Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080262669 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CONTROLLER - The present invention relates to a controller for providing a vehicle with autonomous control. The controller preferably provides path planning to an autonomous vehicle. | 10-23-2008 |
20080269972 | OBSTACLE DETECTION DEVICE OF AUTONOMOUS MOBILE SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an obstacle detection device, adapted for an autonomous mobile system, which comprises: a conducting wire, a first unit and a second unit. The first unit further comprises a first conducting part, electrically connected to an end of the conducting wire; and the second unit further comprises a second conducting part, electrically connected to another end of the conducting wire other than that connecting to the first conducting part. As an abnormality, such as the autonomous mobile system comes into contact with an obstacle, or misses a step, is happening and detected by the obstacle detection device, a reactive force will be generated to force the two conducting parts to contact with each other so as to enable an electrical conduction for issuing an electrical signal to the control unit of the autonomous mobile system and thus enabling the autonomous mobile system to react with respect to the abnormality. | 10-30-2008 |
20080281481 | Robotic Vacuum Cleaner - An autonomous robot, that is for example, suitable for operations such as vacuuming and surface cleaning includes a payload configured for vacuum cleaning, a drive system including a steering system, a navigation system, and a control system for integrating operations of the aforementioned systems. | 11-13-2008 |
20080306644 | GAME MACHINE AND INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING DATA CARRIER - A game apparatus includes an apparatus body; and a plurality of small playing members each having a data carrier for transmitting driving electric power and performing mutual communications with the apparatus body. The number of points is added by the apparatus body when a change is given from the outside to an arbitrarily selected small playing member among the plurality of small playing members under a predetermined condition. In another aspect, an automated traveling control system for executing a process corresponding to a kind of a carrier object traveling by a gate is disclosed. | 12-11-2008 |
20080319598 | Direction guiding apparatus and direction guiding method - The present invention discloses a direction guiding apparatus for indicating a guidance direction to a user. The direction guiding apparatus includes an operation device having an operations part movable on an operation plane, and a control part for transmitting control data to the operation device for controlling the movement of the operations part. The guidance direction is distinguishable by the movement of the operations part. | 12-25-2008 |
20090012666 | POWERED VEHICLE CONVOYING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF CONVOYING POWERED VEHICLES - A vehicle convoy system for use in connection with a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the vehicle, includes at least a first processor that is adapted to be placed in operative or communicative connection with the drive mechanism to effect control of the drive mechanism based upon data of the position of a leading vehicle in front of the vehicle so that the vehicle moves to follow movement of the leading vehicle. The vehicle can, for example, be a self-propelled wheelchair. | 01-08-2009 |
20090037041 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING END TURNS - A method and system for controlling a vehicle comprises a boundary establisher for establishing a boundary of a work area. A vehicle position sensor (e.g., a location-determining receiver) determines a position of the vehicle. A planner module plans a raw turn of a vehicle to be executed in accordance with a model turn pattern if the position of the vehicle has traversed the boundary. An adjustment module may adjust the raw turn of the vehicle to a compensated turn such that an implement coupled to the vehicle follows an implement path that substantially tracks the model turn pattern. | 02-05-2009 |
20090069967 | Method and apparatus for vehicle auto-guidance - Methods and apparatus are disclose for auto-steering of an auto-guided vehicle. A sensor coupled to a steering shaft detects when an operator requests control of the vehicle. The sensor then transmits information indicative of the request to one or more controllers of an auto-guidance system, which initiates a shutdown of auto-steering functions. In this way, the system quickly reverts to manual steering in an automatically guided and steered vehicle. | 03-12-2009 |
20090069968 | UNMANNED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FOR DISPLACING FEED - An unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed lying on a floor is provided with two wheels that are separately drivable, a distance determining device for determining the distance from the vehicle to a wall portion, an orientation determining device for determining the orientation of the centre line of the vehicle relative to the wall portion, a torque difference determining device for determining the torque difference between the wheels, a control unit for controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel, and a feed displacing arrangement for displacing feed substantially sidewardly. The control unit may be programmed in such a way that during operation the vehicle will maintain a distance determined by the distance determining device to the wall portion, which distance is greater than or equal to a pre-adjusted minimum distance to the wall portion. During operation the centre line of the vehicle may be maintained with an orientation determined by the orientation determining device relative to the wall portion, which orientation is at least almost equal to a pre-adjusted orientation. During operation the drivable wheels of the vehicle may show a torque difference determined by the torque difference determining device, which difference can then be maintained at a value smaller than or equal to a pre-adjusted maximum torque. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076673 | Partial manual control state for automated vehicle navigation system - Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for automated control of a moving vehicle. An alarm condition is detected, and in response to the alarm condition, the current radius of curvature of the vehicle is maintained. The radius of curvature may be calculated by using data received from sensors. The alarm condition may be a result of the vehicle becoming unstable or the automated navigation system malfunctioning. In response to operator control input, the vehicle is placed into a manual control state. | 03-19-2009 |
20090088916 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PATH PLANNING AND OBSTACLE/COLLISION AVOIDANCE OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - Method and systems of traversing through a domain is provided. One method comprises getting a set of widely spaced waypoints, assigning the next waypoint to be the goal, then using a Laplacian path planner to construct a desired finely detailed path towards the goal, through the domain that avoids boundaries and objects in the domain. Assigning a potential value of v(r)=0 for r on boundaries and obstacles. Assigning a potential value of v(r)=−1 for r on a goal region, wherein the goal is a point on a planned path. Obtaining a numerical solution to the desired path with a Laplace's equation by gridding up the domain with a multi-sized cell grid, wherein the cells near an object are denser then the cells away from the objects. Iteratively setting a potential at each interior point equal to the average of its nearest neighbors and following the numerical solution provided by the Laplace's equation to the goal region. | 04-02-2009 |
20090088917 | STEERING ARRANGEMENT FOR A DRIVERLESS VEHICLE - A driverless vehicle, for example for a passenger rapid transport (PRT) system, comprises steered wheels ( | 04-02-2009 |
20090093922 | Automated infrastructure delivery system - An automatic delivery system for an infrastructure comprising passenger transportation, freight delivery, electrical grid, oil, gas, water pipelines, communication, sewer removal, etc. The automation at the current state of technology is mostly achieved by enclosing the delivery system inside of a tunnel. | 04-09-2009 |
20090112387 | Unmanned Vehicle Control Station - According to one embodiment, a control station includes a heads-down display and at least heads-up display that may be viewed from a single position. The heads-down display is coupled to an unmanned vehicle control system that is operable to control an unmanned vehicle. The at least one heads-up display is adjacent to the heads-down display and operable to operable to display a composite image of the unmanned vehicle's environment. The composite image comprising a rendered image that is generated by a terrain rendering engine. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112388 | Unmanned Vehicle Simulation System - According to one embodiment, an unmanned vehicle simulation system includes a simulator translator coupled between an unmanned vehicle control system that is operable to control an unmanned vehicle and a vehicle simulator that is operable to simulate operation of the unmanned vehicle. The simulator translator is operable to receive a message from the unmanned vehicle control system, translate the message to another message suitable for use by the vehicle simulator, and transmit the translated message to the vehicle simulator. | 04-30-2009 |
20090138150 | Automatic Position-Based Guide Toy Vehicle Apparatus - An apparatus uses a guide toy vehicle and has a smart floor environment. The smart floor environment is filled with location tags. Data can be found in a back-end database for location tags of an exhibit unit through a wireless network. The data comprise multimedia information to improve learning. Thus, with the present invention students can have better learning for achieving a default teaching goal. | 05-28-2009 |
20090143931 | MOBILE APPARATUS AND MOBILE APPARATUS SYSTEM - Mobile apparatuses capable of moving or acting autonomously, without contacting each other, in an environment where movements of the mobile apparatuses are not managed by a server are provided. In a robot functioning as a first mobile apparatus, it is recognized that an object corresponds to a second mobile apparatus, and based on this recognition, a target trajectory is searched for and determined. Further, the first mobile apparatus causes another robot functioning as the second mobile apparatus to recognize a part or a whole of the target trajectory. In the second mobile apparatus, the part or the whole of the target trajectory of the first mobile apparatus is recognized, and based on this recognition, a target trajectory that the second mobile apparatus should follow is searched for and determined. This allows the mobile apparatuses to move along their respective target trajectories to avoid contact with each other. | 06-04-2009 |
20090150017 | COMPUTING PLATFORM FOR MULTIPLE INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE - A computing platform for multiple intelligent transportation systems in an automotive vehicle having a plurality of sensors which generate output signals representative of various vehicle operating parameters. The platform includes a vehicle data center which receives input signals from the vehicle sensors and the vehicle data center is configured to transform these input signals into output signals having a predetermined format for each of the vehicle operating parameters. A central processing unit receives the output signal from the vehicle data and is programmed to process the vehicle data center output signals for each of the intelligent transportation systems and generate the appropriate output signals as a result of such processing. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157247 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING AN AUTOMATED LANE KEEPING SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN LATERAL VEHICLE SPACING - A method and apparatus for piloting a vehicle is herein disclosed. The method entails first using a lane keeping system to detect objects in lanes adjacent to the lane currently occupied by the vehicle and then adjusting the position of the vehicle within the occupied lane-relative to a detected object. | 06-18-2009 |
20090187299 | Method and System for Autonomous Tracking of a Mobile Target by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - This invention provides a system and method for autonomously tracking a moving target from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a variety of airframe and sensor payload capabilities so that the target remains within the vehicle's sensor field of view regardless of the specific target motion patterns. The invention uses information about target location, UAV platform type and states, sensor payload capability, and ratio of target-to-UAV speeds to select from a suite of sub-algorithms, each of which generates desired platform positions (in form of waypoints) and/or sensor orientation commands to keep the target in view. | 07-23-2009 |
20090198400 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF AN UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE - Systems and methods for interruptible autonomous control of a vehicle. Autonomous control is achieved by using actuators that interact with input devices in the vehicle. The actuators (e.g., linkages) manipulate the input devices (e.g., articulation controls and drive controls, such as a throttle, brake, tie rods, steering gear, throttle lever, or accelerator) to direct the operation of the vehicle. Although operating autonomously, manual operation of the vehicle is possible following the detection of events that suggest manual control is desired. Subsequent autonomous control may be permitted, permitted after a prescribed delay, or prevented. | 08-06-2009 |
20090222159 | Fully automatic straddle carrier with local radio detection and laser steering - A fully automatic driverless straddle carrier for transporting and stacking freight containers is equipped with several different sensor systems for the vehicle detection and navigation, the signals of which being evaluated and monitored in an electronic sensor fusion system and the current coordinates of the location determined thereby then being transmitted to a system of electric controls for automatically steering, driving and positioning the vehicle on preset paths stored in an electronic path control. Laser scanners are arranged at the vehicle for automatically guiding the vehicle over a container stack. In this straddle carrier, one of the absolute sensor systems for the vehicle detection is made up of a local radio detection system, which is arranged on the vehicle as a mobile radio base station, a plurality of radio transponders being stationarily positioned in the traveling area of the working site, an automatic switching device being provided for switching the steering from the automatic steering by navigation to an automatic steering by laser scanners and vice versa, when the vehicle reaches, travels over or leaves a container stack. | 09-03-2009 |
20090234527 | AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOT DEVICE AND AN AVOIDANCE METHOD FOR THAT AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOT DEVICE - An autonomous mobile robot device, comprises an obstacle detecting unit, which is configured to detect an obstacle, a path producing unit, which is configured to produce a path for reaching to a goal while avoiding the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, upon basis of a predetermined avoidance method, and a moving unit, which is configured to move while mounting the obstacle detecting unit and the path producing unit thereon, and further comprises an avoidance method noticing unit, which is configured to notice information relating to an avoidance method of the autonomous mobile robot device itself to the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, an other's avoidance method obtaining unit, which is configured to obtain information relating to the avoidance method of the obstacle from the obstacle, which is detected by the obstacle detecting unit, an avoidance method memorizing unit, which is configured to memorize one or more of the avoidance method(s) determined, to which the path producing unit should follow, and an avoidance method selecting unit, which is configured to selected the avoidance method(s) determined from the avoidance method memorizing unit, wherein the avoidance method selecting unit uses the information relating to the avoidance method of the obstacle, which is obtained by the other's avoidance method obtaining unit, as a reference, when selecting the avoidance method. | 09-17-2009 |
20090248231 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a button switch and a remote controller for setting an autonomous or manual driving mode, a microcomputer which outputs a mask control signal that corresponds to the driving mode, a command control unit which inputs a command to the microcomputer to output the mask control signal that corresponds to the driving mode, and a forward obstacle sensor and a rearward obstacle sensor which detect an obstacle and output a detection signal. A first logic circuit generates an emergency stop control signal that indicates a need or no need for an emergency stop of the vehicle based on the mask control signal from the microcomputer and the detection signals from the obstacle sensors. An emergency stopping operation of the vehicle is controlled based on the emergency stop control signal from the first logic circuit. | 10-01-2009 |
20090254235 | Object recognition system for autonomous mobile body - The present invention provides an object recognition system for an autonomous mobile body. The object recognition system includes a sensor unit for detecting an obstacle in a target field of view and measuring the position of the obstacle, and an electronic control unit for controlling movement of the autonomous mobile body. The electronic control unit performs the functions of determining a velocity and a travel direction of the obstacle based on changes in the position of the obstacle obtained from the sensor unit over a plurality of measurement cycles, determining a still state of the obstacle, detecting that the obstacle has changed behavior if a current measured value of position of the obstacle deviates a predetermined angle from the previously measured travel direction or if it determined that the obstacle is standing still, and calculating, when a change in the behavior of the obstacle is detected, the velocity and travel direction of the obstacle anew starting at the position where the change has been detected. | 10-08-2009 |
20090271058 | Floating Forks For Lift Vehicles - A material handling vehicle, such as an AGV, for loading and unloading a transport and wherein the vehicle includes a pair of freely floating forks. The forks are freely moveable in the vertical direction as well as capable of pivoting or tilting about an axis relative to a fork carriage, however when a load is applied, the forks are locked are prevented from such free floating movement. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276110 | System and Method for Detecting Reflection with a Mobile Sensor Platform - Systems and methods for planning and executing a search route by a mobile sensor platform for detecting reflection are disclosed. The search route of the mobile sensor platform is based on the angle of a radiation source relative to the ground in a search area. While executing the search route, a sensor on the mobile sensor platform is configured to detect the reflection of radiation from an object in the search area. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276111 | Autonomous Ground Vehicle Control System For High-Speed And Safe Operation - The present disclosure relates to a reference yaw rate generator for an autonomous ground vehicle control system. The reference yaw rate generator is configured to generate a reference yaw rate (r | 11-05-2009 |
20090287367 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVER CONTROL OF A LIMITED-ABILITY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE - A vehicle system for providing an interface for driver control of at least a partially autonomous vehicle. The system includes a driver command processor that receives request signals from a driver interface device of the driver's desire for the vehicle system to take certain actions and sends appropriate signals in response thereto to the proper autonomous vehicle systems. The driver command processor also sends signal to a display device indicating available actions, acknowledgement of the driver request, status of actions being taken or to be taken, etc. | 11-19-2009 |
20100010699 | Cruise control plan evaluation device and method - A cruise control plan evaluation device ( | 01-14-2010 |
20100023195 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE LOCALIZATION - An autonomous vehicle capable of determining its position in a space through improved communications with beacons is disclosed. The autonomous vehicle utilizes time of flight as well and angular information to determine position, and is capable of intelligent interaction with the beacons. | 01-28-2010 |
20100049391 | AUTONOMOUS MOVING APPARATUS - An autonomous moving apparatus arranged to travel autonomously in a surrounding environment preferably includes: a distance measuring sensor arranged to output detection waves, detect a distance between the apparatus and an object which has reflected the detection wave based on a reflection state of the detection wave, and acquire information about the distance between the apparatus and the object which exists in the surroundings of the apparatus; an inclination sensor arranged to detect an inclination of the distance measuring sensor; and a control unit arranged to estimate the self-position in the surrounding environment and generate the global map of the surrounding environment based on the distance information. When the distance measuring sensor is determined to be inclined based on a detection result of the inclination sensor, the control unit stops estimating the self-position based on the distance information and stops generating the global map based on the distance information. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057285 | UNMANNED SURVEILLANCE VEHICLE - A surveillance vehicle ( | 03-04-2010 |
20100063663 | LEADER-FOLLOWER FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH OPERATOR ON SIDE - The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle. Movement of an operator located at a side of the vehicle is identified with a plurality of sensors located in the vehicle and the vehicle is moved in a path that maintains the operator at the side of the vehicle while the operator is moving. | 03-11-2010 |
20100063664 | HIGH INTEGRITY PERCEPTION PROGRAM - The illustrative embodiments provide a computer program product for processing sensor data and controlling the movement of a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, an operating environment around the vehicle is identified and sensor data is selected from a set of sensors. A dynamic condition is identified using a plurality of different types of sensors on the vehicle. In response to the dynamic condition being identified, the movement of the vehicle is controlled. In another illustrative embodiment, an environment around the vehicle is identified to form an operating environment. Sensor data is selected from a set of sensors in a plurality of redundant sensors based on the operating environment. | 03-11-2010 |
20100076639 | SYSTEM FOR SENSING STATE AND POSITION OF ROBOT - An exemplary system for sensing the state and position of a robot is provided. The system measures the acceleration and angular velocity of the robot and calculates a velocity, and a displacement of the robot. The state of the robot according to the acceleration and the velocity vector, of the robot, is determined. The system includes an alarm that activates according to the state of the robot. The system also compensates for any inaccuracy of the measured displacements. | 03-25-2010 |
20100094499 | High Integrity Coordination for Multiple Off-Road Vehicles - The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling and coordinating multiple vehicles. In one illustrative embodiment, machine behaviors are assigned to multiple vehicles performing a task. The vehicles are coordinated to perform the task using the assigned behaviors and a number of signals received from other vehicles and the environment during performance of the task. In another illustrative embodiment, a role is identified for each vehicle in a group of vehicles. A number of machine behaviors are assigned to each vehicle depending upon the identified role for the vehicle. The machine behaviors are selected from coordinating machine behaviors stored in a behavior library. Each vehicle is then coordinated to perform the task according to the role and machine behaviors assigned. | 04-15-2010 |
20100100267 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING STEERING OF A VEHICLE - In a track type transportation system, there is provided an automatic steering mechanism with which a vehicle can be moved forward and backward, and which can carry our fine control so as to allow the positions of the centers of axles of the front and rear wheels to substantially follow up one and the same locus. Before starting, a pattern steering angle table on which pattern steering angles for the front and rear wheels at respective change points of the track are listed is prepared in view of a track condition, a running condition and a vehicle condition from a departure point to a destination point, the vehicle | 04-22-2010 |
20100114416 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAVIGATING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE USING LASER DETECTION AND RANGING - A system and method for providing information for autonomous vehicle navigation are disclosed. The system comprises at least one laser scanner configured to perform one or more range and intensity scans of an area around the autonomous vehicle, and a geo-location unit comprising one or more global positioning system sensors and inertial navigation system sensors. The system also includes at least one processor in operative communication with the laser scanner and the geo-location unit. The processor is configured to execute one or more program modules comprising a ground plane-based processing module configured to receive range scan data transformed into world coordinates, and output ground plane-based classification data; a range-based processing module configured to receive data from a single range scan, and output range-based classification data; an intensity-based processing module configured to receive intensity scan data, and output intensity-based classification data; and a classification fusion module configured to receive the classification data from each of the processing modules, and output range bin classification data. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121516 | MOVING ROUTE PLANNING METHOD AND NAVIGATION METHOD FOR AVOIDING DYNAMIC HINDRANCES FOR MOBILE ROBOT DEVICE - The present invention disclosed a moving route planning method for mobile robot device, which provides the moving route on a physical site for the mobile robot device. The method includes a first and a second steps; in which, the first step is to generate a relative mesh grid diagram based on a physical site, and the mesh grid map comprises a plurality of map grids containing hindrance parameter values, wherein the hindrance parameter values for each map grid are determined by the locations of hindrances within the physical site at relative locations; and, the second step is to continuously expand the map grid from the start point and the target point toward the neighbored map grids until the expanded map grids meet with each other, and to define each map grid in the expansion traces for meeting with each other as the moving route. | 05-13-2010 |
20100138094 | System and method for accident logging in an automated machine - A system for logging visual and sensor data associated with a triggering event on a machine is disclosed. The system may include a camera disposed on an autonomous machine to provide a visual data output and a sensor disposed on the autonomous machine to provide an operational parameter output. The system may also include a memory buffer to store the visual data and operational parameter output of the autonomous machine and a permanent memory device to selectively store contents of the memory buffer. The system may further include a controller configured to detect a condition indicative of the triggering event on the autonomous machine. The controller may also be configured to store the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory at a predetermined time after the triggering event, said contents corresponding to the visual data output and operational parameter output occurring before, during, and after the triggering event. | 06-03-2010 |
20100168947 | Apparatus and method for detection, location, and identification of gamma sources - An apparatus for detecting and determining a source azimuth for gamma radiation includes at least two scintillation crystals at angular offsets and directed toward a common plane of detection, photodetectors adjacent to each of the scintillation crystals for converting the light response of the scintillation crystals into distinct electrical signals, and a digital processing system configured to analyze spectral data from each electrical signal produced for each crystal. The digital processing system monitors a finite number of spectral windows corresponding to a selected set of radioisotopes, and uses one or more of the electrical signals to determine a signal intensity and a likely source azimuth for a detected radioisotope in the plane of detection. Another scintillation crystal directed outside of the common plane of detection may be used for three-dimensional detection. Related methods for detection and location of gamma ray sources are discussed. | 07-01-2010 |
20100174434 | ROBOT WITH AN AUTOMATIC CHARGING FUNCTION - A robot with an automatic charging function, comprising: a body, an arm mechanism rotatably connected to the body, a head mechanism and a driver rotatably connected to the arm mechanism; wherein a receiving space is formed in the body for receiving the arm mechanism; the head mechanism comprises two conduction terminals for receiving power from power outlets of a charging station; when power of the robot is lower than a preset level, the driver is configured to drive the arm mechanism to rotate out of the receiving space of the body, simultaneously, the driver is configured to drive the head mechanism to rotate relatively to the arm mechanism till the two conduction terminals of the head mechanism are electronically connected to the power outlets of the charge station, thereby receiving power from the charge station. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179715 | CONTROLLING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SYSTEM - A system is adapted to transfer control of movement of a vehicle to and/or from an autonomous vehicle system. The control system includes an activation sub-system that has an input device configured to receive an activation signal indicating that an autonomous vehicle system is to be activated. A test device checks, upon receipt of the activation signal by the input device, if the autonomous vehicle system is in a ready state to be activated. If so, an activation device can activate the autonomous vehicle system. The system may also include at least one deactivation switch that is configured, upon being switched on, to deactivate an autonomous vehicle system from controlling movement of the vehicle. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185353 | VARIABLE OFFSET POSITIONING ANTENNA ARRAY FOR ENHANCED GUIDANCE OF AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES (AGVS) - A Variable Offset Positioning Antenna Array for Enhanced Guidance of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in automated warehousing or storage systems for automobiles or the like, includes two or more inductor coils producing output as a result of interaction with a guidance wire located in or near the surface of the floor which is energized by a frequency generator, and an on board programmable microprocessor which processes the coil output to determine an exact position of the antenna array relative to the guidance wire. In one embodiment, the antenna array enables an AGV to follow a guidance wire at an offset to the direction of travel in order to allow automated storage and retrieval systems to handle asymmetrical items, such as automobiles, more efficiently and cost effectively by decreasing the building space required for travel aisles, vertical conveyors and storage locations as well as decreasing total individual item processing time. | 07-22-2010 |
20100211243 | Traveling control method, medium, and apparatus for autonomous navigation - A traveling control method, medium, and apparatus for autonomous navigation. The traveling control method of controlling an autonomous navigation machine, having at least on the right and left sides thereof at least first and second receivers that receive a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter disposed at a specific position in a traveling area, the method includes allowing at least one of the first and second receivers to receive the radio signal, recognizing a command included in the received radio signal, acquiring data indicating a size of a recognizable area reached by the radio signal and a position of the transmitter while the autonomous navigation machine moves along the border of the recognizable area, and executing the recognized command in the recognizable area. | 08-19-2010 |
20100228417 | DRIVER HANDS ON/OFF DETECTION DURING AUTOMATED LANE CENTERING/CHANGING MANEUVER - A system and method for determining whether a vehicle driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle while the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode. The vehicle will include an electric power steering (EPS) system and may include an active front steering (AFS) system, both of which include a motor that can apply a high frequency and low amplitude perturbation signal to the steering wheel of the vehicle that is not felt by the vehicle driver and does not cause the vehicle to turn, but is able to be detected by a steering angle sensor. The method subtracts a steering angle command signal from the steering angle signal and removes road disturbances, and then determines whether the induced perturbation signal is present in the steering angle sensor signal. If the perturbation signal is present, then the system knows that the vehicle driver is not holding the steering wheel. | 09-09-2010 |
20100332066 | METHOD OF GUIDANCE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES - A method of guiding aerial vehicles to a target site in adverse weather conditions wherein the method regulates the range indirectly by regulating heading error to an offset target that revolves around the true target site. The improved guidance architecture is effective in adverse weather conditions, such as high winds. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332067 | Robotic Vacuum Cleaner - An Autonomous robot, that is for example, suitable for operations such as vacuuming and surface cleaning includes a payload configured for vacuum cleaning, a drive system including a steering system, a navigation system, and a control system for integrating operations of the aforementioned systems. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004366 | 3-DIMENSIONAL PERCEPTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOBILE PLATFORM - In one embodiment, an autonomously navigated mobile platform includes a support frame, a projector supported by the frame, a sensor supported by the frame, a memory including a plurality of program instructions stored therein for generating an encoded signal using a phase shifting algorithm, emitting the encoded signal with the projector, detecting the emitted signal with the sensor after the emitted signal is reflected by a detected body, associating the detected signal with the emitted signal, identifying an x-axis dimension, a y-axis dimension, and a z-axis dimension of the detected body, and one or more of a range and a bearing to the detected body, based upon the associated signal, identifying a present location of the mobile platform, navigating the mobile platform based upon the identified location, and a processor operably connected to the memory, to the sensor, and to the projector for executing the program instructions. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004367 | Autonomous water-borne vehicle - The technical disclosure herein describes an autonomous water-borne vehicle having a segmented non-planing hull with free flood fore and aft sections and a sealed center section. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having a fixed longitudinal thruster and a fixed lateral thruster for changing the heading of the vehicle. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having an autonomous mission system, an autonomous navigation system, and a web-based command and control system. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a submersible winch. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle wherein the sealed center section is of substantially rectangular cross section. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a wheeled battery tray. | 01-06-2011 |
20110015816 | Aviation ground navigation system - Transporting aircraft within an airport operational area. An airport operational area within which an unmanned ground vehicle is configured to selectively tow aircraft is defined. A ground tracking system provides position data signals to determine the position of the unmanned ground vehicle position relative to positions in at least one operational area path contained in the airport operational area. This positioning is supplemented by the position as determined from an electronic tracking system, such as a radar-based system. The unmanned ground vehicle is then selectively guided to engage and tow the aircraft to a selected position within the airport operational area. | 01-20-2011 |
20110029180 | Device for Measuring the Movement of a Self-Guided Vehicle - A device for measuring the movement of a self-guiding vehicle, that has an enhanced measuring reliability, in particular during an adhesion loss and independently from the travel profile of the vehicle in terms of slope, turn and slant. To this end, the device for measuring the movement of a self-guiding vehicle includes on board thereof two accelerometers coupled to a movement calculator, wherein each accelerometer includes two measurement axes on which are measured projections of a vehicle acceleration resultant. The four measurement axes of the accelerometers are adjusted so that the calculator provides, from the four projection measures, at least one very accurate longitudinal acceleration value of the vehicle at each point of a route including both slopes and turns. | 02-03-2011 |
20110035086 | STEERING METHOD FOR VEHICLE AND APPARATUS THEREOF - The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for steering a vehicle, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for steering an autonomous vehicle. One aspect of the present invention provides a method of steering a vehicle in an apparatus for steering the vehicle, the method comprising: (a) determining a first path by using a starting point and a destination of the vehicle; (b) generating an obstacle position signal when a plurality of obstacle sensors mounted on the vehicle detect an obstacle during an operation of the vehicle; (c) generating a parallax information using the obstacle position signal received from the plurality of the obstacle sensors; and (d) determining a second path avoiding the obstacle by using the parallax information. According to the method and the apparatus for steering a vehicle of the present invention, a vehicle may avoid obstacles in real-time in complex environments. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040437 | Robot Confinement Method - A confinement device for a mobile robot. A confinement device for a mobile robot preventing the robot from entering a space or region in which the user would like to safeguard or to keep the robot bound within a given space eliminating travel into sensitive or dangerous areas. The confinement device comprises materials used to absorb | 02-17-2011 |
20110071717 | HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE DEVICE FOR AN AUTONOMIC VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - An apparatus for generating autonomic control mode commands to an autonomic control system in a vehicle to execute an autonomic vehicle maneuver in response to an operator command includes a control module signally connected to the autonomic control system and an input device. The input device is manipulated by an operator to transition among operator command positions and configured to generate signal outputs monitored by the control module indicating the operator command positions including a neutral position, a detent position and an extended detent position. The input device further includes a reset state corresponding to the neutral position and monitored by the control module, an initiation state corresponding to the extended detent position and monitored by the control module, and a command state corresponding to the detent position and monitored by the control module. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071718 | Systems and Methods for Switching Between Autonomous and Manual Operation of a Vehicle - 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. | 03-24-2011 |
20110106361 | Method for the calculation of a collision-preventing trajectory for a driving maneuver of a vehicle - A method for calculating a collision-avoiding trajectory for a driving maneuver of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, in order to evade at least one obstacle approaching the motor vehicle during driving operation. The lateral speed of the motor vehicle is taken into account in the calculation independently of the longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle. | 05-05-2011 |
20110130913 | UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEMS - Unmanned aerial vehicle control systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle includes transmitting an indication of a take-off or landing location to the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle is launched. A control mode of the unmanned aerial vehicle is switched from an autonomous mode to a manual mode. The control mode of the unmanned aerial vehicle is switched from the manual mode to another autonomous mode, and the unmanned aerial vehicle is landed at the landing location. | 06-02-2011 |
20110137506 | SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TEAMS OF VEHICLES - A system maintains communication between a plurality of unmanned vehicles within an environment. The system includes a sensor component and an evaluator. The sensor component senses objects within the environment. The sensor component is located on a first unmanned vehicle. The evaluator evaluates data from the sensor component. The evaluator is located on the first unmanned vehicle. The evaluator compares data for the first unmanned vehicle and a second unmanned vehicle and determines whether a trajectory of one of the first and second unmanned vehicles may be modified to maintain communication between the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle. | 06-09-2011 |
20110144849 | AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOT - An autonomous mobile robot includes a housing mounted on a track and controllable to move along the track and to stop at each selected location, two side covers pivotally mounted on the left and right sides of the housing and movable by a respective driving motor to close/open the left or right side of the housing, and a mechanism consisting of a motor roller, a driven roller, timing pulleys and timing belts to move a material carrier horizontally leftwards or rightwards to the outside of the housing after opening of the left-sided or right-sided side cover. | 06-16-2011 |
20110153135 | TRAVEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR UNMANNED CONVEYANCE VEHICLE - When an unmanned conveyance vehicle travels straight along a main guide tape | 06-23-2011 |
20110160948 | AUTOMATIC REMOTE CONTROLLED HOSPITAL DISPENSING CART - A portable dispensing device that can be used in a hospital to dispense drugs or can be used to dispense alcoholic beverages. A cart may store and dispense dispensible items, e.g., drugs, to patients room by room as are periodically prescribed by their physicians. The drugs are automatically billed and automatically verified as being properly dispensed. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160949 | TRAVEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR UNMANNED CONVEYANCE VEHICLE - An unmanned conveyance vehicle ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110172870 | ROBOTIC PLATFORM FOR COLLECTING DATA TO EMULATE MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE MAST ANGLES - A defined vehicle path emulator system is described, which system can be used for measuring the F-min values and profiles for a path on a concrete floor traversed by a vehicle with a specific wheelbase. The defined vehicle path emulator is an autonomous robot that guides itself down the selected path. | 07-14-2011 |
20110184604 | Hierarchical contingency management system for mission planners - A system controls a team of vehicles. The system includes a plan dependency identifier, a contingency monitor, and an alert formulator. The plan dependency identifier analyzes a mission plan and identifies mission constraints of the mission plan. The contingency monitor continuously reviews execution of the mission plan for violations of the mission constraints. The alert formulator determines whether a part of the mission plan is threatened by a violation of one of the mission constraints. | 07-28-2011 |
20110196561 | Patent for a personal transportation network-ptn - This invention generally relates to an elevated transportation network run on electricity with personalized cars that can automatically transport passengers anywhere in a large city or densely populated metropolitan area served by the system without stopping on the way to the final destination. The cars travel on two continuous concrete ribbons with no bumps or cutouts crossing the tire path during switching or on the straight away. The travel path is a combination of central routing and individual car communications with car automatic steering and distance control. The personalized transportation concept can also apply to high speed intercity transportation allowing instant available transportation without intermediate time consuming stops. | 08-11-2011 |
20110196562 | TRAVELING VEHICLE AND BED - A traveling vehicle ( | 08-11-2011 |
20110246015 | System and Method for Providing Perceived First-Order Control of an Unmanned Vehicle - A system for providing perceived first order control of an unmanned vehicle contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of receiving instructions for updating x-axis location, y-axis location, z-axis location, and/or heading of the unmanned vehicle; converting received instructions for updating x-axis location, y-axis location, z-axis location, and/or heading of the unmanned vehicle into a set of relative distance coordinates from a current location of the unmanned vehicle; and adjusting the set of relative distance coordinates by a gain control, to minimize coordinate change, wherein gain control provides a rate change in the x-axis location, y-axis location, z-axis location, and/or heading, resulting in a new set of coordinates. A screen displays a location dot representing current location of the unmanned vehicle and an outer limit circle surrounding the location dot representing an outer boundary for movement of the unmanned vehicle. | 10-06-2011 |
20110264320 | METHOD OF GUIDING A VEHICLE - The invention relates to a method of guiding a vehicle ( | 10-27-2011 |
20110282536 | Vessel hull robot navigation subsystem - A vessel hull robot navigation subsystem and method for a robot including a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving the robot about the hull. A sensor subsystem onboard the robot outputs data combining robot and vessel motion. A memory onboard the robot includes data concerning the configuration of the hull and a desired path of travel for the robot. A fix subsystem communicates position fix data to the robot. A navigation processor onboard the robot is responsive to the memory data, the sensor subsystem, the position fix data, and the data concerning vessel motion. The navigation processor is configured to determine the position of the robot on the hull by canceling, form the sensor subsystem output data combining both robot and vessel motion, the determined vessel motion. The navigation processor controls the drive subsystem to maneuver the robot on the hull based on the fix data, the configuration of the hull, the desired path of travel for the robot, and the determined position of the robot on the hull. | 11-17-2011 |
20110307138 | POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A positioning method that calculates a lower accuracy positioning solution and applies an offset to the lower accuracy positioning solution to form a final positioning solution if a higher accuracy positioning solution is unavailable. The offset represents a difference between the lower accuracy positioning solution and the higher accuracy positioning solution at a point in time when the higher accuracy positioning solution was last available. | 12-15-2011 |
20110313609 | VEHICLE DRIVE SUPPORT DEVICE - A GPS and a map information database acquire information regarding an arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular direction, such as a red arrow light. A display and a loudspeaker supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database, or a brake ECU and a brake actuator brake the host vehicle without depending on the manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database. As a result, it is possible to correctly support driving even when a red arrow light or the like for prohibiting travel in a right turn direction. | 12-22-2011 |
20120029752 | Robotic Mower Stuck Detection System - A robotic mower stuck detection system includes a boundary sensor on the robotic mower that can detect when the robotic mower reaches a boundary wire, an accelerometer on the robotic mower that can detect when the robotic mower encounters an obstacle; and a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower having a timer that is reset each time the robotic mower reaches a boundary wire or encounters an obstacle; and executes a stuck vehicle task if the timer exceeds a specified maximum time without being reset. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029753 | ROBOTIC MOWER HOME FINDING SYSTEM - A robotic mower home finding system includes a charging station connected to an outer boundary wire loop, and a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower that directs a traction drive system to drive the robotic mower along a path offset a specified distance from an outer boundary wire loop toward the charging station. The vehicle control unit changes the specified distance randomly or incrementally so that the robotic mower does not take the same path to the charging station each time. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029754 | Robotic Mower Boundary Sensing System - A robotic mower boundary sensing system includes a boundary driving circuit on a charging station transmitting an encoded signal on a boundary wire, a boundary sensor on a robotic mower and including an inductor receiving the encoded signal, and a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower receiving the encoded signal from the boundary sensor and decoding the signal and cross correlating the received signal to determine the distance of the boundary sensor from the boundary wire. | 02-02-2012 |
20120035797 | AUTONOMOUS MOVING BODY AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - To enable stable collision avoidance operation without the need to install an infrastructure or the like even in a dangerous area where running out is likely to occur. An autonomous moving body according to the present invention includes: a distance measuring sensor that measures a distance to an object existing in an environment; a distance information acquisition unit that acquires a distance measurement value of the distance measuring sensor as distance information on a measurement point; and a dangerous area extraction unit that categorizes adjacent measurement points as an identical object according to a distance difference between the measurement points, and extracts an endpoint of the object as a dangerous area when the categorized object itself has a size equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold and when an opening formed between endpoints of the objects has a width equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, in which the autonomous moving body travels so as to avoid a collision in the extracted dangerous area. | 02-09-2012 |
20120046816 | ADVANCED COOPERATIVE DEFENSIVE MILITARY TACTICS, ARMOR, AND SYSTEMS - This invention provides impact detection and vehicle cooperation to achieve particular goals and determine particular threat levels. For example, an impact/penetration sensing device may be provided on a soldier's clothing such that when this clothing is impacted/penetrated (e.g., penetrated to a particular extent) a medical unit (e.g., a doctor or medical chopper) may be autonomously, and immediately, provided with the soldiers location (e.g., via a GPS device on the soldier) and status (e.g., right lung may be punctured by small-arms fire). | 02-23-2012 |
20120046817 | DRIVING ASSIST DEVICE - A driving assist device includes a first control portion that controls a vehicle to carry out automated driving, and a second control portion that controls the vehicle to make a shift to manual driving, in which the vehicle travels on a basis of an driving operation by a driver, when canceling the automated driving, and changes a manner of canceling the automated driving in accordance with an elapsed time from a start of the automated driving. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046818 | INTEGRATED AUTOMATION SYSTEM FOR REGIONS WITH VARIABLE GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES - Methods and systems are described for effecting autonomous operations within a defined geographical region ( | 02-23-2012 |
20120065829 | Wall-following Moving Device - A wall-following moving device consists of a base; a determining drive unit; multiple collision sensing units; two signal transceiver units arranged at the same lateral side of the base parallel to the moving direction of the base for synchronously transmitting and receiving specific signals, and being electrically connected to the determining drive unit; and a moving element mounted to the base and controlled by the determining drive unit to perform various movements. The determining drive unit compares two reflected signals from a wall received separately by two signal transceiver units, and uses the intensity difference of the signals as a basis to control the moving element to orientate the robot parallel to the wall. By an intricate coordination of the collision sensing units, two signal transceiver units, determining drive unit, and the moving element, the distance between the robot and a wall can be precisely determined and controlled. | 03-15-2012 |
20120083959 | DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - A system and method of controlling a vehicle is provided. In one aspect, the system and method determines the amount of wear on a component of the vehicle and, based on the amount of wear and information derived from the environment surrounding the vehicle (e.g., another vehicle in the path of the vehicle or a requirement to stop at a particular location), maneuvers the vehicle to mitigate further wear on the component. | 04-05-2012 |
20120083960 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING BEHAVIORS OF DETECTED OBJECTS - Aspects of the invention relate generally to autonomous vehicles. Specifically, the features described may be used alone or in combination in order to improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of these vehicles. | 04-05-2012 |
20120089291 | AUTONOMOUS MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEM - An offboard operator interface station configured to display a graphics user interface for an autonomous machine control system is disclosed. The graphics user interface may have an overall machine response field configured to display an arbitrated machine action currently being implemented on an autonomous machine. The graphics user interface may also have a responsible subsystem field configured to display which of a plurality of machine subsystems is contributing to the arbitrated machine action. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089292 | Architecture and Interface for a Device-Extensible Distributed Navigation System - A method for navigating a moving object (vehicle) utilizing a Navigation manager module and comprising the steps of: communicating with all sensors, processing units, mission manager and other vehicles navigation managers; configuring and reconfiguring sensors based on mission scenario objectives, in-vehicle and global constraints; sensor grouping according to relationship to the vehicle and environment, where an entire sensor group is seen by navigation manager as a single sensor; processing unit containing Update Filter; and a dynamically updated API database. | 04-12-2012 |
20120095638 | WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The illustrative embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for managing a plurality of items. A housing has an opening and is configured to receive a plurality of items through the opening of the housing. A first bag has a first end that is sealed and an opening. The opening of the first bag is associated with the opening of the housing. A sensor system configured to detect a selected condition for the first bag. A sealing system configured to seal a second end for the first bag in response to the sensor system detecting the selected condition. An ejection system is configured to transfer the first bag to a desired location in response to the sealing system sealing the second end for the first bag. | 04-19-2012 |
20120101679 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING OPERATING PERFORMANCE OF AN AUTONOMIC MOBILE ROBOTIC DEVICE - A mechanism for optimizing behavior of an autonomous mobile robotic device. A first set of robotic behaviors is created based on a set of work area parameters and a behavior selection. The autonomous mobile robotic device is controlled using the first set of robotic behaviors. Performance data indicative of a performance of the autonomous mobile robotic device when controlled by the first set of robotic behaviors is collected. The performance data is analyzed to create a second set of robotic behaviors having enhanced performance relative to the first set of robotic behaviors. The first set of robotic behaviors is replaced with the second set of robotic behaviors to control the autonomous mobile robotic device using the second set of robotic behaviors. | 04-26-2012 |
20120143427 | System and Method for Positioning a Mobile Drive Unit - A method for transporting inventory items includes determining an assignment state of a mobile drive unit. The method also includes selecting a location for the mobile drive unit based on the assignment state of the mobile drive unit, in response to determining that the mobile drive unit is not currently completing a task. The method further includes transmitting information to the mobile drive unit identifying the selected location. | 06-07-2012 |
20120143428 | CHARGING DEVICE OF ROBOT CLEANER - A charging device of a robot cleaner is provided. The charging device of a robot cleaner according to the embodiment includes at least one cover forming an appearance of the charging device, a base which is coupled with the cover and includes a terminal unit for charging the robot cleaner, an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the cover or the base to transmit a return induction signal to the robot cleaner, and an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance a docking performance of the robot cleaner by improving linearity of the induction signal. The charging device according to the embodiment can guide the path for the return of the robot cleaner and recharge the robot cleaner stably. | 06-07-2012 |
20120158234 | Apparatus and Method for Controlling Automatic Operation of Working Unit of Wheel Loader - The method includes: verifying a working state of the wheel loader through detection of a bucket position and a driving state and examining whether the verified working state is an excavation completed state; examining whether a current position of a driving direction operating lever is a backward-movement position when the verified working state is the excavation completed state as a result of the examination; and automatically moving up a position of a boom up to a predetermined position together with backward driving of the wheel loader depending on whether an automatic operation mode is set when the driving direction operating lever position is the backward-movement position. | 06-21-2012 |
20120166032 | DRIVING-BASED LANE OFFSET CONTROL FOR LANE CENTERING SYSTEM - A system and method for providing adaptive lane centering in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle driving system includes activating a lane centering control system, detecting a driver steering override of the lane centering control system, monitoring a lane centering offset when a driver override condition is detected, determining if the lane centering offset represents a driver bias and adjusting the lane centering offset in the lane centering control system to compensate for the driver bias. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166033 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DRIVING INFORMATION OF AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM - A driving information detection apparatus of a vehicle includes: an image photographing unit for take a photograph of an image of a driving road; a lane information detecting unit; a road environment information detecting unit; a coordinate converting unit for converting a camera coordinates system of a detection result of the lane information detecting unit and the road environment detecting unit into a world coordinates system. The apparatus further includes a driving information detecting unit for applying an one dimensional straight line modeling to a converted result of the coordinate converting unit and detecting an driving information according to a result of the modeling. | 06-28-2012 |
20120173067 | GRAPHICAL VEHICLE COMMAND SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ON FULL WINDSHIELD HEAD-UP DISPLAY - A method to control operation of a vehicle based upon a user input from a user of the vehicle to a graphic projection display representing a registered graphic to a view in front of the vehicle includes projecting the registered graphic to the view in front of the vehicle upon the graphic projection display, monitoring the user input to the graphic projection display, and controlling the operation of the vehicle based upon the user input to the graphic projection display. | 07-05-2012 |
20120173068 | METHOD FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - In a method for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle in a driving maneuver, the surroundings of the vehicle are recorded, and it is checked whether at least one object is located in the surroundings of the vehicle, and it is ascertained subsequently whether the vehicle is approaching the object, and a warning to the driver is output if the vehicle approaches the object up to a critical distance. The driver is warned by a warning jerk, and after the warning jerk has taken place, the speed of the vehicle is automatically reduced. | 07-05-2012 |
20120185122 | BOT HAVING HIGH SPEED STABILITY - An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes at least two drive wheels and a controller, where each drive wheel is independently driven and a drive wheel encoder is disposed adjacent each drive wheel. The controller, in communication with the drive wheel encoders, is configured to determine a kinematic state of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage and retrieval system based on incremental data from the drive wheel encoders only and independent of drive wheel slippage. | 07-19-2012 |
20120191284 | Method for Pulling a Vehicle Out of a Parking Space With Assistance, and Device for that Purpose - In a method for pulling a vehicle out of a parking space with assistance by a parking-assistance device, at least one pulling-out movement is performed by intervention in a steering system of the vehicle. A warning is output to a driver of the vehicle when the driver of the vehicle fails to take over the guidance of the vehicle after the assistance by the parking-assistance device in pulling out of the parking space has ended. | 07-26-2012 |
20120203418 | METHOD FOR REDUCING THE RISK OF A COLLISION BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND A FIRST EXTERNAL OBJECT - A method for reducing the risk of a collision between a vehicle and at least a first external object is contemplated. The risk of a collision may be reduced with use of a collision avoidance system having a detection unit adapted to issue a control signal in the event it detects a collision involving a first external object in a vicinity of the host vehicle, and an action unit adapted to operate the collision avoidance system such that an emergency manoeuvre can be initiated by the collision avoidance system at an earlier stage if the control signal is issued, as compared to when no control signal is issued. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203419 | SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - In a safety management system for equipment adapted to operate autonomously in a real-time environment, both a deterministic processor and a non-deterministic processor are provided for processing incoming alerts and generating control signals in response. The non-deterministic processor can deal with unrehearsed, complex and unpredictable situations, by providing essentially open-ended procedures working in large search spaces with no guarantee of a solution. The deterministic processor monitors behaviour of the non-deterministic processor and validates control signals produced by it against safety policies. The deterministic processor also provides an “intelligent” interface to the non-deterministic processor, which receives alerts only from the deterministic processor, and enforces time-critical delivery of responses. | 08-09-2012 |
20120215393 | Tugbot - The instant invention describes a remotely controlled vehicle towing device which allows an individual the ability to tow vehicles, such as airplanes or RV/trailers, without the aid of another person. The tow vehicle comprises a chassis constructed and arranged to hold the internal compartments that make the device function. The device further comprises independent drives which allow for dual speed functionality wherein each of the wheels, or continuous wheel tracks, may be powered at different levels or speeds. The dual speed design allows the device to turn in a variety of directions, including semicircle or turns in the shape of arcs, not achievable by many of the cited prior art references. A main control unit may be utilized to coordinate all functionality. A hand-held remote control device allows the device to be operated remotely. | 08-23-2012 |
20120221186 | Methods and Devices for Stabilizing an AGV during Transport of Elevated Loads - Methods and devices to physically stabilize a unit load of stapled unit loads such as at least two standard containers applied atop each other and on top of at least one Automatically Controlled Vehicle (AGV), during transport of the load in all directions on the ground. The AGV arranged below the unit load has at least one wheel-bogie having at least one wheel at each corner, the bogie being controllably pivotable at its geometrical center to a frame of the AGV with each wheel being controllably pivotable at its respective fixation points. During transport in a longitudinal direction of the total unit, each bogie is translated to a diagonal position in relation to its position of introduction as the wheels simultaneously are controlled so as to maintain their rolling direction in the direction of transport, so as to enhance the traction of the AGV. | 08-30-2012 |
20120253580 | GPS Navigation System - A GPS navigation system for a motor vehicle mounted within sight of a driver and/or navigator. The system comprises and/or consists of a memory module that contains a pre-stored map database including a plurality of locations and a receiver supported within the motor vehicle for receiving signals indicative of the current position of the map. The system also includes a monitor positioned in the position within sight of the driver and/or navigator for displaying the location of the vehicle with the respect to a pre-stored map. Means including the memory module, receiver and said monitor display an area of about ½ km in all direction and up to ½ km to 1 km from the current position of the vehicle. Further, means including a zoom optical system for zooming in and out of the ½ to 1 km radius of the vehicle location on the stored map and means for summoning help to the present location of the vehicle. In addition, radar means for sensing an object that obstructs the projected pathway of the vehicle and a plurality of sensors and running control means perform the auto-drive control running of the vehicle based on the detection of signals from the plurality of sensors wherein said auto-drive control includes speed control, steering and breaking. The system includes a change over means for switching between the auto-drive and manual drive modes. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253581 | Mobile Station for an Unmanned Vehicle - A mobile station for an unmanned vehicle comprises a vehicular storage area for storing a vehicle during transit or at rest. A first wireless transceiver communicates a status or command between the vehicle and the mobile station during at least one of vehicular deployment and rest. A station controller manages a management plan of the vehicle comprising at least one of retooling the vehicle, loading a payload on the vehicle, and recharging or refueling of the vehicle. | 10-04-2012 |
20120271499 | VEHICLE TRAVEL CONTROLLING APPARATUS - In a vehicle travel controlling apparatus including an automatic travel controlling ECU that controls a vehicle in a predetermined travel state by cooperation control of a vehicle driving amount and a vehicle braking amount, the automatic travel controlling ECU is provided with an automatic travel termination controlling unit. The automatic travel termination controlling unit obtains a brake fluid pressure during the cooperation control according to the vehicle driving amount during the cooperation control and a gradient of a road surface on which a vehicle is travelling. When the brake fluid pressure corresponding to a braking operation of a driver is more than the brake fluid pressure during the cooperation control, the automatic travel termination controlling unit terminates the cooperation control to switch operation to a braking operation according to the brake fluid pressure corresponding to the braking operation. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271500 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING A DRIVER TO INPUT A VEHICLE CONTROL INSTRUCTION INTO AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CONTROLLER - A system for enabling a driver to input a vehicle control instruction into an autonomous vehicle controller while the autonomous vehicle controller is operating a vehicle in either an autonomous mode or a semi-autonomous mode is disclosed herein. The system includes, but is not limited to, a sensor that is configured to detect a driver input and to generate a signal corresponding with the driver input. The system further includes a communication sub-system communicatively coupled with the sensor and configured to be communicatively coupled with the autonomous vehicle controller. The communication sub-system is further configured to deliver the signal from the sensor to the autonomous vehicle controller. The autonomous vehicle controller controls the vehicle in a manner that corresponds with the driver input when the autonomous vehicle controller receives the signal. | 10-25-2012 |
20120277947 | Method and Device for Automatically Operating a Vehicle in an Autonomous Driving Mode Requiring No User Action - A method for the automatic operation of a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode not requiring user action is provided. This involves detection of a present traffic situation, a check whether the traffic situation fulfils a first criterion, and a blocking of a functionality which offers to a driver during the autonomous driving mode a secondary activity not related to driving the vehicle if the first criterion is fulfilled. A device for the automatic operation of a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode not requiring user action includes devices designed for carrying out the method for the automatic operation of a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode not requiring user action. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277948 | PRODUCING DATA DESCRIBING STATES OF A PLURALITY OF TARGETS - Methods and systems for producing data describing states of a plurality of targets ( | 11-01-2012 |
20120290164 | MULTI-ROLE UNMANNED VEHICLE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An unmanned vehicle may include a vehicle body that comprises an enclosed hull. The unmanned vehicle may include a propulsion, a ballast control system, a center of gravity system, a pressurization system, a control surface system, a navigation control system, and an on board master control system. The on board master control system may execute local control over operation of the various systems of the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle may also include a power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the various systems. The various systems of the unmanned vehicle may be independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water. | 11-15-2012 |
20120316722 | ADVANCED NAVIGATION AND GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLE (AGV) - An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) system for automatically transporting loads along a predetermined path is provided. The improvement includes a plurality of embedded magnets distant from one another, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of embedded magnets represent a positioning point and a plurality of AGVs, wherein at least one of the plurality of AGVs includes a drive assembly and a sensor system having a plurality of sensors, the sensor system configured for guidance of the AGV based upon simultaneous reading of the embedded magnets under the plurality of sensors, such that a position of the AGV with respect to the sensors can be repeatedly determined with respect to magnetic field peaks of the embedded magnets, and fine positioning markers. | 12-13-2012 |
20120316723 | method for determining at least one trafficable area in the surroundings of a motor vehicle - In a method for determining at least one trafficable area in the surroundings of a motor vehicle relevant for vehicle guidance, e.g., for ascertaining an evasion trajectory for a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle, at least one object detection sensor of the vehicle detects objects or obstacles in the surroundings of the motor vehicle, and the chronological sequence of occupancy information of the at least one object detection sensor of the motor vehicle regarding at least one detected object is taken into consideration. | 12-13-2012 |
20120330491 | AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLE SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME - An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) system for automatically transporting loads along a predetermined path is provided that includes a plurality of magnets distant from one another, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of magnets represent a positioning point, and a plurality of AGVs, wherein at least one of the plurality of AGVs includes a drive assembly and a sensor system configured to determine guidance information. The sensor system includes a circuit board, a two-dimensional array of giant magneto resistive (GMR) sensors along a surface of the circuit board, the GMR sensors configured to detect at least one of the plurality of embedded magnets when the GMR sensors are proximate thereto, and an electromagnetic coil extending around the circuit board and at least a portion of the GMR sensors, the electromagnetic coil configured to polarize the GMR sensors. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330492 | DEEP LANE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLES - 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. | 12-27-2012 |
20130024064 | Trailer backing up device and table based method - The present invention, when used to backed-up a trailer, indicates which direction and how much to steer to steer. The present invention is a method for rapidly determining the predicted direction where the vehicle and trailer become generally in-line. Servomechanisms can be incorporated to enable the vehicle to steer itself while the driver indicates the direction travel desired for the trailer, otherwise a pointer would indicate, for the current position of the vehicle's steering wheel, the predicted direction of the trailer. To back-up the trailer, the driver would turn the vehicle's wheel such that the pointer is kept pointing in the direction of the intended trailer destination. Furthermore, the present invention will indicated the projected directions of the left and right limits to control the direction of the trailer, particularly when maneuvering complex paths. | 01-24-2013 |
20130041544 | Beam Directed Motion Control System - A method and apparatus comprising an energy source, a position system, and a movement system. The energy source is configured to generate a beam of energy directed at an area on a target for a vehicle. The position system is configured to identify a first position of the area on the target at which the beam of energy is directed. The movement system is configured to move the vehicle in a manner that reduces a difference between the first position of the area on the target at which the beam of energy is directed and a reference position on the target. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041545 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AFFECTING CORNERING PERFORMANCE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND A MOTOR VEHICLE - In a method and an apparatus for affecting the cornering performance of a motor vehicle, a transverse acceleration of the motor vehicle is determined, a desired transverse tilt of the motor vehicle defined based on the determined transverse acceleration, at least one actuator of an active suspension system of the motor vehicle is adjusted so that the motor vehicle assumes the desired transverse tilt, and an additional actuator intervening in the steering system of the motor vehicle. A yaw movement of the motor vehicle caused by the adjustment of the at least one actuator of the active suspension system is at least partially compensated by the additional actuator. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041546 | VARIABLE OFFSET POSITIONING ANTENNA ARRAY FOR ENHANCED GUIDANCE OF AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES (AGVS) - An automated storage system for storing a plurality of objects in storage locations, the automated storage system comprising a master control computer, a guidance network, a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) each having an onboard microprocessor and a receiver for receiving control commands from the master control computer, and a plurality of trays for engagement with the plurality of AGVs for transportation and storage of the objects. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041547 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR DISTRIBUTING AND MANAGING DATA FOR USE BY A PLURALITY OF SUBSYSTEMS ON A LOCOMOTIVE - A communication system for controlling sharing of data across a plurality of subsystems on a locomotive, the communication system including an open defined interface unit configured so that a plurality of applications may access locomotive control system data in a common defined manner with predictable results. | 02-14-2013 |
20130046430 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS LOCALIZATION AND MAP BUILDING - An autonomous vehicle comprises at least one image sensor to provide measurements of landmark position for a plurality of landmarks; and processing functionality to estimate the position of the plurality of landmarks in a global frame and in the autonomous vehicle's frame, and to estimate the kinematic state of the autonomous vehicle in a global frame based, at least in part, on the measurements of landmark position from the at least one image sensor. The processing functionality is further operable to calculate errors in the estimated positions of the plurality of landmarks in the global frame and in the estimate of the kinematic state of the autonomous vehicle in the global frame by using a plurality of unit projection vectors between the estimated positions of the plurality landmarks in the autonomous vehicle's frame and a plurality of unit projection vectors between the estimated positions of the plurality of landmarks in the global frame. | 02-21-2013 |
20130054074 | Guidance System Automatic Wheel Angle Sensor Calibration - In one embodiment, a wheel angle sensor calibration method, comprising, while a vehicle is moving, automatically causing movement of the vehicle to a first full steering position followed by automatic movement to a second full steering position; recording wheel angle sensor values at the first and second full steering positions, respectively; determining an average of the wheel angle sensor values, the average corresponding to a target center wheel position; automatically causing movement of the vehicle to the target center wheel position; and responsive to the wheel angle sensor having a value equal to the average, recording the wheel angle sensor value as the target center wheel position. | 02-28-2013 |
20130060413 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPEED ADAPTIVE STEERING OVERRIDE DETECTION DURING AUTOMATED LANE CENTERING - One or more vehicle steering measurements of a vehicle may be measured. One or more expected vehicle steering measurements may be calculated, each calculated expected vehicle steering measurement corresponding to one of the measured vehicle steering measurements. At least one difference between one of the measured vehicle steering measurements and its corresponding calculated expected vehicle steering measurement may be calculated. A speed of the vehicle may be measured. One or more current threshold values may be calculated based on the measured speed, each of the current threshold values corresponding to one of the measured vehicle steering measurements and its corresponding calculated expected vehicle steering measurement. An automatic vehicle control system may be deactivated when one or more of the calculated differences exceeds its corresponding current threshold value. | 03-07-2013 |
20130060414 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SMOOTH STEERING OVERRIDE TRANSITION DURING AUTOMATED LANE CENTERING - Vehicle steering measurements of a vehicle may be measured. Expected vehicle steering measurements may be calculated, each calculated expected vehicle steering measurement corresponding to one of the measured vehicle steering measurements. At least one difference between one of the measured vehicle steering measurements and its corresponding calculated expected vehicle steering measurement may be calculated. A lower boundary and an upper boundary of at least one override transition zone, each of the override transition zones corresponding to one of the measured vehicle steering measurements and its corresponding calculated expected vehicle steering measurement, may be calculated. Steering control of the vehicle may be gradually transferred from an automatic vehicle control system to a driver of the vehicle over a predetermined period of time when one or more of the calculated differences lie between the calculated lower boundary and the calculated upper boundary of the corresponding override transition zone. | 03-07-2013 |
20130060415 | Method For Operating An Autonomous Industrial Truck - The invention relates to a method for operating an autonomous industrial truck ( | 03-07-2013 |
20130073137 | VEHICLE FOR DISPLACING FEED - The invention provides an autonomous vehicle for displacing feed laterally, comprising a frame having two separately drivable rear wheels and a front supporting point, and a feed displacer in the form of an annular element which is freely rotatable and has a radius r, said element forming the outer circumference of the vehicle. In order to enhance the control stability, the rear wheels are situated at a distance of less than a radius from the geometric centre of the vehicle. | 03-21-2013 |
20130073138 | SYSTEM VALIDATION - A method and apparatus for evaluating capabilities of a system (e.g. an autonomous vehicle) with respect to the performance of a task, the method including: providing a first model corresponding to the task; providing a further model corresponding to the system; providing a plurality of mappings from one model to another model; determining whether there exists a transformation trace either (i) from the first model to the further model, or (ii) from the further model to the first model, wherein each transformation trace includes one or more of the specified mappings; and evaluating the capabilities of the system with respect to the task dependent upon the existence of the transformation trace. | 03-21-2013 |
20130090801 | VEHICLE LOCATION IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system includes an automatic control module, an automatic location module, and a manual location module. The automatic location module is configured to obtain, without operator intervention, first location information corresponding to a location of the vehicle. The manual location module is configured to obtain second location information via an operator input. The manually entered location information may include information corresponding to a first route on which the vehicle is disposed, where the first route is one of a plurality of routes located proximately to each other in a territory. The automatic control module is configured to control the vehicle to conform to a set of location-based regulations during a mission using location information including the first location information and the second location information. | 04-11-2013 |
20130096765 | PARKING AREA DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING MESH SPACE ANALYSIS - A parking area detection system and method is disclosed which uses mesh space analysis to virtually divide a space to be detected in a mesh shape having a lattice structure and sequentially excludes a lattice region in which an obstacle is not recognized based on a recognition signal by the ultrasonic sensor. Thus the parking area detection system is able to prevent information distortion from occurring in a space recognition process. | 04-18-2013 |
20130096766 | VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - Disclosed herein are a vehicle control apparatus and a vehicle control method. The vehicle control apparatus includes a yaw-rate sensor to detect a yaw-rate of a vehicle, a steering-angle sensor to detect a steering angle of the vehicle, and a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) to calculate a yaw-rate based on the steering-angle, to calculate a target braking pressure of a wheel based on a difference between the actual yaw-rate detected via the yaw-rate sensor and the calculated yaw-rate, and to adjust a braking pressure of the wheel based on the calculated target braking pressure. | 04-18-2013 |
20130103245 | Tracking foldable cart - A foldable cart assembly which is arranged to provide trackable transportation to a product or a person. The cart contains sensors and computer-controlled drive wheels to enable that cart assembly, when fully opened, to follow a safe path as directed by received electronic signals. That cart assembly is also tri-foldably collapsible, so as to have multiple portions pivoted into nesting configuration with one another thus containable in a minimal volume and even carried by an individual. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103246 | PARKING SYSTEM HAVING LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE GUIDANCE - A method in a parking system for supporting parking using a longitudinal guidance and a transverse guidance, and to such a parking system. The method includes: calculating a parking trajectory having at least one stopping point; detecting, independently of the driver's actions, that the calculated stopping point has been reached; and, in reaction to the detection, providing a signal for a steering change for a steering controller. On a time axis there consequently takes place an initiation of a steering change in time period before a time at which the driver changes gear and independently of it. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103247 | Apparatus and Method for Controlling Work Trajectory of Construction Equipment - The present disclosure relates to a apparatus and method for controlling work trajectory of construction equipment, and particularly, to a trajectory controlling device and a method for construction equipment, capable of automatically operating with the most suitable work trajectory at the point when an automated task is selected. The trajectory controlling device and method for construction equipment may control a task starting point and the following of a trajectory in order to compensate for a positioning error when playback is selected to follow a teaching trajectory, and may minimize positioning errors by compensating for changes related to gravity due to changes in the posture of a work device. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103248 | AUTOMATIC WAREHOUSE AND WAREHOUSING METHOD INTO AUTOMATIC WAREHOUSE - An automatic warehouse includes multiple guided vehicles disposed at different heights along a rack and a storage shelf with a hoist in line with the rack. The storage shelf includes an intra-shelf conveyor that stores articles, and multiple shelf frames configured to vertically pass the transportation surface of the intra-shelf conveyor. The interval between the plurality of shelf frames may be varied. In parallel with the storage of articles using the intra-shelf conveyor, the shelf frames are caused to pass the transportation surface of the intra-shelf conveyor upward from below, and the articles are sequentially transferred from the intra-shelf conveyor onto the shelf frames. After the articles have been transferred to all the corresponding shelf frames, the guided vehicles store the articles on the shelf frames into the rack at simultaneously. | 04-25-2013 |
20130110341 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PROCESSING OF CONTAINER-GROWN PLANTS USING AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTS | 05-02-2013 |
20130110342 | METHOD FOR PULLING A VEHICLE INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND CORRESPONDING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE | 05-02-2013 |
20130110343 | DRIVING ASSISTANCE DEVICE | 05-02-2013 |
20130116878 | METHOD FOR PARKING A VEHICLE AND CORRESPONDING PARKING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE - Automatic monitoring to determine whether, during a parking process of a parking assistance system of the vehicle, the vehicle is at an end of a current maneuver of the parking process. If the vehicle is at the end of the current maneuver of the parking process, a braking request of the driver of the vehicle to activate a brake of the vehicle is generated automatically. | 05-09-2013 |
20130116879 | METHOD FOR PARKING A VEHICLE AND CORRESPONDING PARKING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE - A method to park a vehicle using a parking assistance system, a target position of the vehicle within a parking space is automatically determined. A parking process of the parking assistance system is considered successfully ended when the vehicle reaches the target position. In order to carry out the parking process of the parking assistance system, a steering intervention in a steering system of the vehicle is automatically activated. A state that prevents the target position from being reached is automatically detected during the parking process. Depending on the state, the target position is newly determined and the parking process is continued with the newly determined target position. | 05-09-2013 |
20130124030 | SENSING SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMATED VEHICLE - A sensing system for providing vehicle automation. The system includes a master controller that is electrically connected to a receiver that has a transceiver that provides over-the-air communication to a plurality of wireless sonic sensors. The transceivers receive information from the plurality of wireless sonic sensors in order to automate the control of the vehicle to ensure the vehicle drives in a straight line. | 05-16-2013 |
20130124031 | Autonomous Mobile Device and Method for Navigating the Same to a Base Station - A method of navigating an autonomous mobile device to a base station is provided. In the method, when a detector detects a navigating signal sent out by the base station, the mobile device rotates in a first direction until the detector fails to detect the navigating signal, and a first time point is set at this time. Then, the mobile device rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction until the detector fails to detect the navigating signal, and a second time point is set at this time. Afterward, the mobile device rotates in the first direction by a time computed based on the first and second time points to make the detector face the base station, and then, moves toward a direction pointed by the detector. | 05-16-2013 |
20130131905 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLOSED-LOOP DRIVER ATTENTION MANAGEMENT - A method and system may manage the driver's attention while driving. The driver may be driving using an autonomous driving system or limited-ability autonomous driving system. A method may detect, by a sensor, characteristics of a driver; determine, based on the detected characteristics of the driver, whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle; and provide a series of one or more prompts, wherein each prompt's intrusiveness is related to the determination of whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131906 | STEERING WHEEL DEVICE FOR INDICATING REQUIRED SUPERVISORY CONTROL OF A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR USE - A method and system may manage the driver's attention while driving. The driver may be driving using an autonomous driving system or limited-ability autonomous driving system. A steering wheel device may indicate to the driver a level of required supervisory control of a vehicle. The steering wheel device may include indicators to flash lights, vibrate, or provide other indicators. The indicators may have distinct levels of intensity for each level of supervisory control required to safely control a vehicle. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131907 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MISUSE OF AUTONOMOUS DRIVING - A method and system may prevent misuse of an autonomous driving system by providing at least one prompt at least one prompt for a driver of a vehicle. A sensor may whether the driver responds to the prompt. A processor may determine whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle, based on whether the driver responds to the prompt. The processor may disengage the autonomous driving system if the driver fails to exercise sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle. The processor may further reduce the vehicle's speed if the driver continues to misuse the autonomous driving system. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131908 | NAVIGATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - A navigation and control system including a sensor configured to locate objects in a predetermined field of view from a vehicle. The sensor has an emitter configured to repeatedly scan a beam into a two-dimensional sector of a plane defined with respect to a first predetermined axis of the vehicle, and a detector configured to detect a reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects. The sensor includes a panning mechanism configured to pan the plane in which the beam is scanned about a second predetermined axis to produce a three dimensional field of view. The navigation and control system includes a processor configured to determine the existence and location of the objects in the three dimensional field of view based on a position of the vehicle and a time between an emittance of the beam and a reception of the reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131909 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHANGING WHEN A VEHICLE ENTERS A VEHICLE YARD - A method includes, responsive to a determination that a first vehicle system to be received in a vehicle yard is longer than a length of a receiving route of the vehicle yard that is designated for receiving the first vehicle system, processing a first movement plan to generate a revised movement plan. The first movement plan governs movement of the first vehicle system and one or more second vehicle systems in a transportation network that includes the vehicle yard. The revised movement plan is generated based at least in part on a designated time restriction for the first vehicle system to travel to and be received within the vehicle yard on the receiving route. The method also includes controlling at least one of the first vehicle system or at least one of the one or more second vehicle systems based on the revised movement plan. | 05-23-2013 |
20130138288 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE MASS OF A VEHICLE - A vehicle system and method that estimates or approximates the mass of a vehicle so that a more accurate vehicle mass estimate can be made available to other vehicle systems, such as an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system or an automated lane change (LCX) system. In an exemplary embodiment, the method compares an actual acceleration of the vehicle to an expected acceleration while the vehicle is under the control of an automated acceleration event. The difference between these two acceleration values, along with other potential input, may then be used to approximate the actual mass of the vehicle in a way that takes into account items such as passengers, cargo, fuel, etc. Once an accurate vehicle mass estimate is generated, the method may make this estimate available to other vehicle components, devices, modules, systems, etc. so that their performance can be improved. | 05-30-2013 |
20130151058 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A HOST VEHICLE - A method and system that monitors the behavior of surrounding vehicles in order to predict and react to an upcoming hazard in the road, even in situations where the hazard has not been directly sensed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method monitors an area around the host vehicle and looks for the presence of one or more target vehicles. If target vehicles are detected, then the method evaluates their behavior, classifies their behavior into one of several categories, and assuming that their behavior suggests some type of upcoming hazard, develops an appropriate preemptive response for controlling the host vehicle. The preemptive response may include mimicking, copying and/or integrating with the behavior of the surrounding target vehicles according to so-called “flocking” techniques in order to avoid the otherwise unseen hazard. | 06-13-2013 |
20130151059 | PARALLEL PARKING ASSISTANT SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A parallel parking assistant system integrated with a vehicle and method thereof are provided, the parking assistant system including a first sensor configured to determine a first distance, a second sensor configured to determine a second distance, and a controller configured to provide commands as a function of the first and second determined distances. The commands include a first command configured to command a steering system to be in a clockwise position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a first reversing distance, a second command configured to command the steering system to be in a substantially straight position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a second reversing distance, and a third command configured to command the steering system to be in a counter-clockwise position while the vehicle is a moving in a reverse direction for a third reversing distance. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158771 | HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL DETECT IN LANE CENTERING OPERATION - A control system to determine a hands on wheel (HOW) condition is provided. The control system includes a sensor that monitors an amount of applied torque exerted upon a hand wheel, and a control module for monitoring the sensor. The control module includes a notch filter to attenuate a normal column mode frequency from the amount of applied torque to produce a filtered torque signal. The normal column mode frequency represents a range of vibrational modes of the hand wheel based on a hands off wheel condition. The control module includes a state detector to receive the filtered torque signal from the notch filter. The state detector determines if the HOW condition exists based on if the filtered torque signal exceeds an ON threshold torque value. | 06-20-2013 |
20130166132 | Auto-Guidance - Auto-guidance may be provided. First, location information may be received and a location of a machine may be determined based on the location information. Once the location of the machine is determined, an auto-guidance data file may be loaded based on the determined location of the machine. | 06-27-2013 |
20130166133 | POWER DEMAND MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND POWER DEMAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A power demand management apparatus comprises a schedule holding section that holds a power restriction schedule indicating a device on which a mobile robot is to perform power restriction, in association with a power restriction execution time; a movement instructing section that transmits movement instructions to the robot such that, prior to the power restriction execution time indicated in the power restriction schedule, the robot moves to an area in which is arranged the device on which the power restriction is to be performed at the execution time; and a restriction instructing section that transmits power restriction instructions to the robot, thereby causing the robot to perform the power restriction on the device at the execution time. | 06-27-2013 |
20130173109 | VEHICLE MODEL CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR A MOBILE MACHINE - A method is disclosed for recalibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a machine on a worksite, with a calibration system including at least one processor. In the method at least one recalibration condition is determined for which recalibration of the vehicle model is to occur. Time information, location information, and testing condition information are determined for the at least one recalibration condition. The time information includes a determination of a time when recalibration is to be performed. The location information includes a determination of a location suitable for performing the recalibration. The testing condition information includes a determination of a testing condition to be used during the recalibration. | 07-04-2013 |
20130173110 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE - A method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle, including receiving data transmitted to the vehicle; using the received data for a decision as to whether or not the driver assistance system is to provide a driver assistance function, characterized by archiving of the data used. | 07-04-2013 |
20130179023 | METHODS FOR INFORMING A MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER OF A DRIVING MANEUVER, A DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT UTILIZES THE METHOD, AND A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - A method for informing a motor vehicle driver of a driving maneuver planned by a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle and carried out by the motor vehicle, a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle that utilizes the method, and a motor vehicle with the driver's assistance system are provided. The method includes detecting current environmental data of the environment lying ahead of the motor vehicle by a detection means, planning and carrying out the driving maneuver on the basis of the environmental data, and reproducing the driving maneuver and at least a portion of the detected environmental data in an image on a display. | 07-11-2013 |
20130179024 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE - A method for operating a vehicle includes checking a state of health of the driver during operation of the vehicle, in particular when it is started, and starting a safety program for operating the vehicle when a predefined state of health is detected. | 07-11-2013 |
20130179025 | Vehicle Procession Control Through a Traffic Intersection - A method for controlling vehicle procession through an intersection includes monitoring movement of a first vehicle through the intersection, and synchronizing movement of a second vehicle following the first vehicle through the intersection to the first vehicle movement through the intersection. | 07-11-2013 |
20130184924 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GUIDING A ROBOTIC GARDEN TOOL - Method and system for guiding a robotic garden tool ( | 07-18-2013 |
20130190963 | System and Method for Gathering Video Data Related to Operation of an Autonomous Industrial Vehicle - As an autonomously guided industrial vehicle travels through a facility images of the adjacent environment are acquired, by either a still camera or a video camera. An image file containing a plurality of the images is stored onboard the vehicle. During that travel, the location of the vehicle is determined. Upon occurrence of a predefined incident, such as encountering an obstacle or impacting an object, an incident message is transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle to a remote management computer. The incident message contains an indication of the type of incident, an indication of a location of the vehicle, and the plurality of the images. The remote management computer responds to the incident message by providing a notification about the incident to one or more persons. The contents of the incident message enables the person notified to take corrective action. | 07-25-2013 |
20130218395 | AUTONOMOUS MOVING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Disclosed are a mobile apparatus and a method for controlling the same. More particularly, disclosed are an autonomous mobile apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The method for controlling an autonomous mobile apparatus disclosed in the specification includes: recognizing a direction of a call signal based on the call signal; receiving and analyzing video information regarding the direction; estimating a position of a signal source of the call signal using the sound source localization and the detected person's shape; generating a moving command to the position of the signal source; and recognizing the subject of the signal source after movement according to the moving command. | 08-22-2013 |
20130231819 | CLEANING ROBOT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A cleaning robot cleaning a specific region and including a movement module, a sound wave module, a cleaning module and a controlling module is disclosed. The movement module includes a plurality of wheels. The sound wave module emits a sound wave and receives a plurality of reflected waves. The cleaning module performs a cleaning function. The controlling module generates a contour according to the reflected waves and controls at least one of the movement module and the cleaning module according to the contour. | 09-05-2013 |
20130231820 | TRAVEL DIRECTION DETERMINATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method for determining a direction of travel for a following vehicle ensures that the following vehicle follows a path indicative of that of a target vehicle. The target vehicle extends in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) directions, the longitudinal direction (X) corresponding to an intended direction of travel of the following vehicle. The method may include determining a measured lateral offset (ΔY | 09-05-2013 |
20130231821 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING A USER TO DISPLACE A VEHICLE TO A TARGET POSITION - A method for assisting a user to displace a vehicle to a target position is disclosed. The method may include activating an assistance mode, detecting an external force applied to the vehicle by the user, determining a displacement torque based on the external force, and displacing the vehicle toward the target position by applying the displacement torque using a vehicle propulsion system. A system for assisting a user to displace a vehicle to a target position is also disclosed. | 09-05-2013 |
20130231822 | HUMANOID ROBOT HAVING FALL-MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES, AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SAID FALLS - The invention relates to a humanoid robot endowed with particular capabilities for managing falls. The risks of falling limit the development of the mass-market use of humanoid robots. In the prior art, the modalities for detecting falls are not well suited to the case of very dynamic robots since the center of mass is very often outside their support polygons. The modalities for managing falls are also poorly suited to robots which must be economical in their computation resources. According to the invention, the conventional support polygon is supplemented with effectors for which it is determined that they are sufficiently close to the ground. Protection strategies are implemented, chosen from a set of strategies defined by a classification of the angles of fall. | 09-05-2013 |
20130238181 | ON-BOARD VEHICLE PATH PREDICTION USING PROCESSED SENSOR INFORMATION - A driven vehicle receives position data of a subject vehicle nearby the driven vehicle, and associates the position data of the subject vehicle with a driving model. The driving model is updated by incorporating latest position data of the subject vehicle, and a future position of the subject vehicle is predicted using the updated driving model. The predicted future position of the subject vehicle can be transmitted to other processing systems of the driven vehicle, including a collision avoidance or warning system, which provides a driver notification, and an autonomous driving system, which provides vehicle actuation. A determination is made as to whether the position data of the subject vehicle fits a currently stored and available driving model, and generates a new driving model no model fits. The new model is a multi-mode predictive state representation (MMPSR) which marginalizes unknown modes of history. | 09-12-2013 |
20130245877 | Actively Modifying a Field of View of an Autonomous Vehicle in View of Constraints - Methods and devices for actively modifying a field of view of an autonomous vehicle in view of constraints are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example method is disclosed that includes causing a sensor in an autonomous vehicle to sense information about an environment in a first field of view, where a portion of the environment is obscured in the first field of view. The example method further includes determining a desired field of view in which the portion of the environment is not obscured and, based on the desired field of view and a set of constraints for the vehicle, determining a second field of view in which the portion of the environment is less obscured than in the first field of view. The example method further includes modifying a position of the vehicle, thereby causing the sensor to sense information in the second field of view. | 09-19-2013 |
20130253751 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLIJNG AUTONOMOUS PLATFORM USING WIRE - Disclosed are a system and method for controlling an autonomous platform using a wire. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an autonomous platform control system for controlling an autonomous platform connected to a wire comprises: a route setting unit which generates movement control information of the autonomous platform using final position information and first position information; a speed management unit which moves the autonomous platform by controlling the speed of the autonomous platform using the movement control information; a processing unit which generates current position information by setting the position and posture of the autonomous platform using a measurement value of a rotation angle of the wire with respect to the moved autonomous platform, and generates wire operation length information by setting the length of the wire using the current position information; and a sagging management unit which determines the sagging of the wire using measurement information on a wire tension acting on the wire, and adjusts the wire using the measurement information on the wire tension when the wire sags. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261867 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING FORCE FIELD DETERRENT FOR ROBOT - A robot navigation system includes a robot, a navigation beacon, and a cover structure. The robot includes a chassis, an omni-directional receiver, and at least one directional receiver. The navigation beacon includes an omni-directional infrared emitter and at least one directional infrared emitter. The cover structure is configured to block infrared transmissions between the at least one directional infrared emitter and the directional receiver while simultaneously permitting transmissions between the omni-directional infrared emitter and the omni-directional receiver. The cover structure may be made of a black silicone material. | 10-03-2013 |
20130261868 | Laser Sensors For Trolley Guidance Signal - A system and method for guiding an off-highway truck along a roadway with respect to a trolley line determine a position of the off-highway truck on the roadway by sensing two or more roadside objects and uses the determined position of the off-highway truck and a known position of the trolley line relative to the two or more roadside objects to automatically determine a relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line. Based on the relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line, the off-highway truck is automatically steered to alter the position of the off-highway truck relative to the trolley line, e.g., to maintain an electrical power flow from the trolley line to the off-highway truck. | 10-03-2013 |
20130261869 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A SAFETY SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a safety system of a motor vehicle includes the steps of determining a target trajectory of the motor vehicle to be realized with the safety system after an unavoidable collision, wherein the target trajectory is assigned to a target position of the motor vehicle, which target position is safe with regard to secondary collisions, and performing at least one autonomous and/or supporting driving intervention in the form of at least one of a longitudinally guiding intervention and a transverse guiding intervention after the collision for realizing the target trajectory. | 10-03-2013 |
20130274985 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE LATERAL CONTROL - A method, system and computer readable medium to autonomously keep a vehicle in a lane. The method including, engaging a lane centering system configured to maintain the vehicle within the lane, at a specified lane position. Further engaging a lane keeping system when the lane centering system fails to keep the vehicle within the lane, the lane keeping system configured to return the vehicle to the lane, when the vehicle leaves or is leaving the lane. And, applying a cost function to determine the nature of engagement of the lane keeping system to return the vehicle to the lane. | 10-17-2013 |
20130282222 | AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION METHOD AND AUTONOMOUS MOBILE BODY - An autonomous navigation method is a method of causing a mobile body ( | 10-24-2013 |
20130282223 | Method For Controlling Movement Of Travelling Carriers - A method for controlling movement of travelling carriers includes performing data communication between front and rear adjacent travelling carriers, an on-board communication device provided to the travelling carrier and performing data communication with a ground-based communication device, and the ground-based communication device sending a movement permission signal at one end of a work area to the on-board communication device of a passing travelling carrier; and transmitting the movement permission signal to all of the travelling carriers within the work area from the ground-based communication device via the on-board communication device and the data communication means. | 10-24-2013 |
20130289816 | SYSTEM AS WELL AS A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SELF MOVING ROBOT - A system provided with a base station comprising a signal emitting module, a self movable robot comprising at least an energy storage, a sensor for sensing this signal emitted by signal emitting module of the base station and a processor for controlling the movement of the robot by means of the sensed signal to return the robot to the base station. The robot comprises means for controlling the movement of the robot to move the robot randomly over a surface, whereby the absolute position of the robot is not memorized, means for marking the interrupt location where the movement of the robot is interrupted to return to the base station and means for returning the robot from the base station to the interrupt location by means of said marking. | 10-31-2013 |
20130297139 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AUTONOMOUS MOVING CLEANING APPARATUS - A method for operating an autonomous moving cleaning apparatus includes the steps of: a microcontroller unit (MCU) provides a digital signal which is processed through an encoding technique to form an encrypted encoding data set; the MCU continuously sends out the encrypted encoding data set; data values in the encrypted encoding data set are converted to high or low voltages to activate a light emission member to generate flicker light; a light receiving member continuously receives a string of reflective light corresponding to the flicker light to form a corresponding high or low voltage which is converted to a corresponding digital signal sent to the MCU to be compared with the encrypted coding data set for decoding; and the MCU controls operations of a servomotor based on decoding correctness and the detected corresponding digital signal. Thus the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus can function steadily without being interfered by external lights. | 11-07-2013 |
20130304300 | Path planning autopilot - A path planning autopilot guides vehicles efficiently even when they are far from a desired path. | 11-14-2013 |
20130311030 | VARIABLE OFFSET POSITIONING ANTENNA ARRAY FOR ENHANCED GUIDANCE OF AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES (AGVS) - An automated guided vehicle (AGV) adapted to follow a guide wire or the like, the AGV comprising at least one antenna in communication with a master control system and having a programmable microprocessor that enables the AGV to dynamically assume a linear, angular or skewed offset position relative to the guide wire or the like in accordance with instructions provided by the control system. | 11-21-2013 |
20130325241 | Inferring State of Traffic Signal and Other Aspects of a Vehicle's Environment Based on Surrogate Data - 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. | 12-05-2013 |
20130338868 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVE LANE-CHANGING ASSISTANCE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A system provides active lane-changing assistance for a motor vehicle to facilitate a lane-changing maneuver from an initial position on a first lane to a final position on a second lane. The system contains a localization device for determining the initial position and transmitting the initial position to a controller. The system has an obstacle detection system for determining a relative position of another vehicle relative to the vehicle and transmitting the relative position of the other vehicle to the controller. The controller determines the final position from the initial position and contains a device for generating a virtual clone capable of creating a virtual clone of the vehicle and simulating by the virtual clone the presence of a dummy real vehicle in the final position by generating a localization datum of the virtual clone of the vehicle configured to permit localization of the virtual clone in the final position. | 12-19-2013 |
20130345919 | Unpredictable Vehicle Navigation - A system and method for controlling movement of a vehicle. A current state of the vehicle is identified. The current state comprises a current location of the vehicle. A next state for the vehicle is selected by a processor unit. The next state comprises a next location for the vehicle. A value for an attribute of the next state of the vehicle is randomly selected. The movement of the vehicle is controlled to move the vehicle from the current state to the next state. | 12-26-2013 |
20130345920 | AUTONOMOUS CONTROL OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES - An autonomous control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided. In one example, the control system includes a first control mode component configured to generate a first command to provide a first autonomous control mode for the unmanned aerial vehicle, a second control mode component configured to generate a second command to provide a second autonomous control mode for the unmanned aerial vehicle, and an intelligence synthesizer configured to resolve functional conflicts between the first and second autonomous control modes. | 12-26-2013 |
20130345921 | PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF MOVING VEHICLE OPERATORS - The present disclosure relates to determining an physical state of a moving vehicle operator. In an embodiment, if it is determined that a vehicle operator is impaired, the vehicle is programed to automatically and safely stop a vehicle before an accident occurs. In an embodiment physiological sensors in the seat, steering wheel, or wireless sensors placed on the vehicle operator's body are used to determine an impairment state of a vehicle operator. | 12-26-2013 |
20140005873 | AUTONOMOUS MOBILE DEVICE, METHOD OF RESTRAINING MOVEMENT RANGE THEREOF, AND AUTONOMOUS MOBILE DEVICE SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140005874 | RADIO-ENABLED COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140005875 | Safety Device for Motor Vehicle and Method for Operating a Motor Vehicle | 01-02-2014 |
20140012453 | Navigation System and Method for Autonomous Mower - A navigation system for a robotic mower includes a boundary wire defining a boundary of a specified area; a boundary sensor assembly, and a vehicle control unit with a navigation arbitration logic configured to arbitrate a selection between at least a straight propagation mode and an arc propagation mode. The navigation arbitration module is configured to select the arc propagation mode when the sensor assembly indicates that the mower approaches the boundary of the specified area and has a distance from the boundary that is equal to or smaller than a specified turn distance. The boundary sensor assembly generates a sensor signal representative of a measured yaw angle of the mower relative to the boundary wire, and the navigation arbitration logic is configured to generate output information representative of a desired yaw angle dependent on an assumed actual yaw angle. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012454 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TIMETABLE OPTIMIZATION UTILIZING ENERGY CONSUMPTION FACTORS - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for synchronizing two or more railway assets to optimize energy consumption. For example, an embodiment of the present invention provides receipt of a timetable associated with two or more vehicles and at least one terminal. The timetable can be modified to create a modified timetable that overlaps a brake time for a first vehicle and an acceleration time for a second vehicle, wherein at least one of a departure time or a dwell time is modified. Furthermore, the second vehicle can transfer energy from the first vehicle based upon at least one of the modified timetable and the brake time overlapping with the acceleration time. | 01-09-2014 |
20140018992 | Transitioning a Mixed-Mode Vehicle to Autonomous Mode - Disclosed are methods and devices for transitioning a mixed-mode autonomous vehicle from a human driven mode to an autonomously driven mode. Transitioning may include stopping a vehicle on a predefined landing strip and detecting a reference indicator. Based on the reference indicator, the vehicle may be able to know its exact position. Additionally, the vehicle may use the reference indictor to obtain an autonomous vehicle instruction via a URL. After the vehicle knows its precise location and has an autonomous vehicle instruction, it can operate in autonomous mode. | 01-16-2014 |
20140018993 | DRIVING ASSIST DEVICE - A driving assist device includes a first control portion that controls a vehicle to carry out automated driving, and a second control portion that controls the vehicle to make a shift to manual driving, in which the vehicle travels on a basis of an driving operation by a driver, when canceling the automated driving, and changes a manner of canceling the automated driving in accordance with an elapsed time from a start of the automated driving. | 01-16-2014 |
20140032030 | System and Method for Detecting a Crest - A system for automated control of a machine having a ground engaging work implement includes an implement load sensor system. A controller determines a change in terrain based at least in part upon a change in the load on the ground engaging work implement. If the change in terrain exceeds a threshold, the controller generates an alert command signal. A method is also provided. | 01-30-2014 |
20140032031 | VEHICLE REMOTE OPERATION DEVICE - In a vehicle remote operation, device enabling parking-in and parking-out by a remote operation, the present invention provides the vehicle remote operation device which may correspond to an ambient condition change. When an automatic steering unit | 01-30-2014 |
20140032032 | Control of Vehicles based on Auditory Signals - Methods and systems for control of vehicles based on auditory signals are described. In an example, a computing device may be configured to control a vehicle or may be in communication with the vehicle. The computing device may be configured to receive audio information relating to an audible crosswalk signal for an intersection. The computing device also may be configured to determine a likelihood associated with a presence of a pedestrian in a crosswalk at the intersection based on the audio information. The computing device further may be configured to determine a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle from among multiple control strategies, based on the likelihood, and may be configured to provide instructions to control the vehicle based on the determined control strategy. | 01-30-2014 |
20140052323 | TRANSPORT FACILITY FOR AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING DAMAGE TO A MOTOR VEHICLE - Damage caused by accidents that occur during autonomous driving of a motor vehicle should be reliably detected. For this purpose, a transport facility with a driving area which can be autonomously driven by a motor vehicle, has a detection device for detecting a first state of the motor vehicle in an entrance area outside the driving area and for detecting a second state in an exit area located within the driving area. In addition, transport facility has an evaluation device for determining a possible difference between the second state and the first state relating to damage of the motor vehicle. | 02-20-2014 |
20140058610 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUS LOCALIZATION AND MAPPING OF MOBILE ROBOT ENVIRONMENT - Techniques that optimize performance of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) processes for mobile devices, typically a mobile robot. In one embodiment, erroneous particles are introduced to the particle filtering process of localization. Monitoring the weights of the erroneous particles relative to the particles maintained for SLAM provides a verification that the robot is localized and detection that it is no longer localized. In another embodiment, cell-based grid mapping of a mobile robot's environment also monitors cells for changes in their probability of occupancy. Cells with a changing occupancy probability are marked as dynamic and updating of such cells to the map is suspended or modified until their individual occupancy probabilities have stabilized. In another embodiment, mapping is suspended when it is determined that the device is acquiring data regarding its physical environment in such a way that use of the data for mapping will incorporate distortions into the map, as for example when the robotic device is tilted. | 02-27-2014 |
20140058611 | AUTONOMOUS WORKING SYSTEM, AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND A TURNING METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed in the present invention is an autonomous vehicle ( | 02-27-2014 |
20140067184 | AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An apparatus and method for guiding an automatic guided vehicle along a magnetic pathway and more specifically to an apparatus and a method capable of accurately and precisely following a weak magnetic field emitted by a substantially continuous passive magnetic marker having route junctions. | 03-06-2014 |
20140074338 | Method and device for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle - A method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle is described, together with a corresponding device, a corresponding vehicle, and a corresponding computer program. The driver assistance system is configured to autonomously safely park the vehicle when activated. While the vehicle is traveling, an activation intent for the driver assistance system is detected, whereupon the driver assistance system is activated and the vehicle is autonomously safely parked with the aid of the activated driver assistance system. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081504 | Autonomous Hull Navigation - An autonomous hull robot navigation subsystem for guiding a hull robot on a hull of a vessel independent of external guidance devices includes a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving and maneuvering the robot about the hull. A sensor subsystem onboard the robot senses an environmental characteristic. A navigation subsystem onboard the robot is responsive to the sensor subsystem and includes a processor. The processor utilizes the environmental characteristic to determine a position of the robot on the hull. | 03-20-2014 |
20140088814 | DRIVING CONTROL EXCHANGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE - Disclosed herein is a driving control exchanging method for an autonomous vehicle by which a driving control may be easily exchanged between a driver and an autonomous vehicle, acquisition of a driving control by a child or a person who cannot drive is prevented, and the relative laws can be complied, making it possible to safely and conveniently manage the autonomous vehicle. | 03-27-2014 |
20140095007 | COMPANION ROBOT FOR PERSONAL INTERACTION - A mobile robot guest for interacting with a human resident performs a room-traversing search procedure prior to interacting with the resident, and may verbally query whether the resident being sought is present. Upon finding the resident, the mobile robot may facilitate a teleconferencing session with a remote third party, or interact with the resident in a number of ways. For example, the robot may carry on a dialogue with the resident, reinforce compliance with medication or other schedules, etc. In addition, the robot incorporates safety features for preventing collisions with the resident; and the robot may audibly announce and/or visibly indicate its presence in order to avoid becoming a dangerous obstacle. Furthermore, the mobile robot behaves in accordance with an integral privacy policy, such that any sensor recording or transmission must be approved by the resident. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095008 | Lawn Care Robot - A robot lawnmower includes a body and a drive system carried by the body and configured to maneuver the robot across a lawn. The robot also includes a grass cutter and a swath edge detector, both carried by the body. The swath edge detector is configured to detect a swath edge between cut and uncut grass while the drive system maneuvers the robot across the lawn while following a detected swath edge. The swath edge detector includes a calibrator that monitors uncut grass for calibration of the swath edge detector. In some examples, the calibrator comprises a second swath edge detector. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095009 | AUTONOMOUS MOVEMENT SYSTEM - A route decision system is provided to avoid an obstacle existing in a traceably moving direction for tracing a reference route from a current location of an autonomous movable body. The system computes traffic distance and a traffic width as a traffic region having a given traffic width and does not allow an obstacle to intrude in each of a plurality of moving The moving direction of the autonomous movable body is decided on the basis of the traceably moving direction and the traffic region. A speed decision device decides a moving speed allowing the autonomous movable body to stop before it collides with the obstacle in response to the braking condition of the autonomous movable body and the location and the speed of the obstacle. | 04-03-2014 |
20140100734 | CONVOY TRAVEL APPARATUS - A convoy travel apparatus in a self vehicle of a convoy organizes plural convoys of traveling vehicles in consideration of a non-convoy vehicle that desires to pass the plural convoys when the plural convoys are traveling in parallel on a multi-lane road. The apparatus determines whether the plural convoys are traveling in parallel with each other on a multi-lane road, and if an in-parallel travel state of the convoys is determined, the self vehicle in one of the convoys may be accelerated or decelerated to allow the non-convoy vehicle to pass the plural convoys. | 04-10-2014 |
20140107882 | TRAVEL-RESTRICTED AREA SETTING SYSTEM FOR UNMANNED TRAVELING VEHICLE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR SETTING TRAVEL-RESTRICTED AREA OF UNMANNED TRAVELING VEHICLE - A computer program product for setting a travel-restricted area for an unmanned traveling vehicle, where a travel of a vehicle traveling with no man attended is restricted in a workplace of an electric work machine that operates with electricity supplied via a cable from an external power supply, the computer program causing a computer to execute: estimating a position of the cable based on at least information on a position of the electric work machine, information on a position of a support body that supports the cable, and a length of the cable between the electric work machine and the support body, and setting the travel-restricted area based on the estimated position of the cable. | 04-17-2014 |
20140114525 | Method for confinement of an autonomous robot - The present invention discloses a system for confining the movement of a robot such that certain area(s) are temporarily or permanently excluded from its working territory. The system uses light-absorbing, black-out paper stripe(s) capable of a complete absorption of light including infrared. The system also uses a mobile robot equipped with infrared emitters and infrared-reflection detectors that communicate the existence of infrared reflection or the lack of it to the robot's control unit. The control unit controls the wheel drivers and ensures that the robot continues travelling only as long as the reflection of infrared signals are detected from the surface onto which it is headed. In this system therefore, the said black-out papers act as a fence that the robot cannot pass because they prevent the reflection of infrared light from the spot(s) where they are placed and force the robot to stop and change directions when it encounters a black-out stripe. | 04-24-2014 |
20140121880 | CONTROLLING VEHICLE LATERAL LANE POSITIONING - Methods and systems for controlling vehicle lateral lane positioning are described. A computing device may be configured to identify an object in a vicinity of a vehicle on a road. The computing device may be configured to estimate, based on characteristics of the vehicle and respective characteristics of the object, an interval of time during which the vehicle will be laterally adjacent to the object. Based on the characteristics of the vehicle, the computing device may be configured to estimate longitudinal positions of the vehicle on the road during the interval of time. Based on the respective characteristics of the object, the computing device may be configured to determine a lateral distance for the vehicle to maintain between the vehicle and the object during the interval of time at the longitudinal positions of the vehicle, and provide instructions to control the vehicle based on the lateral distance. | 05-01-2014 |
20140121881 | AUTONOMOUS AND REMOTE CONTROL ALL PURPOSE MACHINE (ARCAPM) - A autonomous and remote control all purpose machine (ARCAPM) having different interchangeable modules that are structured and arranged to perform different tasks is disclosed. A machine includes: a body; a plurality of bays in the body, wherein each bay is configured to receive a respective module; and a power source carried by the body. A respective power connector is in each one of the bays that is configured to provide an electrically conductive path between the power source and a device in a module arranged in one of the bays. The machine includes a propulsion system structured and arranged to move the body over the ground. The machine also includes a control system structured and arranged to control autonomous movement of the machine based on at least one of: proximity sensors, metal detectors, and GPS data. | 05-01-2014 |
20140129073 | Methods and Systems to Aid Autonomous Vehicles Driving Through a Lane Merge - Methods and devices for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous mode are disclosed. In one aspect, an example method is disclosed that includes obtaining, by a computer system, lane information that provides an estimated location of a lane of a road on which a vehicle is travelling, where the computer system is configured to control the vehicle in an autonomous mode. The example method further includes determining, by the computer system, that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable and, in response to determining that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable, the computer system analyzing trajectories of other vehicles to locate a potential merge point on the road and creating a new trajectory that follows the lane at the potential merge point. | 05-08-2014 |
20140136043 | AUTOMATED DRIVING ASSISTANCE USING ALTITUDE DATA - Systems and methods for performing automated movement of a vehicle. One method includes obtaining a current position of the vehicle including a first location point and a second location point, transmitting the first location point and the second location point to a server over at least one network, and receiving from the server an altitude for the first location point and an altitude for the second location point. The method also includes determining a slope of a driving surface of the vehicle based on the altitude of the first location point, the altitude of the second location point, and a longitudinal distance between the first location point and the second location point. In addition, the method includes determining a vehicle load based on the slope and determining a braking force for automatically stopping the vehicle at a target position based on the slope and the vehicle load. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136044 | ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A method for use in an active safety system installed on a host vehicle is provided. The method comprises acquiring, for each of a plurality of target objects in the path of the host vehicle, a value of a parameter that is representative of a likelihood that the host vehicle will collide with the target object. In an exemplary embodiment, the parameter that is utilized comprises a time-to-collision between the host vehicle and the target object. The method further comprises evaluating one or more of the acquired parameter values to determine if the host vehicle is likely to collide with one or more of the target objects, and triggering one or more collision avoidance measures when it is determined that the host vehicle is likely to collide with one or more of the target objects. An active safety system configured to perform the methodology is also provided. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136045 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING BEHAVIORS OF DETECTED OBJECTS - Aspects of the invention relate generally to autonomous vehicles. Specifically, the features described may be used alone or in combination in order to improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of these vehicles. | 05-15-2014 |
20140142798 | COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING DRIVER ATTENTIVENESS - Methods and systems for mitigating vehicle collisions. One system includes a processor configured to set a driver attention level to at least one of an attentive level and an inattentive level based on a driver's interaction with at least one device located within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to automatically pre-fill at least one brake line of the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level, automatically perform a brake jerk when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a first predetermined distance, and automatically slow the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a second predetermined distance. | 05-22-2014 |
20140142799 | Modifying Behavior of Autonomous Vehicle Based on Predicted Behavior of Other Vehicles - A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode could determine a current state of the vehicle and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. The environment of the vehicle includes at least one other vehicle. A predicted behavior of the at least one other vehicle could be determined based on the current state of the vehicle and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. A confidence level could also be determined based on the predicted behavior, the current state of the vehicle, and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the confidence level may be related to the likelihood of the at least one other vehicle to perform the predicted behavior. The vehicle in the autonomous mode could be controlled based on the predicted behavior, the confidence level, and the current state of the vehicle and its environment. | 05-22-2014 |
20140148988 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE - A method for controlling a vehicle which includes obtaining, via at least one detecting device, behavior information of a driver in the vehicle, and transitioning control statuses of the vehicle according to the driver behavior information. | 05-29-2014 |
20140148989 | Autonomous Moving Device and Control Method Thereof - An autonomous moving device includes a travel unit with a wheel driven by a motor and an upper body including an environment-recognition sensor that detects an obstacle in a traveling direction. The upper body includes means that recognize device and obstacle positions, means that evaluates avoidance capability, and means that obtains priority of collision avoidance of an estimated passage area of the obstacle. The upper body further includes a control unit that moves the travel unit to an area where an estimated passage area of an obstacle whose priority of collision avoidance is high that does not overlap an area where the travel unit is located and which is an area where collision can be avoided even if an area where an estimated passage area of an obstacle whose priority of collision avoidance is low overlaps the area where the travel unit is located. | 05-29-2014 |
20140156133 | ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING - Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156134 | ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING - Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode. | 06-05-2014 |
20140163805 | METHOD OF MODIFYING A WORKSITE - A method is disclosed of modifying a worksite for calibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a first machine on the worksite. The method may include receiving a signal from the first machine indicative of an aspect of the vehicle model in need of calibration. The method may also include determining, in response to receipt of the signal, that the worksite includes a calibration site having a characteristic corresponding to the aspect of the vehicle model, and that calibrating the aspect of the vehicle model requires modifying the characteristic of the calibration site. The method may further include autonomously modifying the characteristic of the calibration site with a second machine at the worksite, and directing the first machine to the modified calibration site for autonomous calibration of the aspect of the vehicle model. | 06-12-2014 |
20140172220 | UNMANNED AUTONOMOUS TRAVELING SERVICE APPARATUS AND METHOD BASED ON DRIVING INFORMATION DATABASE - An unmanned autonomous traveling service apparatus and method based on driving information database that allows an unmanned autonomous traveling vehicle to be autonomously operated stably without performing a large scale computing process in real time by allowing the unmanned autonomous traveling vehicle to be autonomously operated based on driving information generated in a database and allowing the unmanned autonomous traveling vehicle to be autonomously operated based on an installed sensor at the time of a traffic lane change or an unexpected situation. In particular, the driving information is collected from drivers throughout the world to create the database for the driving information. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172221 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER - A method is provided for assisting a driver of a vehicle. The method may include performing a lateral control of the vehicle in an autonomous mode, determining information about a surroundings of the vehicle, checking whether a longitudinal control of the vehicle performed by the driver is appropriate considering the determined information about the surroundings, and, if appropriate, continuing an autonomous mode of the lateral control of the vehicle. A driver assist system is also provided for performing the method. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172222 | SPEED CONTROL IN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS - Speed control in agricultural vehicle guidance systems may be provided. First, an auto-guidance processor may load a wayline and topographical data of an area where an agricultural vehicle may be located. A drive component coupled to the auto-guidance processor may be engaged to cause the agricultural vehicle to traverse the wayline at a speed. The wayline may define a path for the agricultural vehicle to travel within the area. The speed may be based upon the topographical data. The auto-guidance processor may receive inclination data. The agricultural vehicle's speed may be altered as the agricultural machine traverses the wayline based upon the inclination data. | 06-19-2014 |
20140180523 | DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTHORIZING AN AUTONOMOUS OR PILOTED GARAGE PARKING - A driver assistance system for authorizing an autonomous, piloted parking of a vehicle into and out of a target standing surface includes a sensor system detecting measuring values during at least one drive of the vehicle from a first position in a vicinity and outside of the target standing surface to a second position inside the target standing surface and from the second position back to the first position, an analysis device determining based on the detected measuring values, properties of the vehicle and the capability of control-, regulation- and sensor-devices of the vehicle for an autonomous and piloted parking into and out of a parking space, whether the vehicle is capable of an to autonomous or piloted parking into the target standing surface and out of the target standing surface; and a memory device, wherein the driver assistance system is constructed to store an authorization data set for the autonomous or piloted parking into and out of the target standing surface in the memory device when the analysis device determines that the vehicle is capable to autonomous or piloted parking into the target standing surface and out of the target standing surface. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180524 | Locomotion of Amorphous Surface Robots - An amorphous robot includes a compartmented bladder containing fluid, a valve assembly, and an outer layer encapsulating the bladder and valve assembly. The valve assembly draws fluid from a compartment(s) and discharges the drawn fluid into a designated compartment to displace the designated compartment with respect to the surface. Another embodiment includes elements each having a variable property, an outer layer that encapsulates the elements, and a control unit. The control unit energizes a designated element to change its variable property, thereby moving the designated element. The elements may be electromagnetic spheres with a variable polarity or shape memory polymers with changing shape and/or size. Yet another embodiment includes an elongated flexible tube filled with ferrofluid, a moveable electromagnet, an actuator, and a control unit. The control unit energizes the electromagnet and moves the electromagnet via the actuator to magnetize the ferrofluid and lengthen the flexible tube. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180525 | CLEANING ROBOT - A cleaning robot ( | 06-26-2014 |
20140188322 | DRIVING MODE CHANGING METHOD AND APPARATUS OF AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION VEHICLE - A driving mode changing method and apparatus of an autonomous navigation vehicle that allows a driver to stably operate the autonomous navigation vehicle. The autonomous navigation vehicle may be stably operated by mounting an apparatus (a touch pad, a joystick, or the like) to operate the autonomous navigation vehicle on seats (a passenger seat and a rear seat) other than a driver seat of the autonomous navigation vehicle and providing various information (a near around view, a far around view, a critical level, vehicle information, and the like) to drive the autonomous navigation vehicle. | 07-03-2014 |
20140188323 | MOBILE ROBOT AND MOBILE TRUCK - A mobile robot includes a truck capable of traveling by servo control, a robot arm mounted on the truck, and a control portion servo-controlling the traveling of the truck. The control portion is configured to set a servo gain of the servo control for the truck to a robot arm operation gain during the operation of the robot arm. | 07-03-2014 |
20140195093 | Autonomous Driving Merge Management System - An autonomous driving merge management system includes an autonomous driving control device and an intention decision management system. The management system includes a candidate strategy subsystem generating a plurality of candidate driving strategies, a merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem predicting a merging intention of a merging vehicle; an intention-based interactive prediction subsystem predicting future merging scenarios between the host vehicle and merging vehicle as a function of inputs by the merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem and inputs by the candidate strategy subsystem, and a cost function-based evaluation subsystem determining a cost for each future merging scenario generated by the intention-based interactive prediction subsystem. A processor selects a merge strategy of the host vehicle based on intention-based prediction results and cost function-based evaluation results. The autonomous driving control device applies the merge strategy to the host vehicle for allowing the merging vehicle to cooperatively merge with the host vehicle. | 07-10-2014 |
20140214255 | MODIFYING BEHAVIOR OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES BASED ON SENSOR BLIND SPOTS AND LIMITATIONS - Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to modeling a vehicle's view of its environment. This view need not include what objects or features the vehicle is actually seeing, but rather those areas that the vehicle is able to observe using its sensors if the sensors were completely un-occluded. For example, for each of a plurality of sensors of the object detection component, a computer may an individual 3D model of that sensor's field of view. Weather information is received and used to adjust one or more of the models. After this adjusting, the models may be aggregated into a comprehensive 3D model. The comprehensive model may be combined with detailed map information indicating the probability of detecting objects at different locations. A model of the vehicle's environment may be computed based on the combined comprehensive 3D model and detailed map information and may be used to maneuver the vehicle. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214256 | STEERING SYSTEM FOR AN AUTONOMOUSLY DRIVEN VEHICLE AND METHODS OF STEERING THE SAME - A steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle and methods of steering the vehicle are disclosed. A brake device is operable in a first phase to brake the vehicle when a power steering controller is in a first mode and operable in a second phase to steer the vehicle when the power steering controller is in a second mode. A main controller is in communication with a friction device to signal the friction device to actuate to a disengaged position when the power steering controller is in the first mode and the brake device is in the first phase, and signal the friction device to actuate to an engaged position to secure a steering wheel in an initial position when the power steering controller is in the second mode and the brake device is in the second phase to allow the brake device to steer the vehicle. | 07-31-2014 |
20140222276 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF UNMANNED VEHICLES - Control units ( | 08-07-2014 |
20140222277 | DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - Methods and control systems are provided for automatically controlling operation of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system includes an exterior sensor for sensing the environment outside the vehicle. A processor is in communication with the exterior sensor and configured to calculate a driving plan of the vehicle based at least partially on the sensed environment outside the vehicle. The processor is also configured to calculate a confidence level of the driving plan of the vehicle based at least partially on the sensed environment around the vehicle. The control system also includes a display in communication with the processor and configured to receive data from the processor and display a representation of at least one of the driving plan and the confidence level. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236412 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY PARKING VEHICLE - Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for automatically parking a vehicle. The apparatus for automatically parking a vehicle includes a location/heading information provision unit and a parking algorithm computation unit. The location/heading information provision unit calculates the corrected distances of movement of first and second wheels of the vehicle from the time at which parking is started using a plurality of correction factors that are calculated during a movement in any one of forward and rearward headings and during determination of a parking space, and calculates the changes in a heading and location of the vehicle using the corrected distances of movement. The parking algorithm computation unit generates a vehicle control signal intended to automatically park the vehicle in the parking space based on the changes in the heading and location of the vehicle. | 08-21-2014 |
20140244094 | MOBILE ROBOT AND METHOD OF LOCALIZATION AND MAPPING OF THE SAME - A method of localization and mapping of a mobile robot may reduce position errors in localization and mapping using a plurality of vector field sensors. The method includes acquiring a relative coordinate in a movement space using an encoder, acquiring an absolute coordinate in the movement space by detecting intensity and direction of a signal using vector field sensors, defining a plurality of virtual cells on a surface of the movement space such that each of the cells has a plurality of nodes having predetermined positions, and updating position information about the nodes of the cells based on the relative coordinate acquired through the encoder and the absolute coordinate acquired through the vector field sensors and implementing localization and mapping in the movement space in a manner that position information of a new node is estimated while position information of a previous node is determined. | 08-28-2014 |
20140257619 | Coordination of Vehicle Movement in a Field - The illustrative embodiments provide for a number of other vehicles that are moved on a number of paths that is substantially parallel to, and offset to at least one of a first offset side and a second offset side of, the path for the first vehicle. The number of other vehicles is moved along at least a portion of the path in the turn in response to a turn in the path of the first vehicle. The number of other vehicles may be moved from the path to a number of second parallel paths that are substantially parallel to the path after the turn of the first vehicle and offset to an opposite offset side of the first vehicle than the at least one offset side before the turn in response to the first vehicle completing the turn. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257620 | AUTONOMOUS IMPLEMENT - An autonomous implement, in particular an autonomous lawnmower, includes at least one computing unit configured to travel over an area to be worked. The computing unit is configured at least partly to automatically initialize relocalization in at least one operating state.— | 09-11-2014 |
20140277893 | STEERING SYSTEM FOR AN AUTONOMOUSLY DRIVEN VEHICLE AND METHODS OF STEERING THE SAME - A steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle and methods of steering the vehicle are disclosed. A main controller signals a secondary steering assembly to operate in a first phase when a power steering controller is in a first mode and a second phase to steer the vehicle when the power steering controller is in a second mode. The main controller signals a friction device to actuate to a disengaged position when the power steering controller is in the first mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the first phase, and to signal the friction device to actuate to an engaged position to secure a steering wheel in an initial position when the power steering controller is in the second mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the second phase to allow the secondary steering assembly to steer the vehicle. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277894 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE COMPRISING EXTRACORPOREAL BLOOD TREATMENT MACHINE - An autonomous vehicle is provided that includes an autonomous vehicle control system, a dialysis machine, and an interface providing an electrical communication between the dialysis machine and the autonomous vehicle control system. The dialysis machine is configured to perform a dialysis treatment on a patient while the autonomous vehicle is under the control of the autonomous vehicle control system. A vehicle is also provided that includes a navigation system, a dialysis machine, and an interface between the navigation system and the dialysis machine. The vehicle can be a car, a train, a plane, or another vehicle. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277895 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS CONTROL AND BALANCE OF A VEHICLE AND FOR IMPARTING ROLL AND YAW MOMENTS ON A VEHICLE FOR TEST PURPOSES - An autonomous vehicle control system for use on a vehicle, such as a motorcycle or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to autonomously control the vehicle without a driver during vehicle testing is provided. The vehicle control system comprises a moment generator coupleable to the vehicle and configured to selectively generate a moment in either of first and second directions. The vehicle control system also includes a control system operably coupled to the moment generator and configured to control the moment generator to selectively impart moments on the vehicle to stabilize the vehicle or to introduce disturbances on the vehicle. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277896 | DUAL-STATE STEERING WHEEL/INPUT DEVICE - A steering wheel is configured as a dual-state input device configured to operate in two distinct states based on a current driving mode. In a manual driving mode, the input device is configured to control a limited set of vehicle functions and in an autonomous mode the input device is configured to control an expanded set of vehicle functions. The steering wheel includes a wheel rim movably mounted on a steering column and a hub disposed within a center of the wheel rim on the steering column, the main body portion comprising an interactive touch screen disposed on the main body portion. The wheel rim is configured to disengage from the hub and move along the steering column to a retracted position. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277897 | System for Automatic Driving and For Warning of Areas of Reduced Speed for Vehicles - The system for automatic driving and for warning of areas of reduced speed for vehicles which consists of placing in the lower area of the vehicle a signal detector and sensor system using reflective encoded elements, strips or bands arranged on the road surface or underground in the same. The signals received when are transverse or inclined are applied to a microprocessor, or directly to a visual warning or to an audio annunciator. The microprocessor decodes and compares the signals obtained with the vehicle speed, calculating and providing audible and visual warning signals. Additionally the system can provide lateral displacement signals with reference to central longitudinal lines, bands or strips, lateral or close to said side area, captured by the sensors in the bottom of the vehicle, and/or place a video camera or a laser radar in the upper front of the vehicle, for an automatic guided of the vehicle. | 09-18-2014 |
20140297090 | Autonomous Mobile Method and Autonomous Mobile Device - An object is to support expansion of information used for travel of an antonomous mobile device. | 10-02-2014 |
20140303827 | Systems and Methods for Transitioning Control of an Autonomous Vehicle to a Driver - Methods and systems for adaptive methods for transitioning control to the driver are described. A computing device controlling a vehicle autonomously may be configured to receive a request for a transition of the vehicle from autonomous mode to manual mode through an indication by the driver. The computing device may determine the state of the vehicle based on parameters related to the autonomous operation of the vehicle. Based on the state of the vehicle and the indication, the computing device may determine instructions corresponding to the transition of control, which may include a strategy for the transition and duration of time corresponding to the transition of control. The computing device may provide the instructions to perform the transition of control of the vehicle from autonomous mode to manual mode. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303828 | LANE-BASED LOCALIZATION - A system, device, and methods for autonomous navigation using lane-based localization. Once example computer-implemented method includes receiving, from one or more sensors disposed on a vehicle, data representing a road surface proximate to the vehicle and removing the data falling below an adaptive threshold from the data representing the road surface to isolate data representing boundaries on the road surface. The method further includes generating detected lanes based on the data representing boundaries on the road surface by applying one or more filters, generating expected lanes proximate to the vehicle using data included in a route network definition file, comparing the detected lanes to the expected lanes, and generating a localized vehicle position based on the comparison between the detected lanes and the expected lanes. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303829 | Inferring State of Traffic Signal and Other Aspects of a Vehicle's Environment Based on Surrogate Data - 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. | 10-09-2014 |
20140309833 | MAPPING ACTIVE AND INACTIVE CONSTRUCTION ZONES FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING - Aspects of the present disclosure relate to differentiating between active and inactive construction zones. In one example, this may include identifying a construction object associated with a construction zone. The identified construction object may be used to map the area of the construction zone. Detailed map information may then be used to classify the activity of the construction zone. The area of the construction zone and the classification may be added to the detailed map information. Subsequent to adding the construction zone and the classification to the detailed map information, the construction object (or another construction object) may be identified. The location of the construction object may be used to identify the construction zone and classification from the detailed map information. The classification of the classification may be used to operate a vehicle having an autonomous mode. | 10-16-2014 |
20140309834 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PARKING ASSISTANCE - An apparatus and a method for parking assistance is provided that include a controller configured to determine an intention to park based on vehicle condition information and environmental information. In addition, the controller is configured to set a parking mode of a vehicle by analyzing the direction of the vehicle and a gear position, when the vehicle stops in an area in response to determining that the vehicle is to be parked. Furthermore, the controller is configured to assist the vehicle in automatic parking into a target parking lot based on the set parking mode. | 10-16-2014 |
20140316632 | ENHANCED PARK ASSIST WHEEL SPEED COMPENSATION TECHNIQUE - A method of parking a vehicle includes calibrating a wheel speed count of the vehicle based on a measured length that is external to the vehicle, and parking the vehicle based on the calibrated wheel speed count. | 10-23-2014 |
20140316633 | Vehicle Control System and Vehicle Control Method - A position measurement portion manages a measurement target area by dividing the area into a plurality of section areas, and also manages, or keeps track of, an intra-area interfering object number which is the number of interfering objects in a given section area, independently for each of the plurality of the section areas. The travel controller determines, independently for each of the plurality of section areas, if the section area is in a congested state in which the intra-area interfering object number is greater than a set upper limit number, and selects a congested area travel mode as the travel mode when the travel controller is about to cause the vehicle to travel in a section area that is determined to be in the congested state. | 10-23-2014 |
20140316634 | Autonomous Working Device - An autonomous working device, in particular an autonomous lawn mower, comprising a computing unit. The autonomous working device is configured to cover a surface to be treated in strips. The computing unit is configured to adjust an overlap of the strips according to at least one parameter. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324266 | Methods and Systems for Detecting Weather Conditions Including Fog Using Vehicle Onboard Sensors - Methods and systems for detecting weather conditions including fog using vehicle onboard sensors are provided. An example method includes receiving laser data collected from scans of an environment of a vehicle, and associating, by a computing device, laser data points of with one or more objects in the environment. The method also includes comparing laser data points that are unassociated with the one or more objects in the environment with stored laser data points representative of a pattern due to fog, and based on the comparison, identifying by the computing device an indication that a weather condition of the environment of the vehicle includes fog. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330477 | Method of Generating Commands for Controlling Coordination of Displacement Members of a Moving Platform and Corresponding Generator - The invention relates to a method for generating control commands for coordinating displacement members of a moving platform, so as to make said moving platform progress between an initial speed and a final speed according to at least two locomotive situations. The method of the invention is characterized in that each locomotive situation is associated with an elementary module corresponding thereto for generating commands for controlling coordination between a predetermined module start speed and a predetermined module end speed, and in that domains of application of these elementary modules are represented in the form of a predetermined charts for concatenating adjoining modules, covering at least partially, by juxtaposition of their start and end speeds, the spectrum of possible initial and final speeds of displacement of the platform, so as to allow determination of a series of elementary modules to be concatenated to pass from the initial speed to the final speed and the concatenation of the modules of this series so as to derive therefrom a series of corresponding control commands for the displacement members of the moving platform. | 11-06-2014 |
20140330478 | ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING - Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336862 | Method and system for remote monitoring, care and maintenance of animals - A system for remote animal care is presented and includes a housing and a mobility portion coupled to the housing and operable to move the housing. The system includes a data communications system and communicatively coupled with an external data communications system, and an electronic data processor controlling the mobility portion. Further, the system includes a food storage portion and a water storage portion. The system may also include receiving a plurality of location data associated with an animal, determining a location of a debris item associated with the animal, and a cleaning portion coupled to the housing. Also, method for animal care is presented. The method includes providing a mobile housing having a cleaning portion and determining a location of a debris item associated with an animal. The method also includes moving the mobile housing to the location of the debris item and cleaning the debris item. | 11-13-2014 |
20140350767 | Systems and Methods for Determining Route Location - A system includes a communication module and a determination module. The communication module is configured to be located onboard a vehicle configured to travel along a route including plural sub-routes. The communication module is configured to receive route occupancy information from an off-board wayside module disposed along the route. The route occupancy information corresponds to a presence or absence of vehicular traffic on each sub-route within a range of a route detection system operably coupled to the wayside module. The determination module is configured to be located onboard the vehicle, and to obtain position information from one or more onboard detection units disposed onboard the vehicle. The determination module is configured to determine a particular sub-route on which the vehicle is disposed using a comparison of the position information obtained from the one or more onboard detection units and the occupancy information received from the off-board wayside module. | 11-27-2014 |
20140350768 | VERSATILE ROBOTIC CONTROL MODULE - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide robotic control modules for use in a robotic control system of a vehicle, including structures, systems and methods, that can provide (i) a robotic control module that has multiple functional circuits, such as a processor and accompanying circuits, an actuator controller, an actuator amplifier, a packet network switch, and a power supply integrated into a mountable and/or stackable package/housing; (ii) a robotic control module with the noted complement of circuits that is configured to reduce heat, reduce space, shield sensitive components from electro-magnetic noise; (iii) a robotic control system utilizing robotic control modules that include the sufficiently interchangeable functionality allowing for interchangeability of modules; and (iv) a robotic control system that distributes the functionality and processing among a plurality of robotic control modules in a vehicle. | 11-27-2014 |
20140358353 | CONTROL OF THE AUTONOMOUS MODE OF BIMODAL VEHICLES - A control of autonomous vehicles, and a method for controlling at least one autonomous ground vehicle configured to adopt two operating modes, including a manual mode in which the driving depends on driving instructions from the driver of the vehicle, and an autonomous mode, in which the driving depends on data received from sensors configured to provide information on surroundings of the vehicle, and on data received by a navigation system, the method including: authorizing the autonomous mode only when the vehicle is within an area determined by defined boundaries; receiving reservation data from a user interface; generating a set message to be transmitted to the vehicle in accordance with the received reservation data; and transmitting the set message to the vehicle such that the vehicle autonomously performs a movement corresponding to the transmitted set message. | 12-04-2014 |
20140365060 | SELF-PROPELLED WORK APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - A self-propelled work apparatus includes a traveling unit, a work unit, and a user interface. The traveling unit moves in a self-propelled manner to a position near a user. The work unit performs predetermined work. The user interface adjusts a position of the traveling unit located near the user, in accordance with a motion of the user. The work unit starts the predetermined work when the user interface is activated in accordance with the user motion. | 12-11-2014 |
20140365061 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ROBOTIC MEASUREMENT OF PARTS - Systems and methods for robotic measurement of parts are provided. One system includes one or more omni-directional ground vehicles configured to move within a facility defined work zone to a setup calibration station and an engineering defined work space, wherein the engineering defined work space includes a part to be measured. The system also includes a multi-axis robot removably coupled to each of the omni-direction ground vehicles and configured to move a laser scanner, wherein the laser scanner of each of the multi-axis robots is configured to move in at least two linear directions and one rotational direction. The system further includes a processor configured to automatically generate a surface ready output file from measurement data received from the laser scanners, wherein the surface ready output file is configured to command a machine to manufacture a mating component to the part. | 12-11-2014 |
20140365062 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING AN AUTONOMOUSLY TRAVELLING MOTOR VEHICLE TO A SAFE STATE - A method and an apparatus for changing a motor vehicle in an autonomous travel mode to a safe state when the driver of the motor vehicle is not able to monitor the autonomous travel mode and to assume control of the motor vehicle. The vehicle driver is warned using warning signals of increasing intensity; other road users in the area surrounding the motor vehicle are warned using optical and/or acoustic signals; the motor vehicle is braked and/or accelerated repeatedly such that parts of the body of the vehicle driver noticeably move in the direction of travel owing to inertia (the braking and/or acceleration being so brief that the travel speed of the motor vehicle changes relatively little); and the motor vehicle is brought to a standstill or is kept at a standstill by automatic braking in order to change the vehicle to a safe state. | 12-11-2014 |
20140365063 | BEAM DIRECTED MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM - A method and apparatus comprising an energy source, a position system, and a movement system. The energy source is configured to generate a beam of energy directed at an area on a target for a vehicle. The position system is configured to identify a first position of the area on the target at which the beam of energy is directed. The movement system is configured to move the vehicle in a manner that reduces a difference between the first position of the area on the target at which the beam of energy is directed and a reference position on the target. | 12-11-2014 |
20140371971 | SINGLE WHEEL IRRIGATION TOWER - A single wheel irrigation tower for use in an irrigation system, the tower comprising a support member, a single wheel rotatably connected to the support member for moving along a ground surface, a motor operable to rotate and propel the wheel along the ground surface, and a sensor and controller collectively operable to balance the support member on the wheel. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371972 | METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT A PARKING PROCESS FOR A VEHICLE AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE DEVICE - The invention relates to a method for carrying out a parking process for a vehicle ( | 12-18-2014 |
20140371973 | Automated Guided Vehicle And Method Of Operating An Automated Guided Vehicle - The invention relates to an automated guided vehicle and a method for operating an automated guided vehicle. Upon arriving at a destination, then the automated guided vehicle is moved, based on a comparison of signals or data assigned to the environment detected by at least one sensor with signals or data which are assigned to a target position or to a target position and orientation of the automated guided vehicle at the destination, such that the actual position or the actual position and orientation is the same as the target position or target position and orientation at least within a pre-specified tolerance. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371974 | DETERMINING A DRIVING STRATEGY FOR A VEHICLE - A method and driver assistance system for determining a longitudinal dynamics driving strategy for a vehicle based on a driving condition specification, includes a processor selecting a driving strategy in consideration of the power consumption and in consideration of a detection, by a rear traffic detection unit, of a following vehicle. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371975 | Autonomous Implement - An autonomous implement comprising at least one drive unit including at least one drive wheel, at least one sensor unit configured to detect at least one characteristic value, at least one location-determining unit configured to detect at least one characteristic value, and at least one evaluating unit. The at least one evaluating unit is configured to determine a slip of the at least one drive wheel from the at least one characteristic value detected by the at least one sensor unit and the at least one characteristic value detected by the at least one location-determining unit. | 12-18-2014 |
20150012162 | Robotic-Mounted Monument System for Metrology Systems - A method and apparatus for aligning a number of measurement systems to a reference coordinate system. In one illustrative example, an apparatus may comprise a number of robotic vehicles and a number of monuments associated with the number of robotic vehicles. The number of robotic vehicles may be configured to move into an environment. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012163 | Autonomous mobile platform for service applications - The invention disclosed with this application is a autonomous mobile system comprising: a means of achieving mobility, a means of navigating, a means of providing autonomous power, and a means of providing general purpose computing. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012164 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DRIVING OF ROBOT - A method includes constructing map information by obtaining information of environment of a target mowing area, generating a 3-D space path along which the robot having mowing equipment mounted thereon is to move in the target mowing area based on the constructed map information, driving the robot so that the robot travels along the 3-D space path in response to an instruction for executing a mowing mode, extracting a ground area and an obstacle for robot driving by extracting information of a 3-D space when traveling along the 3-D space path, adaptively controlling the driving and mowing mode of the robot based on the extracted ground area and obstacle, and terminating the mowing mode when detecting a completion of the mowing for the target mowing area during the mowing mode. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012165 | VEHICLE SYSTEM, A VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS ROAD IRREGULARITY AVOIDANCE - A vehicle, a vehicle system and a method for allowing a host vehicle to autonomously avoid road irregularities are provided. The system communicates vehicle sensor data relating to detected road irregularities and host vehicle position information with an external database. A processor is arranged to determine a trajectory for the host vehicle for which all wheels of the host vehicle are laterally displaced from one or more road irregularities ahead of the host vehicle, and to autonomously steer the host vehicle along the determined trajectory. The system is also arranged to evaluate whether all wheels of the host vehicle were laterally displaced from all detected road irregularities and to send the result of the evaluation to the external database. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012166 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN AN AUTOMATED DRIVING MODE - A method for operating a motor vehicle in an automated driving mode includes: identifying, using two devices, the current position, the objects and open spaces currently present in the vehicle surroundings; respectively identifying, by the two devices, a trajectory for independent vehicle guidance; and in two regulation devices, control signals for actuator devices are respectively identified and control is applied, in accordance with the previously calculated trajectory, to longitudinal-dynamics-influencing actuators and to transverse-dynamics-influencing actuators for vehicle control. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012167 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR AN AUTONOMOUS LAND VEHICLE - A control device for an autonomous land vehicle, in particular truck or passenger car, which controls actuators of the vehicle to perform autonomous navigation on the basis of surroundings data acquired by sensors. The control device controls the actuators in accordance with input from the sensors and with a desired driving behavior selected by a vehicle occupant from among several available driving behaviors, such as defensive driving, moderate driving, economical driving or sporty driving. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012168 | Semi-Autonomous Dolly - Various systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system comprises a track comprising one or more sections, the track including track indicators readable by a track indicator sensor and used to determine a dolly's position on the track, and the dolly including one or more sensors and a processor, the one or more sensors including the track indicator sensor, the processor executing instructions that control an operation of the dolly including moving the dolly at least semi-autonomously along the track based on the track indicators, wherein moving the dolly at least semi-autonomously includes one of moving the dolly autonomously and moving the dolly semi-autonomously. | 01-08-2015 |
20150025731 | INTERACTIVE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM - 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. | 01-22-2015 |
20150025732 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AUTOMATIC PARKING - An automatic parking control apparatus and method are disclosed. The automatic parking control apparatus includes a selection unit, a processing unit, and a control unit. The selection unit selects a parking slot within a parking map received through a parking map reception unit. The processing unit computes a base point at which a vehicle is parallel to both sides of the selected parking slot when the vehicle enters the selected parking slot and a destination point at which automatic parking is completed, computes a start point and a cross point based on the base point, and establishes an automatic parking path including a plurality of sublines using the start point, the cross point, the base point and the destination point. The control unit controls the automatic parking so that the vehicle is parked along the automatic parking path. | 01-22-2015 |
20150032319 | PARKING CONTROL APPARATUS AND PARKING CONTROL METHOD - The present invention relates to a parking control apparatus and a parking control method. In particular, the present invention relates to a parking control apparatus and a parking control method in which an initial parking space searched while a vehicle is moved is corrected into a final parking space in a space recognition correction section based on a situation at the time of searching by the vehicle and information for an obstacle which is acquired while the vehicle moves along a first parking route, the position of the vehicle is changed, and then a final parking route is calculated. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032320 | WORKING APPARATUS FOR A LIMITED AREA - It is described a working apparatus for a limited working area, comprising a base station configured to generate a magnetic field and a self-propelling robot. The self-propelling robot comprises means for moving the self-propelling robot in the working area, a gyroscope, a magnetic field sensor and a processing unit configured to control the movement of the self-propelling robot. The processing unit comprises a magnetic field search module configured to move the self-propelling robot so as to search for the set of contiguous magnetic field lines of force inside the working area according to a defined search path, and comprises a magnetic field tracking module configured to move the self-propelling robot to track at least a portion of the set of found contiguous lines of force by means of a plurality of maneuvers of crossing the set of found contiguous lines of force until reaching the base station. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032321 | MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A DRIVER ASSISTANCE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle has a driver assistance device which is designed to guide the motor vehicle independently and can be switched between several assistance modes which differ in a degree of autonomy of the driver assistance device when driving the motor vehicle. An operating device having several operating elements allows the user to adjust respective driving parameters, which determine a driving behavior of the driver assistance device, in at least one of the assistance modes as a function of an activation of the operating elements. The operating device is designed in the form of a palm rest. Some of the operating elements are arranged on a support body. The support body is mounted such that it can be manually rotated about a vertical axis, and the driver assistance device is designed to adjust the currently active assistance mode as a function of a rotary position of the support body. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032322 | MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A DRIVER ASSISTANCE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE - The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a driver assistance device, which is designed to drive the motor vehicle independently during a journey of the motor vehicle and which in this case is switchable between a plurality of assistance modes. The motor vehicle furthermore comprises a first, a second and a third operating device ( | 01-29-2015 |
20150032323 | METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATIC GUIDANCE, IN PARTICULAR PARKING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND A DRIVER ASSISTANCE DEVICE - In a method for the automatic guidance, e.g., parking, of a motor vehicle, which has a driving device for driving the motor vehicle, braking equipment for braking the motor vehicle, as well as a transmission device, in a normal operation, the braking equipment carrying out automatic braking during the automatic guidance, it is provided that, when a fault of the braking equipment occurs during the automatic guidance, an emergency operation is carried out, in which the motor vehicle is braked automatically to a standstill only by using the driving device and/or the transmission device. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032324 | MINING VEHICLE - A mining vehicle is provided, which is capable of appropriately recognizing a condition of a traveling road in front of the vehicle, preventing an obstacle on a roadside from being erroneously detected by a distance detector, and controlling the speed of the vehicle in a stable manner even when the vehicle is approaching a curved portion of the road from a linear portion of the road. | 01-29-2015 |
20150039173 | METHOD AND APPRATUS FOR CAUSING AN ADJUSTMENT IN PARKING POSITION FOR VEHICLES - An approach is provided for processing and/or facilitating a processing of sensor information associated with one or more parked vehicles to determine one or more parking conditions, wherein at least one subset of the one or more parked vehicles is configured with one or more automatic movement systems. The approach involves determining at least one adjustment to the one or more of the parked vehicles based, at least in part, on the one or more parking conditions. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, (a) a presentation of at least one notification regarding the one or more parking conditions, the at least one adjustment, or a combination thereof (b) an activation of the one or more automatic movement systems to perform the at least one adjustment; or (c) a combination thereof. | 02-05-2015 |
20150046014 | UNDERWATER WORKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN UNDERWATER WORKING SYSTEM - The invention relates to an underwater work system | 02-12-2015 |
20150046015 | Method and Device for Assisting in Returning a Vehicle After Leaving a Roadway - The invention relates to a method for assisting in returning a vehicle ( | 02-12-2015 |
20150046016 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS MOPPING OF A FLOOR SURFACE - A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths. | 02-12-2015 |
20150051778 | VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE - A vehicle has at least one movement system which can influence the movement of the vehicle and which can operate in a normal mode or in at least one emergency mode. An availability coordinator is coupled to each movement system. A control system controls an autonomous driving process. The availability coordinator is coupled to the control system and is designed such that said coordinator monitors the availability of each movement system. The availability coordinator specifies whether each movement system is to operate in the normal mode or in one of the emergency modes dependent on at least one of the availabilities; and activates or deactivates the control system dependent on at least one of the availabilities. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051779 | AGRICULTURAL AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PLATFORM WITH ARTICULATED BASE - An autonomous vehicle platform and system for selectively performing an in-season management task in an agricultural field while self-navigating between rows of planted crops, the autonomous vehicle platform having a vehicle base with a width so dimensioned as to be insertable through the space between two rows of planted crops, the vehicle base having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is pivotably coupled to the second portion, and each of portion is operably coupled to at least one ground engaging wheel. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051780 | DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - A driver assistance system and a method for operating a driver assistance system are disclosed. The driver assistance system includes an actuation device configured for automatically actuating a brake unit, a drive unit or a steering unit. An input device enters a user request for a driving maneuver executable by the driver assistance. A releasing device selectively releases an operation of the driver assistance system based on whether a release for the driver assistance system to be operated by the passenger of the motor vehicle is effected by the driver of the motor vehicle by means of the releasing device. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051781 | Arrangement For Controlling Highly Automated Driving Of A Vehicle - An arrangement for controlling highly automated driving of a vehicle includes: a vehicle guiding device autonomously guiding the vehicle, an evaluation device evaluating a condition of a driver of the vehicle, and a control device controlling activation and deactivation of the vehicle guiding device. The control device activates or deactivates the vehicle guiding device on the basis of the remaining autonomous driving time during which the vehicle can be autonomously controlled by the vehicle guiding device and the reaction time of the driver. | 02-19-2015 |
20150057869 | LOCALITY ADAPTED COMPUTERIZED ASSISTED OR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING OF VEHICLES - Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with computerized assist or autonomous driving of vehicles are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a method may include receiving, by a computing device, a plurality of data associated with vehicles driving at various locations within a locality; and generating, by the computing device, one or more locality specific policies for computerized assisted or autonomous driving of vehicles at the locality, based at least in part on the data associated with vehicles driving at various locations within the locality. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057870 | PARKING ASSIST APPARATUS AND PARKING ASSIST METHOD THEREOF - A parking assist apparatus includes a detection unit that detects access information on door open with a current object provided at a parking line when parking a vehicle at the parking line, a control unit that receives the access information on door open with the current object detected in the detection unit, and includes a range of access information on door open with a reference object set in advance and parking assist line information, a determination unit that determines whether the access information on door open with the current object detected in the detection unit is in the range of access information on door open with the reference object in accordance with control of the control unit, and a parking operation unit that automatically parks the vehicle at a parking assist line corresponding to parking line information for enabling the door of the vehicle to be opened. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057871 | MAP DATA CREATION DEVICE, AUTONOMOUS MOVEMENT SYSTEM AND AUTONOMOUS MOVEMENT CONTROL DEVICE - The invention is intended to be able to generate map data even if a location not suited for identification of a matching position exists. A map data creation device creates map data, the map data being used for autonomous movement by a vehicle ( | 02-26-2015 |
20150066280 | PARKING ASSIST APPARATUS AND METHOD - Disclosed is a parking assist apparatus for a vehicle. The parking assist apparatus includes: a start sensor configured to sense a starting state of the vehicle; a vehicle speed sensor configured to sense a speed of the vehicle; a gear sensor configured to sense a gear state of the vehicle; and a parking control unit configured to control driving-out of the vehicle when the starting state of the vehicle is changed from an OFF state to an ON state, the speed of the vehicle is less than a reference speed, and the gear state is “Neutral” or “Park” when a signal instructing automatic parking of the vehicle is received from a driver. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066281 | ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTS - A roller assembly provides collision protection and stability to a mobile robot. The roller assembly includes a shaft forming an axis about which the roller assembly can rotate. The shaft has opposite ends configured to be supported by bearings in the robot. The roller assembly also includes an impact absorbing layer coaxially covering the shaft. It further includes a shell coaxially covering the impact absorbing layer having a lower coefficient of friction than the impact absorbing layer for providing low sliding friction. | 03-05-2015 |
20150073645 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR PICK-UP POINT RETRIEVAL TIMING - A method and arrangement are described for pick-up point retrieval timing in a vehicle having autonomous parking capabilities. The arrangement may include a communication interface arranged to receive data concerning a desired retrieval time. A processor may be arranged to monitor one or more parameters while the vehicle is performing autonomous driving along a route to a final slot until autonomous parking of the vehicle has been completed. The processor may be further arranged to calculate when to start autonomous return travel in order to be at the pick-up point at the desired retrieval time based on at least one monitored parameter. An actuator may be arranged to initiate autonomous travel to the pick-up point at the calculated return travel start time. | 03-12-2015 |
20150088357 | TRANSITIONING FROM AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CONTROL TO DRIVER CONTROL - Data is obtained concerning at least one attribute of a vehicle operator. The attribute is used to determine an instruction for positioning a vehicle component during autonomous operation of the vehicle. Autonomous operation of the vehicle, including positioning the vehicle component according to the instruction, is performed. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088358 | TRANSITIONING FROM AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CONTROL TO DRIVER CONTROL TO RESPONDING TO DRIVER CONTROL - Instructions are provided to at least one vehicle control for autonomous operation of a vehicle. A change in position is detected of at the least one vehicle control. A determination is made whether to modify operation of the vehicle at least in part according to the change in position of the at least one vehicle control. The autonomous operation of the vehicle is modified according to the change in position. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088359 | MOBILE ROBOT WITH RETURNING MECHANISM - A mobile robot having a returning mechanism includes one or more moving members mounted on a body of the mobile robot; and a cable member connected to one side of the mobile robot so as to supply the mobile robot with electrical power. Further, the mobile robot includes a returning member having a rigidity stronger than the cable member and disposed to wrap the cable member so that the cable member is placed within the returning member; and a take-up unit configured to pull the returning member to keep it taut. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088360 | Method for Autonomous Parking of a Motor Vehicle, Driver Assistance Device for Performing the Method and Motor Vehicle with the Driver Assistance Device - An autonomous parking procedure of a motor vehicle involves transferring a command to activate the autonomous parking procedure using a communication link between an operator situated outside the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle. Before beginning the autonomous parking procedure of the motor vehicle the target position and/or last driven trajectory of the motor vehicle is stored in a storage device. The motor vehicle then performs the parking procedure autonomously from the start position using the stored data after the first activation of the autonomous parking procedure. | 03-26-2015 |
20150094896 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM - A vehicle system includes an autonomous mode controller and an entertainment system controller. The autonomous mode controller controls a vehicle in an autonomous mode. The entertainment system controller presents media content on a first display while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode and on a second display when the vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode. A method includes determining whether a vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, presenting media content on a first display while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode, and transferring presentation of the media content to a second display when the vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094897 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM - A vehicle system includes an autonomous mode controller that controls a vehicle in an autonomous mode and an entertainment system controller that presents media content while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode. The entertainment system actuates a projection screen inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle and enables a projector to project media content onto the projection screen. A method includes determining whether a vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, and if so, actuating a projection screen inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle and enabling a projector to project media content onto the projection screen. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094898 | VEHICLE AUTONOMOUS MODE DEACTIVATION - A vehicle system includes an autonomous mode controller configured to control at least one vehicle subsystem when operating in an autonomous mode and a processing device configured to monitor a vehicle condition, compare the vehicle condition to a parameter defined by a maintenance schedule, and disable the autonomous mode when the vehicle condition exceeds the parameter and until the vehicle condition is reset. A method includes monitoring a vehicle condition while a vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, comparing the vehicle condition to a parameter defined by a maintenance schedule, and disabling the autonomous mode when the vehicle condition exceeds the parameter and until the vehicle condition is reset. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094899 | Method for Driver Assistance System of a Vehicle - a driver assistance system of a vehicle where the driver assistance system is able to control the vehicle at least partially automatically, a method alerts the driver to retake control of the vehicle from the driver assistance system based on the distance between the current location of the vehicle and an end of the autopilot capable route section. An end of an autopilot route section in a route planned for the vehicle is determined and distance information is determined between a current position of the vehicle and the end of the autopilot route section. The distance information is compared to a first and a second threshold value, and a first or a second indication is output as a function thereof. | 04-02-2015 |
20150100189 | VEHICLE-TO-INFRASTRUCTURE COMMUNICATION - A vehicle system includes at least one autonomous driving sensor that detects a location of a target vehicle, a communication device that receives infrastructure information from an infrastructure device, and a processing device that controls operation of at least one vehicle subsystem according to the infrastructure information. An exemplary method includes determining a location of a target vehicle, receiving infrastructure information from an infrastructure device, and controlling operation of at least one vehicle subsystem according to the infrastructure information. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100190 | MONITORING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE BRAKING - Instructions are provided to a vehicle braking mechanism for autonomous operation of the braking mechanism. At least one first parameter is retrieved for governing control of the braking mechanism. The first parameter is applied to operation of the braking mechanism. Data is collected relating to operation of the vehicle. At least one second parameter is determined for governing control of the braking mechanism. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100191 | MONITORING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE STEERING - A vehicle steering mechanism is autonomously operated. At least one first parameter for governing control of a steering mechanism is retrieved. The first parameter is applied to operation of the steering mechanism. Data is collected relating to operation of the vehicle. At least one second parameter for governing control of the steering mechanism is determined. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100192 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PLATOONING - An apparatus and method for controlling autonomous vehicle platooning are disclosed. The apparatus for controlling autonomous vehicle platooning includes a frame format configuration unit, a synchronization unit, and a contention window assignment unit. The frame format configuration unit configures the format of a frame included in a communication channel applicable to the control of autonomous vehicle platooning. The synchronization unit synchronizes a plurality of vehicles with one another using the frame so that the vehicles can perform the autonomous vehicle platooning. The contention window assignment unit assigns the different contention window values of a slot for management of the frame to the respective synchronized vehicles. The control is performed using the assigned contention window values so that the vehicles can participate in the autonomous vehicle platooning. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100193 | PARKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE - A parking assistance device includes: a route information storage unit storing in advance route information indicating a travel route at the time of parking, the route information being stored according to the forward start position; an inclination calculation unit configured to calculate a current inclination of a vehicle length direction of the vehicle with respect to the target parking position; an offset amount setting unit configured to set an offset amount in the interval direction of the forward route between the current vehicle position and the position at which the vehicle length direction is parallel with the forward route; and a guiding unit configured to guide the vehicle to the target parking position based on a travel route adjacent to the position at which the vehicle length direction is parallel with the forward route. | 04-09-2015 |
20150105960 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE MEDIA CONTROL - An event is detected arising during autonomous operation of a vehicle. An index in media content associated with the event is identified. At least one instruction is provided to a media module to pause or modify play of the media content based on the event. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105961 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND TASK MODELLING - A method, and apparatus for the performance thereof, comprising providing a first meta-model ( | 04-16-2015 |
20150105962 | AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR AG BASED OPERATIONS - The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105963 | AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR AG BASED OPERATIONS - The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105964 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUS LOCALIZATION AND MAPPING OF MOBILE ROBOT ENVIRONMENT - Techniques that optimize performance of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) processes for mobile devices, typically a mobile robot. In one embodiment, erroneous particles are introduced to the particle filtering process of localization. Monitoring the weights of the erroneous particles relative to the particles maintained for SLAM provides a verification that the robot is localized and detection that it is no longer localized. In another embodiment, cell-based grid mapping of a mobile robot's environment also monitors cells for changes in their probability of occupancy. Cells with a changing occupancy probability are marked as dynamic and updating of such cells to the map is suspended or modified until their individual occupancy probabilities have stabilized. In another embodiment, mapping is suspended when it is determined that the device is acquiring data regarding its physical environment in such a way that use of the data for mapping will incorporate distortions into the map, as for example when the robotic device is tilted. | 04-16-2015 |
20150112537 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS DUMP TRUCKS - Provided is a navigation system for autonomous dump trucks capable of preventing a dump truck from autonomously traveling on a carrying passage differing from the actual carrying passage even when the carrying passages for the dump truck have been altered. The navigation system is based on map data created by digitizing a map of roads on which the dump truck can travel. A control unit executes switching control between an autonomous mode to be selected when the autonomous traveling of the dump truck should be performed and a maneuver mode to be selected when the dump truck should travel according to an operator, based on version information of the map data used by the dump truck for the autonomous traveling and version information of master map data created by digitizing a map of the latest roads on which the dump truck can travel, managed by a control center. | 04-23-2015 |
20150120124 | PROCESS AND DEVICE TO ENABLE OR DISABLE AN AUTOMATIC DRIVING FUNCTION - A method and apparatus for activating or deactivating an automatic driving function of a technical system for assisting the driver of a motor vehicle, referred to as pilot below, based on system states of the pilot and between which predefined transitions are possible on the basis of predefined conditions. | 04-30-2015 |
20150127208 | REMOTE-CONTROLLED MANEUVERING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH THE AID OF A PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - The invention relates to a manoeuvring system ( | 05-07-2015 |
20150134175 | LOCATION-BASED MATERIAL GATHERING - A computer-implemented method and control system for gathering material is described. One or more vehicles may include an intake mechanism for material and a location-tracking system. A current orientation of the intake mechanism is identified based upon location information from the tracking system. A current orientation of the material is determined based upon historical location information for the material. A target orientation of the intake mechanisms is determined based upon the current orientation of the material. Movement of the intake mechanism is thus directed toward the determined target orientation. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134176 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING AUTOMATIC DRIVING OF VEHICLE - Provided are an apparatus and a method of controlling automatic driving of a vehicle, which adjust an operation mode of a map-supported system to a limited operation, a normal operation, and an emergent operation according to a driving situation for a safe operation of a map-supported driving assistant or automatic driving system. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134177 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING TRAVELING OF AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLE - Provided are an apparatus and method of controlling traveling of an automatic guided vehicle. The method includes: receiving information about a start point and a target point from and to which the automatic guided vehicle is to move; obtaining information about a shortest path between the start point and the target point; obtaining sensor information at one or more points on the shortest path; determining a travel direction of the automatic guided vehicle by using current sensor information about the automatic guided vehicle at a current point and the sensor information at the one or more points on the shortest path; controlling the automatic guided vehicle to travel in the determined travel direction; and ending the traveling if the current sensor information about the automatic guided vehicle that has traveled matches sensor information at the target point. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134178 | AUTONOMOUS MODE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle control system including human-control members generating signals for manual piloting of actuators of the vehicle, an automatic control module generating signals for automatic piloting of the actuators of the vehicle, and a switching module to select the manual-piloting signals in a manual mode of operation and the autonomous-piloting signals in an autonomous mode of operation. The automatic control module includes a block for automatic formulation of at least one calculated autonomous piloting signal and a security block to transmit to the switching module a calculated autonomous piloting signal in a case of normal autonomous operation and an emergency autonomous piloting signal in a case of abnormal autonomous operation. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134179 | SELF-TRAVELING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - Provided is a self-traveling electronic apparatus including a housing whose lower part is uniquely shaped so that the self-traveling electronic apparatus can climb over level differences smoothly. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134180 | AUTONOMOUS DRIVING CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD USING NAVIGATION TECHNOLOGY - An autonomous driving control apparatus and method using navigation technology are disclosed. The autonomous driving control apparatus includes a driving mode setting unit, a navigation unit, and an information provision unit. The driving mode setting unit sets the driving mode of a vehicle. The navigation unit offers guidance on a driving route to a destination input by the driver of the vehicle based on the set driving mode. The information provision unit, if the driving mode of the vehicle is set to autonomous driving mode, provides the navigator of an adjacent vehicle and the navigator of the terminal of a pedestrian with autonomous driving information received from the vehicle, and also provides the navigation unit with behavior information received from the adjacent vehicle and the terminal of the pedestrian. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134181 | POSITION ESTIMATION AND VEHICLE CONTROL IN AUTONOMOUS MULTI-VEHICLE CONVOYS - Techniques are provided for providing position estimations in an autonomous multi-vehicle convoy. Those techniques include initializing a convoy state, selecting a next sensor reading; predicting a convoy state, updating the convoy state, and broadcasting the convoy state to vehicles in the multi-vehicle convoy. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134182 | POSITION ESTIMATION AND VEHICLE CONTROL IN AUTONOMOUS MULTI-VEHICLE CONVOYS - Techniques are provided for providing position estimations in an autonomous multi-vehicle convoy. Those techniques include initializing a convoy state, selecting a next sensor reading; predicting a convoy state, updating the convoy state, and broadcasting the convoy state to vehicles in the multi-vehicle convoy. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134183 | INTUITIVE DRIVER INTERFACE FOR TRAILER BACKUP ASSIST - A trailer backup steering input apparatus is coupled to a vehicle. The trailer backup steering input apparatus comprises a rotatable control element (e.g., a knob) and a rotatable control element movement sensing device. The rotatable control element biased to an at-rest position between opposing rotational ranges of motion. The rotatable control element movement sensing device is coupled to the rotatable control element for sensing movement of the rotatable control element. The rotatable control element movement sensing device outputs a signal generated as a function of an amount of rotation of the rotatable control element with respect to the at-rest position, a rate movement of the rotatable control element, and/or a direction of movement of the rotatable control element with respect to the at-rest position. | 05-14-2015 |
20150142244 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGIING FAILURE IN AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for managing failure in an autonomous navigation system are provided. The method includes collecting, by a controller, failure information in the autonomous navigation system and a monitoring a driver condition. The controller is configured to collect the failure information in the autonomous navigation system, and determine whether to switch control from the autonomous navigation vehicle to a manual driving mode based on the driver condition. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142245 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH RECONFIGURABLE SEATS - A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and at least one seat located in the passenger compartment. The seat can be moved from a front-facing position to a rear-facing position for when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. The vehicle may further include autonomous driving sensors and an autonomous controller that receives signals generated by the autonomous driving sensors and controls at least one vehicle subsystems according to the signals received. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142246 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH RECONFIGURABLE INTERIOR - A vehicle includes a steering wheel located in a passenger compartment. The steering wheel is configured to be moved from an operational position to a stowed position. In the event of a collision, a first airbag is configured to deploy when the steering wheel is in the operational position and a second airbag is configured to deploy when the steering wheel is in the stowed position. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142247 | DUAL AIRBAGS IN VEHICLE WITH RECONFIGURABLE INTERIOR - A steering wheel in a vehicle can be in one of an operating position and a stowed position. Crash sensor data is monitored to detect a first and second frontal collision. Upon detecting the first frontal collision, a selected one of a first airbag and a second airbag is deployed depending on whether the steering wheel is in the stowed position or the operational position. When the steering wheel is in the operational position and a second collision is detected both the first and second airbags may be deployed. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142248 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING LOCATION AND HEADING INFORMATION OF AUTONOMOUS DRIVING VEHICLE ON ROAD WITHIN HOUSING COMPLEX - Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for providing location and heading information of an autonomous driving vehicle on a road within a housing complex. The apparatus includes an image sensor installed on an autonomous driving vehicle and configured to detect images of surroundings depending on motion of the autonomous driving vehicle. A wireless communication unit is installed on the autonomous driving vehicle and is configured to receive a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of inside of a housing complex transmitted from an in-housing complex management device in a wireless manner. A location/heading recognition unit is installed on the autonomous driving vehicle, and is configured to recognize location and heading of the autonomous driving vehicle based on the image information received from the image sensor and the GIS map of the inside of the housing complex received via the wireless communication unit. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142249 | COORDINATED TRANSPORT ROBOT SYSTEM - A coordinated transport robot system according to an embodiment includes: first and second robots each including a mobile unit and a movement control unit; first and second position error absorption mechanisms provided on the first and second robots; an impedance model estimating an external force from the amount of displacement detected by the passive element unit; an external force estimating unit estimating respective external forces acting on the first and second robots based on external forces estimated with a dynamics model and estimated by the impedance model; a compliance model calculating respective position correction amounts of the first and second robots to make an external force zero; and a movement command calculating unit calculating movement commands to the first and second robots based on the position correction amounts. Each of the movement control units control the respective mobile units based on the respective movement commands. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142250 | ROBOTIC PLATFORM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS - An autonomous vehicle platform and system for selectively performing an in-season management task in an agricultural field while self-navigating between rows of planted crops, the autonomous vehicle platform having a vehicle base with a width so dimensioned as to be insertable through the space between two rows of planted crops, the vehicle base having an in-season task management structure configured to perform various tasks, including selectively applying fertilizer, mapping growth zones and seeding cover crop within an agricultural field. | 05-21-2015 |
20150149017 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE MODES - A vehicle operator is identified. Based at least in part on the operator's identity, one or more parameters are determined specifying a mode for autonomously operating the vehicle. The vehicle is autonomously operated at least in part according to the one or more parameters. | 05-28-2015 |
20150149018 | WEARABLE COMPUTER IN AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE - A wearable computing device in a vehicle is identified by a vehicle in a computer. Collected data is received relating to autonomous operation of the vehicle. A message is sent to the wearable computing device based at least in part on the collected data. | 05-28-2015 |
20150149019 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION - A computer in a first vehicle is configured to receive data relating to a second vehicle. The computer may use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously. Further, the computer may cause the first vehicle to take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously. | 05-28-2015 |
20150149020 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING USE OF MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS IN A VEHICLE - A system and method for analyzing a driving pattern. A vehicle sensor monitor may be configured to receive information related to a vehicle driving system. A detector module may be configured to detect activity from a mobile device used while in a vehicle, wherein the information comprises mobile information while the mobile device is in use and non-mobile information while the mobile device is not in. A variance analysis module may be configured to correlate the activity with the mobile information to form a mobile driving pattern. | 05-28-2015 |
20150149021 | ROBOTIC VEHICLE CONTROL - A vehicle includes a detection system, configured to acquire data regarding operation of the vehicle, and a robotic driving device, configured to provide robotic control of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a control system configured to determine whether the robotic driving device is activated, such that the vehicle is in robotic driving mode; receive a request by a prospective operator of the vehicle to deactivate the robotic driving device to initiate a manual driving mode; determine whether the prospective operator is impaired based on the data; and selectively grant or refuse the request based on the determination. | 05-28-2015 |
20150149022 | METHODS FOR DENSE PARKING OF REMOTELY CONTROLLED OR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - A method of moving autonomous or driverless vehicles being parked or accessed in a parking area is disclosed. The vehicles are parked in columns spaced too closely to allow drivers to enter or exit. The movements of the vehicles are coordinated by a central computer which computes a set of movements, transmits them to the vehicles, and commands and controls the execution. Multiple vehicles are moved sequentially or simultaneously to the computed locations for access, storage or exit. Sensors in the vehicles can transmit relative location information to the central computer to be used in the computations. Vehicles can be shuffled from column to column or from the front to the rear of a column to allow access. Temporary aisles can be formed for exit by vehicles or for access for loading or unloading. | 05-28-2015 |
20150291157 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAUSING AN ADJUSTMENT IN PARKING POSITION FOR VEHICLES - An approach is provided for processing and/or facilitating a processing of sensor information associated with one or more parked vehicles to determine one or more parking conditions, wherein at least one subset of the one or more parked vehicles is configured with one or more automatic movement systems. The approach involves determining at least one adjustment to the one or more of the parked vehicles based, at least in part, on the one or more parking conditions. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, (a) a presentation of at least one notification regarding the one or more parking conditions, the at least one adjustment, or a combination thereof; (b) an activation of the one or more automatic movement systems to perform the at least one adjustment; or (c) a combination thereof. | 10-15-2015 |
20150291216 | DRIVE ASSIST DEVICE, AND DRIVE ASSIST METHOD - A driving assisting section includes a collision avoidance assisting section, which performs collision avoidance assistance for avoiding collision between a vehicle to be assisted and an object by prompting turning of the vehicle. The driving assisting section further includes a lane-keeping assisting section, which performs lane keeping assistance. An assist arbitrating section arbitrates between the collision avoidance assistance by the collision avoidance assisting section and the lane keeping assistance by the lane-keeping assisting section. | 10-15-2015 |
20150293216 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING, TRACKING AND ESTIMATING STATIONARY ROADSIDE OBJECTS - A system and method for selectively reducing or filtering data provided by one or more vehicle mounted sensors before using that data to detect, track and/or estimate a stationary object located along the side of a road, such as a guardrail or barrier. According to one example, the method reduces the amount of data by consolidating, classifying and pre-sorting data points from several forward looking radar sensors before using those data points to determine if a stationary roadside object is present. If the method determines that a stationary roadside object is present, then the reduced or filtered data points can be applied to a data fitting algorithm in order to estimate the size, shape and/or other parameters of the object. In one example, the output of the present method is provided to automated or autonomous driving systems. | 10-15-2015 |
20150298799 | QUADCOPTER WITH A PRINTABLE PAYLOAD EXTENSION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system of printable payload extensions of a quadcopter are disclosed. In one aspect, a quadcopter includes an airframe and a central portion of the airframe having at least one of an upper extender mechanism and a lower extender mechanism. The central portion includes a connection means that enables users of the quadcopter to design payload extensions that mechanically couple with the quadcopter using a three-dimensional (3D) printing device in conformance with the connection means as long as the payload extensions have a weight less than a maximum payload capacity of the quadcopter. The connection means to couple any of a set of payload extensions including a hook assembly, an interlocking building block platform assembly, a DSLR camera assembly, a HD camera assembly, and a container assembly through the central portion of the airframe. | 10-22-2015 |
20150301532 | NETWORKED MULTI-ROLE ROBOTIC VEHICLE - An autonomous vehicle having an interface for payloads that allows integration of various payloads. A vehicle control system controls an autonomous vehicle, receives data, and transmits a control signal on at least one network. A payload is adapted to detachably connect to the autonomous vehicle and includes a network interface configured to receive the control signal from the vehicle control system over the at least one network. The vehicle control system may encapsulate payload data and transmit the payload data over the at least one network, including Ethernet or CAN networks. The payload may be a laser scanner, a radio, chemical detection system, or GPS unit. In certain embodiments, the payload is a camera mast unit, where the camera communicates with the autonomous vehicle control system to detect and avoid obstacles. The camera mast unit may be interchangeable, and may include structures for receiving additional payload components. | 10-22-2015 |
20150302669 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING AN AIRBORNE VEHICLE - A method for inspecting an airborne vehicle involves equipping an unmanned mobile vehicle, UMV, with at least one sensor, maneuvering the UMV through an interior of the airborne vehicle, recording a plurality of scan parameters in the interior of the airborne vehicle by using the at least one sensor, associating the plurality of scan parameters with spatial positions within the airborne vehicle, and generating a parameter map of the interior of the airborne vehicle according to the associated spatial positions. | 10-22-2015 |
20150307090 | PARKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE - A parking assistance device includes an obstacle detection unit configured to detect an obstacle around a vehicle, a parking point detection unit configured to detect a parking target point where the vehicle can be parked based on the result of the obstacle detection, and a parking assistance control unit configured to guide the vehicle from a parking start point to the parking target point according to a guidance route based on the result of the obstacle detection and the result of the parking target point detection in a case where a traveling of the vehicle is detected during a period of time from a time when the vehicle reaches the parking start point to a time when a shift range is changed, the parking assistance control unit does not execute the guidance of the vehicle. | 10-29-2015 |
20150308837 | REGIONAL DRIVING TREND MODIFICATION USING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and a computer system for modifying regional driving habits. A computer determines a first value associated with a regional driving habit for a region. The computer determines a second value associated with a target driving habit, wherein the second value is not substantially equivalent to the first value. The computer determines that a number of at least semi-autonomous vehicles in an area is above a threshold value. The computer transmits information instructing the number of at least semi-autonomous vehicles to operate based on the second value. | 10-29-2015 |
20150309511 | BOT HAVING HIGH SPEED STABILITY - An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes at least two drive wheels and a controller, where each drive wheel is independently driven and a drive wheel encoder is disposed adjacent each drive wheel. The controller, in communication with the drive wheel encoders, is configured to determine a kinematic state of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage and retrieval system based on incremental data from the drive wheel encoders only and independent of drive wheel slippage. | 10-29-2015 |
20150309512 | REGIONAL OPERATION MODES FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - 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. | 10-29-2015 |
20150312327 | Lane Level Road Views - Methods for providing a lane-level road view include: (a) accessing lane-specific data comprising information characterizing a first segment of a first lane of a road in a direction of travel; and (b) communicating at least a portion of the lane-specific data to a client. Apparatuses for providing lane-level road views are described. | 10-29-2015 |
20150313438 | Auxiliary Oval Wheel for Robotic Devices - A method for an automated robotic wheeled device to overcome small obstacles, such as flooring thresholds, comprising a set of auxiliary ellipsoid or oval wheels that are engaged when the device detects that it is obstructed from moving forward. When the oval wheels are engaged, they turn and propel the device forward and upward so that it can effectively move over obstacles that would normally be too tall for the device to overcome. | 11-05-2015 |
20150314446 | Crawler Robot and Supporting Platform - A method and apparatus for installing a fastener in a surface of a structure. A crawler robot may comprise a first movement system and a second movement system. The first movement system may be configured to move the crawler robot and a track system along the surface. The second movement system may be configured to move the crawler robot along the track system on the surface. | 11-05-2015 |
20150314780 | Mode Transition for an Autonomous Vehicle - An autonomous vehicle may be operable in an autonomous mode and a manual mode. A confidence threshold is accessed from a database. The confidence threshold may be associated with a particular geographic area containing the autonomous vehicle. The confidence threshold may be constant for the geographic area accessible by the autonomous vehicle. A computing device calculates a vehicle confidence level based on at least one confidence factor and compares the confidence threshold to the vehicle confidence level. The computing device generates a driving mode command for a vehicle based on the comparison. In one example, the driving mode command transitions the autonomous vehicle to the autonomous mode, if applicable, when the vehicle confidence score exceeds the confidence threshold. In one example, the driving mode command transitions the autonomous vehicle to the manual mode, if applicable, when the vehicle confidence score does not exceed the confidence threshold. | 11-05-2015 |
20150314785 | DRIVER CONVENIENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING VERTICAL ANGLE ABNORMALITY OF RADAR THEREIN - A driver convenience system for determining a vertical angle abnormality of a radar includes: a radar which is mounted on a vehicle to detect vehicle-ahead information; and an electronic control unit which controls driving of the vehicle based on the vehicle-ahead information detected by the radar. The electronic control unit includes: a monitoring unit configured to monitor a stationary object based on the vehicle-ahead information detected by the radar; an updating unit configured to update a maximum detection distance between the stationary object monitored by the monitoring unit and the vehicle; a vertical angle estimating unit configured to estimate a vertical angle of the radar by using the maximum detection distance updated by the updating unit; and a determining unit configured to determine that a vertical angle abnormality occurs in the radar when the estimated vertical angle is out of a preset required mount angle. | 11-05-2015 |
20150321699 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREDICTIVE LANE CHANGE ASSISTANCE, PROGRAM SOFTWARE PRODUCT AND VEHICLE - A system and method assists a driver of a host vehicle in potential lane change situations. The method includes producing sensor data by a sensor physically sensing the environment of the host vehicle, predicting future movement behavior of at least one sensed vehicle, and determining whether a gap on a neighboring lane of the host vehicle exists. If the neighboring lane of the host vehicle would fit better for the predicted future movement behavior, a recommendation information signal is generated. Feasibility is determined by combining the determination result of the existence of a gap and the predicted future behavior. A notification for the host vehicle is output or, if lane change is feasible, signals for performing autonomous lane change based upon the recommendation information signal by the host vehicle are output. | 11-12-2015 |
20150323328 | VEHICLE COMPRISING EXTRACORPOREAL BLOOD TREATMENT MACHINE - A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle navigation system, a dialysis machine, and an interface providing an electrical communication between the dialysis machine and the vehicle navigation system. The dialysis machine is configured to perform a dialysis treatment on a patient while the vehicle is operating. The vehicle can be a car, a train, a plane, or another vehicle. | 11-12-2015 |
20150331421 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SET OF ROBOTS, AND SET OF ROBOTS - A method is provided for piloting a set of robots comprising, for each robot, a step of generation of a guidance instruction for the robot at a given instant, the guidance instructions for the set of robots being determined from a single set of constraints comprising a pack constraint comprising at least one set of at least one first relative positioning constraint between a robot and its neighbors of the first order in the pack for the set of robots to form a pack exhibiting a predetermined shape, the method further comprising a step of piloting of the robots so as to observe the guidance instruction. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331422 | Autonomous Vehicle Interface System - In embodiments of an autonomous vehicle interface system, system nodes are each implemented as a distributed node for independent data processing of low-level sensor data and/or high-level system data. The high-level system data is abstracted from the low-level sensor data, providing invariance to system configuration in higher-level processing algorithms. The autonomous vehicle interface system includes at least one real-time bus for data communications of the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data between the system nodes. The system also includes an application programming interface (API) configured for access by the system nodes to the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data that is published on the real-time bus and accessible via the API. | 11-19-2015 |
20150336502 | COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND EXTERNAL OBSERVERS - At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a method for an autonomous vehicle (e.g., a fully autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle) to communicate with external observers. The method includes: receiving a task at the autonomous vehicle; collecting data that characterizes a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle from a sensor coupled to the autonomous vehicle; determining an intended course of action for the autonomous vehicle to undertake based on the task and the collected data; and conveying a human understandable output via an output device, the human understandable output expressly or implicitly indicating the intended course of action to an external observer. | 11-26-2015 |
20150339928 | Using Autonomous Vehicles in a Taxi Service - Technology is described for operating a fleet of autonomous vehicles. A request for a taxi service may be received from a mobile device. The request may include a current location of the mobile device. They request may indicate that the taxi service is to be performed at a current time. An autonomous vehicle may be selected from the fleet of autonomous vehicles to perform the taxi service based in part on an availability of the autonomous vehicle and a proximity between the autonomous vehicle and the current location of the mobile device. Instructions may be provided to the autonomous vehicle to perform the taxi service according to the request. The autonomous vehicle may be configured to provide commands to drive the autonomous vehicle to the current location of the mobile device in order to perform the taxi service. | 11-26-2015 |
20150345959 | VEHICLE TRAJECTORY OPTIMIZATION FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle includes obtaining information describing a roadway; defining a plurality of layers along the roadway between a starting position and a goal position, each layer having a first width, and each layer having a plurality of nodes that are spaced from one another transversely with respect to the roadway within the first width; and determining a first trajectory from the starting position to the goal position, by minimizing a cost value associated with traversing the layers. Determining the first trajectory includes, for each layer, determining layer-specific weighting factors for each of a plurality of cost components, based on information associated with the respective layer, and determining, for each node of the respective layer, a cost for travelling to one or more of the nodes in a subsequent layer based on the plurality of cost components and the layer-specific weighting factors. | 12-03-2015 |
20150345966 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE LANE ROUTING AND NAVIGATION - A method and apparatus for autonomous vehicle lane routing and navigation are provided. Autonomous vehicle lane routing and navigation may include identifying vehicle transportation network information including road segment information and lane information, wherein the road segment information for at least one road segment from the plurality of road segments includes lane information representing at least two adjacent lanes, identifying an origin, identifying a destination, generating a plurality of candidate routes from the origin to the destination, wherein each route from the plurality of routes indicates a distinct combination of road segments and lanes, and wherein at least one candidate route from the plurality of candidate routes includes at least one of the adjacent lanes, identifying an optimal route from the plurality of candidate routes, the optimal route having a minimal route cost, and operating the autonomous vehicle to travel from the origin to the destination using the optimal route. | 12-03-2015 |
20150346724 | VARIABLY CONTROLLED GROUND VEHICLE - Method and apparatus for providing autonomous control of a vehicle. A vehicle can be manually controlled by an operator. An autonomous system can monitor the operator's control inputs and the environment of the vehicle to determine whether the control inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If control inputs are not safe, then the autonomous system can modify the operator's unsafe inputs into safe inputs. In various instances, the autonomous system can operate the vehicle without operator input. In the event an operator attempts to apply control inputs to the vehicle while the autonomous system is otherwise in control, the autonomous system can check to see whether the operator's inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If the operator's control inputs are safe, then the autonomous system can replace its autonomous commands with the operator's commands. | 12-03-2015 |
20150346727 | Parking Autonomous Vehicles - Technology is described for parking autonomous vehicles. An autonomous vehicle may receive an instruction to park the autonomous vehicle. The instruction may be received when the autonomous vehicle is in a preselected location. The autonomous vehicle may select at least one parking area that potentially has available parking spaces to park the autonomous vehicle using, in part, a defined set of parking criteria. Commands may be provided to drive the autonomous vehicle to the parking area. The autonomous vehicle may be configured to select an available parking space within the parking area to park the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may send a confirmation message after the autonomous vehicle is parked in the available parking space within the parking area. The confirmation message may include a parking location associated with the autonomous vehicle. | 12-03-2015 |
20150346728 | Implement Guidance - Efficient towed implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a towing vehicle toward a path on the opposite side of a desired path, then guiding the vehicle back to the desired path. Efficient forward implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a pushing vehicle along a tractrix. A vehicle leaves a straight line along a tractrix to keep a rear implement on the line as long as possible. | 12-03-2015 |
20150348335 | Performing Services on Autonomous Vehicles - Technology is described for performing services on an autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may detect that a service is to be performed on the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may select a service center to perform the service on the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may provide commands to drive the autonomous vehicle to the service center to enable performance of the service on the autonomous vehicle. | 12-03-2015 |
20150353080 | AUTOMATIC PARKING SYSTEM - An automatic parking system is disclosed. The automatic parking system includes: a monitoring device configured to monitor a parking space and a traveling path in a parking lot; an automatic drive unit configured to perform an automatic drive control for a vehicle in the parking lot to move from a current position to a predetermined target position in the parking lot based on a monitoring result of the monitoring device; and a contact determination unit configured to perform a contact determination between the vehicle in the automatic drive control and an obstacle, based on the monitoring result, or the like. In a case where the contact determination is performed by the contact determination unit, the automatic drive unit causes the vehicle to stop, and then, causes the vehicle to move to a removal position and to be parked using the automatic drive control. | 12-10-2015 |
20150353088 | VEHICLE DRIVING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND VEHICLE DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHOD - An in-vehicle system includes a vehicle position detection unit and a vehicle position calculation unit that detect a vehicle position, a road condition prediction unit that predicts a road condition at a position in front of the detected vehicle position, an automatic driving continuation determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle automatic driving can be continued at the position in front of the vehicle based on the road condition predicted by the road condition prediction unit, and an automatic driving cancellation warning unit that warns of cancellation of the vehicle automatic driving when the automatic driving continuation determination unit determines that it is difficult to continue the vehicle automatic driving. | 12-10-2015 |
20150353094 | OVERTAKE ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENT AND SYSTEM AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH AN OVERTAKE ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENT - An autonomous vehicle, an overtake assessment arrangement, and an overtake assessment system are provided. The overtake assessment arrangement is configured to receive, from at least one external source, real time traffic information on one or more surrounding vehicles outside a sensor monitoring area, assess whether to overtake at least one preceding vehicle within the sensor monitoring area or not, based on the real time traffic information received via the communication unit, and provide a vehicle drive arrangement with input indicative of the assessment, such that the vehicle drive arrangement is able to control the host vehicle to overtake the at least one preceding vehicle or not in accordance with the input. | 12-10-2015 |
20150355640 | MAPPING ACTIVE AND INACTIVE CONSTRUCTION ZONES FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING - Aspects of the present disclosure relate to differentiating between active and inactive construction zones. In one example, this may include identifying a construction object associated with a construction zone. The identified construction object may be used to map the area of the construction zone. Detailed map information may then be used to classify the activity of the construction zone. The area of the construction zone and the classification may be added to the detailed map information. Subsequent to adding the construction zone and the classification to the detailed map information, the construction object (or another construction object) may be identified. The location of the construction object may be used to identify the construction zone and classification from the detailed map information. The classification of the classification may be used to operate a vehicle having an autonomous mode. | 12-10-2015 |
20150355641 | LANE CHANGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE - A lane changing apparatus of an autonomous vehicle includes a lane recognizer, a vehicle information collector, a control information calculator, a controller and a steering apparatus. The lane recognizer is configured to recognize a lane of a road on which the vehicle is driving and extract road information from the recognized lane. The vehicle information collector is configured to collect vehicle information by a variety of sensors installed in the vehicle. The control information calculator is configured to calculate control information for changing the lane by using the vehicle information and the road information. The controller is configured to control a yaw rate of the vehicle based on the control information upon changing the lane. The steering apparatus is configured to change a moving direction of the vehicle according to a control of the controller. | 12-10-2015 |
20150360684 | TRAVEL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - A travel control apparatus for a vehicle detects a vehicle to be passed that is an target of passing and is located in front of a vehicle equipped with the travel control apparatus in a traveling lane thereof on the basis of peripheral environment information and travel information, detects a following vehicle that is behind the vehicle in the traveling lane thereof as a following vehicle in the original lane on the basis of the peripheral environment information, monitors the vehicle to be passed and the following vehicle in the original lane, and variably controls a passing maneuver with respect to the vehicle to be passed on the basis of a monitoring result. | 12-17-2015 |
20150360686 | SAFE DRIVING GUIDING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - Provided is a safe driving guiding system. The safe driving guiding system includes: a vehicle-drivable space extracting unit configured to extract a vehicle-drivable space by using distance information from a vehicle to an object detected by a distance measuring sensor and a vehicle-drivable space by using object information detected by an object detecting sensor; a dynamic driving space extracting unit configured to extract a dynamic driving space by using movement information of a vehicle detected by a movement detecting sensor; and an accident occurrence predicting unit configured to determine an overlap degree between the vehicle-drivable space and the dynamic driving space, and control initiation of an operation of at least one of a lane departure warning system and a lane keeping assistance system. | 12-17-2015 |
20150360692 | Robust Method for Detecting Traffic Signals and their Associated States - Methods and devices for detecting traffic signals and their associated states are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example method includes a scanning a target area using one or more sensors of a vehicle to obtain target area information. The vehicle may be configured to operate in an autonomous mode, and the target area may be a type of area where traffic signals are typically located. The method may also include detecting a traffic signal in the target area information, determining a location of the traffic signal, and determining a state of the traffic signal. Also, a confidence in the traffic signal may be determined. For example, the location of the traffic signal may be compared to known locations of traffic signals. Based on the state of the traffic signal and the confidence in the traffic signal, the vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous mode. | 12-17-2015 |
20150360697 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING DANGEROUS DRIVING INDEX FOR VEHICLE - Provided are a system and method for managing dangerous driving index for vehicle. The system includes a driver's vehicle driving trajectory generator configured to generate a driver's vehicle driving trajectory, based on driver's vehicle driving information input from an internal sensor which senses a driving situation of the driver's vehicle, a peripheral vehicle trajectory generator configured to generate a peripheral vehicle trajectory, based on ambient environment information input from an external sensor which senses the driving situation of the driver's vehicle, a trajectory load calculator configured to calculate a trajectory load representing a comparison result which is obtained by comparing a predetermined threshold value with a trajectory distance which is a difference between the peripheral vehicle trajectory and the driver's vehicle driving trajectory, and a dangerous index manager configured to generate a dangerous driving index corresponding to the calculated trajectory load. | 12-17-2015 |
20150362921 | SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT RECOGNITION DEVICE, AUTONOMOUS MOBILE SYSTEM USING SAME, AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT RECOGNITION METHOD - A cleaning robot ( | 12-17-2015 |
20150364039 | REGIONAL DRIVING TREND MODIFICATION USING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and a computer system for modifying regional driving habits. A computer determines a first value associated with a regional driving habit for a region. The computer determines a second value associated with a target driving habit, wherein the second value is not substantially equivalent to the first value. The computer determines that a number of at least semi-autonomous vehicles in an area is above a threshold value. The computer transmits information instructing the number of at least semi-autonomous vehicles to operate based on the second value. | 12-17-2015 |
20150366130 | A Robotic Work Tool Configured for Improved Turning in a Slope, a Robotic Work Tool System, and a Method for Use in the Robot Work Tool - Robotic work tool ( | 12-24-2015 |
20150367845 | PARKING ASSIST APPARATUS - A parking assist apparatus that causes a vehicle to be parked in a target parking position generates a traveling route of a vehicle M from a parking travel start position P | 12-24-2015 |
20150367846 | SEMI-AUTOMATIC METHOD FOR ASSISTING WITH PARKING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE - Method for assisting with the parking of a motor vehicle, includes the steps of:
| 12-24-2015 |
20150370253 | Systems For a Shared Vehicle - The present invention relates to a system for automatically adjusting a vehicle feature of a vehicle, where the system includes a first sensor, an onboard computer, a camera, a mirror, a controller; an actuator; and an algorithm. The algorithm instructs the onboard computer in steps for adjusting one or more vehicle features. The first sensor and the controller are in electronic communication with the onboard computer and the controller is in electronic communication with one or more actuators that connect to and adjust the various vehicle features. The onboard computer includes or accesses a database that correlates users, features, and vehicle feature settings. Such vehicle features include seat position and camera viewing angle. | 12-24-2015 |
20150370257 | SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE IMPLEMENTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTROL - A self-controlled device maintains a frame of reference about an x-, y- and z-axis. The self-controlled device processes an input to control the self-propelled device, the input being based on the x- and y-axis. The self-propelled device is controlled in its movement, including about each of the x-, y- and z-axis, based on the input. | 12-24-2015 |
20150374191 | ROBOT CLEANER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a control method thereof. The control method includes determining by a controller a connection between a user terminal and the robot cleaner and allowing communication between the user terminal and the robot cleaner, receiving a signal regarding a tilt direction of the user terminal by a wireless communication unit and conforming by the controller a tilting of the user terminal, and driving by the controller the robot cleaner in accordance with the received signal. | 12-31-2015 |
20150375742 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE FORWARD PARKING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE - A method and a device for the forward parking of a motor vehicle into a perpendicular parking space, wherein the motor vehicle includes an apparatus for detecting objects in the environment of the motor vehicle. The method includes detecting an object in the environment of the motor vehicle; determining the position of the object in relation to the motor vehicle; selecting a situation-dependent parking strategy as a function of the combination of the position of the object in relation to the motor vehicle and the turn signal position “left”, “right”, or “neutral” under the assumption of a perpendicular parking space next to the detected object; and performing a parking process on the basis of the situation-dependent parking strategy. | 12-31-2015 |
20150375757 | Autonomous driving system for a vehicle and method for carrying out the operation - An autonomous driving system for a vehicle includes: a computer unit which evaluates surroundings-related and vehicle-related data with the aid of sensors and carries out an automatic driving operation based on the data; a lead time calculator assigned to the computer unit and determining a lead time by evaluating the surroundings-related and vehicle-related data, the lead time requiring an intervention by the driver; and a comfort time calculator assigned to the computer unit and calculating a reaction time of the driver by evaluating driver-related data, the comfort time calculator continuously comparing the lead time with the reaction time and determining therefrom a comfort time which is determined by taking the difference between the lead time and the reaction time. When the comfort time reaches zero, a countermeasure including a prewarning of the driver and/or a mode change of the driving system is initiated. | 12-31-2015 |
20160001777 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR ENTERING A PRECEDING VEHICLE AUTONOMOUS FOLLOWING MODE - 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. | 01-07-2016 |
20160004253 | SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE IMPLEMENTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTROL - A self-controlled device maintains a frame of reference about an x-, y- and z-axis. The self-controlled device processes an input to control the self-propelled device, the input being based on the x- and y-axis. The self-propelled device is controlled in its movement, including about each of the x-, y- and z-axis, based on the input. | 01-07-2016 |
20160004254 | CONTROL APPARATUS - A control apparatus is used in a vehicle that performs automatic travel control. The apparatus includes a search section which searches for an external unit, when information used for the automatic travel control is no longer available due to abnormality, the external unit providing assist information for complementing missing information that is the information no longer available due to the abnormality, an acquisition section which acquires the assist information from the external unit obtained as a result of the search of the search section, and a processing section which performs a process for performing assist travel control, which is the automatic travel control as a result of complementing the missing information with the assist information. | 01-07-2016 |
20160009291 | SELECTABLE AUTONOMOUS DRIVING MODES | 01-14-2016 |
20160011593 | Mobile Platforms for Performing Operations Along an Exterior of a Fuselage Assembly | 01-14-2016 |
20160016589 | STATUS DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A status determination apparatus determining a driver status in a movable body is provided. The status determination apparatus includes a behavior acquisition portion, a check portion, a determination portion, and a range change portion. The behavior acquisition portion obtains behavior information as present behavior information. The behavior information represents behavior of the movable body. The check portion collates the present behavior information with a threshold region representing a range of the behavior information at time when a driver drives absentmindedly. When the threshold region includes the present behavior information, the determination portion determines that the driver drives absentmindedly. The range change portion changes the threshold region. When the range change portion changes the threshold region, the driver is not determined that the driver drives absentmindedly when a driving support control is executed, and the check portion collates the present behavior information with the changed threshold region. | 01-21-2016 |
20160025505 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING GLOBAL PATH FOR AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE - There are provided an apparatus and method for generating a global path for an autonomous vehicle. The apparatus for generating a global path for an autonomous vehicle includes a sensor module including one or more sensors installed in the vehicle, a traffic information receiver configured to receive traffic information through wireless communication, a path generator configured to generate one or more candidate paths based on the traffic information, a difficulty evaluator configured to evaluate a difficulty of driving in the one or more candidate paths in each section of the one or more candidate paths using recognition rates of the one or more sensors and the traffic information, and an autonomous driving path selector configured to finally select an autonomous driving path by evaluating the one or more candidate paths based on the evaluation of the difficulty of driving. | 01-28-2016 |
20160026180 | CROWD-SOURCED TRANSFER-OF-CONTROL POLICY FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES - An automated vehicle includes a control system configured to selectively transfer the automated vehicle from an automated control mode to a manual control mode based on a transfer-of-control criterion. The transfer-of-control criterion is based on a current context of the automated vehicle and a dataset of previous transfer-of-control events and previous contexts associated with the operation of a plurality of additional automated vehicles. | 01-28-2016 |
20160026182 | Personalized Driving of Autonomously Driven Vehicles - Methods for personalized driving of autonomously driven vehicles include: (a) downloading at least a portion of a driving profile to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is configured for autonomous driving and wherein the driving profile is associated with a specific driver; and (b) executing one or a plurality of operating instructions prescribed by the driving profile, such that the vehicle is operable in a driving style imitative of the specific driver. Apparatuses for personalized driving of autonomously driven vehicles are described. | 01-28-2016 |
20160026183 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REAL-TIME QUANTUM COMPUTER-BASED CONTROL OF MOBILE SYSTEMS - Systems and methods for integrating quantum computing systems into mobile systems for the purpose of providing real-time, quantum computer-based control of the mobile systems are described. A mobile system includes a data extraction subsystem that extracts data from an external environment of the mobile system and a quantum computing subsystem that receives data from the data extraction subsystem and performs a quantum computing operation in real-time using the data from the data extraction subsystem. A result of the quantum computing operation influences a behavior of the mobile system, such as the navigation of the mobile system or an action performed by the mobile system. The on-board quantum computing subsystem includes on-board quantum computing infrastructure that is adapted to suit the needs and spatial constraints of the mobile system. | 01-28-2016 |
20160026187 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CHOOSING LEADER VEHICLE OF A VEHICLE PLATOON - A method in a vehicle platoon including at least one leader vehicle and at least one additional vehicle, where the leader vehicle is intended to detect ambient conditions. The method includes the steps of: appointing (s | 01-28-2016 |
20160029940 | DRIVING ASSISTANCE DEVICE, DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHOD, INFORMATION-PROVIDING DEVICE, INFORMATION-PROVIDING METHOD, NAVIGATION DEVICE AND NAVIGATION METHOD - A heartbeat sensor obtains a heartbeat of a driver. A concentration level computing unit estimates a concentration level of the driver at a time later than a timing of obtaining the heartbeat by the heartbeat sensor, on the basis of the heartbeat obtained by the heartbeat sensor. A state determining unit controls driving assistance for a vehicle on the basis of a comparison of the concentration level of the driver estimated by the concentration level computing unit with a target concentration level of the driver that is set in association with a position or an environment in which the vehicle driven by the driver is predicted to travel. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031441 | SELF-EXPLAINING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE - A method for apprising a driver to a change in automation level of an automated self-drive system for a vehicle includes identifying an expected automation level change and communicating a required engagement level. The driver is thereby apprised of an appropriate level of engagement with each of a multiple of manual vehicle controls. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031448 | WORK VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR WORK VEHICLE - A work vehicle includes: a first control system that controls a traveling of a work vehicle; a second control system that controls the traveling of the work vehicle via the first control system by using set information; a first communication line used for communication between the first control system and the second control system; and a second communication line that transmits information to the first control system from the second control system, wherein the second control system generates information for controlling an engine of the work vehicle and information for controlling a brake device of the work vehicle, and transmits the information for controlling the engine and the information for controlling the brake device to the first control system via the second communication line by an information transmission system different from an information transmission system by the first communication line. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031450 | Systems and Methods for Building Road Models, Driver Models, and Vehicle Models and Making Predictions Therefrom - Systems and methods for building road models, driver models, and vehicle models and making predictions may use driving data received from a plurality of vehicles being driving along a path by a driver. The driving data including a minimum of vehicle location preferably supplemented by data related to the time of observations, vehicle dynamics, and various vehicle sensors. The received data may be categorized into a plurality of maneuvers and a plurality of variables that describe the maneuvers and the received driving data may be identified. A road model may then be built for the path based on the identified variables and maneuvers and the behaviors of a particular driver compared to the road model to assess their driving and intervene as appropriate. | 02-04-2016 |
20160033965 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE AUTONOMOUS CONTROL OF MOTOR VEHICLES - The invention relates to a device for controlling the braking and/or steering and/or acceleration in a motor vehicle, wherein the device has a number of different sensor components, two diverse sensor fusion components, a man/machine interface component and a preferably intelligent actuator controller component, wherein each of these components constitutes a fault-containment unit and has a TTEthernet communications interface, and wherein all components are connected to a central TTEthernet message distribution unit, and wherein the components communicate with one another exclusively with use of standardised Ethernet messages, and wherein a diagnosis unit for time-correct monitoring of the exchanged messages can be connected to the TTEthernet message distribution unit. | 02-04-2016 |
20160033967 | SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE WITH ACTIVELY ENGAGED DRIVE SYSTEM - A self-propelled device is provided including a drive system, a spherical housing, and a biasing mechanism. The drive system includes one or more motors that are contained within the spherical housing. The biasing mechanism actively forces the drive system to continuously engage an interior of the spherical housing in order to cause the spherical housing to move. | 02-04-2016 |
20160033968 | WORK VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR WORK VEHICLE - The present invention provides a work vehicle including a control system that can switch between a first driving mode for allowing the work vehicle to travel in a manned state and a second driving mode for allowing the work vehicle to travel in an unmanned state, wherein the control system controls such that, during an execution of the second driving mode, a number of types of information exchanged by communication in the control system becomes less than that during the first driving mode, or a communication interval of information exchanged by the communication in the control system becomes longer than that during the first driving mode. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035224 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING VIRTUAL SIGHTSEEING USING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES - A system of virtual sightseeing using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and methods of making and using same. The virtual sightseeing system can include a plurality of UAVs arranged over a geographical area of interest in one or more ground configurations. In response to a sightseeing request, one or more UAVs are activated and deployed to a sightseeing region of interest. The UAVs travel to the region of interest and, upon arriving, acquire data for presentation in real-time. The data can include both visual and non-visual data from the region of interest and can be presented in integrated fashion in a virtual reality terminal. The virtual sightseeing is supervised by an operational subsystem that is responsible for efficient allocation of UAVs in response to multiple sightseeing requests. Even if physically separate, the subsystems of the virtual sightseeing system can communicate via a data communication subsystem, such as a wireless network. | 02-04-2016 |
20160039428 | AUTOMATIC OPERATION VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS - An automatic operation vehicle control apparatus includes a contact detecting unit, an override detecting unit, and an automatic operation control unit. The contact detecting unit detects the presence of contact of a hand or hands of a driver with a steering wheel of a vehicle. The override detecting unit detects the presence of override on the steering wheel by the driver on the basis of the result of the detection by the contact detecting unit. The automatic operation control unit switches the operation mode at least including the automatic operation and the manual operation of the vehicle on the basis of the result of the detection by the override detecting unit. | 02-11-2016 |
20160041553 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - In a vehicle control device that is configured to be capable of switching from an automatic travel of the vehicle to manual travel by a driver, a manual driving adaptation degree of a driver during an automatic travel is calculated based on a driver state (S | 02-11-2016 |
20160042650 | Personalized Driving Ranking and Alerting - Methods for communicating a ranking characterizing a portion of a roadway include: (a) ranking at least one segment of a roadway based on an amount of deviation between a true driving behavior on the at least one segment of the roadway and an expected driving behavior predefined for the at least one segment of the roadway; and (b) communicating the ranking to a client. Apparatuses for communicating a ranking characterizing a portion of a roadway are described. | 02-11-2016 |
20160046261 | ADVANCED SEATBELT INTERLOCK USING VIDEO RECOGNITION - Computing devices, methods, and systems for locking vehicle operations when an occupant is not wearing a correctly positioned seatbelt are disclosed. One example method for locking vehicle operations includes identifying an occupant position and a seatbelt position based on information relating to an occupant of the vehicle and a seatbelt associated with the occupant; determining whether the occupant is correctly wearing the seatbelt based at least in part on the occupant position, the seatbelt position, and a reference model; and locking one or more vehicle operations if the occupant is not correctly wearing the seatbelt. Example implementations include using depth-sensing cameras, rendering a three-dimensional model representing the occupant position and the seatbelt position, and comparing the three-dimensional model and the reference model. Examples of vehicle operations that may be locked include ignition operations, gear shift operations, and autonomous driving operations. | 02-18-2016 |
20160054735 | VEHICLE PLATOONING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for coordinating and controlling vehicles, for example heavy trucks, to follow closely behind each other, or linking, in a convenient, safe manner and thus to save significant amounts of fuel while increasing safety. In an embodiment, on-board controllers in each vehicle interact with vehicular sensors to monitor and control, for example, relative distance, relative acceleration/deceleration, and speed. Additional safety features in at least some embodiments include providing each driver with one or more visual displays of forward and rearward looking cameras. Long-range communications are provided for coordinating vehicles for linking, and for communicating analytics to fleet managers or others. | 02-25-2016 |
20160057920 | Three-Dimensional Elevation Modeling For Use In Operating Agricultural Vehicles - 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. | 03-03-2016 |
20160057925 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND MONITORING OPERATION OF AN AUTONOMOUS ROBOT - A system and method for monitoring and controlling operation of an autonomous robot. In one aspect, the autonomous robot is a lawnmower and the system comprises: an autonomous robot lawnmower comprising a housing, a transceiver, and a central processing unit; an external device in operable communication with the autonomous robot lawnmower, the external device having a transceiver for sending signals to the autonomous robot lawnmower and a display; and wherein in response to user input, the external device is configured to modify settings related to operation of the autonomous robot lawnmower. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059411 | MOBILE DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING OBJECTS - The present invention relates to an apparatus for manipulating articles in which a multiaxial industrial robot ( | 03-03-2016 |
20160059858 | Method and Device for an Overtaking Assistant - A method for an overtaking assistant for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle is equipped with environment sensing systems for detecting objects in the own and an adjacent lane on the sides and at the rear of the vehicle. The space in front of the vehicle is preferably detected by environmental sensors as well. Autonomous cutting into an adjacent lane is only initiated if a first vehicle is detected in the adjacent lane. The first vehicle is taken as a reference for a speed of vehicles in the passing lane. It is also assumed that a second vehicle that approaches the first vehicle fast in the same lane has detected the first vehicle and will adjust its speed to the speed of the first vehicle. | 03-03-2016 |
20160061608 | CARRIER - In a carrier in which its position is obtained by detecting reflected light using a distance measuring sensor, the position of the carrier is able to be accurately identified in all circumstances. A distance measuring sensor of the carrier is provided in a carrier main body, and measures an intensity of reflected light a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of pieces of measured data. A map database stores map data in which columns provided on a pathway are recorded. A position calculator calculates center points based on a set of measured data having a light intensity greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold among the plurality of pieces of measured data, and then calculates a position of the carrier main body by matching a straight line connecting a plurality of the sets to a straight line of the map data using the center points. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062357 | Mobile Body and Position Detection Device - A position detection device includes position identification means ( | 03-03-2016 |
20160062358 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUSLY NAVIGATING UTILITY VEHICLE - In an autonomously navigating utility vehicle adapted to run a working area defined by a laid boundary wire autonomously having a pair of magnetic sensors installed on either sides of the vehicle at positions laterally symmetrical with respect to a vehicle straight forward center line to produce outputs indicating intensity of magnetic field of the wire, an angular velocity sensor adapted to produce an output indicating angular velocity around a vertical axis of the vehicle, the vehicle is controlled to move to a prescribed position at which an angle of the center line relative to the laid wire becomes a reference angle based on the outputs of the magnetic sensors, and to turn by 180 degrees, and calibrates the output of the angular velocity sensor by outputs of the angular velocity sensor obtained at the turning. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062362 | MEDIA MOBILITY UNIT (MMU) AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a source media library configured to send a message to a destination media library when a media cartridge from the source media library is sent to the destination media library using a media mobility unit (MMU), and/or a destination media library configured to receive a message from a source media library when a media cartridge from the source media library is sent to the destination media library using a MMU. In another embodiment, a method for transporting a media cartridge includes receiving one or more media cartridges from a source media library, storing the media cartridge(s) in a holding portion of a media mobility unit, sensing at least an approximate location of the media mobility unit, transporting the media cartridge(s) to a destination library; and transferring the media cartridge(s) from the MMU to the destination media library. | 03-03-2016 |
20160068103 | MANAGEMENT OF DRIVER AND VEHICLE MODES FOR SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEMS - A least restrictive allowable driving state of a semi-autonomous driving system is determined based on one or more threats and sensor performance. A current driving state and a future driving state are determined based on an attention state and a steering state of a driver. Warnings are provided to the driver in order to match the current driving state to the future driving state. Driver interaction and attention are enforced when the driver does not respond to the warnings. | 03-10-2016 |
20160070267 | AUTOMATED SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING AND SUPPORTING PATIENTS - Systems, devices, and methods are described for moving a patient to and from various locations, care units, etc., within a care facility. For example, a transport and support vehicle includes a body structure including a plurality of rotatable members operable to frictionally interface the vehicle to a travel path and to move the vehicle along the travel path, and a surface structured and dimensioned to support an individual subject. A transport and support vehicle can include, for example, an imager operably coupled to one or more of a power source, a steering assembly, one or more of the plurality of rotatable members, etc., and having one or more modules operable to control the power source, steering assembly, one or more of the plurality of rotatable members, etc., so as to maintain an authorized operator in the image zone. | 03-10-2016 |
20160071418 | VEHICLE OPERATION ASSISTANCE - Embodiments, systems, and techniques for vehicle operation assistance are provided herein. Vehicle operation assistance may be provided by monitoring characteristics of an occupant of a vehicle and determining an emergency status for the occupant based on characteristics of the occupant, transmitting a request for help based on the emergency status indicating the occupant of the vehicle is experiencing an emergency, receiving a “follow me” request from a potential leader vehicle, enabling follower mode such that vehicle is a follower vehicle and the potential leader vehicle is a leader vehicle, establishing a connection with the leader vehicle and receiving navigation instructions from the leader vehicle based on the vehicle being in follower mode, generating driving action commands based on navigation instructions, and executing respective driving action commands in an autonomous fashion based on the vehicle being in follower mode. | 03-10-2016 |
20160075325 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING UN-PARKING OF A VEHICLE - An apparatus for controlling un-parking of a vehicle includes: a sensor module configured to include at least one sensor that receives an un-parking request signal for a parked vehicle and determines whether a first object around the vehicle is present; and a control module configured to determine a position of a second object based on the un-parking request signal and determine whether the vehicle is un-parked depending on positions of the first object and of the second object to control the un-parking of the vehicle. | 03-17-2016 |
20160077524 | AUTOMATED SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING AND SUPPORTING PATIENTS - Systems, devices, and methods are described for moving a patient to and from various locations, care units, etc., within a care facility. For example a transport and support vehicle includes a body structure including a plurality of rotatable members operable to frictionally interface the vehicle to a travel path and to move the vehicle along the travel path, and a surface structured and dimensioned to support an individual subject. A transport and support vehicle can include, for example, an imager operably coupled to one or more of a power source, a steering assembly, one or more of the plurality of rotatable members, etc., and having one or more modules operable to control the power source, steering assembly, one or more of the plurality of rotatable members, etc., so as to maintain an authorized operator in the image zone. | 03-17-2016 |
20160077526 | ROBOT ASSISTANCE FOR DETECTING, MANAGING, AND MITIGATING RISK - The disclosure includes a system and method for using a robot to prevent risk to a user by identifying a point of interest, determining whether the point of interest is a risk for the user with visual impairments based on the user's position, responsive to a first predetermined threshold for distance being met, determining where to move the robot to mitigate the risk to the user, and instructing the robot to move to a new location. The robot may move between the user and the point of interest to prevent the user from colliding with the point of interest. The robot may use an auditory or tactile warning to warn the user. The tactile warning may be transmitted to a walking stick or a belt worn by the user. | 03-17-2016 |
20160078417 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DRIVERLESS PORTABLE ATM - Systems and methods include a database of a financial institution that maintains a respective status of a plurality of driverless mobile automated teller machines (ATMs), the status of each of the plurality of driverless mobile ATMs indicating the location of the respective driverless mobile ATM and the amount of cash available for withdrawal from the driverless mobile ATM, a communication interface that receives a request for a driverless mobile ATM from a user device via a network, the request including user device location data, a location processor that compares the user device location data to location data associated with the plurality of mobile ATMs, and determines a first mobile ATM from the plurality of driverless mobile ATMs that is closest to the user device based on the user device location data, wherein the communication interface transmits a first alert that includes the request to the first driverless mobile ATM via a network, receives a response from the driverless mobile ATM via the network, transmits a second alert that includes the location of the first driverless mobile ATM and an estimated time that the driverless first mobile ATM will arrive at the location associated with the user device location data to the user device, and receives confirmation that the transaction occurred from the first driverless mobile ATM, and wherein the first driverless mobile ATM either provides cash to a user associated with the user device or receives cash from the user associated with the user device, and a transaction processor of the backend system of the financial institution that process the transaction based on the received confirmation. | 03-17-2016 |
20160082903 | AUTOMATED DRIVING SOLUTION GATEWAY - A gateway module of a vehicle may be in communication with vehicle components over a vehicle bus and with an autonomous driving system over a non-vehicle bus connection. The gateway module may be configured to send data from the vehicle bus over the connection to the autonomous driving system, receive a vehicle action request over the connection from the autonomous driving system, and provide the vehicle action request to the vehicle bus for processing by the vehicle components to autonomously drive the vehicle. The autonomous driving computing device may be configured to authenticate with the gateway module of a vehicle over the non-vehicle bus connection, receive data from the vehicle bus over the connection to the gateway module, and send the vehicle action request over the connection to the gateway module for providing to the vehicle components over the vehicle bus. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082953 | Consideration of Risks in Active Sensing for an Autonomous Vehicle - An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, (b) determining a risk-cost framework that indicates risk costs across a range of degrees to which an active-sensing action can be performed, wherein the active-sensing action comprises an action that is performable by the autonomous vehicle to potentially improve the information upon which at least one of the control processes for the autonomous vehicle is based, (c) determining an information-improvement expectation framework across the range of degrees to which the active-sensing action can be performed, and (d) applying the risk-cost framework and the information-improvement expectation framework to determine a degree to which the active-sensing action should be performed. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082959 | AUTOMATIC DRIVING CONTROLLING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Enclosed are an automatic driving controlling system and a method thereof. The automatic driving controlling system may include: a speed sensor that detects a vehicle speed; a yaw rate sensor that detects a yaw rate of the vehicle; a yaw rate calculating unit that calculates a target yaw rate that is required to drive the vehicle to a determined target point and calculates a real-time target yaw rate that is required to drive the vehicle to the target point by comparing a yaw rate that is detected by the yaw rate sensor in real time with the target yaw rate; a lateral acceleration calculating unit that calculates a target lateral acceleration that is required to drive the vehicle to the target point by using the vehicle speed and the target yaw rate, and calculates a real-time target lateral acceleration that is required to drive the vehicle to the target point by using the vehicle speed and the real-time target yaw rate; and a control determination unit that determines whether or not the real-time target lateral acceleration, which is calculated by the lateral acceleration calculating unit, is out of the range between a predetermined upper limit threshold value and a predetermined lower limit threshold value of the lateral acceleration while an automatic driving mode that automatically controls the driving of the vehicle is in progress. According to this, the driver's intention for the driving control may be recognized more accurately so that the driver can release the automatic driving mode at any time the driver desires while the active driving control mode is in progress to thereby enhance the convenience and satisfaction of the driver. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082976 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL OF AN AUTONOMOUS DRIVE RELATED OPERATION - A control system and method in a vehicle are disclosed for controlling an autonomous drive related operation of the vehicle. The method may include detecting a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle and controlling a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement. The system may include at least one sensor configured to detect a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement. | 03-24-2016 |
20160084737 | Method and System for Auto Safety Verification of AGV Sensors - A method and system for auto safety verification of automatic guided vehicle (AGV) sensors is presented. An auto safety verification test can be performed autonomously by the AGV to ensure that sensors on the AGV are configured correctly and working properly. The auto safety verification test avoids human errors that exist in manual verification tests and significantly reduces the amount of time required to verify sensors on the AGV. | 03-24-2016 |
20160090100 | DRIVING CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - During a self-driving control, when an acquisition failure occurs in traveling environment information acquisition required for performing self-driving, and a failure of a steering system of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle driving control apparatus is detected, a brake controller sets an evacuation course along which the vehicle is to travel safely within traveling environment, based on traveling environment information detected last time before the acquisition failure of the traveling environment information, and executes a deceleration of the vehicle and a yaw brake control that applies a yaw moment to the vehicle based on the evacuation course. | 03-31-2016 |
20160090105 | UNEXPECTED THERMAL EVENT ASSIST - A vehicle system may include a thermal sensor; and a vehicle connectivity module in communication with the thermal sensor and a plurality of vehicle systems configured to receive an indication, from the thermal sensor, indicative of detection of a thermal event external to the vehicle, and responsive to the detection, utilize at least one of the plurality vehicle systems to perform at least one assistance feature to provide notification of the thermal event. A computer-implemented method may include activating a vehicle connectivity module responsive to detection of a thermal event external to the vehicle by a vehicle thermal sensor, confirming, by the vehicle connectivity module, the detection of the thermal event by utilizing other thermal sensor inputs of the vehicle, and responsive to the confirmation, commanding a vehicle system to perform at least one assistance feature to provide notification of the thermal event to a user. | 03-31-2016 |
20160091896 | DRIVING SUPPORT CONTROLLER - A driving support controller determines whether it is an opportunity to change a traveling lane based on a predetermined condition in an self-driving activated state in which an acceleration, a deceleration, and a steering of a vehicle equipped with the driving support controller can be automatically controlled, and performs a control to present a lane change proposal to an operator of the vehicle when a lane change is determined to be possible. The device performs an automatic lane change control in response to an intention of the operator agreeing to the lane change proposal. In this case, when the operator's intention is determined to be in disagreement with the lane change proposal, the control to present the lane change proposal to the operator is suspended until a predetermined cancelling condition is met. | 03-31-2016 |
20160091899 | APPARATUS FOR GUIDING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TOWARDS A DOCKING STATION - An apparatus for guiding an autonomous vehicle towards a docking station including an autonomous vehicle with a camera-based sensing system, a drive system for driving the autonomous vehicle, and a control system for controlling the drive system. The apparatus includes a docking station including a first fiducial marker and a second fiducial marker, wherein the second fiducial marker is positioned on the docking station to define a predetermined relative spacing with the first fiducial marker, wherein the control system is operable to receive an image provided by the camera-based sensing system, the image including a representation of the first and second fiducial markers, and to control the drive system so as to guide the autonomous vehicle towards the base station based on a difference between the representation of the first and second fiducial markers in the received image and the predetermined relative spacing between the first and second fiducial markers. | 03-31-2016 |
20160093211 | NAVIGATION AID FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH AUTOPILOT - A method for operating a navigation system for a motor vehicle with autopilot is disclosed, wherein the autopilot is designed to automatically carry out longitudinal and lateral guidance of the motor vehicle in the activated state during a piloted journey without assistance from a driver. The navigation system determines, for a destination prescribed by the user, a route to the destination on the basis of navigation data. The roads on which the activation of the autopilot is likely to be possible is determined using traffic data and on the basis of a predetermined activation condition for the autopilot. | 03-31-2016 |
20160096525 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR SAFE OPERATION OF UNDERSIZE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ON PUBLIC ROADS - A miniature autonomous vehicle for operation on the public roads is disclosed. The small size allows efficiency for small payloads, but produces a danger of being overlooked by other vehicles. The size of the vehicle is less than driver operated vehicles and may be restricted to less than 200 pounds. Sensors determine the vehicles speed and the presence of environmental vehicles and use a processor to calculate the need for additional visibility. A visibility structure and support structure with lights or markers is controlled by the processor. The markers are controlled in their operation or position by the processor on the basis of the sensor data. Extending or raising and retracting or lowering the structure affects the air resistance and stability of the vehicle. The structure can be raised when the vehicle stops or is in traffic and lowered at road speeds in light or absent traffic. | 04-07-2016 |
20160096531 | AUTOMATIC ENGAGEMENT OF A DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - A system for automatic engagement of a driver assistance system comprises an input interface, a processor, and an output interface. The input interface is configured to receive data associated with one or more events. The processor is configured to evaluate the risk associated with the data and to determine that the risk indicates a state change in a driver assistance system is appropriate. The output interface is configured to provide an indication that the state change in the driver assistance system is appropriate. | 04-07-2016 |
20160103449 | OPERATING METHOD FOR A VEHICLE IN MANUAL MODE AND IN AUTONOMOUS MODE - An operating method for a vehicle includes driving in a manual mode, in which a longitudinal movement and a lateral movement are controlled by a human driver, and driving in an autonomous mode, in which the longitudinal movement and the lateral movement are controlled by an automated system. In the method, driving in semi-autonomous mode is activated from the autonomous mode by the human driver either resuming the longitudinal movement, such that the automated system continues to control the lateral movement, or resuming the lateral movement, such that the automated system continues to control the longitudinal movement. In the semi-autonomous mode, one or more automatic stop operations brake the vehicle when the human driver does not quickly resume control of the lateral movement and the longitudinal movement, which continues to be controlled by the automated system. | 04-14-2016 |
20160103450 | Fail-Safe EE Architecture for Automated Driving - A system with a first computer unit and with a second computer unit, wherein the first computer unit comprises a first interface to enable connection to at least one sensor and to at least one actuator, wherein the second computer unit comprises a second interface to enable connection to at least one sensor and to at least one actuator, wherein the first and the second computer units can be connected to each other by means of a further interface, wherein the actuator comprises an interface, wherein depending on the first or on the second operating state the interface determines whether a control command for a driving function is adopted by the first or the second computer unit, so that in the first operating state only the first computer unit can activate the actuator and in a second operating state only the second computer unit can activate the actuator. | 04-14-2016 |
20160104098 | CONTACT CENTER DELIVERY IN-BUILDING HOMING SERVICE - The delivery of goods to a customer comprises a substantial portion of human activity. To correct address errors and/or to more precisely locate delivery locations, systems are provided to assist human, human operated vehicle, or autonomous vehicles to locate a delivery point. Often the location of a delivery point is inaccurate or imprecise. GPS and other coordinate systems often fail or are imprecise without an unobstructed view of the sky. Even with coordinates available, the delivery point may be different from the coordinates or, more commonly, coordinates that are different from some standard point within a postal address associated with the coordinates. Providing a delivery system that utilizes a broadcasted identifier, such as an identifier associated with the order of the item, the delivery of the item may be made proximate to the source of the broadcasted identifier or further refined using the broadcasted identifier as a reference. | 04-14-2016 |
20160104183 | MOTORIZED VEHICLE CHAIN RESOURCE ALLOCATION - A computer implemented method of vehicle chain resource allocation includes establishing a vehicle chain network between a first motorized vehicle leading a vehicle chain and a second motorized vehicle following the first motorized vehicle in the vehicle chain. The method includes transmitting between the first and second motorized vehicles, via the vehicle chain network, a first drafting energy parameter from the first motorized vehicle and a second drafting energy parameter from the second motorized vehicle. And the method includes generating first energy credits based on the first and second drafting energy parameters and transmitting the first energy credits between the first and second motorized vehicle via the vehicle chain network. | 04-14-2016 |
20160104381 | VEHICLE CUT-IN STRATEGY - A vehicle system includes a first sensor configured to output a first signal and a second sensor configured to output a second signal. The first and second signals represent movement of a potential cut-in vehicle. The vehicle system further includes a processing device programmed to compare the movement of the potential cut-in vehicle to at least one threshold. The processing device selects the potential cut-in vehicle as an in-path vehicle if the movement exceeds the at least one threshold. | 04-14-2016 |
20160107655 | OPERATING METHOD FOR A VEHICLE IN MANUAL MODE AND IN AUTONOMOUS MODE - An operating method for a vehicle includes a driving in manual mode, in which a longitudinal movement and a lateral movement are controlled by a human driver, and a driving in autonomous mode, in which the longitudinal movement and the lateral movement are controlled by an automated system. In the method, an alerting of the human driver is activated in particular in autonomous mode when the automated system receives a first distance that separates the vehicle from an end of the zone in which the autonomous mode is authorized. An automatic stopping of the vehicle before reaching the zone end is activated in autonomous mode when the human driver does not resume control of the vehicle after receiving the first distance from the automated system. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109241 | CONTROL, APPARATUS FOR AUTONOMOUSLY NAVIGATING UTILITY VEHICLE - In an apparatus for controlling operation of an autonomously navigating utility vehicle adapted to run about a working area defined by a boundary wire which generates magnetic field therearound when supplied with electric current and having a magnetic sensor that produces an output indicating intensity of magnetic field generated by the boundary wire and a position determining unit that determine a position of the vehicle with respect to the working area based on the output of the magnetic sensor, a coded data signal determined to be inherent to the working area is generated and supplied to the electric current, and the position determining unit detects the data signal and determines the position of the vehicle based on a rate of concordance of the detected data signal and a reference signal. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109551 | RADIO POSITIONING OF A MOBILE RECEIVER USING A VIRTUAL POSITIONING REFERENCE - Methods and systems are disclosed for radio positioning of a vehicle using a virtual positioning reference established by logging a known position of the vehicle together with a local time that a first instance of a predictably repeated code word is received from an opportunistic terrestrial radio transmitter. During movement of the vehicle to a second, unknown position, a local clock is used to determine the time difference between when the virtual positioning reference is predicted to receive a second instance of the code word and when the vehicle actually receives the second instance of the code word, thereby providing positioning information when traditional navigation signals such as GPS are not available. The radio positioning information is then used to initiate an action such as recording the location information for future retrieval by a user, and/or controlling the movements of an autonomous vehicle. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109881 | DRIVING ASSIST DEVICE - In a driving assist system, a driving assist device as a control device acquires driving control information to be used for performing a driving control process in which an own vehicle follows a preceding vehicle running on the same lane of the own vehicle in front of the own vehicle. The driving assist device performs the driving control process of the own vehicle based on the acquired driving control information. The driving assist device detects an interruption of a preceding-vehicle following of the own vehicle. In the preceding-vehicle following, the own vehicle follows the preceding vehicle running on the same lane. The driving assist device decelerates a vehicle speed of the own vehicle by using a predetermined braking force when detecting the interruption of the preceding-vehicle following of the own vehicle during the preceding-vehicle following. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109883 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OFFBOARD NAVIGATION OF A ROBOTIC DEVICE - There is provided a method and apparatus for offboard navigation of a 5 robotic device. The method comprising defining a threshold value of a positional accuracy of the robotic device, calculating latency of a network through which the robotic device and a server communicate, the latency of the network being a difference between sending sensor data from the robotic device to the server and receiving processed data corresponding to the 10 sent sensor data by the robotic device from the server, and determining speed of the robotic device based on the threshold value of the positional accuracy of the robotic device and the latency of the network. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109884 | CELESTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE - 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. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109885 | Work Vehicle Cooperation System - A work vehicle cooperation system includes: a master traveling tack calculation unit that calculates a traveling track of a master work vehicle ( | 04-21-2016 |
20160110997 | VEHICLE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - In some examples, reducing traffic includes locating an available remote location within a predetermined distance of the particular destination, socializing an identity of the remote location, and minimizing traffic disruptions at the available remote location for a predetermined amount of time. | 04-21-2016 |
20160114796 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE CONTROL PROCEDURE - A method for a vehicle control procedure, wherein in the case of this vehicle control procedure a closed loop control of the vehicle velocity is performed on the basis of a predetermined desired value, may comprise the following steps: determining on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion whether in the case of the closed loop control the vehicle velocity leaves a value range that is defined by at least one velocity threshold value while taking into consideration a tolerance range that defines predetermined, permitted deviations from this value range; and implementing a corresponding measure while modifying the vehicle control procedure in dependence upon the result of this determination procedure, wherein the determination procedure is performed on the basis of a signal analysis of at least one measurement signal that describes the movement status of the vehicle. | 04-28-2016 |
20160114811 | TRAVEL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - A travel control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a travel environment information acquisition unit that acquires travel environment information on a travel environment where the vehicle travels; a travel information detector that detects travel information on the vehicle; and an overtaking controller that detects an overtaking target vehicle ahead of the vehicle in an identical travel lane on the basis of the travel environment information and the travel information, and overtakes the overtaking target vehicle using automatic driving control. When failures are detected in relation to the travel environment information acquisition and in a steering system of the vehicle during the overtaking control, the overtaking controller modifies the overtaking control by activating required substitute control in accordance with the travel environment information obtained most recently before detecting the travel environment information acquisition failure, information on the overtaking target vehicle, the travel information, and conditions during the overtaking control. | 04-28-2016 |
20160114812 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control device includes a single manipulandum that selects at least one of first to n-th modes in which ON/OFF states of mutually related functions are set, or a function OFF as an operation support function of a vehicle. An operation support controller selects a transition order according to the current mode when the current state is any one of the first to n-th modes, and sequentially selects each one of the first to n-th modes other than the current mode, and the function OFF based on the selected transition order, each time an operation of the manipulandum is detected. The n is a natural number of 2 or greater. | 04-28-2016 |
20160115702 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A TOWING ROBOT - A method is provided for operating a towing robot, where in the event an error occurs during autonomous driving of a vehicle within a parking lot, the error causing the vehicle to be no longer able to continue its autonomous driving, the towing robot is instructed to tow the vehicle to a predetermined position, so that the towing robot tows the vehicle to the predetermined position in response to the instruction. Also described herein are a towing robot, a parking system, as well as a computer program. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116293 | System and Method to Provide Valet Instructions for a Self-Driving Vehicle - A vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote device. The vehicle computer system also includes a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to receive instructions from the remote device to initiate an automatic valet-mode, receive data from the remote device indicative of a user's pick-up location, and send instructions to a vehicle module instructing the vehicle to drive to the user's pick-up location. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116294 | ACCURATE POSITION DETERMINATION NEAR EXIT LANES - An in-vehicle system for determining whether a vehicle has moved off of a main roadway and into an exit lane. A navigation unit determines that an exit is approaching on a first side of the vehicle, and a camera obtains image data regarding lane markings and exit signs in response to a notification that the exit is approaching. An image processor identifies predetermined patterns among the lane markings, including V-shaped patterns or Y-shaped patterns. The system determines that the vehicle has moved into the exit lane in response to an identification of one of the predetermined patterns on a second side of the vehicle opposite the first side of the vehicle. The system may verify its determination based on recognition of an exit sign on the second side of the vehicle. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116913 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENVIRONMENT DETECTION SYSTEM - An autonomous vehicle environment detection method, for use by an autonomous vehicle having autonomous features for allowing a destination to be set by a user and then piloting the vehicle to that destination without human intervention by the user. Environmental sensors, which may be contained in or around the vehicle, or in a portable electronic device possessed and carried by the user, perform a sniff test prior to, and during automated vehicle operation. If hazardous materials are detected that indicate the presence of a weapon of mass destruction, autonomous features are disabled while manual operation of the vehicle may be permitted. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116916 | OCCUPANCY GRID MAP FOR A VEHICLE - An occupancy grid map for a vehicle includes several cells disposed in grid-like fashion. The cells of the occupancy grid map are adapted, as a function of a driving situation of the vehicle, to the driving situation. Areas of the cells are configured to be smaller in a region closer to the vehicle, and are configured to be larger in a region further away from the vehicle. | 04-28-2016 |
20160121886 | EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WITHOUT ACTIVATED LATERAL GUIDANCE ASSISTANCE - A method and a device for transitioning a vehicle driving without activated lateral guidance assistance into a driving state having reduced risk of collision consequences in the event of an emergency of the driver, wherein the speed of the vehicle is greater than a threshold speed. The method includes detecting a hands-off situation of the driver in a hands-off phase and outputting a hands-off warning, performing a warning escalation in an escalation phase if there is no response to the hands-off warning, and reducing the vehicle speed to a speed less than the threshold speed in an intervention phase if there is no response in the escalation phase. During the hands-off phase, the escalation phase, and the intervention phase, a returning torque is applied to the steering apparatus of the vehicle if it is detected that the vehicle is leaving the current lane. | 05-05-2016 |
20160121906 | TRAVEL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - In a travel control apparatus for a vehicle, a travel environment information acquisition unit acquires travel environment information, and a travel information detector detects travel information relating to the vehicle. The apparatus executes automatic driving control based on such information pieces. A vehicle peripheral object detector detects an object around the vehicle, separately to the travel environment information acquisition unit. An environment information acquisition failure detector detects an acquisition failure in the travel environment information acquisition unit. Upon an acquisition failure of the travel environment information, an evacuation controller executes evacuation control by evacuating the vehicle to the roadside through automatic driving based on the travel environment information detected most recently before the acquisition failure and the travel information, and activates the vehicle peripheral object detector and, when an object is detected on the periphery around the vehicle, executes the evacuation control. | 05-05-2016 |
20160121907 | ALARM APPARATUS, ALARM SYSTEM, ALARM METHOD AND PORTABLE TERMINAL - An alarm apparatus for a vehicle is configure to be capable of communicating with a portable terminal to be used at a driver seat by a driver of the vehicle that performs automatic driving, alarms the driver using the portable terminal, and includes a determination unit that determines whether a distance or arrival time from the vehicle to a termination position for the automatic driving is a predetermined value or less, during the automatic driving, based on position information about the vehicle and map information, or based on surrounding environment information about the vehicle, and an alarm unit that displays alarm information for having the driver start manual driving, on a screen of the portable terminal, when the determination unit determines that the distance or arrival time from the vehicle to the termination position for the automatic driving is the predetermined value or less. | 05-05-2016 |
20160124434 | SYSTEM, COMPUTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR UNMANNED VEHICLE FLEET CONTROL - A system for controlling a fleet of unmanned vehicles includes a plurality of unmanned vehicles connected to a computing device. The computing device stores a dynamic attribute and a static attribute respective to each of the plurality of unmanned vehicles. The computing device is configured to: receive a task request including (i) an item identifier of an item, (ii) an action type defining an action to be performed respective to the item, and (iii) a location identifier of a location at which to perform the action; responsive to receiving the request, retrieve the stored dynamic attributes and static attributes; based on a comparison of the task request with the dynamic attributes and the static attributes, select one of the plurality of unmanned vehicles; and transmit, via the network, a command to the selected unmanned vehicle to perform the action respective to the item at the location. | 05-05-2016 |
20160125735 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES BASED ON USER CONTEXT - An approach is provided for granting access to an autonomous vehicle based on validation of a request, and configuring an autonomous vehicle to transport a user and/or items to at least one destination. The approach involves receiving a transport request for a transport of at least one user, at least one item, or a combination thereof to at least one destination. The approach also involves determining profile information associated with the at least one user, the at least one item, or a combination thereof, wherein the profile information specifies at least one role associated with the at least one user, the at least one item, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a validation of the request based, at least in part, on a comparison of the at least one destination to one or more approved destinations associated with the at least one role. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a granting of an access to one or more autonomous vehicles for the transport of the at least one user, the at least one item, or a combination thereof to the at least one destination based, at least in part, on the validation. | 05-05-2016 |
20160125736 | METHOD TO IMPROVE PARKING SPACE IDENTIFICATION IN AUTONOMOUS DRIVING - A method for parking an autonomous vehicle in a parking lot. The method comprises receiving primary data from a first source and receiving secondary data from a second source. The primary data may include information sufficient to identify a location for one or more of a plurality of parking spaces within the parking lot. The secondary data may include status identifier information for at least one of the plurality of parking spaces. The method includes using the primary data and the secondary data to identify at least one vacant parking space in the plurality of parking spaces, and occupying the at least one vacant parking space. | 05-05-2016 |
20160131762 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AVAILABLE DRIVING SPACE - Provided is an apparatus for determining an available driving space, including a laser distance sensor installed in a vehicle and configured to sense a region in front of the vehicle by a predetermined distance to generate distance information, a signal processing unit configured to generate plane distance information by using the distance information generated by the laser distance sensor, a curb searching unit configured to determine correlation and similarity between the generated plane distance information and previous plane distance information to search for a curb, and a determining unit configured to determine whether the region in front of the vehicle by the predetermined distance is an available driving space depending on whether a route of a curb searched by the curb searching unit is included in a driving region. | 05-12-2016 |
20160132054 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - A method and a device for transitioning a vehicle traveling with transverse guidance assistance into a driving state with a reduced collision risk in the event of a driver emergency, wherein the speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined threshold speed. The method includes detecting a hands-off situation of the driver in a hands-off phase, outputting a hands-off warning, performing a warning escalation in an escalation phase if there is no response to the hands-off warning, and reducing the vehicle speed in an intervention phase to a speed which is less than or equal to a threshold speed, the vehicle being kept in the current travel lane if there is no response to the warning escalation. | 05-12-2016 |
20160132055 | TRAVEL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - In a travel control apparatus for a vehicle, a travel environment information acquisition unit acquires travel environment information on a travel environment of the vehicle. A travel information detector detects travel information on the vehicle in order to execute automatic driving control based on such information pieces. A lateral force generator generates lateral force to be applied to the vehicle during the automatic driving control. A torsion bar is interposed on a torque transmission path of a steering system. A steering wheel angle detector detects a steering wheel angle. A lateral force detector detects the lateral force acting on the vehicle. An intervening steering operation determination unit determines that a driver has performed an intervening steering operation when a characteristic of the detected steering wheel angle and lateral force differs from a reference characteristic that varies univocally when the steering wheel is in a no load condition. | 05-12-2016 |
20160132056 | AUTONOMOUS MOBILE BODY - According to an autonomous mobile body of the present invention, a self-position recognizing section ( | 05-12-2016 |
20160137163 | METHOD FOR SECURING A COMMAND TO BE APPLIED TO A MOTOR VEHICLE - The invention relates to a method for securing a command to be applied to a motor vehicle, characterized in that said method comprises: a first step of generating first data, via a vehicle electronic control unit; a second step of sending said first data to a mobile terminal comprising a screen, via the electronic control unit; a third step of displaying the first data on the screen of the mobile terminal; a fourth step in which a human user processes the first data in order to obtain second data; a fifth step of sending the second data to the electronic control unit via the mobile terminal; a sixth step of comparing said second data to a key of the first data, via the electronic control unit; if the second data is validated by the key of the first data, a seventh step of activating the motor vehicle via the electronic control unit, in order to implement at least part of the control. | 05-19-2016 |
20160144695 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALTERING ONE OR MORE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS - Systems for altering vehicle functions are provided. A system for altering a vehicle function includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules. When executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions may cause the system to determine a presence of a roof mounted article on a vehicle and disable at least one movable roof member function in response to the determination. In some embodiments, in response to determining that the vehicle is proximate a structure and determining the presence of the vehicle mounted article on the vehicle, the system may generate a notification pertaining to the vehicle mounted article. In some embodiments, the system may provide navigation assistance based on the determination that the vehicle mounted article is present on the vehicle. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144857 | AUTOMATIC DRIVING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY DRIVEN VEHICLE - An automatic driving system for an automatically driven vehicle. In the system, a travel direction acquirer is configured to acquire travel direction information that is information indicative of whether or not each of lanes in a parking lot is unidirectional. In addition, in the system, an allowance determination unit is configured to, if determining, based on the travel direction information acquired by the travel direction acquirer, that each of the lanes in the parking lot is unidirectional, allow automatic driving of the automatically driven vehicle. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144858 | Deciding on the Direction of Travel in the Event of a Resumption of Movement in an Automated Parking Process by Means of a Parking Assistance System - A method is provided for resuming the movement of a motor vehicle after unforeseen stopping in an automated parking process performed by a parking assistance system having automated longitudinal and transverse guidance. If the vehicle is stopped, a decision is made about a resumption of movement of the vehicle in the prior direction of travel that existed before the vehicle was stopped. The decision is made in dependence on the remaining travel path from the current position to the next planned stopping point of the trajectory lying in the prior direction of travel. A stopping point of the trajectory can be a reversal point or the final parking position, for example. If the decision is positive, the movement of the vehicle is resumed in the prior direction of travel. If the decision is negative, the movement of the vehicle is resumed against the prior direction of travel. Alternatively, in the case of a negative decision, the movement of the vehicle may not be resumed and the parking process may be ended. | 05-26-2016 |
20160147225 | Farm vehicle autopilot with automatic calibration, tuning and diagnostics - Automatic calibration, tuning and diagnostics improve precision farming by helping farmers obtain best performance from their autopilot-guided vehicles. Automatic calibration procedures that cannot be accurately performed by human drivers, automatic autopilot tuning, and simplified diagnostics are all parts of an advanced farm vehicle autopilot system. | 05-26-2016 |
20160147231 | AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An automatic guided vehicle includes a vehicle body and a positioning identification module which being furnished in the vehicle body further includes a three-axis magnetic signal sensing unit and a logic operation processing unit. The logic operation processing unit is connected to the three-axis magnetic signal sensing unit by signal transmitted therefrom. A magnetic pointer unit is furnished adjacent to the marching route of the automatic guided vehicle. The three-axis magnetic signal sensing unit senses the magnetic field of magnetic pointer unit and generates a magnetic field information that transmits to the logic operation processing unit. | 05-26-2016 |
20160148439 | AUTOMATED SERVICE MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented method for automated service management includes identifying a period of time to perform a service on a transporter, wherein the transporter is one of: a vehicle, an aircraft, a watercraft, or a rail based transportation. A first location within a vicinity of the transporter is identified, wherein the vicinity is based at least in part on a known location of the transporter. The transporter is instructed to relocate to the first location and responsive to the computer determining the service of the transporter is complete, the transporter is instructed to relocate to the known location. | 05-26-2016 |
20160152241 | MOVING AMOUNT ESTIMATING APPARATUS, AUTONOMOUS MOBILE BODY, AND MOVING AMOUNT ESTIMATING METHOD | 06-02-2016 |
20160154407 | TEST METHOD AND SYSTEM USING A HIGHLY AGILE GROUND VEHICLE FOR INTELLIGENT VEHICLE TESTING | 06-02-2016 |
20160157415 | ROBOTIC PLATFORM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS - An autonomous vehicle platform system and method configured to perform various in-season management tasks, including selectively applying fertilizer, mapping growth zones and seeding cover crop within an agricultural field, while self-navigating between rows of planted crops and beneath the canopy of the planted crops on the uneven terrain of an agricultural field, allowing for an ideal in-season application of fertilizer to occur once the planted crop is well established and growing rapidly, in an effort to limit the loss of fertilizer. | 06-09-2016 |
20160157429 | INDIVIDUAL PLANT LOCATION POSITIONING - A vehicle including a body, a plurality of wheels movably coupled to the body, a guidance control system. The plurality of wheels can be configured to roll through rows between plant beds such that at least a portion of the body moves above the plant beds. The guidance control system can be configured to guide the vehicle along the rows. The guidance control system can be configured to track a different individual plant location of each individual plant of plants that are either planned for growth or growing in the plant beds. Other embodiments are provided. | 06-09-2016 |
20160159350 | VEHICLE SPEED ADJUSTMENT - A vehicle system includes a sensor that detects a speed of at least one nearby vehicle and outputs a speed signal representing the speed of the at least one nearby vehicle. The vehicle system further includes a processing device programmed to determine a set point speed based on the speed signal output by the sensor. The processing device generates a command signal to control a host vehicle in accordance with the set point speed. | 06-09-2016 |
20160161270 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DETECTION OF AND RESPONSE TO YIELD SCENARIOS - An automated driving system and methods are disclosed. The automated driving system includes a perception system disposed on an autonomous vehicle. The automated driving system can detect an intersection including a yield scenario and identify a check point between the autonomous vehicle and the yield scenario. Prior to the autonomous vehicle reaching the check point, the automated driving system can send a command to one or more vehicle systems to control the autonomous vehicle to stop at the yield scenario. After the autonomous vehicle reaches the check point, the automated driving system can detect, using the perception system, information for the intersection. If the information indicates clear passage through the intersection for the autonomous vehicle, the automated driving system can send a command to the one or more vehicle systems to drive the autonomous vehicle through the intersection. | 06-09-2016 |
20160163088 | TERRAIN MAPPING SYSTEM USING MOVED MATERIAL ESTIMATION - A terrain mapping system is disclosed for use with an excavation machine at a worksite. The terrain mapping system may have a locating device mountable onboard the excavation machine and configured to generate a first signal indicative of a position of the excavation machine at the worksite, and a sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a load on the excavation machine. The terrain mapping system may also have a controller in communication with the locating device and the sensor. The controller may be configured to update a surface contour of the worksite contained in an electronic map based on the first signal as the excavation machine traverses the worksite, and to determine an amount of material moved by the excavation machine based on the second signal. The controller may also be configured to generate a representation of the material moved by the excavation machine in the electronic map when the excavation machine ceases to move the material. | 06-09-2016 |
20160167646 | AUTOMATED PREPARATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS | 06-16-2016 |
20160167653 | AUTONOMOUS READY VEHICLE | 06-16-2016 |
20160167668 | SPLASH CONDITION DETECTION FOR VEHICLES | 06-16-2016 |
20160170412 | AUTONOMOUS MOBILE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME | 06-16-2016 |
20160170413 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, MOTOR VEHICLE | 06-16-2016 |
20160170415 | Method For Controlling A Work Train | 06-16-2016 |
20160171894 | METHODS TO OPERATE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES TO PILOT VEHICLES IN GROUPS OR CONVOYS | 06-16-2016 |
20160176398 | RISK MITIGATION FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES RELATIVE TO TURNING OBJECTS | 06-23-2016 |
20160176408 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ROAD SURFACE FRICTION DATA FOR A RESPONSE ACTION | 06-23-2016 |
20160176412 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND USING DRIVER SPECIFIC VEHICLE CONTROLS | 06-23-2016 |
20160176440 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A RESULTING REFERENCE FOR CONTROLLING A STEERING DEVICE AND A VEHICLE | 06-23-2016 |
20160176663 | METHOD FOR STEERING AN AIRPORT VEHICLE | 06-23-2016 |
20160178381 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A STEERING RELIABILITY MAP BASED ON DRIVEN CURVATURES AND GEOMETRY CURVATURE | 06-23-2016 |
20160179092 | APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING DRIVING MODES OF VEHICLE AND METHOD OF SWITCHING BETWEEN MODES OF VEHICLE | 06-23-2016 |
20160179094 | Communication Between a Vehicle and a Road User in the Surroundings of a Vehicle | 06-23-2016 |
20160185346 | MINING MACHINE, MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF MINING MACHINE, AND MANAGEMENT METHOD OF MINING MACHINE - A mining machine includes a traveling device traveling a traveling path in a mine, a vehicle body supported by the traveling device, a non-contact sensor in a front section of the vehicle body which contactlessly detects an object in a detection area, and is arranged such that the traveling path in front of the vehicle body and an area beside the traveling path are included in the detection area, an obstacle detector detecting an obstacle in the traveling path in front of the vehicle body based on an output signal of the non-contact sensor, a distance detector a distance to a wall beside the traveling path based on an output signal of the non-contact sensor, and a traveling controller controlling the traveling device based on a detection result of at least one of the obstacle detection unit and the distance detection unit. | 06-30-2016 |
20160185357 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ENVIRONMENT-INDUCED DISABLEMENT OF ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - The present invention discloses a system and method for detecting environment-induced disablement of ADAS. The system comprises a rainfall detector, a fog detector and a temperature/humidity detector respectively generating a rainfall value, a fog value, and a temperature/humidity value; a processor electrically connected with these detectors, using the rainfall value and fog value to generate a rainfall-fog value, using the fog value and temperature/humidity value to generate a snowfall value, using a fuzzy computation to process the rainfall-fog value and snowfall value to generate an output value, and emitting an alert signal if the output value exceeds a preset output value; and an automatic driver assistance device electrically connected with the processor, receiving the alert signal, and determining whether to stop automatic driving according to the alert signal. The present invention will alerts ADAS of the disablement lest ADAS execute wrong control actions. | 06-30-2016 |
20160187879 | AUTONOMOUS DRIVING INTERFACE - The aspects of the present disclosure provide an autonomous vehicle interface for a vehicle and a method of enabling and employing an autonomous vehicle interface for a vehicle. The autonomous vehicle interface may be configured to seamlessly transition driving modes or the vehicle's mode of operation from user controlled to an autonomous controlled driving without the user physically activating the autonomous controlled driving. The autonomous vehicle interface may also be configured to consider active components and environmental conditions employed by the user in activating the autonomous control. The autonomous vehicle interface may further be configured to consider the user's operational state and/or the user's attentiveness to activate the autonomous vehicle mode. Additionally, the autonomous vehicle interface may be configured to change the vehicle's mode of operation from the autonomous controlled to the user controlled driving in response to a positive change to the user's operational state and/or attentiveness. | 06-30-2016 |
20160187881 | AUTOMATIC DRIVING SYSTEM ABLE TO MAKE DRIVING DECISIONS AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses an autonomous driving system able to make driving decisions and a method thereof, which decide a safer vehicle movement, wherein a processor generates a left-turn signal, a forward signal and a right-turn signal, receives and vectorizes a vehicle movement signal and object movement signals to determine whether one object is a dangerous or non-dangerous object, inputs the results into a corresponding equation to generate dangerous and non-dangerous object weights, substitutes the dangerous and non-dangerous object weights into a space weight equation to calculate left-turn, forward and right-turn lane section weights, uses the lane section weights to generate left-turn, forward and right-turn signal weights, generates a movement signal or a braking signal according to whether a highest one of the signal weights is over or below preset weight. | 06-30-2016 |
20160187884 | PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for controlling a motor vehicle according to the invention includes steps of ascertaining a driving strategy as a function of an environment; detecting a driving strategy of a motor vehicle driving ahead; ascertaining that the driving strategies deviate from each other; and controlling the motor vehicle in accordance with the driving strategy of the motor vehicle driving ahead. | 06-30-2016 |
20160187885 | System and Method for Behavior Based Control of an Autonomous Vehicle - System and method for behavior based control of an autonomous vehicle. Actuators (e.g., linkages) manipulate input devices (e.g., articulation controls and drive controls, such as a throttle lever, steering gear, tie rods, throttle, brake, accelerator, or transmission shifter) to direct the operation of the vehicle. Behaviors that characterize the operational mode of the vehicle are associated with the actuators. The behaviors include action sets ranked by priority, and the action sets include alternative actions that the vehicle can take to accomplish its task. The alternative actions are ranked by preference, and an arbiter selects the action to be performed and, optionally, modified. | 06-30-2016 |
20160194003 | VEHICLE TRAVELLING CONTROL DEVICE | 07-07-2016 |
20160202700 | TRANSITIONING FROM AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CONTROL TO OPERATOR VEHICLE CONTROL | 07-14-2016 |
20160249780 | ROBOT CLEANER | 09-01-2016 |
20160250965 | ARTICULATED MACHINE PROXIMITY SYSTEM | 09-01-2016 |
20160251016 | SELECTABLE AUTONOMOUS DRIVING MODES | 09-01-2016 |
20160251018 | Method for operating a motor vehicle and motor vehicle for carrying out the method | 09-01-2016 |
20160252903 | MIXED AUTONOMOUS AND MANUAL CONTROL OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES | 09-01-2016 |
20160252905 | REAL-TIME ACTIVE EMERGENCY VEHICLE DETECTION | 09-01-2016 |
20160374526 | ROBOT CLEANER, INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION - A robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner includes a communication unit configured to communicate with the robot cleaner using a near field wireless communication (NFC) and a processor configured to detect a state of the robot cleaner among a plurality of predefined states. The processor is also configured to, in response to NFC tagging being performed with the mobile terminal, control the communication unit to transmit information corresponding to the detected state to the mobile terminal. | 12-29-2016 |
20160375767 | VEHICLE OPERATION ASSISTANCE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CONTROL TRANSFER - A vehicle implementing vehicle operation assistance information management for autonomous vehicle control transfer may identify a vehicle operation assistance information item indicating a location of an expected vehicle operation control transfer, and may, on a condition that an immanency for the vehicle operation assistance information item is within a maximum relevant immanence, determine an urgency based on the immanency, and present a representation of the vehicle operation assistance information item, which may include controlling a primary graphical display portion of the vehicle to present a graphical representation of the vehicle operation assistance information item, controlling a secondary graphical display portion of the vehicle to present the graphical representation, or a combination thereof. The vehicle may, control an auditory presentation device of the vehicle to present an auditory representation of the vehicle operation assistance information item. | 12-29-2016 |
20160375770 | STEERING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF CONTROL - A steering assembly that is provided with an autonomous vehicle includes a display interface and a controller. The display interface is disposed on a steering wheel and is configured to display an image. The controller is in communication with the display interface and an advanced driver assist system. The controller is configured to operate the display interface to display the image in response to activation of the advanced driver assist system and orient the image based on a rotational position of the steering wheel. | 12-29-2016 |
20160375911 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR ALLOWING SECONDARY TASKS DURING SEMI-AUTOMATED DRIVING - A method and arrangement are disclosed for allowing secondary tasks during semi-automated driving of a road vehicle having an infotainment system including one or more display units, and a semi-automated driver assist system having one or more sensors for acquiring data of a road ahead. A confidence of the ability of the semi-automated driver assist system to control the road vehicle autonomously is determined from at least acquired data of the road ahead. A viewing direction of a driver of the road vehicle is determined using a driver monitoring camera. Autonomous control is allowed if the viewing direction of the driver is determined to be towards the road ahead or towards a display unit of the infotainment system and the confidence is determined to be above a confidence threshold, otherwise any ongoing autonomous control is cancelled and the driver urged to assume control of the road vehicle. | 12-29-2016 |
20160375931 | ROTATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A STEERING WHEEL AND METHOD - A rotation control system for a steering wheel is provided. The rotation control system includes a steering wheel and a steering shaft operatively coupled to the steering wheel. The rotation control system also includes at least one component operatively coupled to the steering shaft configured to switch the steering wheel between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition. | 12-29-2016 |
20160378114 | AUTOMATED VEHICLE CONTROL WITH TIME TO TAKE-OVER COMPENSATION - A system for changing a control-mode of an automated vehicle from automated-control to manual-control includes an operator-detection device and a controller. The operator-detection device is operable to detect a readiness-state of an operator of a vehicle while a control-mode of the vehicle is automated-control. The controller is configured to forecast a future-time when the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control and determine a take-over-interval for an operator to assume manual-control of the vehicle once notified. The take-over-interval is determined based on the readiness-state. The controller is also configured to notify the operator that the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control no later than the take-over-interval prior to the future-time. | 12-29-2016 |
20160378116 | Mobile Robotic System - A mobile robotic system may include an automated guided vehicle, and a floor assembly including a support surface and a reconfigurable pathway, wherein the automated guided vehicle is configured to travel on the support surface and follow the reconfigurable pathway. | 12-29-2016 |
20170232891 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE AND A PARKING LOT | 08-17-2017 |
20170232961 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION OF AUTONOMOUS PARKING | 08-17-2017 |
20170235305 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE | 08-17-2017 |
20170235306 | VEHICLE TRAVELING CONTROL APPARATUS | 08-17-2017 |
20170235307 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD, AND VEHICLE CONTROL PROGRAM | 08-17-2017 |
20180022344 | VEHICLE PIVOT TECHNIQUE | 01-25-2018 |
20180022348 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING LANE HEALTH FROM AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE | 01-25-2018 |
20180022350 | ADAPTIVE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ALTERING A CONDITION OF A VEHICLE USING THE SAME | 01-25-2018 |
20180022361 | ADAPTIVE PASSENGER COMFORT ENHANCEMENT IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES | 01-25-2018 |
20180022405 | SELECTIVELY COMBINABLE INDEPENDENT DRIVING VEHICLES | 01-25-2018 |
20180024239 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADAR LOCALIZATION IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES | 01-25-2018 |
20180024545 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SYSTEM ENERGY SAVING IN AN UNMANNED VEHICLE | 01-25-2018 |
20180024552 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WORKLOAD ALLOCATION | 01-25-2018 |
20180024554 | AUTONOMOUS GROUND VEHICLES BASED AT DELIVERY LOCATIONS | 01-25-2018 |
20180024559 | METHOD FOR GUIDING PARKING MODE IN REMOTE AUTOMATIC PARKING SUPPORT SYSTEM | 01-25-2018 |
20180024567 | Actively Modifying a Field of View of an Autonomous Vehicle in view of Constraints | 01-25-2018 |
20180024569 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADAR LOCALIZATION IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES | 01-25-2018 |
20180025560 | WORK VEHICLE AND ABNORMALITY NOTIFICATION METHOD FOR WORK VEHICLE | 01-25-2018 |
20180025635 | CONNECTION OF AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH A SECOND VEHICLE TO RECEIVE GOODS | 01-25-2018 |
20180025643 | INTER-VEHICLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND INTER-VEHICLE MANAGEMENT METHOD | 01-25-2018 |
20190141886 | AUTONOMOUS MOWER | 05-16-2019 |
20190142234 | ROBOT CLEANER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF | 05-16-2019 |
20190143964 | Systems and methods for performing an injury-mitigating autonomous maneuver in face of an imminent collision | 05-16-2019 |
20190143967 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLABORATIVE SENSING FOR UPDATING DYNAMIC MAP LAYERS | 05-16-2019 |
20190143974 | METHOD FOR ADAPTING A PREDETERMINED REFERENCE LINE FOR A TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE AND DEVICE | 05-16-2019 |
20190143982 | AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20190143983 | AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20190143984 | METHOD FOR A PILOT VEHICLE | 05-16-2019 |
20190143992 | SELF-DRIVING LEARNING APPARATUS AND METHOD USING DRIVING EXPERIENCE INFORMATION | 05-16-2019 |
20190144000 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO ENABLE A FAST STOP OF AN AUTONOMOUSLY DRIVING VEHICLE | 05-16-2019 |
20190146492 | Method And Apparatus For Scenario Generation And Parametric Sweeps For The Development & Evaluation Of Autonomous Driving Systems | 05-16-2019 |
20190146494 | Bi-Directional Autonomous Vehicle | 05-16-2019 |
20190146498 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLE MOTION PLANNING | 05-16-2019 |
20190146505 | PLANAR-BEAM, LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20190146507 | Systems and Methods for Prioritizing Object Prediction for Autonomous Vehicles | 05-16-2019 |
20190146515 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRIVING A SELF-MOVING VEHICLE AND RELATED DRIVING SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20190146516 | DRIVE ASSIST APPARATUS | 05-16-2019 |
20190146521 | CONTROL METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM OF ROBOT AND ROBOT USING THE SAME | 05-16-2019 |
20190147255 | Systems and Methods for Generating Sparse Geographic Data for Autonomous Vehicles | 05-16-2019 |
20220135024 | PARKING ASSIST SYSTEM - A parking assist system includes: a self-driving vehicle that performs automatic driving from a getting-off area to a parking location in a parking area; an administrator device that transmits a guidance route to the parking location and a parking start instruction to the self-driving vehicle; and a mobile terminal device that communicates with the administrator device. The administrator device includes: a location information acquisition unit configured to acquire an object location indicative of a location of the self-driving vehicle or the mobile terminal device; a location determination unit configured to determine whether the object location is within a specified area; and a driving setting unit configured to: instruct the self-driving vehicle to start parking when the object location is within the specified area; and not to instruct the self-driving vehicle to start parking when the object location is not within the specified area. | 05-05-2022 |
20220135063 | Method for Operating a Driver Information System in an Ego-Vehicle and Driver Information System - A method for operating a driver information system in an ego vehicle is provided, in which a current speed of the ego vehicle and a set parameter of an at least partially automated longitudinal guidance function of a driver assist system are acquired. A driver information display is generated and output, wherein the driver information display comprises a graphic lane object which represents a roadway in front of the ego vehicle. In doing so, a distance scale object and a distance indicator object are arranged in the lane object and are generated depending on the current speed of the ego vehicle. The distance scale object is generated so that positions of the lane object are assigned to distances from the ego vehicle, and the distance indicator object is arranged on the distance scale object such that the set parameter is output. | 05-05-2022 |
20220135074 | CLASSIFICATION OF OBJECTS BASED ON MOTION PATTERNS FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE APPLICATIONS - Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure address shortcomings of the existing technology by enabling motion pattern-assisted object classification of objects in an environment of an autonomous vehicle (AV) by obtaining, from a sensing system of the AV, a plurality of return points, each return point comprising one or more velocity values and one or more coordinates of a reflecting region that reflects a signal emitted by the sensing system, identifying an association of the plurality of return points with an object in an environment of the AV, identifying, in view of the one or more velocity values of at least some of the plurality of return points, a type of the object or a type of a motion of the object, and causing a driving path of the AV to be determined in view of the identified type of the object. | 05-05-2022 |
20220135080 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - An object of the present disclosure is to accurately forced stop autonomous vehicle control when a failure occurs in a remote control terminal without mounting an additional sensor on a vehicle. The vehicle control device includes the detection unit that detects a forced stop operation, a control unit that implements the autonomous parking control of the vehicle, and a calculation unit that causes the control unit to perform the autonomous parking control when the start command is received from the remote control terminal, and causes the control unit to stop the autonomous parking control when the stop command is received from the remote control terminal. When the detection unit detects the forced stop operation while the control unit is performing the autonomous parking control, the calculation unit causes the control unit to stop the autonomous parking control even without receiving the stop command from the remote control terminal. | 05-05-2022 |
20220137622 | CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSUMING CONTROL - A control device for a vehicle includes a communication module, which establishes a transmission and receiving connection to a server external to the vehicle, and a control module connected to this for driving functions, which receives data of at least one sensor and controls at least one actuator for at least partially autonomously controlling at least one of the driving functions in the vehicle. A disconnector physically separates at least the receiving connection and a read-only memory, in which a piece of software for overwriting the software in the communication module and the control module in case of interference, is stored. Control of the control device is assumed when the control device has presumably been tampered with in the vehicle and uses this to separate at least the receiving connection, to bring the vehicle into a safe traffic state as needed, and to overwrite software in the control module and the communication module with software from the read-only memory. | 05-05-2022 |
20220137623 | BEHAVIOR PREDICTION FOR RAILWAY AGENTS FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM - To operate an autonomous vehicle, a rail agent is detected in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle using a detection system. One or more tracks are determined on which the detected rail agent is possibly traveling, and possible paths for the rail agent are predicted based on the determined one or more tracks. One or more motion paths are determined for one or more probable paths from the possible paths, and a likelihood for each of the one or more probable paths is determined based on each motion plan. A path for the autonomous vehicle is then determined based on a most probable path associated with a highest likelihood for the rail agent, and the autonomous vehicle is operated using the determined path. | 05-05-2022 |
20220137641 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR GENERATING AN AUTONOMOUS DRIVING PROFILE MAP INDEX - A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for generating an autonomous driving profile map index. In this regard, vehicle context data and location data thereof associated with a vehicle traveling along a road segment is received. The vehicle context data is determined based on a transition into a platooning driving profile for the vehicle that establishes a communication connection between the vehicle and another vehicle traveling along the road segment. Furthermore, autonomous driving profile data for the vehicle at the road segment associated with the location data is calculated based on the vehicle context data. | 05-05-2022 |
20220139226 | MOBILE ROBOT HAVING COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FOR CROSSING A ROAD FROM A PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY - A collision avoidance method and system for a mobile robot crossing a road. When a mobile robot approaches a road, it senses road conditions via at least one first sensor, and initiates road crossing if the road conditions are deemed suitable for crossing. As it crosses the road, the mobile robot senses, via at least one second sensor, a change in the road conditions indicating the presence of at least one hazardous moving object. In response to determining that at least one hazardous object in present, the mobile robot initiates a collision avoidance maneuver. A mobile robot configured to avoid collisions while crossing a road includes: at least one first sensor configured to sense road conditions, at least one second sensor configured to sense road conditions, and a processing component configured to carry out one or more collision avoidance maneuvers. | 05-05-2022 |