Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for continuously establishing a boundary for autonomous driving availability, in a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities and comprising at least one remote sensor for acquiring vehicle surrounding information and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor for determining vehicle dynamics parameters. The method and apparatus include at least one of a positioning arrangement that provides map data with associated information, a route planning arrangement that enables route planning, a vehicle driver monitoring arrangement that provides driver monitoring information, and a real time information acquiring arrangement that acquires at least one of traffic information and weather information. The boundary is calculated based on a planned route and at least one of vehicle surrounding information, vehicle dynamics parameters, driver monitoring information, map data, traffic information and weather information, for the planned route.

Abstract: A computer-readable map format and methods of constructing the map format are disclosed. The map format includes location information for a plurality of background objects. At least one of the background objects is a seasonal background object and the location information associated with the seasonal background object is identified during a season in which an obscuration level associated with the seasonal background object is at a minimum. The obscuration level can be based on the amount that the seasonal background object is obscured or based on the amount of obscuration caused by the seasonal background object.

Abstract: Systems, devices, features, and methods for obtaining, enhancing, or using data for or with a geographic database, such as a navigation database, are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving input to enable a probe sensor that is associated with a device used by a being with a physical disability. Geographic data is collected via the probe sensor when the device is in use by the being with the physical disability. The collected geographic data is provided to a data collection facility to develop data corresponding to a geographic and/or navigation database.

Abstract: The scheduler performs thread scheduling of repeating processings of specifying each hardware thread included in a first group among the multiple hardware threads for the number of times set up in advance for the hardware thread, and of specifying any one of the hardware threads in a second group for the number of times set up in advance for the second group that includes other hardware threads. Moreover, when the hardware thread in the first group specified by the thread scheduling is nondispatchable, the scheduler performs rescheduling of respecifying the hardware thread in the second group instead of the hardware thread in the first group.

Abstract: An abnormality determination system includes: an autonomous moving object including at least one distance measuring unit that is disposed to face a road surface in a moving direction ant that measures a distance to the road surface; a charging unit including a connection terminal for charging a battery of the autonomous moving object; a stepped portion disposed on a road surface which is subjected to measurement by the distance measuring unit when the autonomous moving object is connected to the connection terminal of the charging unit and is positioned; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the distance to the stepped portion measured by the distance measuring unit at the time of positioning is less than a threshold value.

Abstract: A system and method for control of the system, with a plurality of autonomous vehicles having intersecting routes, a control, an operational area, and a predefined place with positions provided with a vehicle presence detection device. The method includes detecting the presence of the vehicles in a detection device, and beginning to travel with a first vehicle according to a travel action. The travel action is chosen from travelling of a route through the operational area from a predefined place, and an advancing action within a predefined place from a first detection device to a second detection device which is not yet occupied. Beginning to travel is carried out only if each of the vehicles has been detected as present at one of the predefined places, or, at most one vehicle has the status “not present at one of the predefined places” if the travel action relates to an advancing action.

Abstract: A method of mowing an area with an autonomous mowing robot comprises storing, in non-transient memory of the robot, a set of geospatially referenced perimeter data corresponding to positions of the mowing robot as the mowing robot is guided about a perimeter of an area to be mowed, removing from the set of perimeter data one or more data points thereby creating a redacted data set and controlling the mowing robot to autonomously mow an area bounded by a boundary corresponding to the redacted data set, including altering direction of the mowing robot at or near a position corresponding to data in the redacted data set so as to redirect the robot back into the bounded area.

Abstract: Examples described herein include an autonomous vehicle that receives guide assistance from a human driven vehicle in response to a determination that the autonomous vehicle cannot progress safely on its route.

Abstract: A vehicle control device for starting a drive assist in accordance with relative positional relationship between a self vehicle and an object around the self vehicle, comprises a control value calculating part which calculates a control value based on an inter-vehicular distance between the self vehicle and the object, a velocity of the self vehicle, a relative velocity of the object to the self vehicle, and an acceleration-related value obtained based on at least one of an acceleration of the self vehicle and an acceleration of the object; an acceleration-related value adjusting part which adjusts the acceleration-related value by changing a degree of contribution of at least one of the acceleration of the self vehicle and the acceleration of the object in the acceleration-related value in accordance with the acceleration of the self vehicle; and a drive assist start judging part which starts the drive assist if the control value is greater than a threshold value.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device, an autonomous movement system, and an autonomous movement method, each having an obstacle avoidance capability, are provided. The autonomous mobile device includes an avoidance pattern determination unit for determining the travel pattern of the local device according to the state of motion, relative to the autonomous movement device, of a mobile obstacle other than the autonomous movement device; and a travel controller for causing the autonomous movement device to travel according to the travel pattern determined by the avoidance pattern determination unit. One of avoidance patterns is selected in accordance with a relative velocity to a mobile obstacle.

Abstract: A vision system includes a processor and a plurality of cameras, each of which is configured to be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to select input from different combinations of the plurality of cameras based on a parameter that is associated with at least one of the status of a vehicle and a surrounding environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to speed control in an autonomous vehicle. For example, an autonomous vehicle may include a user interface which allows the driver to input speed preferences. These preferences may include the maximum speed above the speed limit the user would like the autonomous vehicle to drive when other vehicles are present and driving above or below certain speeds. The other vehicles may be in adjacent or the same lane the vehicle, and need not be in front of the vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate generally to autonomous vehicles. The features described improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of these vehicles by performing a behavior analysis on mobile objects in the vicinity of an autonomous vehicle. Specifically, the autonomous vehicle is capable of detecting nearby objects, such as vehicles and pedestrians, and is able to determine how the detected vehicles and pedestrians perceive their surroundings. The autonomous vehicle may then use this information to safely maneuver around all nearby objects.

Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, an industrial vehicle can include an Environmental Based Localization (EBL) sensor communicatively coupled to one or more processors. The EBL sensor can detect objects within a field of view. The one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to access a feature set and an occlusion set that are associated with an industrial facility. An occlusion path that intersects a detectable occlusion of the occlusion set and the sensor origin of the EBL sensor can be determined. A feature intersection of the occlusion path can be determined. A detectable feature can be classified as an occluded detectable feature based at least in part upon location of the feature intersection. The industrial vehicle can be navigated through the industrial facility utilizing the feature set exclusive of the occluded detectable feature.

Abstract: A computer receives data detailing operation of a plurality of at least partially manually operated automobiles. The computer determines one or more trends in the operation of the plurality of at least partially manually operated automobiles, based at least in part on the data detailing the operation of the plurality of manually operated vehicles. The computer generates one or more operational rules, based, at least in part, on the one or more trends. The computer transmits the one or more operational rules to one or more at least semi-autonomous vehicles.

Abstract: In some example embodiments, a position recognition method of an autonomous mobile robot may include: dividing a grid map into a plurality of spaces; extracting, by a processor, learning data of each of the plurality of spaces; generating, by the processor, space models of each of the plurality of spaces using the extracted learning data; and/or recognizing, by the processor, a current position of the autonomous mobile robot based on the extracted learning data, the space models, and actual range scan data input through the autonomous mobile robot.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a distance determination system for a vehicle includes a monoscopic imager, and a distance determination module in communication with the monoscopic imager and configured to receive vehicle position data. The distance determination module includes a vehicle position determination sub-module configured to determine a first and second position of the vehicle based on the vehicle position data. A feature identification sub-module is configured to capture a first image at the first position using the monoscopic imager, capture a second image at the second position using the monoscopic imager, identify at least one feature in the first image, and identify the at least one feature in the second image. A distance estimation sub-module is configured to determine a difference between the first and second position of the vehicle, identify a difference in position of the at least one feature, and determine an estimated distance.

Abstract: A parking assist device assists entry or exit of a vehicle with respect to a parking space through an automatic control of a steering device. The parking assist device includes: a calculator that obtains, to perform the automatic control of the steering device, a path for allowing the vehicle to enter or exit the parking space based on the parking space, calculates an amount of temperature rise of the steering device at the execution of the automatic control for allowing the vehicle to move along the obtained path, and calculates a predicted temperature of the steering device at the execution of the automatic control by adding the calculated amount of temperature rise to a current value of the temperature of the steering device; and a controller that inhibits the execution of the automatic control when the predicted temperature is equal to or higher than a determination value.

Abstract: Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a lane ending detection system is provided for a vehicle. One or more processing devices associated with the system receive at least one image via a data interface. The device(s) extract lane ending information from the road sign(s) included in the image data and determine, based on at least one indicator of position of the vehicle, a distance from the vehicle to one or more lane constraints associated with the current lane. The processing device(s) determine, based on the lane ending information and the vehicle position, whether a current lane in which the vehicle is traveling is ending. Further, the system may cause the vehicle to change lanes if the lane in which the vehicle is traveling is ending.

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: A robot cleaner includes a main body, a traveling unit, a cleaning unit, a sensor unit, and a controller. The traveling unit allows the main body to travel. The cleaning unit suctions foreign substances around the main body during the traveling. The sensor unit is rotatable and senses an obstacle using light reflected or scattered by the obstacle. The controller controls the traveling unit so as to travel along a traveling path and controls the cleaning unit so as to perform cleaning. Here, the sensor unit includes a first mode and a second mode that are set to differ from each other in sensitivity with respect to the reflected or scattered light, and the controller changes the sensitivity of the sensor unit according to a traveling mode.

Abstract: Information regarding a vehicle is acquired by a vehicle information acquisition unit provided in the vehicle, and an object to be avoided is detected by an avoidance-target object detection unit. On the basis of the vehicle information and the distance and angle of the object to be avoided, the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are calculated by a peripheral information recognition unit, and the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are determined by a driving maneuver determination unit. On the basis of the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided, a driving maneuver for avoiding the object to be avoided is determined, and autonomous driving control is implemented in accordance with the driving maneuver that is determined.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems are provided for calculating a polygon that estimates the area to be traversed by a moving ground vehicle by merging polygons representing static poses of the vehicle at different times.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating at least one segment of an offset path for a vehicle based on at least one segment of a base path is provided. The at least one segment of the base path is represented by a stored set of data points. The computer-implemented method includes comparing the at least one segment of the base path to a curvature constraint to determine if the at least one segment of the base path violates the curvature constraint. The curvature constraint is based on a characteristic of the vehicle and a desired offset distance from the at least one segment of the base path. The characteristic reflects the vehicle's ability to traverse at least one segment of a path. The method further includes modifying the at least one segment of the base path to satisfy the curvature constraint, if the at least one segment of the base path violates the curvature constraint.

Abstract: In a management system of the mining machine, a management device collects operation information about the dump truck via a management-side wireless communication device. Routes along which the dump truck travels are identified based on position information, included in the operation information about the dump truck, about at least four locations included in a route along which the dump truck moves to a location where the dump truck unloads a load, to a location where the dump truck loads a load, and to a location where the dump truck unloads the load again.

Abstract: Disclosed is a work vehicle coordinating system configured to carry out a ground work by a main work vehicle and an un-manned controlled sub work vehicle that follows up the main work vehicle. This system includes a main-vehicle position detection module, a sub-vehicle position detection module, a main-vehicle traveling path calculation section, a turning detection unit, a work traveling target calculation section, a turn traveling target calculation section, and a steering control section.

Abstract: A robot cleaner which does not stop to change a traveling direction thereof, and a control method thereof includes setting a territory about which cleaning will be performed based on position data acquired during traveling about a cleaning area, predetermining a cleaning path to clean the territory about which cleaning will be performed, and if the cleaning path includes a zigzag traveling path, changing the traveling direction of the robot cleaner by executing curved traveling of the robot cleaner during traveling along the zigzag traveling path, thus decreasing the time required to clean an area during a change of the traveling direction of the robot cleaner.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods are disclosed for the application of potential field methods in directing agents. A task is assigned for each of a plurality of mobile communication nodes. A dynamic model is assigned for characterizing a behavior of the nodes. Potential fields are applied to the dynamic model to direct movement of each of the nodes such that the nodes each perform the assigned task with the plurality of mobile communications nodes providing a communications network to serve a communications area.

Abstract: A worksite system is disclosed. The worksite system may have an input module configured to receive at least one of a boundary and a characteristic of an awareness zone at a worksite, and at least one locating device configured to determine a position of a mobile machine and another mobile entity at the worksite. The worksite system may also have a controller in communication with the input module and the at least one locating device. The controller may be configured to track movement of the mobile machine, and to make a determination of a presence of the other mobile entity. The controller may also be configured to initiate a collision avoidance strategy in response to at least one of the mobile machine nearing or entering the awareness zone when the other mobile entity is in the awareness zone.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an anti-collision safety control unit executing anti-collision safety control for avoiding or alleviating a collision with an object including a reflection point on the basis of positional information about the reflection point, output from a positional information output unit; and a cancellation unit calculating an index value that increases with a duration of a state where a variation in a position of the reflection point in a direction perpendicular to a vehicle travelling direction is smaller than a predetermined amount and that, when the index value exceeds a threshold, issues a command such that the anti-collision safety control unit does not execute anti-collision safety control over the reflection point. When it is determined that the vehicle is travelling near a curve entrance, the cancellation unit increases the threshold as compared with when it is determined that the vehicle is not travelling near a curve entrance.

Abstract: A self-controlling vehicle, designed for the autonomous movement in an area, is disclosed. The self-controlling vehicle includes driving means for movement and navigation means, wherein the navigation means are designed for the position determination along a closed path surrounding an operating space of the area. The navigation means are designed for creating successive path sectional data, the path sectional data for route sections of the path has assigned orientation information, in particular angle information, and the navigation means are assigned with autocorrelation means, which are designed such that they determine from a sequence of path sectional data corresponding to a movement along the path by determining auto correlation data whether and/or that the vehicle has driven completely along the surrounding path and/or a sequence of route sections already driven is driven again.

Abstract: Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle are described. A mechanical control system can receive manual inputs from a mechanical operation member to operate the vehicle in manual mode. An actuator can receive autonomous control signals generated by a controller. When the actuator is engaged, it operates the vehicle in an autonomous mode, and when disengaged, the vehicle is operated in manual mode. Operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode can include automatically controlling steering, braking, throttle, and transmission. A system may also allow the vehicle to be operated via remote command.

Abstract: A public transportation journey planning system and method provides transit graph data from which routes can be selected using a route searching technique, for vehicle schedules that are not defined in terms of actual arrival and departure times at stations but rather in terms of a repeat schedule having common repeat period (P) for successive vehicles between start and end times of the day.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reckoning a position of a moving robot using dead-reckoning and range sensing. The method includes performing dead-reckoning to determine a variation state in accordance with motion of the moving robot, calculating an absolute position of the moving robot by sensing a distance between the moving robot and at least one fixed position, predicting an optimized current position of the moving robot using the variation state and the absolute position, determining whether the optimized current position is within a specified effective area, and correcting the optimized current position in accordance with the determined result.

Abstract: A system of computers, wireless networks, and vehicle-based location sensors allows real time display of equipment location, utilization, and expected arrival times for mobile vehicles. Display of location by load status and expected arrival time allows monitoring of not just vehicle location but the impact on queue times at loading and unloading endpoints allowing for equipment reallocation. Overhead map views of actual location including hazard locations and queries for vehicle and operator status are also supported.

Abstract: An aircraft ground or sea approach anomaly detection method. The method includes the steps of characterizing a flight phase of the aircraft, determining a prohibited flight envelope, defining a set of prohibited vertical speeds of the aircraft for given altitudes in relation to the ground or the sea, as a function of the flight phase of the aircraft characterized, and detecting a ground approach anomaly of the aircraft as a function of a current vertical speed and altitude in relation to the ground or the sea of the aircraft, in relation to the prohibited flight envelope determined.

Abstract: A method for automatically guiding a vehicle along at least a first of a plurality of rows comprising predefined centerlines. At least a second of the rows comprises a number of objects of known dimensions positioned at known locations along the centerline thereof. The method comprises the steps of scanning the objects from the vehicle, generating a set of data points representative of the locations of the objects relative to the vehicle, determining a sensed position and heading of the vehicle from the data points, comparing the sensed position and heading of the vehicle to a position and direction of the first row centerline, and generating offset and heading errors for the vehicle based on differences between the sensed position and heading of the vehicle and the position and direction of the first row centerline.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a trajectory for a vehicle, wherein the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) for the vehicle; identifying a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), the desired terminal position (P), and the linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by a requirement (e.g., specification) that a magnitude of a velocity of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a threshold value for the velocity. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a robot cleaner having an improved travel pattern and a control method thereof. The robot cleaner performs cleaning using zigzag travel as a basic cleaning traveling manner, and then performs cleaning using random travel as a finishing cleaning traveling manner so as to clean areas skipped during the zigzag travel. The robot cleaner performs the zigzag travel while maintaining a designated interval with a travel route proceeding to a wall regardless of a direction proceeding to the wall, and employs an improved zigzag travel method to maintain a zigzag travel pattern, if the robot cleaner senses an obstacle during the zigzag travel.

Abstract: An auto-seek operating mode for an electric vehicle adjusts the vehicle using a vehicle power steering system and a vehicle traction motor to move the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid to charge a vehicle traction battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments may be made using a controllable vehicle suspension system.

Abstract: A system, device, and methods for autonomous navigation using intensity-based localization. One example computer-implemented method includes receiving data including a plurality of intensity values from one or more sensors disposed on a vehicle as the vehicle traverses a route and generating a first group of intensity values wherein the first group includes at least some of the plurality of intensity values received. The method further includes removing the intensity values below an adaptive threshold from the first group of intensity values to generate a second group of intensity values, comparing the second group of intensity values to an intensity map, and generating a localized vehicle position based on the comparison between the second group of intensity values and the intensity map.

Abstract: A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.

Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, an industrial vehicle can include an Environmental Based Localization (EBL) sensor communicatively coupled to one or more processors. The EBL sensor can detect objects within a field of view. The one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to access a feature set and an occlusion set that are associated with an industrial facility. An occlusion path that intersects a detectable occlusion of the occlusion set and the sensor origin of the EBL sensor can be determined. A feature intersection of the occlusion path can be determined. A detectable feature can be classified as an occluded detectable feature based at least in part upon location of the feature intersection. The industrial vehicle can be navigated through the industrial facility utilizing the feature set exclusive of the occluded detectable feature.

Abstract: A robot system includes a mobile robot having a controller executing a control system for controlling operation of the robot, a cloud computing service in communication with the controller of the robot, and a remote computing device in communication with the cloud computing service. The remote computing device communicates with the robot through the cloud computing service.

Abstract: A trajectory generation device includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of trajectories; a trajectory acquisition unit that acquires a trajectory, corresponding to an environment similar to a current environment, from the plurality of trajectories stored in the storage unit; and a trajectory generation unit that calculates a longest trajectory part, which is present in a moving object moving area in the trajectory acquired by the trajectory acquisition unit, and generates a trajectory by connecting both ends of the calculated longest trajectory part to a predetermined start point and a predetermined end point respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a vehicular navigation control interface are included in the present disclosure. Some embodiments include a navigation system and a vehicle with a vehicle control module (VCM), a navigation control module (NCM), and a navigation control interface, where the VCM receives a manual command from an operator to implement a manual control function. In some embodiments the NCM receives an automatic command from the navigation system to implement an automatic control function via the VCM and the navigation control interface directly connects the VCM and the NCM to facilitate communication between the VCM and NCM for implementing automatic mode and for reporting implementation of a manual mode.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating roadgraphs for use by autonomous vehicles. A computer may receive input defining aspects of a roadway including an intersection with another roadway, one or more traffic control features, and one or more locations at which a vehicle is required to observe at least one traffic signal before entering the intersection. A user may identify the intersection, for example, by tracing a perimeter around the intersection. In response, for each particular location of the one or more locations, the computer may identifying a route through the intersection from the particular location and determine, based on the boundary of the intersection and the particular location, a set of the one or more traffic control features must be observed by the vehicle before entering the intersection. This information may then be used to generate a roadgraph.

Abstract: In order to suppress charge amount shortage in a predetermined area, an information provision device has an acquisition means that acquires travelling information of an electric vehicle on which a secondary battery 204 is mounted; a charge output estimation means that estimates, on the basis of the travelling information, a charge output value of a charging device which is provided in a predetermined area; a judgment means that judges, on the basis of the estimated charge output value, whether there is a risk that shortage of a charge amount will occur in the predetermined area; and an information provision means that provides recommendation information concerning charge of the vehicle to the electric vehicle according to a judgment result of the judgment means.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle may determine that a speed of the autonomous vehicle is less than or equal to a threshold speed, and that the autonomous vehicle has not detected a traffic control signal. The autonomous vehicle may identify a cause C for the speed to be less than or equal to the threshold speed. The autonomous vehicle may start a timer T that is based on the cause C. After the timer T expires, the autonomous vehicle may determine whether the cause C remains as a cause for the speed to be less than or equal to the threshold speed. After determining that the cause C remains the cause for the speed to be less than or equal to the threshold speed, the autonomous vehicle may send an assistance signal indicating a stuck condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method generating a grid map are provided. The grid map generating apparatus generates a grid map while turning 360 degrees at a dynamically adjustable rotational velocity. The dynamically adjustable rotational velocity allows grid points to have equal intervals on the grid map. The grid map generating apparatus generates a grid map while making a complete turn, and generates a grid map corresponding to a non-linear section while making another turn.