Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable masked priming stimuli to be provided to machine operators in advance of audible warnings issued by a safety warning system of a manned machine system when an emergency is imminent. In the various embodiments, the safety warning system of the manned machine system may output a masked priming stimulus in response to the machine operator performing a target action to teach a machine operator to take the target action associated with an emergency.

Abstract: A method for calculating a response time is described. The response time is required in order to direct the attention of a vehicle's driver at the traffic on the road. The driver is monitored by sensors and a state of attentiveness of the driver is ascertained. The state of attentiveness is used to calculate a value, to which an anticipated response time is assigned. Further a method for operating a motor vehicle, a computer program product and a correspondingly equipped motor vehicle are described.

Abstract: To determine a triggering criterion for outputting brake signals in a vehicle, at least one object in the vehicle surroundings is sensed, and a determination is made as to whether the vehicle is on a collision course with the object. When a collision course is determined, an avoidance criterion, which is satisfied if an avoidance maneuver is not available, is checked. When the avoidance criterion is met, a braking criterion is checked. The object is classified into at least a first or a second class as a function of its properties, and the avoidance maneuver is determined as a function of such classification such that, in the case of a first class, a first avoidance trajectory is determined, and, in the case of a second class, a second trajectory, different from the first, is determined. The triggering criterion for brake signal output is satisfied when the avoidance and braking criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus assists a braking operation by using negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber generated by rotation of an internal combustion engine, automatically stops or restarts the engine if a first or second condition is satisfied, respectively. The apparatus determines whether a braking operation is performed, detects the rotational speed of the engine and the negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber using a negative pressure sensor. When a state has continued over a predetermined time while no braking operation has been detected, and the rotational speed has been over a threshold, the apparatus temporarily determine whether the sensor is abnormal, based on the negative pressure. When the sensor has been temporarily determined abnormal for a predetermined number of times, the abnormality is certainly determined to inhibit automatic stopping of the engine. The predetermined time may be changed depending whether the state has continued.

Abstract: A transporter vehicle includes: a vehicle; an object detection device which includes a detection area at a front side of the vehicle and detects an object at the front side of the vehicle; a process system capable of performing a process for reducing damage caused by a collision; a specific detection area setting unit which sets a specific detection area having a width of a first dimension in a width direction of the vehicle and a length of a second dimension in a traveling direction of the vehicle in the detection area; a collision determination unit which determines whether an object exists in the specific detection area based on a detection result of the object detection device; and a control unit which outputs a signal for reducing damage caused by the collision to the process system based on a determination result of the collision determination unit.

Abstract: An analysis method includes: acquiring first path information indicating a first movement path, first velocity information of a first moving body on the first movement path, second path information indicating a second movement path, and second velocity information of a second moving body on the second movement path; calculating, based on a specific rule, a similarity between the first velocity information and the second velocity information when the first path information and the second path information are extracted as candidates to be integrated; determining, based on the similarity, whether the first path information and second path information are to be integrated; and generating graph information to draw at least a part of the first path information and at least a part of the second path information as a single path when it is determined that the first path information and the second path information are to be integrated.

Abstract: Systems and methods to detect and warn proximate entities of interest are described herein. An example method for assessing a possibility of a collision between entities of interest, each having their own characteristics of movement, includes sampling movement of each entity at least two points in time, generating a trajectory vector for each entity based on the movement sampling, expanding the trajectory vector of each entity based on at least one characteristic of movement of that entity, and analyzing the expanded trajectory vector of each entity for overlap to assess a possibility of a collision between the entities of interest.

Abstract: A mobile base designed to receive an X-ray machine is provided. An X-ray machine capable of being mounted on the mobile base is also provided. The X-ray machine of the invention is configured to move using a motor-driven system associated with a navigation system. The navigation system of the invention enables the X-ray machine to be moved automatically and with precision from one position to another within an examination, hybrid or operation room. The X-ray machine is also configured for the automatic positioning of the moving parts around the patient, while at the same time keeping the region to be subjected to radiography within an X-ray beam.

Abstract: A control system operates an industrial vehicle that includes a propulsion drive system and a guidance and navigation system operatively connected to the propulsion drive system to control motion of the industrial vehicle along a path, in an unmanned, autonomous mode. A wireless communicator transmits vehicle operational data to an asset management computer located remotely from the industrial vehicle, and receives commands from the asset management computer for remotely controlling operation of the industrial vehicle. For example, when the vehicle encounters an obstacle in the path a message indicating that event is sent to the asset management computer where a human operator can send a command which instructs the industrial vehicle how to avoid the obstacle.

Abstract: A method for controlling a motor in an electrical power steering system is provided. The method generates a damping torque command for reducing an undesired torque to be generated by the motor. The method generates an assist torque command that specifies a desired torque to be generated by the motor. The method determines whether to send the damping torque command to the motor as a function of a hand wheel velocity and a hand wheel angle. The method combines the assist torque command and the damping torque command to send to the motor when it is determined that the damping torque command is to be sent to the motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle when changing lanes on a roadway consisting of at least three lanes, with the steps: detection by a monitoring system in the vehicle of an impending lane change of the motor vehicle from a first lane to an adjoining second lane; detection of an impending lane change by another vehicle from a third lane that adjoins the second lane, to the second lane; the monitoring system determining whether a collision with the other vehicle threatens if the vehicle changes lanes; as soon as a threatened collision is determined, a warning signal is issued by a warning device and/or the motor vehicle is influenced in its lateral motion by a driver assistance system of the vehicle. In addition, it relates to a motor vehicle with a monitoring system.

Abstract: Vehicles equipped with certain embodiments may be used to pick up a load and to assist the vehicle operator's control of the vehicle in a manner that inhibits damage to the load. In some embodiments, portions of the system measure a distance between a vehicle and a load. The distance measurement is used by a controller in the vehicle to alter one or more of vehicle and/or vehicle component speed, acceleration characteristics, deceleration characteristics, target speed, or speed limit, singularly or in any combination.

Abstract: A system and method that may inspect an upcoming road segment and use that information to control certain aspects of a vehicle suspension system. In an exemplary embodiment, several cameras are used to evaluate an upcoming road segment and to provide road information to a control module so that damping and/or other aspects of an active or semi-active suspension system can be controlled in a feed-forward manner. Because the vehicle suspension system assesses a segment of the road that is ahead of the vehicle, as opposed to one currently being encountered by the vehicle, the system may improve ride performance by anticipating and preparing for road conditions before they are actually encountered.

Abstract: A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for providing navigation guidance. The system includes a tracking application and a user. The tracking application determines a location of a user, determines a position of at least one object in proximity to the user, determines a path for the user to avoid the at least one object, generates linear and angular velocities that correspond to the path and generates directions that correspond to the linear and angular velocities. The user can receive the directions as audio instructions or via a tactile belt with motors that vibrate to convey the directions.

Abstract: A light emitting lamp according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a laser light source, a scanning unit, which scans the laser light emitted from the laser light source so as to form a visible light distribution pattern, an obstacle detector, which detects an obstacle, if any, in front of a driver's vehicle, and a control unit, which adjusts the intensity of the laser light irradiated to an obstacle existent region, according to the distance from the driver's vehicle to the obstacle, based on the detection result of the obstacle detector.

Abstract: A robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner may precisely detect a peripheral obstacle using a particular optical pattern. An asymmetric cross-shaped optical pattern may be irradiated, and a pattern image with respect to the optical pattern-irradiated region may be analyzed to determine whether or not an obstacle is in the moving path, and a width or a height of the obstacle. Further, the robot cleaner may perform operations such as a forward motion, a backward motion, a stopping motion and a detour motion, based the obstacle detection result.

Abstract: A location estimation system for use with an autonomous lawn mowing robot, comprises a plurality of synthetic surfaces positioned with respect to a mowable space in an environment, a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot, a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment, and a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment, and to vary at least one of an output power of the directed radiation and a scan rate of the directed radiation, as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces.

Abstract: In an intelligent forward collision warning system that takes into account not only a first preceding vehicle traveling immediately ahead of the ego vehicle but also a second preceding vehicle traveling immediately ahead of the first preceding vehicle, a warning signal is produced upon detecting a critical state of the first or second preceding vehicle or an external condition that is predicted to cause the first preceding vehicle and the ego vehicle to be in a same lane with the first time to collision (TTC) below a prescribed value.

Abstract: A driving assistance device including: a preceding vehicle detection portion; a speed control portion controlling the speed adjustment to the host vehicle to obtain a target inter-vehicle distance; a preceding vehicle travel trajectory acquisition portion; an entering vehicle detection portion; an entering vehicle travel trajectory acquisition portion; a target trajectory setting portion setting the target travel trajectory of the host vehicle based on at least the travel trajectory of the preceding or the entering vehicle; a steer control portion controlling the adjustment of the steer amount calculated based on the target travel trajectory; and a location determination portion determining the location where the deviation amount between the travel trajectories of the entering and preceding vehicles becomes the predetermined value or below.

Abstract: Proposed is an apparatus for RS-232C and RS-485 serial communication using common communication port configured to selectively use a communication by RS-232C and RS-485 communication methods without change in external wirings by performing the RS-232C and RS-485 communications using a common communication port, the apparatus including a communication converter configured to transmit a data using mutually different communication methods through a common port in response to a provided communication method selection signal, or receiving a data from outside, and a controller configured to provide the communication method selection signal and the transmission data to the communication converter in response to a set parameter, and to receive the data transmitted from outside through the communication converter.

Abstract: An intersection recognition device installed in a vehicle includes an image acquisition unit that acquires images around the moving vehicle. The device includes an extraction unit that extracts, from the images acquired by the image acquisition unit, a type and a position of at least one traffic marking existing around the vehicle. The device includes a determination unit that determines whether an intersection exists based on the type of the at least one traffic marking extracted by the extraction unit and a relative position relationship between the at least one traffic marking and the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided in which, if a position requiring caution for the contact with an oncoming vehicle on a track road is found also on an ex-post facto basis, the information thereof is easily fed back to the control of each vehicle. This vehicle control system has a GPS receiver 101 for detecting the position of each vehicle, an encoder 72 and an IMU 73 mounted on each vehicle, a specific spot setting unit 87 for setting a position requiring caution for the passing with an oncoming vehicle as a specific spot on the basis of a vehicle position, a slip ratio and a curvature that are computed from the values output therefrom, and a storage device for storing the positional information on a place set as a specific spot by a specific spot detecting unit.

Abstract: A system for detecting driver vehicle travelling in an unsafe manner comprising a radar system configured to generate a sequence of frames of radar data. A target trajectory system configured to receive the sequence of frames of radar data and to generate target trajectory data for a vehicle. An alarm system configured to receive the target trajectory data and to generate an alarm as a function of the target trajectory data, a probability of collision, a degree of erratic driving or other suitable data.

Abstract: A lane keeping control system includes: a lane parameter generation unit configured to generate a relative position between a lane and a vehicle as a lane parameter based on information received from a camera installed on the vehicle; a vehicle state information reception unit configured to receive vehicle state information sensed or measured by each vehicle sensor or device installed on the vehicle; an equivalent model generation unit configured to receive the lane parameter from the lane parameter generation unit, receive the vehicle state information from the vehicle state information reception unit, analyze a time flow-related correlation between the vehicle parameter and the vehicle state information, and generate an equivalent model of each; an erroneous detection determination unit configured to determine and classify a situation of erroneous detection of a lane parameter by simultaneously analyzing a case.

Abstract: A method includes: estimating a position of a driver's eyes in a vehicle during a parking event in a parking spot that includes a wireless charging assembly in which a primary coil is installed, projecting an image onto an interior surface of the vehicle at a location based on the estimated position of the driver's eyes to assist the driver in aligning the vehicle with the wireless charging assembly, transmitting signals from the vehicle toward a reference object located at a rear area of the parking spot and detecting echoed signals at the vehicle caused by the transmitted signals reflecting from a surface of the reference object, and listening for an alignment confirmation signal at the vehicle from the wireless charging assembly indicating that the vehicle is satisfactorily aligned with the wireless charging assembly.

Abstract: Conveying systems for transporting sealed containers, such as boxes, may be provided with one or more delta robots configured to cut one or more adhesive tapes or other layers provided on the sealed containers. The delta robots may include one or more blades or other cutting implements on end effectors, which may be repositioned by the delta robots in response to instructions. Such instructions may be generated based on images or imaging data captured from the sealed containers, which may be analyzed to recognize features, locations and orientations of the adhesive tapes or other layers applied across faces, seams or edges of the sealed containers. Using such robots, the sealed containers may be partially or completely opened prior to reaching one or more workers, who may quickly and efficiently access the internal contents of such containers with limited effort.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for determining a robot path based on user motion by determining a current position of a robot with a processor-based computing device programmed to perform the determining, receiving sensor readings on positions, directions, and velocities of a visually-impaired user and other users, generating a model of the motions of the visually-impaired user and the other users, the model including a user path for the visually-impaired user and a robot path for the robot, generating a collision prediction map to predict collisions between at least one of the robot, the visually-impaired user, and the other users, determining whether there is a risk of collision for either the visually-impaired user or the robot, and responsive to the risk of collision, updating at least one of the user path and the robot path.

Abstract: A system, device, and methods of interactive automated driving are disclosed. One example method includes receiving a current value from one or more sensors disposed on a vehicle and determining a current vehicle state based on the current value. The method also includes generating a target vehicle state based on the current vehicle state and including a range of target values and generating a desired vehicle state. The desired vehicle state includes a desired value based on one or more driver inputs received at one or more vehicle interfaces. If the desired value falls inside the range of target values, the method also includes sending a command to one or more vehicle systems to change the vehicle state from the target vehicle state to the desired vehicle state.

Abstract: A dump truck includes radars attached, facing backward, to a position projected sideward a front fender extended from a lower deck to an upper deck of a front side of the vehicle, in which an irradiation beam has an angle of dip to cross at least a front wheel; and radars attached, facing sideward, to the side of the lower deck, and the radars and the radars are arranged such that a horizontal forward detection limit line of each of the radar and a horizontal backward detection limit line of each of the radar overlap and the horizontal backward detection limit lines of the radar are directed to a side of a center plane of the vehicle to detect the obstacle in the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a method for coordinating operation of motor vehicles driving fully automated, a trajectory described by a driving intervention is determined for each motor vehicle from status information of the motor vehicle, whereafter it is determined by an on-board vehicle system whether a coordination condition exists that requires coordination. If a coordination condition exists, trajectory data describing the trajectory are exchanged between the motor vehicles via a communication link through an on-board communication device and the trajectory is checked for conflicts caused by spatial and temporal overlap of the trajectories of at least two motor vehicles and/or because at least one of the motor vehicles did not reach its destination. If a conflict exists, the trajectory of a motor vehicle participating in the conflict is adjusted based on an arbitration rule evaluated by an arbitration device, whereafter the driving interventions described by the trajectory are performed by each motor vehicle.

Abstract: An indoor robot and a method for indoor robot positioning are provided in the disclosure. The indoor robot is capable of executing different positioning modes according to the number of the detected beacons for indoor robot positioning. When the number of the detected beacons is less than a positioning required number, the indoor robot moves a predetermined distance according to the detected beacons to obtain a plurality of sets of distance data, thereby positioning the location of the indoor robot.

Abstract: A method of navigating an autonomous coverage robot on a floor includes controlling movement of the robot across the floor in a cleaning mode, receiving a sensor signal indicative of an obstacle, rotating the robot away from the sensed obstacle, determining a change in the received sensor signal during at least a portion of the rotation of the robot away from the sensed obstacle, and identifying the sensed obstacle based at least in part on the determined change in the received sensor signal.

Abstract: An appropriate deceleration is achieved. A brake control apparatus is a brake control apparatus which performs a brake assist control for assisting a brake operation by a driver of a vehicle, the brake control apparatus is provided with: a calculating device which calculates a contact possibility of the vehicle contacting the obstacle; and a changing device which changes, on the basis of the contact possibility, a decreasing rate of a deceleration of the vehicle caused by the brake assist control.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for creating and implementing three-dimensional guidance paths for use in conjunction with more or one agricultural vehicles operating in an area of operation.

Abstract: A motor controller includes an inter-vehicle sensor detecting an inter-vehicle distance between an own vehicle and a front vehicle, a speed sensor detecting a speed difference between a speed of the own vehicle and a speed of the front vehicle, an accelerator sensor detecting an accelerator pressing quantity, and a control portion controlling a regeneration torque of the motor based on the inter-vehicle distance, the speed difference, and the accelerator pressing quantity. When the control portion determines that the accelerator pressing quantity is less than or equal to a predetermined pressing quantity, the control portion determines that a speed-reduction request is generated. When the control portion determines that the inter-vehicle distance is no more than a first predetermined distance and when the own vehicle is in an approaching state, the control portion increases the regeneration torque of the motor, so as to generate a regeneration braking force.

Abstract: A driver assistance system of a vehicle for controlling a distance from the vehicle to a further vehicle. In the method, a distance between the vehicle and the further vehicle and a relative speed between the vehicle and the further vehicle are determined. When the vehicle approaches the further vehicle, the vehicle is operated in an operational state from a group of a plurality of predetermined operational states in dependence upon the distance and the relative speed.

Abstract: A system for determining a location of a vehicle in an environment provided with at least two landmarks whose location is known. The system includes at least one scanning distance sensor installed in the vehicle and configured to measure distance and direction from the vehicle to the at least two landmarks, as well as a data processing device configured to store in its memory the location of the at least two landmarks; and determine the location of the vehicle on the basis of at least the location of the at least two landmarks as well as the distance and direction from the vehicle to the at least two landmarks.

Abstract: Based on a parking frame certainty degree indicative of a degree of certainty about a presence is a parking frame in the travel direction of the vehicle and a parking frame entering certainty degree indicative of a degree of certainty about whether the vehicle enters the parking frame, a total certainty degree indicative of a total degree of the certainty of the parking frame certainty degree and the parking frame entering certainty degree is calculated. Acceleration of the vehicle is controlled depending on a manipulation amount of an accelerator pedal manipulated by a drive to instruct a driving force and is suppressed in a lower suppression degree when the total certainty degree is lower than when the total certainty degree is higher. Furthermore, the acceleration of the vehicle is suppressed in the suppression degree decreased depending on the travel direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A robot cleaning system includes a robot cleaner comprising a sensor for receiving a specific signal sound, a rechargeable battery, and a control unit; and a recharging base comprising an audio output device for outputting the specific signal sound. The control unit calculates a distance and a direction from the robot cleaner to the recharging base based on the signal sound received by the sensor, and controls the robot cleaner to move based on the calculated distance and direction, when a remaining amount of the battery is less than a preset value. The robot cleaner docks with the recharging base to recharge the battery of the robot cleaner.

Abstract: A method of controlling a robot, receives a first message from an unattended robot relating to movement of the robot. Receipt of the first message indicates that movement of the robot is impeded by an environmental condition. The method then determines how to correct the impeded movement caused by the environmental condition, and forwards a second message toward the robot having correction information, which enables the robot to move without impediment by the environmental condition.

Abstract: A method of cruise control whereby a following vehicle can be caused to travel at a target speed, subject to maintaining a pre-determined distance from a leading vehicle in substantially straight travel, the method comprising: determining by means of measuring means a separation distance of the leading vehicle and following vehicle and maintaining the pre-determined separation distance from the leading vehicle; determining by means of deviation detection means a deviation of the leading vehicle from a substantially straight path and an instant location of the deviation; and preventing automatic acceleration of the following vehicle until reaching said instant location in dependence on the detection of a deviation.

Abstract: A method for entering a preceding vehicle autonomous following mode includes the steps of registering and identifying at least one preceding vehicle in front of a host vehicle by at least a first and a second sensor device, comparing the preceding vehicle with vehicle data in a remote database system, and upon a match establishing a communication channel between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle, identifying to an operator of the host vehicle preceding vehicles with which the communication channel has been established, and obtaining from the operator a selection of a target vehicles to engage following of Finally, autonomous following mode of the target vehicle is engaged, wherein a vehicle control system automatically controls at least the following three main functions of the host vehicle: forward propulsion, steering, and braking.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control apparatus is provided. In particular, a storage configured to store a table (hereinafter, referred to an area table) recording an area corresponding to a speed of a vehicle and a condition of a road; an imaging device configured to take a front image of the vehicle; an image processor configured to calculate an area of a shape made by a driving lane of the vehicle and a preceding vehicle in the driving lane from the front image of the vehicle taken by the imaging device; a road information collector configured to collect condition information of the road; and a controller configured to set a speed corresponding to the condition information collected by the road information collector and the area calculated by the image processor as a driving speed of the vehicle, based on the area table.

Abstract: The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface.

Abstract: In a warning device for a vehicle, a basic target current value setting unit sets a basic target current value based on a steering torque and a vehicle speed. When a lane deviation determining unit determines that there is a high possibility that a vehicle will deviate from a lane, a warning vibration wave generator generates a warning vibration wave containing a plurality of frequency components. A target current value is computed by adding the warning vibration wave to the basic target current value. A motor current to be applied to an electric motor is controlled so as to approach the target current value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lane keeping assist system for controlling a vehicle on the basis of traveling information and road information of the vehicle when the vehicle begins to leave its lane in order to prevent the vehicle from deviating from its lane, which is a system for assisting the vehicle in keeping the lane by generating multiple target routes each being a path for the vehicle to travel without deviating from the lane, calculating a target yaw rate for each target route, and controls the vehicle according to a target steering angle calculated using the target yaw rate.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus for a motor vehicle for assistance with driving along narrow roadways is provided. The apparatus includes a data acquisition unit for acquiring route data while driving on a route obtained from wheel and steering angle sensors, a trajectory storage unit for recording the route data, and a triggering unit for triggering the vehicle based on the route data. The apparatus is coupled to a satellite navigation receiver for determining boundary value position data at the time of commencement and/or end of the route. A storage unit stores the boundary value position data for the route data. An approach checking unit checks whether the vehicle is approaching the commencement or end of the route based on the boundary value position data and generates a position approach signal if the motor vehicle is approaching the commencement or end of the route.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying lawn grass which includes capturing an image of the terrain in front of a mower, segmenting the image into neighborhoods, calculating at least two image statistics for each of the neighborhoods, generating a binary representation of each image statistic. The binary representation of each image statistic is generated by comparing the calculated image statistic values to predetermined image statistic values for grass. The method further includes weighting each of the binary representations of each image statistic, and summing corresponding neighborhoods for all image statistics. A binary threshold is applied to each of the summed neighborhoods to generate a binary map representing grass containing areas and non-grass containing areas.

Abstract: A system for the assessment of reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway repeatedly illuminates an area along the roadway that includes at least one reflective surface using a light source. Multiple light intensity values are measured over a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source. A computer processing system is used to identifying a portion of the light intensity values associated with a reflective surface and analyze the portion of the light intensity values to determine assessment for that reflective surface.