Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080215204 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCED SYNTHETIC VISION AND MULTI-SENSOR DATA FUSION TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES - The invention provides, in some aspects, improved methods, apparatus and systems for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation that utilize multiple data links between a UAV and a control station in order to transmit control and actionable intelligence data. Such methods, apparatus and systems can be used, for example, to monitor a selected environment (e.g., an oil field or other terrain/environment of interest). In a related aspect, such data links comprise satellite communication channels. | 09-04-2008 |
20090118890 | VISUAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD BASED ON STRUCTURED LIGHT - A visual navigation system and method based on structured light are provided. The visual navigation system at least includes at least one projector for generating a specific path pattern formed by structured light, and a visual server. In addition to facilitating the visual navigation system to detect an obstacle, the pattern formed by the structured light provides a specific path pattern followed by robots during the navigation. In the visual navigation method, when detecting the obstacle, the visual server routes a virtual path and issues a movement-control command to the robots, which in turn follow the virtual path. The present invention is capable of raising the accuracy for the robot navigation and reducing operation burden of the visual server by using the structured light to guide the robots. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125175 | Apparatus and method for generating three-dimensional map using structured light - A three-dimensional map-generating apparatus and method using structured light. The apparatus for generating a three-dimensional map using structured light includes an odometer detecting the pose of a mobile robot, and a distance-measuring sensor including a light source module that emits light upward and a camera module that captures an image formed by light reflected from an obstacle, and measuring a distance to the obstacle using the captured image. The apparatus measures a distance to the obstacle using the distance-measuring sensor while changing the relative pose of the mobile robot, thereby generating a three-dimensional map. | 05-14-2009 |
20090254236 | System and method for image mapping and visual attention - A method is described for mapping dense sensory data to a Sensory Ego Sphere (SES). Methods are also described for finding and ranking areas of interest in the images that form a complete visual scene on an SES. Further, attentional processing of image data is best done by performing attentional processing on individual full-size images from the image sequence, mapping each attentional location to the nearest node, and then summing all attentional locations at each node. More information is available through this method since attentional processing is repeatedly done on each image in the sequence. An attentional point that has persisted in several adjacent images will have a higher activation value and, therefore, will be deemed more salient than an attentional point found in only one image. Therefore, the confidence that a location deemed salient by this method is an actual salient feature is greater than with the alternative processing methods in which attentional processing is performed only once on the image reconstructed from the foveal windows posted on the SES. | 10-08-2009 |
20100004810 | Vehicle driving support apparatus - A vehicle driving support apparatus includes: a tire type determination element determining a tire type of a vehicle; a memory storing a curvature threshold data showing a relationship between the tire type and a curvature threshold such that the curvature threshold is inversely related to a grip performance of the tire; a curve determination element determining based on a current position of the vehicle and a road data whether a curve is disposed on a road ahead of the vehicle; a curvature threshold determination element specifying the curvature threshold corresponding to the tire based on the tire type and the curvature threshold data; and a warning guidance performing element performing warning guidance when a curvature of the curve ahead of the vehicle is smaller than the curvature threshold corresponding to the tire. | 01-07-2010 |
20100049392 | SYSTEM FOR DEMARCATING AN AREA - A system for demarcating an area comprises a first vehicle, an attachment point, a demarcating element, a motor and a vehicle control unit. The demarcating element extends from the first vehicle to the attachment point. The system furthermore comprises a camera, which camera is operatively connected to the vehicle control unit. | 02-25-2010 |
20100070125 | Apparatus and method for localizing mobile robot - An apparatus and method for localizing a mobile robot are provided. The method includes building a forward image map including features extracted according to position at which the mobile robot takes forward images and feature descriptors of the extracted features, and localizing the mobile robot on the basis of features extracted from a newly input forward image and the built forward image map. | 03-18-2010 |
20100100270 | PARKING PILOT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention discloses a parking pilot system and method. The system of the present invention comprises a display, at least one image sensor, at least one speed sensor and an ECU. The ECU uses the images captured by the image sensor to calculate an intended parking position and uses the captured images and the detected speed to work out the coordinates of the current position and the intended parking position. The ECU also works out an initial parking position. According to the adopted parking mode, the ECU presents on the display a forward pilot track extending from the current position through the initial parking position to the intended parking position, or a forward pilot track extending from the current position to the initial parking position. Then, the driver can easily park his vehicle and effectively avoid collision via the pilot instructions presented on the display. | 04-22-2010 |
20100152945 | Apparatus and method of localization of mobile robot - A localization method and localization device of a mobile robot is provided. In one aspect, characteristic information of a reference object is stored in advance to be used as a landmark for localization, and reference characteristic information is defined by utilizing the stored characteristic information and characteristic information obtained at an initial location of the mobile robot. Therefore, the accuracy of localization can be increased without the use of additional artificial landmarks. | 06-17-2010 |
20100228421 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR POSITION ESTIMATION USING REFLECTED LIGHT SOURCES - The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface. | 09-09-2010 |
20100235034 | Method, Apparatus And Computer Program Product For Recognizing A Gesture - A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for recognizing a gesture in which one or more relationships are determined between a plurality of body parts and the gesture is then determined based upon these relationships. Each relationship may be determined by determining an angle associated with at least one joint, determining one or more states of a body part based upon the angle associated with at least one joint, and determining a probability of a body part being in each respective state. The gesture may thereafter be determined based upon the one or more states and the probability associated with each state of the body part. Directions may be provided, such as to an unmanned vehicle, based upon the gesture to, for example, control its taxiing and parking operations. | 09-16-2010 |
20110004368 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HURRICANE SURVEILLANCE FROM THE EYE - Methods and apparatus to provide an aerial vehicle having an eyewall sensor to enable the aerial vehicle to stay within the eye of a hurricane and transmit weather information to a remote location. In one embodiment, the aerial vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched into the eye of the hurricane. | 01-06-2011 |
20110046838 | AUTOMATIC SEARCH SYSTEM AND METHOD - An automatic search system and a method for assisting a mobile apparatus to search for a matching device are provided. The automatic search method includes the following steps. First, N sets of consecutive images are captured at N time points respectively when the mobile apparatus moves along a first direction. The N is a positive integer greater than 1. Next, the N sets of consecutive images are received, and several image features of the N sets of images are compared, so as to determine accordingly whether the matching device exists in the first direction. If it is determined that the matching device exists, a route signal and an adjustment signal are generated. Next, according to the route signal, the mobile apparatus is controlled to move to an adjacent position of the matching device. Also, according to the adjustment signal, the mobile apparatus is controlled to be combined with the matching device. | 02-24-2011 |
20110077814 | SAFETY SCANNER - The invention relates to a safety scanner for the securing of the environment of a vehicle, in particular of a driverless transport system, comprising a light transmitter, a light deflection unit for the deflection of the light into a protected field to be monitored, a receiver for the provision of received signals in dependence on light remitted at objects present in the field of view of the scanner, an evaluation unit for the evaluation of the received signals and of the incremental encoder signals and for the provision of a safety signal, a first input connected to a vehicle speed determination unit for the reception of first signals which are representative of a vehicle speed and comprising switchover means for the safe switching over between at least two different protected fields in dependence on the vehicle speed. To provide a safety scanner with which components can be saved and which is of simple construction, it is proposed that a second input is connected to the vehicle speed determination unit for the reception of desired speed signals of the vehicle and the vehicle speed determination unit has comparison means with which an actual speed can be compared with a desired speed on the basis of the first signals and of the desired speed signals and the safety signal can also be output in dependence on this comparison. | 03-31-2011 |
20110106363 | Arrangement and Method for Controlling a Drive of an Automotive, Driverless Transportation Device - An arrangement and a method for controlling a drive of an automotive, driverless transportation device, wherein the drive of a driverless transportation device or the drives of a plurality of driverless transportation device is or are controlled by means of a stationary control device. Here, a chain of light sources which is embodied as a running light is arranged along a route of the driverless transportation device, wherein at least two optical sensors for sensing the running light are arranged one behind the other on the driverless transportation device. The at least two sensors are connected to the drive of the driverless transportation device such that the driverless transportation device essentially synchronously follows at least one illuminated segment of the running light, and the stationary control device is configured to control the running light. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the mechanical drag chain conveyors. | 05-05-2011 |
20110153139 | OPTOELECTRONIC SENSOR - An optoelectronic sensor ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110160950 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING A COLLISION - Controlling a vehicle to automatically prevent the vehicle from colliding with obstacles includes identifying and locating obstacles in front of the vehicle, wherein relative position of an obstacle is determined; measuring relative speed of the obstacles; assessing whether there is a risk of a collision between the vehicle and the obstacle as a function of the relative position and relative speed. If there is a risk of a collision, the method further includes: calculating an unsafe region around the obstacle as a function of known measurement errors; calculating an evasion point within or on an edge of the unsafe region; defining a protection zone around the evasion point; defining an evasion route which is in the form of a circular path and has a predefined radius of curvature; controlling the vehicle at a critical distance, so that the vehicle follows the evasion route which is tangential to the protection zone. | 06-30-2011 |
20120035799 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE ACCORDING TO SCENE IMAGES - The present disclosure relates to a robotic system including one or more self-propelled motorized vehicles | 02-09-2012 |
20120072068 | METHOD OF DETECTING A STRUCTURE IN A FIELD, A METHOD OF STEERING AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE AND AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE - An agricultural vehicle has a steering system providing steering signals and including an imaging device for imaging surroundings of the vehicle and an image processing device, the steering system operates to provide by the imaging device an image of the field, analyse the image to obtain texture information, assign to a plurality of areas of the image probability-values reflecting the likelihood that the respective area relates to a specific structure, assume at least one geometric property of the specific structure, and establish a most possible position parameter of the specific structure taking into account the probability-values and the assumed geometric property; and to provide a steering signal in accordance with the position parameter thus established. | 03-22-2012 |
20120089295 | MOVING ROBOT AND METHOD TO BUILD MAP FOR THE SAME - A moving robot and a method to build a map for the same, wherein a 3D map for an ambient environment of the moving robot may be built using a Time of Flight (TOF) camera that may acquire 3D distance information in real time. The method acquires 3D distance information of an object present in a path along which the moving robot moves, accumulates the acquired 3D distance information to construct a map of a specific level and stores the map in a database, and then hierarchically matches maps stored in the database to build a 3D map for a set space. This method may quickly and accurately build a 3D map for an ambient environment of the moving robot. | 04-12-2012 |
20120095641 | Method for Wireless Communication Between Vehicles - The invention relates to a method for wireless communication between vehicles ( | 04-19-2012 |
20120143430 | VISION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A vision system includes a processor and a plurality of cameras, each of which is configured to be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to select input from different combinations of the plurality of cameras based on a parameter that is associated with at least one of the status of a vehicle and a surrounding environment of the vehicle. | 06-07-2012 |
20120191287 | CONTROL METHOD FOR LOCALIZATION AND NAVIGATION OF MOBILE ROBOT AND MOBILE ROBOT USING THE SAME - The present invention relates to a control method for the localization and navigation of a mobile robot and a mobile robot using the same. More specifically, the localization and navigation of a mobile robot are controlled using inertial sensors and images, wherein local direction descriptors are employed, the mobile robot is changed in the driving mode thereof according to the conditions of the mobile robot, and errors in localization may be minimized. | 07-26-2012 |
20120253583 | IMAGING-BASED PROXIMITY DETECTION SYSTEMS FOR MINING MACHINES - Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for controlling a mining machine. One system includes an image sensor for capturing an image of an area adjacent to the mining machine and a proximity sensing and control system. The proximity sensing and control system obtains the image; identifies an object in the image, the object including at least one of a person and piece of equipment; calculates a distance between the identified object and at least one of the image sensor and the mining machine using at least one image processing algorithm; and automatically controls the mining machine based on the distance. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253584 | IMAGING-BASED INTERFACE SENSOR AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR MINING MACHINES - Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling mining machines. One system includes an image sensor for capturing an image of a cutting face of a mine and interface sensing and control system for obtaining the image, identifying an anomaly in the image, calculating a distance between the anomaly and a reference, and using the distance to automatically instruct a mining machine control system to keep a cutter head of the mining machine within a seam. | 10-04-2012 |
20120310466 | SENSOR FIELD SELECTION - Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to safe and effective use of autonomous vehicles. More specifically, an autonomous vehicle | 12-06-2012 |
20130041549 | Optical tracking vehicle control system and method - A vehicle control system having a controller and a spatial database adapted to provide spatial data to the controller at control speed. The spatial data provided from the spatial database to the controller includes images collected from an optical sensor subsystem in addition to other data collected by a variety of sensor types, including a GNSS or inertial measurement system. The spatial data received by the controller from the database forms at least part of the control inputs that the controller operates on to control the vehicle. The advantage provided by the present invention allows control system to “think” directly in terms of spatial location. A vehicle control system in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention comprises a task path generator, a spatial database, at least one external spatial data receiver, a vehicle attitude compensation module, a position error generator, a controller, and actuators to control the vehicle. | 02-14-2013 |
20130066511 | Systems and Methods for Semi-Autonomous Vehicular Convoys - The present invention relates to systems and methods for vehicles to safely closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective. | 03-14-2013 |
20130096767 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE REGULATION - In a lane keeping assistance method for a vehicle which is traveling in a lane, it is checked whether an activation criterion for an automatic driving dynamics intervention is satisfied, and in response to the satisfaction of the activation criterion, control signals are output for the driving dynamics intervention. A remaining travel time to crossing or reaching a lateral lane line is ascertained and compared to a threshold value as the activation criterion. During the automatic driving dynamics intervention, a deactivation criterion for ending the automatic driving dynamics intervention is checked, the deactivation criterion including a comparison of a vehicle alignment to a lane direction. | 04-18-2013 |
20130158775 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NAVIGATION OF MOVABLE PLATFORM - A method for navigation of a movable platform is provided. The method includes the steps. First, a plurality of reflection devices is placed to mark a range. A coordinate location and a direction of the movable platform are received by a positioning system, At least one laser to measure relative positions and distances between the reflection devices and the movable platform are emitted by a laser range finder, respectively. Absolute locations of the reflection devices and the range are calculated by a processor according to the coordinate location and the direction of the movable platform, the relative positions and the distances between the reflection devices and the movable platform. The reflection devices are scanned and tracked by the processor, and the coordinate location and the direction of the movable platform and the absolute locations are calibrated by the processor to control the movable platform to move in the range. | 06-20-2013 |
20130190965 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNSUPERVISED ADAPTATION OF THE PERCEPTION OF AN AUTONOMOUS MOWER - The present invention presents a method and system for an autonomous mower attached with a camera, wherein the control of the parameters of the camera and the control of the mower movement and grass detection are optimized holistically during operation. The present invention mitigates the camera sensing limits by adapting the movement speed of the mower. Furthermore, the camera control optimizes the visibility of grass by using the grass mask of a grass segmentation to calculate updated exposure, gain and aperture values only from grass pixels. The grass segmentation tracks changes in the grass color that are caused by illumination differences. Optionally, the system is equipped with a head light used to further improve the camera signal quality in conjunction with the control of the camera parameters and the movement speed of the mower. | 07-25-2013 |
20130204482 | CARRIER - A carrier which automatically travels on a pathway. A carrier comprising: a carrier main body which travels on the pathway including a first area and a second area other than the first area; a distance measuring sensor which is provided in the carrier main body, measures an intensity of reflected light a plurality of times, and obtains a plurality of pieces of measured data; a map data storage unit which stores map data in which structures provided along the pathway are recorded; an approximate line calculation unit which calculates an approximate line based on a set of pieces of measured data having the light intensity equal to or more than a predetermined threshold among the plurality of pieces of measured data in the first area and calculates the approximate line based on the set of the plurality of pieces of measured data in the second area; and a position calculation unit which calculates a position of the carrier main body by collating the approximate line and the map data. | 08-08-2013 |
20130204483 | ROBOT CLEANER - A robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner may include a casing including a moving device, an image input disposed in the casing, the image input including a plurality of light emitting parts that emits light toward an obstacle and an image sensor that acquires a 3D image of the obstacle onto which the light is emitted by the plurality of light emitting parts, and a main controller that extracts 3D data with respect to the obstacle from the 3D image of the obstacle acquired by the image input to control the moving device. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211657 | COUPLED RANGE AND INTENSITY IMAGING FOR MOTION ESTIMATION - A method and system may operate a coupled range imager and intensity imager to obtain a sequence of at least two automatically registered images, each automatically registered image including concurrently acquired range data and intensity data with regard to an imaged scene. The registered range and intensity data is analyzed to yield an estimated motion of an element of an imaged object of the imaged scene. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211658 | METHOD AND STEREO VISION SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING THE UNLOADING OF AGRICULTURAL MATERIAL FROM A VEHICLE - A mode controller determines whether to use an automated control mode of the spout or operator-directed manual control mode of the spout, based on a first operational status of a first location determining receiver associated with the propelling vehicle, a second operational status of a second location determining receiver associated with the harvesting vehicle, a third operational status of the imaging device or devices. In the automated control mode, an image processing module is adapted to facilitate the determination of the relative position of the spout and the storage portion and to generate command data place the storage portion and spout in relative cooperative alignment for transferring of material into the storage portion. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211659 | SENSOR DATA PROCESSING - Apparatus for and method of processing sensor data for the purpose of navigating a vehicle (for example an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle), the sensor data being from a sensor (for example a camera) mounted on the vehicle. The method can include can include: for a number of time-steps, measuring a value of a parameter of a scene using the sensor to produce a sequence of images of the scene; determining a value of one or more image quality metrics (for example, spatial entropy and spatial information) in each image in the sequence; and identifying as either valid or invalid, a sub-sequence of images in the sequence based on the determined metric values. | 08-15-2013 |
20130253754 | 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. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261871 | Gesture-Based Automotive Controls - Methods and apparatuses for gesture-based controls are disclosed. In one aspect, a method is disclosed that includes maintaining a correlation between a plurality of predetermined gestures, in combination with a plurality of predetermined regions of a vehicle, and a plurality of functions. The method further includes recording three-dimensional images of an interior portion of the vehicle and, based on the three-dimensional images, detecting a given gesture in a given region of the vehicle, where the given gesture corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined gestures and the given region corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined regions. The method still further includes selecting, based on the correlation, a function associated with the given gesture in combination with the given region and initiating the function in the vehicle. | 10-03-2013 |
20130261872 | 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. | 10-03-2013 |
20130261873 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM DRILLED HOLES FOR MINING - Apparatus and method for obtaining information from drilled holes for mining A mobile vehicle ( | 10-03-2013 |
20130274987 | LUGGAGE CASE AND LUGGAGE CASE MOVING METHOD - An exemplary luggage case moving method includes obtaining an image captured by a camera. The image includes a distance information indicating distances between the camera and objects captured by the camera. The method then creates a 3D scene model. Next, the method determines whether the target person appears in the created 3D scene model according to stored 3D models of target persons. The method then determines a target person minimum region in the obtained image, generates an actual minimum region, and compares the size of the actual minimum region with the size of a stored minimum region sample to determine the moving direction of the target person. The method next controls the driving unit to drive the luggage case to move toward the determined moving direction. A related luggage case is also provided. | 10-17-2013 |
20140058613 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE BY MONITORING THE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE BY MEANS OF A CAMERA DEVICE OF A MOBILE CONTROL DEVICE - In a method for operating a vehicle which performs an autonomously controlled movement, images of the vehicle are recorded in temporal succession with a mobile control which is held by an operator located outside the vehicle, a position of the vehicle in the images, a change of the position of the vehicle in the images, a proportion of the depiction of the vehicle of the total image content and/or a change of the proportion is analyzed by an analysis device, and in case the vehicle was not or only incompletely detected in the images, the proportion of the depiction of the vehicle of the total image content, the change and or degree of change of the proportion is above or below a predeterminable threshold value, the autonomously controlled movement of the vehicle ins interrupted or terminated. | 02-27-2014 |
20140067187 | Construction Zone Detection Using a Plurality of Information Sources - Methods and systems for detection of a construction zone using information from a plurality of sources are described. In an example, a computing device, configured to control the vehicle, may be configured to receive information, from a plurality of sources, relating to detection of a construction zone on the road on which the vehicle is travelling. Also, the computing device may be configured to determine a likelihood of existence of the construction zone on the road, based on the information. Further the computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle, based on the likelihood; and control the vehicle based on the modified control strategy. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067188 | Railway Maintenance Device - A railway maintenance device configured for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation in a rail environment is provided. The device can process image data to move about the rail environment and perform one or more actions in the rail environment. The actions can include one or more actions related to decoupling and/or attaching rail vehicles, and can be implemented by performing three-dimensional image processing. The device can be configured to move with any movement of a rail vehicle on which one or more actions are being performed. In an alternative embodiment, the various components configured to perform the action are implemented at a stationary location with respect to a rail line. | 03-06-2014 |
20140081507 | DETECTING ROAD WEATHER CONDITIONS - Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting road weather conditions. Vehicle sensors including a laser, precipitation sensors, and/or camera may be used to detect information such as the brightness of the road, variations in the brightness of the road, brightness of the world, current precipitation, as well as the detected height of the road. Information received from other sources such as networked based weather information (forecasts, radar, precipitation reports, etc.) may also be considered. The combination of the received and detected information may be used to estimate the probability of precipitation such as water, snow or ice in the roadway. This information may then be used to maneuver an autonomous vehicle (for steering, accelerating, or braking) or identify dangerous situations. | 03-20-2014 |
20140095011 | 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. | 04-03-2014 |
20140114526 | Safety apparatus for a vehicle - A safety apparatus ( | 04-24-2014 |
20140121883 | System And Method For Using Gestures In Autonomous Parking - A method of providing parking assistance in a vehicle includes identifying with a controller in a vehicle a plurality of available parking spaces for the vehicle, generating with a video output device operatively connected to the controller an interface with a graphical depiction of the vehicle and the plurality of available parking spaces, receiving a first input gesture with a gesture input device to select one parking space from the plurality of available parking spaces, and operating the vehicle to park the vehicle in the one parking space using the controller configured with a parking assistance service in the vehicle. | 05-01-2014 |
20140172226 | DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - The invention provides a driver assistance method, comprising the steps of: sensing a vehicle's state and the environment, on the basis of sensing output signals, determining whether a critical state of the vehicle is to be expected in the future, if yes, determining a total amount and a time duration of an activation of at least one vehicle actuator required in order to avoid occurrence of the critical state, the activation being of a nature which can be sensed by the driver of the vehicle, and partially performing, by a control module, the activation, i.e. for a portion of the amount and/or a portion of the time duration of the determined total amount and time duration. | 06-19-2014 |
20140200759 | REAR VISION SYSTEM WITH TRAILER ANGLE DETECTION - A rear vision system for a vehicle includes a rearward facing camera disposed at a rearward portion of a vehicle equipped with the rear vision system. The rearward facing camera is operable to captures images rearward of the equipped vehicle. When a trailer is near and/or attached to the equipped vehicle and is rearward of the equipped vehicle, a processor is operable to process the captured images and, responsive at least in part to such processing, is operable to determine a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the equipped vehicle. | 07-17-2014 |
20140207326 | LINE PROJECTION SYSTEM - A laser-based line projection system that is suitable for selectively placing lines on a floor surface, such as a factory floor. Several projectors are used in a typical installation. Each projector includes a laser directed through a diverging lens to create a planar projection of laser light. The planar projection creates a bright line when it falls on a surface. Each projector is optionally equipped with a movable mask that alters the angle of divergence for the laser light after it passes through the cylindrical lens. This component allows the projector to vary the length of the line projected. | 07-24-2014 |
20140214260 | Method and Device for an Assistance System in a Vehicle for Performing an Autonomous or Semi-Autonomous Driving Maneuver - The invention relates to a method and a device for an assistance system that serves to perform an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of a vehicle, e.g., a parking assistance system in a vehicle, wherein by means of a camera system, image data are acquired from the surroundings of a vehicle and processed in order to perform the driving maneuver. At least one direction in which the vehicle moves when performing the driving maneuver is indicated by means of at least one light signal device. | 07-31-2014 |
20140222280 | VEHICULAR VISION SYSTEM - A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing forwardly of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to a determination that the vehicle is at a red light and the red light turns green and another vehicle in front of the vehicle moves forwardly away from the vehicle, the system may generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle. The system may include a camera that views rearwardly of the vehicle. Responsive to a determination that the vehicle is approaching an object present forwardly of the vehicle, the system may apply a vehicle brake to mitigate a collision with the determined object, and the system may reduce application of the vehicle brakes to mitigate a rear collision by a determined following vehicle. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236414 | Method to Detect Nearby Aggressive Drivers and Adjust Driving Modes - A computing device may be configured to receive sensor information indicative of respective characteristics of vehicles on a road of travel of a first vehicle. The computing device may be configured to identify, based on the respective characteristics, a second vehicle that exhibits an aggressive driving behavior manifested as an unsafe or unlawful driving action. Also, based on the respective characteristics, the computing device may be configured to determine a type of the second vehicle. The computing device may be configured to estimate a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy of the first vehicle, based on the aggressive driving behavior of the second vehicle, the type of the second vehicle, and the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and control the first vehicle based on the modified control strategy. | 08-21-2014 |
20140297094 | 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. | 10-02-2014 |
20140324270 | MOBILE ROBOT - A mobile robot including a light emitting unit, a processing unit, an optical component, an image sensing unit, a control unit and a moving unit is provided. The light emitting unit emits a main beam. The processing unit diverges the main beam to a plurality of sub-beams. The sub-beams constitute a light covering an area. When a portion of the sub-beams irradiate a first object, the first object reflects the sub-beam and a plurality of reflected beams are reflected. The optical component receives the reflected beams and converges it to a first collected beam. The image sensing unit converts the first collected beam into a first detection result. The control unit calculates depth information according to the first detection result. The control unit activates the relevant behavior of the mobile robot according to the depth information and controls the mobile robot through the moving unit. | 10-30-2014 |
20140324271 | CLEANING ROBOT, HOME MONITORING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE CLEANING ROBOT - A cleaning robot is provided. The cleaning robot includes a main body, a moving assembly to move the main body around a home, an imaging unit to obtain images around the main body, a controller to generate a map of the home using the obtained images, and a communication unit to transmit the generated map to a home monitoring apparatus. A procedure to match location and type information of electric devices to a two-Dimensional (2D) or three-Dimensional (3D) map of the home may be automated. As described above, the map of the home may be realistically generated by utilizing a map generated by the cleaning robot and inconvenience experienced by a user to manually register electric devices located in each room of the home may be solved by automatically registering the electric devices. | 10-30-2014 |
20140324272 | Operating system for and method of operating an automatic guidance system of an agricultural vehicle - An operating system for operating an automatic guidance system of an agricultural vehicle includes a three-dimensional imaging device for capturing a real object and for deriving a three-dimensional data set for the real object and, a touch-sensitive display unit for displaying an object and for receiving a touch input. The operating system is configured for generating three-dimensional data set based command signals corresponding to the interaction with the displayed object for operating the automatic guidance system. The operating system allows for an easy and efficient way to operate the automatic guidance system, reducing the stress and workload for the operator. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330479 | Predictive Reasoning for Controlling Speed of a Vehicle - Methods and systems for predictive reasoning for controlling speed of a vehicle are described. A computing device may be configured to identify a first and second vehicle travelling ahead of an autonomous vehicle and in a same lane as the autonomous vehicle. The computing device may also be configured to determine a first buffer distance behind the first vehicle at which the autonomous vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the first vehicle and a second buffer distance behind the second vehicle at which the first vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the second vehicle. The computing device may further be configured to determine a distance at which to adjust a speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the first and second buffer distances and the speed of the autonomous vehicle, and then provide instructions to adjust the speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336863 | CLEANING ROBOT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A cleaning robot may have a body, a moving unit provided on the body to move the body in a cleaning space, a cleaning unit provided on the body to clean a floor of the cleaning space, a floor image obtaining unit configured to obtain a floor image of the cleaning space, and a control unit configured to determine if foreign substance is present on the floor of the cleaning space based on the floor image, and control the moving unit to move the body to a position of the foreign substance, in which the cleaning robot, by obtaining an image of a floor to be cleaned, detects the foreign substance that is not positioned on a moving track of the cleaning robot, and when the foreign substance is detected, moves to the position of the foreign substance to perform a cleaning. | 11-13-2014 |
20140350771 | DRIVERLESS VEHICLE WITH STEERING WHEEL - A driverless vehicle capable of being steered, and includes a number of driven wheels, a steering linkage assembly, and a steering controlling system. The steering controlling system includes a steering wheel, a number of light receivers, a fixing ring, a number of light emitters, a controller, and a processor. The steering linkage assembly is coupled with the driven wheels and the steering wheel. The light receivers are positioned on the steering wheel. The fixing ring positions the light emitters corresponding to the light receivers. The controller controls only one of the light emitters emitting light rays each time. The processor determines a turning direction and a turning angel according to a location of a current light receiver and a location of a preceding light receiver. The steering wheel steers the driven wheels to turn according to the turning direction and the turning angle. | 11-27-2014 |
20140379197 | Method and Device for an Assistance System in a Vehicle for Performing an Autonomous or Semi-Autonomous Driving Maneuver - The invention relates to a method and a device for an assistance system that serves to perform an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of a vehicle, e.g., a parking assistance system in a vehicle, wherein by means of a camera system, image data are generated from the surroundings of a vehicle and processed in order to perform the driving maneuver. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379198 | Mobile Object - The present invention provides a mobile object capable of stable movement and jumping. The mobile object includes two moving means attached to left and right sides under a body; a sensor to detect attitude of the body; a controller to receive information from the sensor and perform calculation; two telescopic actuators attached between the body and the two moving means and configured to generate vertical forces; a rotary actuator provided at the center of the two telescopic actuators and configured to rotate around a moving direction of the body; a roll link connected with an output part of the rotary actuator; two suspensions connecting left and right ends of the roll link and the moving means; and foot frames attached between the suspensions and the moving means, wherein the controller controls the rotary actuator so that the sensor detects a target tilt angle and a target angular velocity of the body. | 12-25-2014 |
20150051784 | 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. | 02-19-2015 |
20150073646 | Mobile Human Interface Robot - A mobile robot that includes a drive system, a controller in communication with the drive system, and a volumetric point cloud imaging device supported above the drive system at a height of greater than about one feet above the ground and directed to be capable of obtaining a point cloud from a volume of space that includes a floor plane in a direction of movement of the mobile robot. The controller receives point cloud signals from the imaging device and issues drive commands to the drive system based at least in part on the received point cloud signals. | 03-12-2015 |
20150094900 | INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES WITH OVERHEAD LIGHT BASED LOCALIZATION - According to the embodiments described herein, a method for environmental based localization may include capturing an input image of a ceiling comprising a plurality of skylights. Features can be extracted from the input image. The features can be grouped into a plurality of feature groups such that each of the feature groups is associated with one of the skylights. Line segments can be extracted from the features of each feature group, automatically, with one or more processors executing a feature extraction algorithm on each feature group separately. At least two selected lines of the line segments of each feature groups can be selected. A centerline for each of the feature groups can be determined based at least in part upon the two selected lines. The center line of each of the feature groups can be associated with one of the skylights. | 04-02-2015 |
20150105965 | 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 |
20150112538 | OBSTACLE SENSING MODULE AND CLEANING ROBOT INCLUDING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are an obstacle sensing module and a cleaning robot including the same. The cleaning robot includes a body, a driver to drive the body, an obstacle sensing module to sense an obstacle present around the body, and a control unit to control the driver, based on sensed results of the obstacle sensing module. The obstacle sensing module includes at least one light emitter including a light source, and a wide-angle lens to refract or reflect light from the light source so as to diffuse the incident light in the form of planar light, and a light receiver including a reflection mirror to again reflect reflection light reflected by the obstacle so as to generate reflection light, an optical lens spaced from the reflection mirror by a predetermined distance, to allow the reflection light to pass through the optical lens, and an image sensor, and an image processing circuit. | 04-23-2015 |
20150120127 | MOBILE UNIT, METHOD OF MOVING MOBILE UNIT, ROBOT SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING PROCESSED PRODUCT - A mobile unit according to an embodiment includes a main body, a moving mechanism, a sensor, a recognizer, a first movement adjuster, a second landmark recognizer, and a second movement adjuster. The moving mechanism moves the main body. The sensor detects a distance and a direction to an object around the main body. The recognizer recognizes a landmark based on a detection result of the sensor. The first movement adjuster controls the moving mechanism such that the main body is moved to a target position based on the landmark. If the distance to the landmark has become smaller than a first threshold, the second landmark recognizer recognizes a second landmark. The second movement adjuster controls the moving mechanism such that the main body is moved to the target position based on the second landmark. | 04-30-2015 |
20150120128 | Autonomous Coverage Robot - A mobile floor cleaning robot includes identifying, using a controller, a location of an object on a floor surface away from the robot, and issuing a first drive command from the controller to a drive system of the robot to drive the robot across the floor surface to clean the floor surface at the identified location of the object. The method also includes determining whether the object persists on the floor surface, and when the object persists, driving across the floor surface to re-clean the floor surface at the identified location of the object. | 04-30-2015 |
20150142251 | VEHICLE CONTROL BASED ON COLORS REPRESENTATIVE OF NAVIGATION INFORMATION - Vehicle control based on colors representative of navigation information are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving an image of an object surface having multiple colors thereon that are representative of data for use in navigating a vehicle along a pathway. Further, the method includes controlling the vehicle to operate to navigate the pathway based on the image. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142252 | AUTONOMOUS ROBOT FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - A robotic device includes a housing configured to house a mobile device. The robotic device also includes an articulating image director aligned with a field of view of a camera of the mobile device. The housing of the robotic device is positioned at an angle to provide a forward view or rear facing view to the camera via the articulating image director. | 05-21-2015 |
20150149023 | MODIFIED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SETTINGS - A vehicle includes at least one autonomous driving sensor configured to monitor at least one condition while operating in an autonomous mode. The vehicle further includes a processing device configured to identify at least one occupant, select a profile associated with the occupant, and autonomously operate at least one subsystem according to the selected profile and the at least condition monitored by the at least one autonomous driving sensor. | 05-28-2015 |
20150293532 | FLASH LADAR COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM - A vehicular collision avoidance system comprising a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, a number of independent ladar sensor units, a cabling infrastructure, internal memory, a scene processor, and a data communications port is presented herein. The described invention is capable of developing a 3-D scene, and object data for targets within the scene, from multiple ladar sensor units coupled to centralized LADAR-based Collision Avoidance System (CAS). Key LADAR elements are embedded within standard headlamp and taillight assemblies. Articulating LADAR sensors cover terrain coming into view around a curve, at the crest of a hill, or at the bottom of a dip. A central laser transmitter may be split into multiple optical outputs and guided through fibers to illuminate portions of the 360° field of view surrounding the vehicle. These fibers may also serve as amplifiers to increase the optical intensity provided by a single master laser. | 10-15-2015 |
20150293534 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle control system and method employs a sensing system and a controller. The sensing system is disposed on a host vehicle and configured to sense a visual condition of a driver of the host vehicle. The controller is configured to control an autonomous vehicle control system on board the host vehicle to stop the host vehicle at a stopping location based on the visual condition and at least one point of interest external to the host vehicle. | 10-15-2015 |
20150309510 | POSITIONING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES BASED ON FIELD OF VIEW - Positioning autonomous vehicles based on field of view, including: identifying, by a vehicle management module, one or more critical sight lines for a subject vehicle, each critical sight line representing a boundary of an area of space surrounding the subject vehicle; determining, by the vehicle management module, physical location information for one or more surrounding vehicles; determining, by the vehicle management module in dependence upon the physical location information for one or more surrounding vehicles, whether one or more surrounding vehicles are located within the area of space surrounding the subject vehicle; and responsive to determining that one or more surrounding vehicles are located within the area of space surrounding the subject vehicle, altering a location of the subject vehicle relative to at least one of the surrounding vehicles. | 10-29-2015 |
20150314443 | VISUAL-BASED OBSTACLE DETECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE ROBOT - A visual-based obstacle detection method is provided. The method includes receiving image information of an environment containing a mobile robot captured by at least one visual sensor to obtain one of a three-dimensional space and a two-dimensional plane, and extracting and matching feature geometric primitives based on the received image information. The method also includes reconstructing coordinates of matched extracted feature geometric primitives and positions and orientations of the visual sensor and optimizing the reconstructed coordinates to obtain a calculation result, wherein the calculation result includes the feature geometric primitives, the positions and orientations of the visual sensor, as well as visible constraint relationships between the feature geometric primitives and the positions and orientations. Further, the method includes detecting obstacles in the environment containing the mobile robot based on the obtained calculation result and plotting a path for automatic motion of the mobile robot based on the detected obstacles. | 11-05-2015 |
20150316930 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING MULTPLE HYPOTHESES IN A VISUAL SIMULTANEOUS LOCALIZATION AND MAPPING SYSTEM - The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Advantageously, such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are economically practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. One embodiment further advantageously uses multiple particles to maintain multiple hypotheses with respect to localization and mapping. Further advantageously, one embodiment maintains the particles in a relatively computationally-efficient manner, thereby permitting the SLAM processes to be performed in software using relatively inexpensive microprocessor-based computer systems. | 11-05-2015 |
20150321697 | TRAILERING ASSIST SYSTEM WITH TRAILER ANGLE DETECTION - A trailering assist system for a vehicle includes a rearward facing camera disposed at a rearward portion of a vehicle equipped with the trailering assist system. The rearward facing camera is operable to capture image data representative of the scene rearward of the equipped vehicle. When a trailer is near and/or attached to the equipped vehicle and is rearward of the equipped vehicle, a processor is operable to process the captured image data and, responsive at least in part to such processing, is operable to determine a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the equipped vehicle. | 11-12-2015 |
20150329107 | TRAFFIC LIGHT ANTICIPATION - A vehicle includes at least one autonomous driving sensor configured to detect a traffic flow pattern relative to an intersection. An autonomous mode controller is configured to determine the state of the traffic control device. The autonomous mode controller may estimate when the state of the traffic control device is likely to change based on the traffic flow pattern. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331112 | LASER RANGING,TRACKING AND DESIGNATION USING 3-D FOCAL PLANES - The present invention tracks or locates small moving objects, or generates a 3-D frame of data by using 3-D focal plane arrays with low laser energy and few mechanically moving parts. The invention may be used to determine the direction of a laser designating a target, for target tracking, used as a 3-D movie/video camera or used to provide data for autonomous navigation. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331424 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A CLEANER - Disclosed herein is a method of controlling a cleaner including a movable body for suctioning and a following body for collecting the dust suctioned by the movable body, the method including: (a) acquiring an image for a view around the following body; (b) acquiring position information of the movable body in an real space, based on the image; (c) acquiring position information of an obstacle in the real space, based on the image; (d) setting a travel direction such that the following body avoids the obstacle to follow the movable body, based on the position information of the movable body and the position information of the obstacle; and (e) controlling the following body to travel in the set travel direction. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332590 | VEHICULAR VISION SYSTEM - A collision mitigation system for a vehicle includes at least a forward viewing camera and a rearward viewing camera configured to be disposed at the vehicle so as to view generally forwardly or rearwardly of the vehicle. An image processor processes image data captured by the cameras. When the equipped vehicle is moving and responsive at least in part to a determination that the equipped vehicle is approaching an object determined to be present forwardly of the equipped vehicle, the control is operable to apply a vehicle brake to mitigate a collision with the determined object. When the vehicle is moving and the control is applying the vehicle brake, and responsive at least in part to a determination that a following vehicle is following the equipped vehicle, the control adjusts control of the vehicle brakes to mitigate a rear collision by the determined following vehicle. | 11-19-2015 |
20150359163 | ROW GUIDANCE PARAMETERIZATION WITH HOUGH TRANSFORM - Systems and techniques for row guidance parameterization with Hough transform are described herein. An electronic representation of a field (ERF) can be received. The ERF can include a set of feature sets including one of a set of crop row features or a set of furrow features. A first parameter space can be produced by applying a slope-intercept Hough transform (SLIHT) to members of a feature set. Peaks in the first parameter space can be identified. A second parameter space can be produced by application of the SLIHT to the peaks. A vanishing point can be calculated based on a vanishing point peak in the second parameter space. A track-angle error can be calculated from the vanishing point. | 12-17-2015 |
20150367850 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MIMICKING A LEADING VEHICLE - Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a driver assist navigation system is provided for a primary vehicle. The system may include at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of the primary vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device may be configured to: locate in the plurality of images a leading vehicle; determine, based on the plurality of images, at least one action taken by the leading vehicle; and cause the primary vehicle to mimic the at least one action of the leading vehicle. | 12-24-2015 |
20150367960 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE POSITIONING - Provided are a system and method for vehicle positioning. The system includes a control module, at least one sensor arranged and disposed to measure operational parameter and provide the operational parameters to the control module, and a ground transport vehicle in communication with the control module. The ground transport vehicle is arranged and disposed for coupling with an aircraft and the control module is arranged and disposed to direct at least one of ground handling of the aircraft and storage of the aircraft. The method includes providing a system, coupling a ground transport vehicle to an aircraft, communicating operational parameters from at least one sensor to a control module, defining an operational area for the aircraft, setting a ground transportation route with the control module based upon the operational parameters from the at least one sensor, and moving the aircraft along the ground transportation route with the ground transport vehicle. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371181 | FIDUCIAL MARKERS WITH A SMALL SET OF VALUES - A system for managing inventory items includes a portable inventory holder and an unmanned drive unit configured to move the inventory holder between locations in an inventory facility. The inventory facility includes a plurality of uniquely identifiable fiducial markers having a small set of values distributed in a pattern. The drive unit captures at least one image of a subset of the plurality of the fiducial markers. The at least one captured image is processed to determine a location of the drive unit within the facility. A path is determined along which the drive unit moves to an inventory holder and moves the inventory holder to another location. The pattern of fiducial markers can include one or more repeated instances of uniquely identifiable fiducial markers. A fiducial marker can encode information using a readable code and at least one attribute of the fiducial marker. | 12-24-2015 |
20150379715 | VEHICLE POSITIONING OR NAVIGATION UTILIZING ASSOCIATED FEATURE PAIRS - According to the embodiments described herein, a method for vehicle positioning or navigation utilizing associated feature pairs may include creating a plurality of associated feature pairs by retrieving an initial set of camera data from the camera comprising two-dimensional UV space information, forming pairs from the UV space information, and associating each pair from the UV space information with pairs from each of the plurality of three-dimensional global feature points of the industrial facility map, calculating a best estimate poses from calculated vehicle poses of the associated feature pairs, using an accumulated odometry to update the best estimate pose to a current localized position and setting a seed position as the current localized position. The navigation of the materials handling vehicle is tracked and/or navigated along the inventory transit surface navigate in at least a partially automated manner utilizing the current localized position. | 12-31-2015 |
20160011594 | METHOD FOR EXTRACTING CURB OF ROAD USING LASER RANGE FINDER AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZING OF MOBILE ROBOT USING CURB INFORMAITON OF ROAD | 01-14-2016 |
20160011595 | INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES WITH OVERHEAD LIGHT BASED LOCALIZATION | 01-14-2016 |
20160016583 | DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM WITH IMAGE PROCESSING AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A driver assist system for a vehicle includes a camera, a receiver and a control. The camera has a field of view exterior of the vehicle and is operable to capture image data. The receiver is operable to receive a wireless communication from a communication device disposed at another vehicle. The control includes a data processor that processes captured image data to detect objects. The wireless communication includes a car-to-car communication. The driver assist system, responsive at least in part to processing by the data processor of captured image data and to the wireless communication received by the receiver, determines a potential hazard existing in a forward path of travel of the equipped vehicle. The control, responsive at least in part to such determination, controls at least one vehicle function of the equipped vehicle to mitigate the potential hazard in the forward path of travel of the equipped vehicle. | 01-21-2016 |
20160026967 | METHOD FOR ASSISTING IN COLLECTION OF GOODS BY A VEHICLE - A method of enabling collection of goods supplied by a provider is initiated by a user placing an order with a provider, the order identifying goods and a vehicle scheduled to collect the goods. In response to the order, the provider generates a code that relates the order with information identifying the scheduled collection vehicle. The provider transmits the code to a communication device operated by a delivery person at a collection point. Upon arrival of the vehicle at the collection point, the delivery person reads the vehicle information from the vehicle and enters it into the device to thereby trigger transmission of the code from the device. Upon receipt by the vehicle of the code, a vehicle compartment is unlocked so that it may be opened for loading of the goods. | 01-28-2016 |
20160029545 | DETERMINING FIELD CHARACTERISTICS USING OPTICAL RECOGNITION - In one embodiment, a method for automated guidance comprising receiving an image of a field; identifying one or more characteristics of the field in the image; determining one or more geographic locations corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the field in the image; determining a path to be followed in the field using the one or more geographic locations; and automatically guiding the machine to follow the path. | 02-04-2016 |
20160029612 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEACTIVATING PLANT MATERIAL OUTSIDE OF A GROWING REGION - A system for deactivating plant material outside of a growing region to prevent propagation of designated plant material outside of the growing region includes an imaging sensor configured to remotely detect plant material outside of the growing region, a vehicle including a sampling implement configured to collect a sample of plant material, a plant sensor configured to analyze the sample of plant material, a deactivation device configured to deactivate plant material, and a controller configured to direct the vehicle to the plant material detected by the imaging sensor, cause the sampling implement to collect the sample from the detected plant material, cause the plant sensor to analyze the sample, and, when the sample is determined to be designated for deactivation, cause the deactivation device to deactivate the detected plant material. | 02-04-2016 |
20160039414 | VEHICLE CONTROLLER - When a temperature T detected by a thermistor built inside a camera unit exceeds a preset temperature T | 02-11-2016 |
20160052514 | MULTI-THRESHOLD REACTION ZONE FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NAVIGATION - Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a driver assist navigation system for a primary vehicle may include at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of the primary vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device. The at least processing device may be configured to: receive the plurality of images via the data interface; identify a target object within the plurality of images; monitor, via the plurality of images, a motion of the target object and a distance between the primary vehicle and the target object; determine an indicator of an intercept time between the primary vehicle and the target object based on the monitored motion and the distance between the primary vehicle and the target object; and cause a response in the primary vehicle based on a comparison of the intercept time to a plurality of predetermined intercept thresholds. | 02-25-2016 |
20160062359 | Methods and Systems for Mobile-Agent Navigation - Aspects of the present invention are related to methods and systems for autonomous navigation using visual landmark recognition. | 03-03-2016 |
20160068156 | MODIFYING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DRIVING BY RECOGNIZING VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS - A system for controlling an autonomous vehicle having cameras for obtaining image data of neighboring vehicles in a proximity of the autonomous vehicle and for identifying physical characteristics of the neighboring vehicles, including makes, models, and trims of neighboring vehicles, colors of the neighboring vehicles, and exposed cargo being carried by the neighboring vehicles. The system maps the identified physical characteristics into predicted potential on-road events in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle, and makes driving decisions based on the predicted potential on-road event. | 03-10-2016 |
20160077527 | POCKET ROBOT - A method for controlling a mobile device includes extending a retractable mechanical actuator from a mobile device case and/or the mobile device. The method also includes manipulating an object with the retractable mechanical actuator when the retractable mechanical actuator is retracted. The retractable mechanical actuator is controlled via the mobile device. | 03-17-2016 |
20160090281 | INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES WITH POINT FIX BASED LOCALIZATION - According to the embodiments described herein, an industrial vehicle can include a camera and one or more processors. The camera can capture an input image of ceiling lights of the ceiling of the warehouse. The one or more processors can execute machine readable instructions to detect transversal edges from the ceiling lights of the input image. The machine readable instructions executed by the one or more processors can determine points of convergence between the transversal edges and a first edge line and a second edge line. The machine readable instructions executed by the one or more processors can select a set of point fixes from the points of convergence. The machine readable instructions executed by the one or more processors can navigate the industrial vehicle through the warehouse utilizing the centerline and the set of point fixes. | 03-31-2016 |
20160092755 | Construction Zone Sign Detection - Methods and systems for detection of a construction zone sign are described. A computing device, configured to control the vehicle, may be configured to receive, from an image-capture device coupled to the computing device, images of a vicinity of the road on which the vehicle is travelling. Also, the computing device may be configured to determine image portions in the images that may depict sides of the road at a predetermined height range. Further, the computing device may be configured to detect a construction zone sign in the image portions, and determine a type of the construction zone sign. Accordingly, the computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle; and control the vehicle based on the modified control strategy. | 03-31-2016 |
20160098039 | ROBOT CLEANER - A robot cleaner may include a main body, a light irradiation unit irradiating light towards a region in front of the main body, an image sensor including a plurality of horizontal lines sequentially exposed to form an image, an image processing unit constructing frames by synchronizing signals output from the horizontal lines, such that, after construction of any one frame, the image processing unit does not construct one or more frames by ignoring signals output from the horizontal lines, and then constructs a next frame, and a controller controlling the light irradiation unit to irradiate light while the horizontal lines are exposed to construct the one frame, such that the light irradiation unit stops irradiation of light between before exposure of all the horizontal lines to construct the frame is completed and one point of time while the image processing unit ignores signals output from the horizontal lines. | 04-07-2016 |
20160124431 | MULTI-SCALE FIDUCIALS - Disclosed are various embodiments of a multi-scale fiducial. A multi-scale fiducial may have three or more scales, where the child fiducials are nested or otherwise linked by a relative position to the parent fiducials. Multi-scale fiducials may facilitate target identification and tracking at varying distances, potentially without the aid of a scale-invariant recognition algorithm. One application of multi-scale fiducials may involve target identification for autonomously controlled aerial vehicles. | 05-05-2016 |
20160132059 | Position-Controlled Robotic Fleet With Visual Handshakes - Example methods and systems may provide for a system that includes a control system communicatively coupled to a first robotic device and a second robotic device. The control system may identify a collaborative operation to be performed by a first robotic device and a second robotic device that is based on a relative positioning between the first robotic device and the second robotic device. The control system may also determine respective locations of the first robotic device and the second robotic device. The control system may further initiate a movement of the first robotic device along a path from the determined location of the first robotic device towards the determined location of the second robotic device. The first robotic device and the second robotic device may then establish a visual handshake that indicates the relative positioning between the first robotic device and the second robotic device for the collaborative operation. | 05-12-2016 |
20160144511 | Systems and Methods for Use of Optical Odometry Sensors In a Mobile Robot - Systems and methods for use of optical odometry sensor systems in a mobile robot. The optical odometry sensor system is positioned within a recessed structure on an underside of the mobile robot body and configured to output optical odometry data. The optical odometry sensor system includes an optical odometry camera that includes a telecentric lens configured to capture images of a tracking surface beneath the body and having a depth of field that provides a range of viewing distances at which a tracking surface is captured in focus from a first distance within the recessed structure to a second distance below the underside of the mobile robot body. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144867 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DETECTION OF AND RESPONSE TO TRAFFIC OFFICER PRESENCE - 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, based on images captured using the perception system, a traffic officer wielding a traffic signal device such as the traffic officer's hand, or a wand, sign, or flag. The automated driving system can also determine whether the traffic officer is directing a traffic signal to the autonomous vehicle with the traffic signal device, and if so, determine whether content of the traffic signal is recognized. If the content of the traffic signal is recognized, the autonomous vehicle can respond in a manner consistent with the content of the traffic signal. If the content of the traffic signal is not recognized, the autonomous vehicle can respond by treating the traffic signal as a stop signal. | 05-26-2016 |
20160147230 | Systems and Methods for Performing Simultaneous Localization and Mapping using Machine Vision Systems - The present invention provides a mobile robot configured to navigate an operating environment, that includes a controller circuit that directs a drive of the mobile robot to navigate the mobile robot through an environment using camera-based navigation system and a camera including optics defining a camera field of view and a camera optical axis, where the camera is positioned within the recessed structure and is tilted so that the camera optical axis is aligned at an acute angle of above a horizontal plane in line with the top surface and is aimed in a forward drive direction of the robot body, and the camera is configured to capture images of the operating environment of the mobile robot. | 05-26-2016 |
20160167648 | AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE INTERACTION WITH EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT | 06-16-2016 |
20160167650 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE OFFSET NAVIGATION | 06-16-2016 |
20160187887 | Use of Prior Maps for Estimation of Lane Boundaries - Disclosed herein are methods and systems for using prior maps for estimation of lane boundaries or other features within an environment. An example method may include receiving a location of a plurality of detected points on a roadway in an environment of an autonomous vehicle, determining, from a prior map of the roadway, a location of a plurality of reference points from a boundary marker on the roadway that correspond to the detected points on the roadway, determining distances between the detected points and the corresponding reference points based on the location of the detected points in the environment and the location of the reference points from the prior map of the roadway, determining a confidence buffer representing a threshold amount of variation associated with the prior map based at least in part on the distances between the detected points and the corresponding reference points, selecting one or more of the detected points such that the distance between a selected detected point and a corresponding reference point is less than the confidence buffer, and using the selected points to direct the autonomous vehicle along the roadway. | 06-30-2016 |
20160188985 | LENS ASSEMBLY, OBSTACLE DETECTING UNIT USING THE SAME, AND MOVING ROBOT HAVING THE SAME - An obstacle detecting unit includes a reflective mirror formed to reflect light which is incident from a front area and a lower portion of the front area below a central portion of the reflective mirror; a catadioptric lens disposed coaxially with the reflective mirror in an upper portion of the reflective mirror, the catadioptric lens on which light incident from the front area and an upper portion of the front area; and an image forming module disposed coaxially with the reflective mirror below the reflective mirror, the image forming module on which the light reflected by the reflective mirror is incident, wherein a through hole is formed in the central portion of the reflective mirror, and the light coming out of the catadioptric lens passes through the through hole and then is incident on the image forming module. | 06-30-2016 |
20160200161 | SURROUND SENSING SYSTEM WITH TELECENTRIC OPTICS | 07-14-2016 |
20160378118 | SMART TRAILER HITCH CONTROL USING HMI ASSISTED VISUAL SERVOING - A method for autonomously aligning a tow hitch ball on a towing vehicle and a trailer drawbar on a trailer through a human-machine interface (HMI) assisted visual servoing process. The method includes providing rearview images from a rearview camera. The method includes touching the tow ball on a display to register a location of the tow ball in the image and touching the drawbar on the display to register a location of a target where the tow ball will be properly aligned with the drawbar. The method provides a template pattern around the target on the image and autonomously moves the vehicle so that the tow ball moves towards the target. The method predicts a new location of the target as the vehicle moves and identifies the target in new images as the vehicle moves by comparing the previous template pattern with an image patch around the predicted location. | 12-29-2016 |
20180020893 | CLEANING ROBOT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR | 01-25-2018 |
20180024560 | Distinguishing Lane Markings for a Vehicle to Follow | 01-25-2018 |
20180024568 | CROWDSOURCING A SPARSE MAP FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NAVIGATION | 01-25-2018 |
20190144004 | DISPLAY SYSTEM, DISPLAY METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM | 05-16-2019 |
20190146517 | MOVING APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF | 05-16-2019 |
20190146519 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM | 05-16-2019 |
20190146520 | OPTICAL ROUTE EXAMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD | 05-16-2019 |
20220135059 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING TEST CASE FOR DYNAMIC VERIFICATION OF AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM - A method and an apparatus for generating a test case (TC) for dynamic verification of an autonomous driving system are provided. The method includes receiving an input signal and generating a temporary TC based on the input signal. A confirmed TC is determined based on a first output signal corresponding to the input signal and a second output signal corresponding to the temporary TC. A final TC is determined by re-arranging the confirmed TC and the final TC is transmitted to an external device. | 05-05-2022 |
20220137631 | AUTONOMOUS WORK MACHINE, CONTROL DEVICE, AUTONOMOUS WORK MACHINE CONTROL METHOD, CONTROL DEVICE OPERATION METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An autonomous work machine that works in a work area, the autonomous work machine comprising: a storage unit that stores past captured images including one or more markers arranged to define the work area; a specifying unit that specifies a past captured image stored in the storage unit and similar to a current captured image captured by an image capturing unit; and a control unit that controls the autonomous work machine based on the past captured image specified by the specifying unit. | 05-05-2022 |