Abstract: A method to generate an autonomous driving route of an autonomous vehicle includes: receiving an input image of a front view captured from the autonomous vehicle; calculating a gradient between the autonomous vehicle and a ground based on the input image; and generating the autonomous driving route based on the calculated gradient.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle comprises an obstacle scanning tool and steering mechanism, materials handling hardware, vehicle drive mechanism, and user interface that facilitate movement of the materials handling vehicle and materials handled along a travel path. The tool establishes a scan field, a filter field, and a performance field, and is configured to indicate the presence of obstacles in the filter field and the performance field. The tool executes logic to establish the performance field in response to an input performance level, scan for obstacles in the filter field and the performance field, execute obstacle avoidance for obstacles detected in the filter field, and execute a performance level reduction inquiry for obstacles detected in the performance field wherein outcomes of the inquiry comprise reduction of the performance level when a performance level reduction is available and execution of obstacle avoidance when a performance level reduction is not available.

Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle can determine a time bound for a lane change maneuver based on determining a reaction time, an occupant acceptance time, a vehicle maneuver time and a maneuver cancellation time and request authorization to perform the lane change maneuver. The computing device can determine the time bound has expired, and cancel the authorization request based on the expired time bound.

Abstract: Techniques and examples pertaining to vehicle water wading safety are described. A processor implementable to a vehicle approaching a waterbody may receive data related to the waterbody from one or more above-water or under-water sensors. The processor may determine a top surface and a bottom profile of the waterbody, and calculate one or more critical trajectories of water-sensitive components of the vehicle if the vehicle is to wade through the waterbody by traversing the bottom profile. The processor may then determine the wading safety based on the critical trajectories and the top surface of the waterbody. The processor may further determine a wading route, and autonomously drive the vehicle to wade the waterbody via the optimal wading route.

Abstract: A robotic work tool system (200) comprising a charging station (210) and a robotic work tool (100) configured to work within a work area (205) being divided into at least one section (405), the robotic work tool comprising a controller (110) for controlling the operation of the robotic work tool (100) to cause the robotic work tool to move along a trajectory, the robotic work tool (100) being configured to determine that a section boundary is encountered, and if so change the trajectory of the robotic work tool (100) to cause the robotic work tool to remain in the section.

Abstract: A domestic robotic system includes a robot and data storage operable to store data defining a boundary of a working area, the robot includes a payload actuable to perform work on a portion of the working area adjacent the robot, at least one processor, a first positioning system, one or more sensors operable to sense directly the boundary of the working area and a current distance of the robot thereto, a second positioning system, which uses data from the sensors. The processor is programmed to operate in (i) an area coverage mode, wherein the processor, using the first positioning system and the stored data defining the boundary of the working area, navigates the robot around the working area, with the payload active, and (ii) a boundary proximity mode, wherein the processor, using the second positioning system, navigates the robot around the working area, in proximity to the boundary.

Abstract: A method is provided which comprises: acquiring recognition information about parked vehicles; setting a virtual parking frame group in which a parking frame group is virtualized, the parking frame group comprising a plurality of parking frames; aligning the virtual parking frame group with respect to the recognized parked vehicles; and determining the aligned virtual parking frame group as the parking frame group comprising the plurality of parking frames. The virtual parking frame group comprises a plurality of virtual parking frames that have the same size and are arranged side by side or parallel along a predetermined straight line.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body having a motor generating a suction force; a dust container provided at a front end of the cleaner body and configured to collect dust sucked through a suction port; a cover member rotatably installed at an upper end of the cleaner body and opened and closed to selectively accommodate an upper portion of the dust container; a suction hose of which one side is connected to a suction portion suctioning the dust and the other side is connected to the cover member; a link assembly configured to connect between the cover member and the cleaner body; and a link assembly accommodating portion formed at one side of the cleaner body so that at least a part of the link assembly is inserted and configured to restrict the link assembly when the cover member is opened and thus to allow the cover member to be maintained in an opened state.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for identifying a vehicle using data collected by a personal electronic device residing in the vehicle during its operation. By enabling the vehicle to be identified using data collected by the personal electronic device, embodiments of the invention may allow other information captured by the personal electronic device relating to the user's operation of the vehicle to be associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a mechanism to guide movement of a bin relative to a base in a direction to open from a retracted position to an extended position for bin access. The mechanism may guide generally linear movement of the bin along a direction generally parallel to or aligned with the direction to open. The mechanism may comprise a set of gears and a set of gear racks. The set of gears may be coupled to one of the base and the bin. The set of gear racks may be formed as one piece with the other of the base and the bin. The set of gears may comprise helical gears coupled to an axle. The set of gear racks may be configured to engage a set of helical gears. The set of gears may provide resistance to movement of the bin.

Abstract: A terminal side control device that executes processing for instructing travel of a vehicle to a driver on the basis of a travel permission section assigned thereto by a control server. The terminal-side control device includes: a remaining distance calculation unit that calculates a travel permission remaining distance on the basis of the present position of the own vehicle acquired from a position calculation device and the travel permission section; an upper limit speed calculation unit that calculates an upper limit speed of the own vehicle in the travel permission section on the basis of the travel permission remaining distance calculated by the remaining distance calculation unit; and a display control unit that causes a terminal side display device to output and present to the driver the upper limit speed calculated by the upper limit speed calculation unit and predetermined warning information corresponding to the upper limit speed.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body; a moving wheel installed at both side surfaces of the cleaner body to be rotatable for travel of the cleaner body and configured to rotatably support the cleaner body; and a wheel motor assembly provided between an outer surface of the cleaner body and the moving wheel and configured to rotate the moving wheel for the travel of the cleaner body, wherein the wheel motor assembly is rotatably coupled to the moving wheel at a rear of a vertical extension line of a rotating center of the moving wheel.

Abstract: A variety of vehicle-based and warehouse-based solutions are provided to increase the adaptability, utility, and efficiency of materials handling vehicles in the warehouse environment, such as a materials handling vehicle comprising a hand-held drive unit comprising a user interface and an operational command generator responsive to the user interface. The hand-held drive unit is configured to send operational commands generated in response to user input at the user interface to the vehicular controller(s) to control operational functions of the traction control unit, the braking system, the steering assembly, the mast assembly, the picking attachment, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A driving assistance device for assisting driving a vehicle includes a non-congested state calculation unit and an intent notification control unit. The non-congested state calculation unit is configured to calculate a non-congested state of a plurality of dynamic obstacles around the vehicle. The intent notification control unit is configured to control a notification device such that a notification of intent of the vehicle to pass is performed based on the non-congested state calculated by the non-congested state calculation unit after the vehicle has decelerated or stopped.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for calibrating a camera system of a motor vehicle, the calibration parameters comprising the rotation angle, pitch angle, yaw angle and roll angle as well as the height of the camera above the road, the rotation angle is determined from the ascertainment of the vanishing point from a first optical flow between a first and a second successive camera image, and the height of the camera is determined from a second optical flow between a first and a second, successive camera image. To determine the first optical flow, a regular grid is placed over the first camera image, correspondences of the regular grid are searched for in the second camera image, and the first optical flow is determined from the movement of the grid over the camera images.

Abstract: A robotic platform may include left and right platforms, a base platform, wheel assemblies, and a tilting suspension. The tilting suspension may include a tilt shaft coupled to the base platform, a crank, suspension arms, and a tilt assembly. The tilt shaft may extend along a substantially vertical tilt axis. The crank may extend substantially perpendicular to the tilt axis and may be coupled to the tilt shaft such that the crank at least partially rotates about the tilt axis along with the tilt shaft. The suspension arms may extend from the crank to the left and right platforms such that rotation of the crank about the tilt axis controls the tilt of the platforms. The tilt assembly may control rotation of the tilt shaft about the tilt axis to control the tilt of the left and right platforms. Various other systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A user device, that is remote from a combine harvester, communicates with the remote harvester to receive contextual information indicative of machine settings on the combine harvester. Remote view and control logic receives the contextual information from the combine harvester, along with image or video display information generated from an image capture device (such as a video camera or other image capture device) on the combine harvester. The contextual information is displayed, along with the video or image information on the remote user device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scanning environments and tracking unmanned aerial vehicles within the scanned environments are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes using a rangefinder off-board an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to identify points in a region. The method can further include forming a computer-based map of the region with the points and using the rangefinder and a camera to locate the UAV as it moves in the region. The location of the UAV can be compared with locations on the computer-based map and, based upon the comparison, the method can include transmitting guidance information to the UAV. In a further particular embodiment, two-dimensional imaging data is used in addition to the rangefinder data to provide color information to points in the region.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner capable of smoothly traveling along an obstacle. A control unit has modes of travel control and directional change control. In the travel control, while a distance between a main casing and a sideward obstacle detected by a distance measuring sensor is kept within a specified distance range, a motor is driven so as to make the main casing travel along the obstacle. In the directional change control, when an obstacle forward of the main casing is detected by a contact sensor during the travel control, the motor is driven so as to make the main casing change in advancing direction along the detected forward obstacle. The directional change control includes at least swing control for driving the motor so as to make the main casing swing to a specified swing angle while disregarding a distance detected by the distance measuring sensor.

Abstract: An overtaking lane control system in a vehicle comprises a lane determination unit to recognize road configuration; an obstacle monitoring unit to detect approaching vehicles in adjacent lanes; and an overtaking lane control unit to issue a first alert to a driver to warn the driver to return to a normal lane when the overtaking lane control unit determines that the vehicle has traveled in an overtaking lane for a first predetermined time and it is safe to change to the normal lane.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas supply passage configured to supply one of the anode gas and the cathode gas to the fuel cell, a refrigerant supply apparatus that supplies refrigerant for cooling the fuel cell to the fuel cell, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant increased in temperature by the fuel cell and the gas supplied to the gas supply passage. The fuel cell includes a component that circulates the one of the anode gas and the cathode gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel cell, and a warm-up control unit that controls a flow rate of the refrigerant to a predetermined flow rate for warming up the fuel cell when the fuel cell is warmed up.

Abstract: A cleaning robot may include a main body, a driver configured to move the main body, a cleaner configured to clean a cleaning space, and a controller configured to set at least one area among a plurality of areas included in the cleaning space as a cleaning area while the main body moves, and clean the cleaning area when the cleaning area is set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining, from an autonomy system, data indicative of a planned trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through a surrounding environment. The method includes determining a region of interest in the surrounding environment based at least in part on the planned trajectory. The method includes controlling one or more first sensors to obtain data indicative of the region of interest. The method includes identifying one or more objects in the region of interest, based at least in part on the data obtained by the one or more first sensors. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more objects identified in the region of interest.

Abstract: Geographic location data and telematics data may be collected in real-time by a mobile device within a vehicle, or the vehicle itself. The telematics data may indicate vehicle direction, speed, motion, etc., as well as traffic hazards in the surrounding environment. A remote server may receive the location and telematics data from two vehicles. If an anomalous or hazardous condition exists in the vicinity of the first vehicle, a geographic relationship with the second vehicle is determined, and if within a predetermined distance, an alert or alternate route for the second vehicle is determined and transmitted to the second vehicle. As a result, a negative impact or risk of collision caused by the anomalous condition on the second vehicle is alleviated. The amount of the insured's usage of the telematics data-based risk mitigation or prevision functionality may be used to calculate or adjust insurance premiums, rates, or discounts.

Abstract: A system for operating an automated vehicle in a crowd of pedestrians includes an object-detector, optionally, a signal detector, and a controller. The object-detector detects pedestrians proximate to a host-vehicle. The signal-detector detects a signal-state displayed by a traffic-signal that displays a stop-state that indicates when the host-vehicle should stop so the pedestrians can cross in front of the host-vehicle, and displays a go-state that indicates when the pedestrians should stop passing in front of the host-vehicle so that the host-vehicle can go forward. The controller is in control of movement of the host-vehicle and in communication with the object-detector and the signal-detector. The controller operates the host-vehicle to stop the host-vehicle when the stop-state is displayed, and operates the host-vehicle to creep-forward after a wait-interval after the traffic-signal changes to the go-state when the pedestrians fail to stop passing in front of the host-vehicle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for control module activation of vehicles in a key-off state. An example system includes a vehicle at a location in a key-off state that includes a battery, a communication module, and an infotainment unit to activate and present media responsive to the communication module receiving an activation signal. The example system also includes a remote processor to determine a charge level of the battery, identify a parking duration for the location, and send the activation signal responsive to the charge level being less than a threshold associated with the parking duration.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body; a cover member provided at an upper portion of the cleaner body to be opened and closed; a suction hose installed at a front surface of the cover member and configured to suction dust; moving wheels provided on both side surfaces of the cleaner body; a wheel motor assembly connected to the moving wheels and configured to rotate the moving wheels for travel; a plurality of obstacle detecting members disposed at one side of a front of the cover member and configured to detect an obstacle located at a front and/or a side of the cleaner body; and a PCB configured to control an operation of the wheel motor assembly according to a detected signal of the obstacle detecting member.

Abstract: A transportation system having a transportation space including destinations distributed in the transportation space, multiple independent automated vehicles configured for free roving through the transportation space to and between the destinations so that the vehicles are dynamically distributed through the transportation space, a control system communicably connected via a remote communication link to each of the vehicles and having a system controller that addresses each vehicle to different destinations, and the control system having a vehicle accountant controller separate and distinct from the system controller and configured to independently register a dynamic location of at least one of the vehicles, selected from the multiple vehicles in the transportation space, and command shutdown, via the remote communication link, to only the selected at least one vehicle at the registered location if the registered location corresponds to a predetermined location.

Abstract: A goods-to-man warehousing system comprises a multilevel racking system, a plurality of mobile storage units, a storage unit transporter, a pick-place vehicle, a mobile storage unit transfer node, and a warehouse management computing hub. The multilevel racking system comprises a vertically and horizontally distributed array of storage bays. One or more of the mobile storage units are positioned in respective ones of the storage bays of the multilevel racking system. The pick-place vehicle comprises pick-place hardware that enables the pick-place vehicle to transfer mobile storage units between a plurality of different, vertically displaced storage bays of the multilevel racking system and the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system. The storage unit transporter comprises storage unit engagement hardware that enables the storage unit transporter to transport mobile storage units to or from the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system.

Abstract: In a communication device, when an enabling signal is at a high level and a transmit data is at a high level, that is, in a recessive period, both transistors turn off. Thus, potentials of signal lines are determined by power supply from a second transmitting part to a communications network. When an error frame arises in this state, that is, transistors in the other ECU turn on, excessive currents flow the signal lines. When current monitoring circuits detect error currents, an error signal is changed to a high level.

Abstract: A control system for an autonomous driving vehicle is provided with an information provision device 10 configured to provide a driver with information and an operation request part configured to control the information provision device to provide the driver with information during autonomous driving to thereby request a predetermined operation to the driver. The operation request part is provided with a margin time calculation part configured to calculate a margin time until a timing at which the driver should start the operation when the operation should be requested to the driver and an information provision control part configured to provide the driver with information differing according to the margin time.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and computer system maintain a list that includes identifiers of vehicles determined by the processor of a detective vehicle to have an innocent status. The processor selects, for each sub-period of a predefined time period, a target vehicle from a plurality of vehicles, where the detective vehicle communicates either directly or indirectly with each vehicle of the plurality and accepts communications from the plurality, where a portion of the plurality of vehicles and the detective vehicle are within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication range, and where vehicle-to-vehicle communication does not utilize infrastructure network connectivity. The processor obtains, over a vehicle-to-vehicle communication or a network connection, messages regarding a status of the target vehicle. The processor determines the status of the target vehicle, where the status is one of: malicious or innocent.

Abstract: A method of augmented projection for vehicle passengers includes sensing that the passenger is within, or about to enter, a drop zone, and sensing one or more static obstacles within the drop zone. The method further includes highlighting at least one of the static obstacles with a projector mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: A photographing method and an apparatus include: using two photographing modules to acquire images of a to-be-photographed object at a first moment and a second moment after a preset time interval, and determining a distance of the to-be-photographed object according to image points formed by a point of the to-be-photographed object on photosensitive devices of the two photographing modules, and parameters of the two photographing modules; calculating a variation between the distances of the to-be-photographed object at the first moment and the second moment; determining whether the variation is less than or equal to a preset value; and photographing the to-be-photographed object if yes.

Abstract: An integrated security system is described that integrates broadband and mobile access and control with conventional security systems and premise devices to provide a tri-mode security network (broadband, cellular/GSM, POTS access) that enables users to remotely stay connected to their premises. The integrated security system, while delivering remote premise monitoring and control functionality to conventional monitored premise protection, complements existing premise protection equipment. The integrated security system integrates into the premise network and couples wirelessly with the conventional security panel, enabling broadband access to premise security systems. Automation devices (cameras, lamp modules, thermostats, etc.) can be added, enabling users to remotely see live video and/or pictures and control home devices via their personal web portal or webpage, mobile phone, and/or other remote client device.

Abstract: Payload properties may be determined utilizing actuator parameter data. A mobile drive unit may transport a payload around a workspace in accordance with one or more safety. To comply with safety policies, a motion controller of the mobile drive unit may limit acceleration and deceleration to safe maximums for given payload characteristics such as payload mass and payload center of gravity. The motion controller may utilize actuators to cause various motions of the mobile drive unit, including motion across a surface, vertical movements of the payload and motion rotating the payload. To ameliorate worst case assumptions about payload characteristics, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a payload characterization module may obtain information about payload characteristics based on measurements of operational parameters of the actuators.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a radar system of a vehicle. One or more transmitters are configured to transmit radar signals. A plurality of receivers are configured to receive return radar signals after the transmitted radar signals are deflected from an object proximate the vehicle. A processor is coupled to the plurality of receivers in order to determine when a plurality of detected objects correspond to a single object and to track the single object in a dynamic environment.

Abstract: A vehicle parking assist system includes at least one processor configured to establish communication with a parking automation system external to a vehicle to assist in a parking maneuver. The parking automation system includes at least one sensor to provide a measured distance value from an object to the vehicle. The processor is further configured to control a brake system of the vehicle based on the measured distance value via the sensor. The processor is further configured to control the vehicle to come to a stop based on the measured distance value being less than a first predefined threshold via the brake system.

Abstract: A shift control device for an automatic transmission is provided with an automatic shift mode and a manual shift mode instructed by a manual operation of a driver. The shift control device includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code that cause the shift control device to measure a following distance between an own vehicle and a front vehicle, measure an accelerator opening of an engine, judge whether the measured following distance is equal to or less than a predetermined set value if a downshift is instructed by a manual operation of the driver and the measured accelerator opening is fully closed, and determine a target shift stage based on the following distance if the following distance is equal to or less than the set value. Accordingly, the shift control device downshifts to the target shift stage.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode can obtain sensor data from one or more sensors observing one or more aspects of an environment of the vehicle. At least one aspect of the environment of the vehicle that is not observed by the one or more sensors could be inferred based on the sensor data. The vehicle could be controlled in the autonomous mode based on the at least one inferred aspect of the environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, motion planning and control data is received, where the motion planning and control data indicates that an autonomous vehicle is to move from a first point to a second point of a path within a predetermined route. In response to the motion planning and control data, the path from the first point to the second point is segmented into multiple path segments. For each of the path segments, one of predetermined driving scenes is identified that matches motion characteristics of the corresponding path segment. The motion planning and control data associated with the path segments is modified based on predetermined motion settings of the path segments. The autonomous vehicle is driven through the path segments of the path based on the modified motion planning and control data.

Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle is provided. The lighting device includes a light source with which at least one of useful light or assist light can be emitted into the surroundings, a sensor with which at least one of useful light or assist light reflected by the surroundings can be at least partially detected, and an electronic unit for evaluating at least one of the useful light or assist light sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: An HMD device with a see-through display and depth sensing capability is configured to selectively dim or fade out a display of a virtual reality environment to enable a user to see the real world without obstruction by the virtual world when a distance between the user and a real world object is determined to be less than a threshold distance. The current height of the user's head (i.e., the distance from head to ground) may be utilized when performing the dimming/fading so that different threshold distances can be used depending on whether the user is standing or seated.

Abstract: An in-vehicle device controls activation and deactivation of a monitoring device configured to monitor a suspicious person around the vehicle, and if a suspicious person is detected by the monitoring device, the in-vehicle device executes predetermined processing related to security of a user of the vehicle. The in-vehicle device includes a transmission unit configured to, if a motor of the vehicle is stopped, intermittently transmit a signal from a transmission antennas with which the vehicle is provided, a reception unit configured to receive a response signal transmitted from a portable device that has received this signal, and a controller configured to activate the monitoring device if the response signal is received.

Abstract: A moving robot may include a first location recognition module configured to extract a straight line in a driving process and recognize a location using the extracted straight line and a second location recognition module configured to confirm the recognized location by reflecting the location recognized by the first location recognition module based on the image information obtained from the surroundings by way of an image capturing device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for adjustment of maximum brake pump speed based on rate of change of target deceleration. An example vehicle includes a brake pump having a maximum pump speed. The example vehicle also includes a vehicle decelerator to determine a target deceleration for autonomous deceleration and send a signal to the brake pump to decelerate the vehicle at the target deceleration. The example vehicle also includes a maximum speed regulator to determine a rate of change of the target deceleration and adjust the maximum pump speed based on the rate of change.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a car includes: an input configured to receive data from a laser device; a processing unit configured to process the data from the laser device, and to determine a control signal for controlling a component of the car; and an output for providing the control signal for controlling the component of the car.

Abstract: A system for autonomously assisting the operation of a host vehicle traveling on a first lane of a roadway includes at least one camera assembly for detecting the presence and speed of a vehicle merging into the first lane. A proximity sensor monitors the distance between the host vehicle and the merging vehicle. A controller electrically is connected to the at least one camera assembly and the proximity sensor and, in response to receiving signals from the at least one camera assembly and the proximity sensor, actuates a steering gear to laterally move the host vehicle from the first lane to a second lane of the roadway to allow the merging vehicle to enter the first lane.

Abstract: A lane change system for a subject vehicle including a peripheral monitor, an instruction portion, a direction indicator, a vehicle guide system, and a lane change controller is provided. The peripheral monitor obtains information regarding an adjacent lane and a lane boundary line. The instruction portion outputs a lane change initiation signal at a time of a lane change. The direction indicator provides another vehicle with an indication of an intention of the lane change. The vehicle guide system controls an operation of the subject vehicle. The lane change controller is configured to: detect the lane boundary line; control the subject vehicle to approach the lane boundary line and reach a position located from a predetermined approach distance; wait for elapse of a period of time; and control the vehicle guide system to move the subject vehicle to the adjacent lane.

Abstract: A tailgating detection and monitoring assembly for a vehicle includes a sensor, a display, and a rear-facing imager that are coupled to a vehicle. The sensor and the display are rear-facing. A computer is operationally coupled to the rear-facing imager, the sensor, the display, and an onboard control system of the vehicle. Programming code that is positioned on the computer enables the computer to actuate the sensor to determine a separation between the vehicle and a following vehicle, positioning an automatic braking system of the vehicle to determine a tailgating event. The programming code enables the computer to selectively actuate the display to present a notification to a driver of the following vehicle and to selectively actuate the rear-facing imager to capture an image of the tailgating event. The onboard control system is positioned to communicate the image of the tailgating event to a law enforcement agency via the internet.