A motion planner of an autonomous vehicle's computer system uses reconfigurable collision detection architecture hardware to perform a collision assessment on a planning graph for the vehicle prior to execution of a motion plan. For edges on the planning graph, which represent transitions in states of the vehicle, the system sets a probability of collision with a dynamic object in the environment based at least in part on the collision assessment. Depending on whether the goal of the vehicle is to avoid or collide with a particular dynamic object in the environment, the system then performs an optimization to identify a path in the resulting planning graph with either a relatively high or relatively low potential of a collision with the particular dynamic object. The system then causes the actuator system of the vehicle to implement a motion plan with the applicable identified path based at least in part on the optimization.

The traveling unit main body and the accommodation unit are adapted to be uncoupled and re-coupled. The traveling unit main body includes a first driving unit and a second driving unit configured to perform at least one of operations of taking out or storing the article from or in the accommodation unit and transporting the article taken out from the accommodation unit. The traveling unit main body performs at least one of the operations of taking out, storing, and transporting the article using the first driving unit and the second driving unit in a state in which the traveling unit main body and the accommodation unit are uncoupled.

A platooning assistance device and a program with which it is possible to distribute the effect of platooning, and make payment. The platooning assistance device lets each of a plurality of vehicles forming a platoon have: a transaction data generation unit that generates platoon identification information identifying the platoon, vehicle identification information identifying the vehicle, and fuel consumption of the vehicle during platooning as transaction data; and a communication unit that transmits the generated transaction data to a network, and receives, from the network, data is the transaction data of each of the plurality of vehicles, and approved by a blockchain function. Any one of the plurality of vehicles has: a storage unit that stores smart contract data having a programmed, process for distributing the effect of platooning and making payment; and an execution unit that executes the process, on the basis of the approved data, in the blockchain.

A platooning assistance device and a program with which it is possible to distribute the effect of platooning, and make payment. The platooning assistance device lets each of a plurality of vehicles forming a platoon have: a transaction data generation unit that generates platoon identification information identifying the platoon, vehicle identification information identifying the vehicle, and fuel consumption of the vehicle during platooning as transaction data; and a communication unit that transmits the generated transaction data to a network, and receives, from the network, data is the transaction data of each of the plurality of vehicles, and approved by a blockchain function. Any one of the plurality of vehicles has: a storage unit that stores smart contract data having a programmed, process for distributing the effect of platooning and making payment; and an execution unit that executes the process, on the basis of the approved data, in the blockchain.

An information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first information processing device to be provided to a movable body and a second information processing device to be provided to a portion that differs from the movable body. The first information processing device includes a sensor portion, a generation portion, a control portion, and an integration portion. The sensor portion senses a first external environment. The generation portion uses sensor data acquired from the sensor portion to generate a first map. The control portion controls motion of a manipulator on the basis of the first map. The integration portion uses position information of inside the first external environment, with which portion the manipulator is in contact, integrates the first map and a second map acquired from the second information processing device with each other, and generates an integration map.

An information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first information processing device to be provided to a movable body and a second information processing device to be provided to a portion that differs from the movable body. The first information processing device includes a sensor portion, a generation portion, a control portion, and an integration portion. The sensor portion senses a first external environment. The generation portion uses sensor data acquired from the sensor portion to generate a first map. The control portion controls motion of a manipulator on the basis of the first map. The integration portion uses position information of inside the first external environment, with which portion the manipulator is in contact, integrates the first map and a second map acquired from the second information processing device with each other, and generates an integration map.

An autonomous floor cleaner includes multiple occupiable space sensors for position and/or proximity sensing. Data from the occupiable space sensors can be used determine areas of occupiable space in proximity to the autonomous floor cleaner. Methods for exiting a trapped condition, obstacle avoidance, and path planning are disclosed.

A system for managing flight parameters of aircraft is parametrized with overarching flight cost objectives. For a first flight, parameters of a cost function for the first flight are determined relative, respectively, to different cost factors. Flight parameters are optimized so as to minimize the cost function. Avionics of an aircraft carrying out the first flight are programmed with the flight parameters. On detecting an event in flight requiring the flight parameters to be revised, the parameters of the cost function are recalculated, as well as the flight parameters, and the avionics are reprogrammed accordingly. The method is repeated for at least a second flight, taking into account the effective contribution of the first flight to the overarching objectives, and so on. Thus, an airline can carry out overarching multi-objective optimization on its flights.

An information generation method is an information output method executed by a mobile retail vehicle control device (information output device) and includes obtaining first information about a first time at which a first mobile object arrives at a first arrival point (first point); determining, based on the first information, a second point from which a second mobile object can arrive at the first arrival point at a second time within a predetermined period from the first time; and outputting instruction information for moving the second mobile object to the second point.

An information generation method is an information output method executed by a mobile retail vehicle control device (information output device) and includes obtaining first information about a first time at which a first mobile object arrives at a first arrival point (first point); determining, based on the first information, a second point from which a second mobile object can arrive at the first arrival point at a second time within a predetermined period from the first time; and outputting instruction information for moving the second mobile object to the second point.