The present disclosure provides systems and methods that control the motion of an autonomous vehicle by rewarding or otherwise encouraging progress toward a goal, rather than simply rewarding distance travelled. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can project a candidate motion plan that describes a proposed motion path for the autonomous vehicle onto a nominal pathway to determine a projected distance associated with the candidate motion plan. The systems and methods of the present disclosure can use the projected distance to evaluate a reward function that provides a reward that is positively correlated to the magnitude of the projected distance. The motion of the vehicle can be controlled based on the reward value provided by the reward function. For example, the candidate motion plan can be selected for implementation or revised based at least in part on the determined reward value.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods that control the motion of an autonomous vehicle by rewarding or otherwise encouraging progress toward a goal, rather than simply rewarding distance travelled. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can project a candidate motion plan that describes a proposed motion path for the autonomous vehicle onto a nominal pathway to determine a projected distance associated with the candidate motion plan. The systems and methods of the present disclosure can use the projected distance to evaluate a reward function that provides a reward that is positively correlated to the magnitude of the projected distance. The motion of the vehicle can be controlled based on the reward value provided by the reward function. For example, the candidate motion plan can be selected for implementation or revised based at least in part on the determined reward value.

A steering apparatus for a two-track vehicle may include a steering handle, in the case of whose rotary actuation the steerable vehicle wheels can be turned by a wheel steering angle, and a control device to electrically actuate a steering actuator for setting the wheel steering angle was a function of driving operational parameters and independently of the steering handle and a clutch that provides a releasable mechanical steering connection between the steering handle and the steerable vehicle wheels. An automatic avoidance manoeuvre may be carried out in the case of a risk of collision, in which the control device fully releases the clutch, and the control device actuates the steering actuator such that the vehicle briefly leaves its driving lane and is then brought back into the driving lane. The control device also actuates a braking of the steering handle during the collision avoidance manoeuvre.

A system for use in a park attraction to provide collaborative driving experiences. The system includes a vehicle including a body with passenger seats, including a user input assembly proximate to each of the passenger seats, and further including a holonomic drive system adapted to move the body in any direction while riding on a driving surface of the park attraction. The system also includes a system controller (running an attraction/game control module) that operates to: (a) receive user input from each of the user input assemblies; (b) process the user input from each of the user input assemblies to generate a control vector associated with each of the user input assemblies; (c) combine the control vectors from all of the user input assemblies to generate a resultant vector; (d) generate a drive control signal from the resultant vector; and (e) transmit the drive control signal to the vehicle.

A system for use in a park attraction to provide collaborative driving experiences. The system includes a vehicle including a body with passenger seats, including a user input assembly proximate to each of the passenger seats, and further including a holonomic drive system adapted to move the body in any direction while riding on a driving surface of the park attraction. The system also includes a system controller (running an attraction/game control module) that operates to: (a) receive user input from each of the user input assemblies; (b) process the user input from each of the user input assemblies to generate a control vector associated with each of the user input assemblies; (c) combine the control vectors from all of the user input assemblies to generate a resultant vector; (d) generate a drive control signal from the resultant vector; and (e) transmit the drive control signal to the vehicle.

A liquid sensor assembly has a sensor housing including a first portion, a second portion, and a cover defining an interior cavity. The second portion has a cap and at least one sidewall extending along an axis from the cap to a first surface of the first portion. The at least one sidewall has at least one inlet opening for liquid to pass into the cavity. The cap is free from openings. The cover engages a second surface of the first portion. The first and second surfaces of the first portion are opposite one another. A liquid sensor is in the cavity for sensing the presence of liquid in the sensor housing.

Automated vehicle lane change systems and methods comprise determining a departing lane in which the vehicle is currently traveling and a merging lane in which the vehicle will be traveling after an automated lane change, determining a desired yaw rate of the vehicle based on a current speed of the vehicle, determining an end control point in each of a departing lane and a merging lane, determining a set of intermediate control points based on the end control points and the desired yaw rate, determining a basis spline (B-spline) defined by the end control points and the set of intermediate control points to obtain a desired path between the end control points, and commanding a steering system configured to control steering of the vehicle such that the vehicle follows the desired path.

The parallel maneuvering system is a steering system for portable devices, portable platforms and the like, allowing individual wheels to be steered in a parallel and simultaneous manner. The parallel maneuvering system includes a first coupler and a second coupler, which are slidably mounted with respect to one another, and which each include a pair of arms for eccentric pivotal attachment to a corresponding pair of wheel assemblies. The first and second couplers are mounted within a hollow chassis, and the wheel assemblies are mounted to the hollow chassis such that respective wheels thereof are mounted external to the hollow chassis, and respective eccentric crank arms thereof are mounted within the hollow chassis. At least one linear actuator may be provided for selectively driving sliding movement of the first coupler with respect to the second coupler.

Embodiments herein can determine an optimal route for an autonomous electric vehicle. The system may score viable routes between the start and end locations of a trip using a numeric or other scale that denotes how viable the route is for autonomy. The score is adjusted using a variety of factors where a learning process leverages both offline and online data. The scored routes are not based simply on the shortest distance between the start and end points but determine the best route based on the driving context for the vehicle and the user.

Embodiments herein can determine an optimal route for an autonomous electric vehicle. The system may score viable routes between the start and end locations of a trip using a numeric or other scale that denotes how viable the route is for autonomy. The score is adjusted using a variety of factors where a learning process leverages both offline and online data. The scored routes are not based simply on the shortest distance between the start and end points but determine the best route based on the driving context for the vehicle and the user.