A control apparatus controlling an opening and closing member for a vehicle, the control apparatus includes a control signal output portion configured to output a motor control signal, and an advance angle value set portion configured to set an advance angle value, the advance angle value being for advancing a phase of the motor control signal when an assist opening and closing operation is performed. The control apparatus is configured to perform the automatic opening and closing operation which causes an opening and closing member to open and close automatically with driving force of the motor, and the assist opening and closing operation which causes the opening and closing member to open and close in such a manner that the driving force of the motor assists a manual operation force applied to the opening and closing member.

A method is provided for controlling a vehicle safety system in a vehicle provided with a current collector arranged to transmit electric power from a current conductor in the surface of a road. The current collector is controllable for vertical and transverse displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle to contact and track the current conductor. The method involves performing the steps of detecting that an obstacle is located in the path of the current collector; transmitting data from the forward looking data collecting system to the electronic control unit; performing an object classification to determine a damage level for the dynamic charging system; determining an action to be taken by the safety system based on the determined damage level; and initiating the action in dependence of at least the determined damage level.

A monitoring system for a train is provided. The monitoring system includes an image capturing device configured to capture a video feed of a designated area associated with the train. The monitoring system also includes a controller coupled to the image capturing device. The controller is configured to receive the video feed from the image capturing device. The controller is configured to analyze the video feed to determine if a predefined triggering event has occurred. The controller is configured to record and store a predefined length of the video feed based on the determination. The controller is configured to provide a notification of the recorded video feed to a user through a user interface. The controller is configured to allow the user to access at least a portion of the recorded video feed through the notification.

A method is disclosed for controlling a charge transfer of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server. The method includes receiving, at a mobile device, a message for an electric vehicle of a user directly from the electric vehicle charging station, wherein a user of the mobile device is associated with the electric vehicle to be charged. The method also includes receiving the charging control signal from the cloud server via the mobile device at the electric vehicle charging station in response to authorizing a charging control signal using identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device, wherein the charging control signal is configured to adjust a parameter used to draw electric power from the electric vehicle charging station.

Embodiments for managing drones by one or more processors are described. An aerial drone is controlled to fly to a first location outside of a restricted airspace. The aerial drone is enabled to detachably couple to a ground vehicle at the first location outside of the restricted airspace. The ground vehicle travels through the restricted airspace from the first location outside of the restricted airspace to a second location outside the restricted airspace. The aerial drone is enabled to detach from the ground vehicle at the second location outside of the restricted airspace. The aerial drone is controlled to fly from the second location outside of the restricted airspace to a third location outside of the restricted airspace.

A system includes a controller and base stations each including first and second transmitters and a detector. The controller, when a first base station is not connected with any mobile body, causes the first transmitter of the first base station to transmit a first signal and the second transmitter of the first base station to transmit a second signal, thereby guiding a mobile body around the first base station toward the first base station. The controller, when the first base station is connected with a mobile body and a second base station closest to the first base station is not connected with any mobile body, causes the first transmitter of the first base station to transmit the second signal and/or the second transmitter of the first base station to transmit the first signal, thereby guiding the mobile body around the first base station toward the second base station.

A UAV includes a body and rotor coupled to the body. The UAV may include a boom coupled to the body, and a nozzle coupled to a distal end of the boom, wherein an operational configuration of the nozzle is responsive to a second control signal. The rotor, boom, and nozzle are arranged such that the nozzle is disposed further away from the body than the rotor. The UAV may further include a sensor disposed on either the body or the boom, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a detection signal associated with a distance between the sensor and a surface disposed proximate to the sensor.

A drive cycle controller includes a drive cycle switching unit and an output state determination unit. The drive cycle switching unit switches a drive cycle of a microcomputer, which monitors an output of a device, from a first drive cycle to a second drive cycle that is shorter than the first drive cycle if the microcomputer detects a change in an output of the device at an activation timing in the first drive cycle. The output state determination unit determines an output state of the device if the microcomputer confirms that the output has remained changed at an activation timing in the second drive cycle.

This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying out an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collects any one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to carry out an excavation routine. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, and helping prepare a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.

A gimbal for controlling an optical device includes a control device and a controlling assembly. The control device is configured to receive an action instruction and generate a control instruction based on the action instruction. The action instruction includes a press action instruction, and the control instruction includes a switch control instruction for switching the gimbal from a first operating mode to a second operating mode. The first operating mode and the second operating mode cause different relative movements between the gimbal and the optical device. The controlling assembly is configured to receive the control instruction from the control device and generate a performing instruction based on the control instruction for controlling the optical device.