An apparatus includes: a mechanical interface configured to couple an object to a frame of an aircraft; one or more processors; and a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform functions that include: detecting a control input provided to an actuator of the aircraft and/or an output of a sensor that indicates a state of the actuator; determining, based on the control input provided to the actuator and/or the output of the sensor, a procedure for moving the object relative to the frame; and using the mechanical interface to perform the procedure.

A computer-implemented method of assessing vehicle trajectories for deadlock scenarios in a site where multiple vehicles operate by following planned vehicle trajectories is described. The site includes at least one traffic-constrained area via which at least two of the multiple vehicles passes when following their planned trajectories.

An example method includes obtaining information about a path that an autonomous vehicle is to travel during movement of the autonomous vehicle through an environment, and generating a virtual envelope that surrounds the autonomous vehicle and that has at least two dimensions that are greater than two corresponding dimensions of the autonomous vehicle. A length of the virtual envelope along the path is based on at least one of (i) a predefined duration that the autonomous vehicle can travel along the path or (ii) a duration that the autonomous vehicle can travel along the path without stopping. A velocity of the autonomous vehicle is based on the virtual envelope.

A moving body includes an imaging device to image a recognition target, a recognition section to recognize the recognition target based on imaging data of the imaging device, an imaging control section to, when the recognition target is not recognized by the recognition section, change an imaging condition of the imaging device stepwise so that the recognition target is recognized by the recognition section, store the imaging condition when the recognition target is recognized by the recognition section in a storage device, and, when the recognition target or another recognition target is imaged by the imaging device under the same or similar situation, apply the imaging condition stored in the storage device.

An automated guided vehicle travels in a sheet metal processing facility in which a plurality of sheet metal processing machines are installed. The automated guided vehicle includes an abnormality detection sensor for detecting an abnormality that has occurred while the automated guided vehicle is traveling, a notification destination specifying unit for specifying a sheet metal processing machine as a notification destination of a state of the abnormality, from the plurality of sheet metal processing machines when the abnormality detection sensor detects the abnormality, and a notification information transmission control unit for wirelessly transmitting information for notifying the state of the abnormality, to the sheet metal processing machine as the notification destination specified by the notification destination specifying unit.

A computer-implemented traffic planning method controls a plurality of vehicles which are movable among multiple shared resources. The method includes receiving a transport mission; generating a root node representing an initial resource occupancy of the vehicles; generating a search tree from the root node, in which each edge represents a motion command and each node represents a resource occupancy, wherein each node is associated with a score related to the vehicles' fulfilment of the transport mission; identifying a target node with an acceptable score; and deriving a planned sequence of motion commands corresponding to a path to the target node. The score of a node includes a short-term component, which represents a cost of executing all motion commands from the root node to said node, and a long-term component, which is determined by the resource occupancy that the node represents.

A method for retrieving an inventory item based on a handling robot, where the handling robot includes: a storage frame; and a material handling device installed on the storage frame, and including a telescopic arm and a manipulator installed to the telescopic arm; and the method for retrieving an inventory item includes: driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator to extend to a preset position of warehouse shelf along a preset horizontal reference line; loading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item located in the preset position; driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator loaded with the inventory item to move to the storage frame along the reference line; and unloading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item to the storage frame.

A control system for a vehicle includes a first controller, a second controller, and an auto-tuner. The first controller is configured to generate an optimal trajectory of the vehicle along a path. The second controller is configured to, based on the optimal trajectory generated by the first controller, generate motoring and braking commands to a motoring and braking system of the vehicle for controlling the vehicle to travel along the path. The auto-tuner includes a processor configured to solve a real-time optimization problem to determine at least one parameter of at least one of the first controller or the second controller.

A mobile robot and a method by which a mobile robot crosses a crosswalk. The method by which a mobile robot crosses a crosswalk includes steps in which the mobile robot: detects the crosswalk; detects the movement of at least one pedestrian within a predetermined range from the crosswalk; determines, on the basis of the detected movement of the at least one pedestrian, whether the traffic lights of the crosswalk indicate a walking signal; and crosses the crosswalk if it is determined that the traffic lights indicate the walking signal.

A mobile drive unit for an inventory system includes a base suspended from a frame by a pivot assembly, such as a first link and a second link. The base supports a platform configured to engage an inventory holder of the inventory system. Movement of the base causes the platform to tip, such as away from a direction of a reaction force acting on the base due to acceleration or deceleration of the mobile drive unit.