unit; a communication unit that communicates with a different vehicle; and a travel environment information acquisition unit that acquires information about a travel environment of a vehicle. When the vehicle reaches a location at which a traffic accident occurs, the control unit transmits the information about the travel environment at the location, which is acquired by the travel environment information acquisition unit, to a following vehicle using the communication unit.

Abstract: A system in a vehicle, comprising one or more cameras configured to obtain facial recognition information based upon facial expressions of an occupant of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the one or more cameras, wherein the controller is configured to determine the mood of the occupant utilizing at least the facial recognition information, and output an instruction to execute an activation or adjustment of a vehicle driving feature associated with the mood of the occupant.

Abstract: A system in a vehicle, comprising one or more physiological sensors configured to obtain stress-load data indicating a stress load of an occupant of the vehicle, a controller in communication with the one or more physiological sensors, wherein the controller is configured to determine a stress load of the occupant utilizing at least the stress-load data and output an instruction to execute a vehicle driving-dynamics features when the stress load exceeds a threshold, wherein the vehicle driving-dynamics features includes adjusting an active suspension of the vehicle.

Abstract: An evaluating apparatus is provided with: a first determinator configured to determine a first risk value indicating whether or not there is a risk in one section of the road and an extent of the existing risk; a second determinator configured to determine a second risk value indicating whether or not there is a risk in the one section and an extent of the existing risk; and an outputting device configured such that if it is determined on said first determinator that there is a risk, said outputting device outputs the first risk value as a definite risk value indicating the risk in the one section, and such that if it is determined on said first determinator that there is no risk and if it is determined on said second determinator that there is a risk, said outputting device outputs the second risk value as the definite risk value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for determining a safety score associated with driver. The method includes: obtaining, by at least one computer, historical transportation service transaction data associated with an identification of a target driver; extracting, by the at least one computer, at least one target feature based on the historical transportation service transaction data; obtaining, by the at least one computer, an estimation model for estimating a safety score that reflects a safety expectation of a driver during transportation services; determining, by the at least one computer, a safety score associated with the target driver based on the estimation model and the at least one target feature; and providing, by the at least one computer, an offer to enter a contract to the target driver based on the safety score.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating characteristics of a trailer. The system includes a trailer a vehicle with a sensor, a camera, and an electronic controller configured to receive first data from at least one of the sensor and the camera at a first location relative to the trailer, determine a second location relative to the trailer for the vehicle, the second location being a different location than the first location, generate a signal to move the vehicle from the first location to the second location, receive second data from at least one of the sensor and the camera at the second location, determine a characteristic of the trailer based upon the first data and the second data, and determine a movement behavior of the trailer based upon the characteristic before the vehicle couples to the trailer.

Abstract: A method and a device for eliminating a steady-state lateral deviation and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: determining whether a vehicle travels on a straight road; collecting a lateral deviation value of the vehicle in a case that the vehicle travels on a straight road; determining whether the vehicle has the steady-state lateral deviation based on the collected lateral deviation value; and compensating the steady-state lateral deviation of the vehicle in real time based on the collected lateral deviation value in a case that the vehicle has the steady-state lateral deviation. The vehicle has the steady-state lateral deviation may run steadily, a direction of the vehicle is more accurate, self-driving safety and efficiency are improved, the sense of leftward and rightward swaying brought by a continuous deviation rectification method in the conventional art is effectively eliminated, and self-driving stability is improved.

Abstract: A method, a device, a storage medium and a vehicle for vehicle rollover prevention warning, wherein the method for vehicle rollover prevention warning includes: collecting vehicle body rollover state parameters; calculating a lateral-load transfer rate of the vehicle according to the collected vehicle body rollover state parameters and a preset load transfer rate threshold model comprising the centrifugal force rollover moment of the sprung mass; and determining whether the vehicle has the risk of rollover or not according to the calculated lateral-load transfer rate and the preset rollover threshold. According to the technical solution provided by the invention, the load transfer rate threshold model based on the centrifugal force rollover moment of the sprung mass can simulate the actual rollover state of a vehicle more truly, with a more accurate state indication effect and a high warning accuracy.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one characteristic value of a drivetrain, which drivetrain is located in the installed state in a motor vehicle that can be partially or fully electrically driven using the drivetrain and has an electrical part having electrical components and a mechanical part having mechanical components. The electrical part and the mechanical part are coupled via an electrical machine. A predetermined mechanical boundary condition for the electrical machine is set by actuating at least one of the mechanical components of the mechanical part and/or using at least one vehicle-external mechanical component. A control device generates an electrical excitation signal in the electrical part by actuating at least one of the electrical components of the electrical part and detects a response signal using a measuring device of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method for providing a user interface for at least one device of a transportation vehicle. A query gesture of a user is detected, and the query gesture is assigned a query direction. The query direction determines an approach value for the device. The approach value is then used to generate a feedback signal which is output, and the device is selected when the approach value exceeds a specific threshold. An operating possibility display for the selected device is generated and output, and the operating possibility display includes information on the operating possibilities for the selected device. An operating gesture of the user is detected, and the detected operating gesture is used to generate a control signal for the selected device, and the control signal is transmitted to the device. Also disclosed is a system for providing a user interface for at least one device of a transportation vehicle.

Abstract: A control system of a vehicle that can travel by a plurality of travel modes which have different control operations from each other at the time of driving support control, comprises: a detection unit that detects an occupant or a plurality of occupants of the vehicle; a decision unit that decides, among the plurality of travel modes, a travel mode corresponding to an attribute of the occupant and/or a combination of occupants detected by the detection unit; and a control unit that controls travel of the vehicle by the travel mode decided by the decision unit.

Abstract: An electronic flanging device is for flanging the operation of a system. The system can be either a remote monitoring device for a fleet of autonomous motor vehicles for the remote piloting of the fleet by an operator or an autonomous vehicle belonging to a fleet of vehicles monitored by a remote monitoring device. The electronic flanging device includes a measuring module for measuring a lag in the communication between one of the autonomous vehicles and the monitoring device and a limiting module in order to limit the piloting of said autonomous vehicle by the operator as a function of the measured lag.

Abstract: A performance dimension is selected, and a gap in machine performance, according to the selected dimension, is identified. A target value is identified to improve machine control according to the selected dimension. A dependent dimension, which depends on the selected dimension, is selected and a dependency indicator, that indicates a dependency of the dependent dimension on the selected dimension, is accessed to identify a value of the dependent dimension that will change if the machine is controlled so that the value of the selected dimension is moved from a current value to the target value. The change in value of the selected dimension, and the dependent dimension are aggregated to determine whether machine control should be modified so the value of the selected dimension moves toward the target value. If so, a corresponding control operation is identified, and control signals are generated to control the machine to perform the identified control operation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for calibrating a drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle; wherein the drive system includes at least one electric machine as the drive unit, a drive shaft driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and a second output shaft, as well as a first clutch connecting the drive shaft to the first output shaft and a second clutch connecting the drive shaft to the second output shaft.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems and computer program products for facilitating operationally customized access to smart vehicles are provided. Aspects include receiving request to access a smart vehicle. Aspects also include receiving vehicle operation constraints associated with the smart vehicle using a processor. Aspects also include generating a vehicle policy based at least in part on the request to access the smart vehicle and the vehicle operation constraints using the processor. The vehicle policy includes rules for operation of the smart vehicle. Aspects also include transmitting the vehicle policy to the smart vehicle. Aspects also include moderating the operation of the smart vehicle based on at least in part the vehicle policy.

Abstract: A movable carrier auxiliary system includes an environment detecting device, a state detecting device, and a control device. The environment detecting device includes at least one image capturing module and an operation module. The image capturing module captures an environment image in a traveling direction of the movable carrier. The operation module detects whether there is at least one of a target carrier and a lane marking in the environment image captured in the traveling direction for generating a detection signal. The state detecting device detects a moving state of the movable carrier and generating a state signal. The control device continuously receives the detection signal and the state signal, and controls the movable carrier to follow the target carrier or the lane marking according to the detection signal and the state signal upon receiving the detection signal that there is the target carrier or the lane marking in the environment image.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a steering input member rotatably supported by a vehicle body, a first capacitive sensor provided on a first surface portion of the steering input member facing in one direction along a rotational center line of the steering input member, a second capacitive sensor provided on a second surface portion of the steering input member opposite to the first surface portion, and a control unit configured to control a drive unit and/or a brake unit of the vehicle according to signals from the first and second capacitive sensors. The control unit executes an acceleration control to control the drive unit to accelerate the vehicle when a prescribed signal is received from the first capacitive sensor, and to execute a deceleration control to control the drive unit and/or the brake unit to decelerate the vehicle when a prescribed signal is received from the second capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle system in a host vehicle, comprising a vehicle transceiver located in the host vehicle and configured to receive from a remote server a selectable maneuver in response to data indicative of a driving path of one or more remote vehicles identifying one or more hazards. The system may include a processor in communication the vehicle transceiver and programmed to output one or more selectable maneuvers responsive to the data indicative of the driving path of one or more remote vehicles in response to the data indicative of the driving path identifies one or more hazards in a vicinity of the host vehicle, and a display in communication with the processor and configured to display the one or more selectable maneuvers.

Abstract: Provided are a method of recognizing an emotion of a driver and an apparatus using the same. The method includes receiving emotion recognition information including at least one of vehicle state information and driver emotion state information, determining whether a dominant emotion state exists among one or more emotion states possessed by the driver on the basis of the emotion recognition information and an emotion recognition model, and performing a reaction inducing interaction with respect to the driver determined on the basis of the determined dominant emotion state together with the driver when the dominant emotion state of the driver is determined to exist.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a communication unit, a display, and a processor. The communication unit can establish communication with an external apparatus. The processor can control the display to activate a graphic object of a content on the basis of communication reliability between the external apparatus and the communication unit.

Abstract: A collision warning method and a collision warning apparatus are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining a target deceleration and a target distance headway of a first vehicle by training based on historical travel data of the first vehicle, obtaining a TTC of the first vehicle and a leading vehicle, and determining, based on a comparison between the TTC and a first threshold, whether to send warning information. Because the target deceleration and the target distance headway of the first vehicle can reflect personal driving habit characteristics of a driver of the first vehicle, the TTC obtained based on the historical travel data is highly adaptable, thereby effectively resolving a problem of low warning effectiveness that is caused by a unified deceleration and a unified distance headway in the prior art.

Abstract: Haptic devices are installed in a motorcycle's handlebars, footpegs and seat to provide the rider with alerts that relate to hazards. The alert is provided before the rider notices the hazard, or before the rider reacts to the hazard. By giving advance warning, a rider is given extra time to avert a potential accident. The alerts also provide a direct instruction to the rider as to what to do to avoid the accident.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system includes: an autonomous driving system device that is mounted in a vehicle and implements autonomous driving of the vehicle; an autonomous driving controller that is configured to control the autonomous driving system device to perform a control related to the autonomous driving of the vehicle; a first network that connects the autonomous driving system device and the autonomous driving controller with a protocol conversion unit interposed therebetween so as to perform communication with each other by using a plurality of different protocols; and a second network that connects the autonomous driving system device and the autonomous driving controller without the protocol conversion unit interposed therebetween so as to perform communication with each other by using a single protocol.

Abstract: A system for interactions with an autonomous vehicle includes a proprioceptive device; and a controller. The controller is configured to: detect a first condition external to the autonomous vehicle; generate a first proprioceptive output in response to the first condition, the first proprioceptive output changing a shape of the proprioceptive device; receive a first input force from the proprioceptive device; determine a first user input based on the first input force; and, based on the first user input, cause the autonomous vehicle to perform a navigation action.

Abstract: A method for determining a driving maneuver includes obtaining vehicle parameters (P) from a driving maneuver planning module (22) of the vehicle (10). At least one possible driving maneuver (M) is determined via the driving maneuver planning module (22) based on the vehicle parameters (P) received by means of at least one decision-making submodule of the driving maneuver planning module (22), At least one possible driving maneuver (M) is transmitted to a motion planning module (24) of the vehicle (10). An evaluation variable (B) is obtained from the motion planning module (24) via the driving maneuver planning module (22). The at least one decision-making submodule is adapted based on the evaluation variable (B) obtained. Furthermore, a system for determining a driving maneuver of a vehicle, a vehicle for executing the driving maneuver, a control device for a vehicle and a computer program for executing the method are shown.

Abstract: A method for reducing the potential hazard of a number of vehicles with heterogenous drives includes receiving on a backend server hazard data of the vehicles which includes current fill state data of at least one energy store and the current position of the respective vehicles, identifying on a backend server hazard situation data comprising the position and the type of the hazard situation, evaluating on the backend server the hazard data of the vehicles with respect to the hazard situation data, and automatically initiating at least one protective measure corresponding to the evaluated hazard data.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for planning a speed of an autonomous vehicle, and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: generating a plurality of speed trajectories to be selected for the autonomous vehicle before the autonomous vehicle changes a lane; obtaining predicted speeds and predicted positions of an obstacle at the plurality of time points; calculating a cost function value of each of the speed trajectories to be selected, according to the plurality of speed trajectories to be selected, the predicted speeds and the predicted positions; and selecting a speed trajectory to be selected with a minimum cost function value as a planning speed trajectory of the autonomous vehicle. A speed of the autonomous vehicle can be adjusted before the autonomous vehicle changes a lane, thereby creating an opportunity and a safe distance for the lane change, and improving a success rate of the lane change.

Abstract: A track prediction method and device for an obstacle at a junction are provided. The method includes: acquiring environment information of a junction to be passed by a vehicle, and acquiring information on a visible obstacle in a sensible range of the vehicle, wherein the environment information comprises road information and information on a junction obstacle located in an area of the junction; combining the information on the junction obstacle with the information on the visible obstacle, and selecting information on a blind-zone obstacle in a blind zone of the vehicle at the junction; and predicting a moving track of an obstacle corresponding to the information on the blind-zone obstacle, according to the road information.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicle operational management may include traversing, by an autonomous vehicle, a vehicle transportation network. Traversing the vehicle transportation network may include generating an autonomous vehicle operational control environment for operating scenario-specific operational control evaluation module instances. A scenario-specific operational control evaluation module instance may be an instance of a respective scenario-specific operational control evaluation module. A scenario-specific operational control evaluation module may model a respective distinct vehicle operational scenario. A scenario-specific operational control evaluation module instance may generate a respective candidate vehicle control action responsive to the respective corresponding distinct vehicle operational scenario.

Abstract: An autonomous driving control device includes: a plurality of control devices that each have a first storage unit and a processing unit; a load control unit; a second storage unit; and a failure detection unit. The programs include autonomous driving programs and other programs. When a failure is detected, the load control unit unloads at least some of the other programs from the first storage unit of a normal control device, and loads the autonomous driving program corresponding to that loaded in the first storage unit of a failed control device from the second storage unit into the first storage unit of the normal control device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle are herein disclosed. A method includes receiving vehicle data and external data from a vehicle control system of a vehicle and generating an environment representation of an area of the transportation network proximate to the vehicle location. The method includes displaying the environment representation in a GUI and receiving a solution path via the graphical user interface, the solution path indicating a route and one or more stop points. The method includes transmitting the route to the vehicle including a respective geolocation of each of the one or more stop points. The vehicle receives the route and begins traversing the transportation network based on the solution path. The method includes receiving updated vehicle data and/or updated external data from the vehicle and updating the environment representation based thereon. The method includes displaying, the updated environment representation via the graphical user interface.

Abstract: An information processing device executes: identifying a first region where a predetermined module is insufficient in number, the predetermined module being a module that is attachable to and detachable from a movable object; identifying a second region where the predetermined module is superfluous in number; instructing a movable object equipped with the predetermined module in the second region to provide the superfluous predetermined module to a predetermined movable object; instructing the predetermined movable object to cause the predetermined module to be attached in the second region and transport the predetermined module to the first region; and instructing a movable object not equipped with the predetermined module in the first region to receive the predetermined module transported to the first region by the predetermined movable object.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a control unit. The control unit is configured to execute: outputting, when detecting or estimating travel inability of an own vehicle, information regarding a request for receiving an article provided from another vehicle to avoid the travel inability. The control unit performs, when determining that a request vehicle outputs the information regarding the request, a prescribed process for providing an article corresponding to the request to the request vehicle.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mobile-body information acquiring system, a mobile-body information acquiring method, a program, and a mobile body, with which accuracy of information acquired by a mobile body serving as a subject can be improved. Provided is a mobile-body information acquiring system wherein: a calculation unit has a processing unit for setting a time point or a time when a first mobile body 1-1 desires to take action about movement or a time point or a time in the very near future that the first mobile body 1-1 desires to know in relation to movement; and a communication unit transmits information related to a time point or a time including time point information expressed by absolute time points.

Abstract: The zip line rail system can be connected to a challenge course, a zip line, a zip track system, or any combination thereof. The zip line rail system of the present invention can have two rails that a member slide's two wheels rollably engage with, and the zip line rail system can be configured in any of a variety of directions.