A robot includes a 2D camera, a 1D distance sensor, a driving module configured to move the robot, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: obtain a 2D image by controlling the 2D camera; calculate relative depths of actual regions indicated by pixels in the 2D image, based on the obtained 2D image; obtain a reference distance to a point to which a laser output from the 1D distance sensor is irradiated; determine a distance from the robot to the object in the 2D image based on the obtained reference distance and a relative depth of a reference point corresponding to the point to which the laser is irradiated among the pixels in the 2D image; and travel based on the determined distance to the object.

Systems and methods for vehicle localization are provided for a robotic vehicle, such as an autonomous mobile robot. The vehicle can be configured with multiple localization modes used for localization and/or pose estimation of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle comprises a first set of exteroceptive sensors and a second set of exteroceptive sensors, each being used for a different localization modality. The vehicle is able to disregard at least one localization modality for a number of different reasons, e.g., the disregarded location modality is adversely affected by the environment, to use less than the full complement of localization modalities to continue to stably localize the vehicle within an electronic map. In some embodiments, a localization modality may be disregarded for pre-planned reasons.

A work vehicle includes an exterior sensor to output sensor data indicating a distribution of geographic features around the work vehicle, and a controller configured or programmed to control self-traveling of the work vehicle, detect two crop rows existing on opposite sides of the work vehicle based on the sensor data, and cause the work vehicle to travel along a path between the two crop rows. During travel, if an end of at least a crop row that corresponds to a turning direction between the two crop rows is detected based on the sensor data, the controller is configured or programmed to set a coordinate system for turning travel that is fixed to a ground surface and a target point for the turning travel. The controller is configured or programmed to control the turning travel toward the target point based on the coordinate system.

A mobile robot of the present disclosure includes: a traveling unit configured to move a main body; a lidar sensor configured to acquire terrain information outside the main body; a camera sensor configured to acquire an image outside the main body; and a controller configured to fuse the image and a detection signal of the lidar sensor to select a front edge for the next movement and set a target location of the next movement at the front edge to perform mapping travelling. Therefore, in a situation where there is no map, the mobile robot can provide an accurate map with a minimum speed change when travelling while drawing the map.

A method for docking a mobile robot with a charging station is disclosed. The method for docking a mobile robot with a charging station according to an embodiment may comprise the steps of: acquiring, by a LiDAR provided in the mobile robot, terrain information around the mobile robot; clustering consecutive points from distance and angle information to form a cluster; determining a location of the charging station from the cluster; and calculating a route to the charging station.

A mobile robot can have a safety system that is configured to stop the mobile robot when an object is detected inside of a safety zone. The size of the safety zone can change based on the speed of the robot. The robot can predict future safety zones and determine whether objects would be inside of the predicted future safety zones. The robot can change its trajectory, such as by slowing down, so that the actual safety zone of the robot avoids the object. Accordingly, the mobile robot can avoid the object without stopping and without triggering the safety system of the robot. The mobile robot is configured to look ahead and predict likely safety events, and then take action to avoid the predicted safety events.

A transport method switching device includes a position estimation unit estimating a position of a moving object capable of moving by unmanned driving, using moving object information detected by a moving object detector, the moving object information being at least one of an image of the moving object and 3D point cloud data of the moving object, a command generation unit generating and outputting a control command to move the moving object by movement control using the estimated position of the moving object; and a movement control determination unit determining whether to stop the movement control using a transport starting position of the moving object in a transport device, and a moving object position being a position of the moving object in the transport section and including the estimated position. When the movement control determination unit determines to stop the movement control, the command generation unit stops the movement control.

A vehicle detection apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to detect, using at least one of state information indicating a state of a vehicle capable of running by unmanned driving obtained from a detector provided on the vehicle, an image of the vehicle, 3D point cloud data of the vehicle, and position information of the vehicle, that at least one wheel provided in the vehicle departs from a transport unit of a transport device, and output a detection result, the transport unit being capable of transporting the vehicle.

An autonomous mobile device includes a main body, a protruding element disposed at a top portion of the main body, and a protection cover disposed at an outer side of the protruding element to cover the protruding element. The protection cover is movable relative to the protruding element when collided. The autonomous mobile device also includes a joystick sensor including a housing, a joystick, and a parameter detecting device. The autonomous mobile device further includes a position restoring device connected with the protection cover and configured to restore, after the protection cover experiences a displacement caused by an external force, the protection cover to a position where the protection cover is free from the external force. A first end of the joystick is connected to an inner portion of the housing. A second end of the joystick is connected to the protection cover.

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for controlling an aerial vehicle. The apparatus includes a camera that obtains an terrain image during flight, a sensor that obtains scan information of a landing point of the aerial vehicle, and a controller that estimates a location of the landing point based on the terrain image if it is determined that the landing point is recognized in the terrain image, determines whether an obstacle exists at the landing point based on the scan information, and determines whether landing of the aerial vehicle is possible based on a determination result.