A system accesses Autonomous Vehicle Communication Gateway (AVCG) information that comprises information associated with an AVCG manager. The AVCG manager is a software resource configured to transition among states in which the autonomous vehicle operates in response to detecting a respective trigger event. The system determines an autonomy status associated with the autonomous vehicle. The system detects a change in the autonomy status by accessing historical records of event, tracking back through the historical records of events, and tracking back through the AVCG information. The system determines one or more particular events from among one or both of the historical records of events and the AVCG information that led to the change in the autonomy status. The system outputs the cause of the change in the autonomy status.

A system determines that an engine of an autonomous vehicle is ignited. In response, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into an initiation state, during which Autonomous Vehicle Communication Gateway (AVCG) configuration data is received by the autonomous vehicle. When a particular time period passes after the ignition of the engine, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into an active state, during which instructions provided by the AVCG configuration data are executed. If the engine of the autonomous vehicle is turned off, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into a timed-active state, during which the system sends a rescue message to an oversight server. After a timeout parameter associated with the timed-active state is reached, the system transitions the autonomous vehicle into a shutdown state, during which results of the executed instructions are stored in a local memory.

A system and method for animating and displaying images via a mobile robot. The mobile robot includes a screen and a processor wherein the processor executes computer readable commands, thereby displaying animations onto the screen. The method includes the steps of creating animations as GIF files, converting images into code, optimizing frame sequence, translating optimized frames into a C programming data structure, and displaying the optimized frames onto the screen of the mobile robot.

A system and method for maintaining safe remote vehicle operation. A method includes analyzing network conditions for a vehicle, wherein at least a portion of vehicle operations for the vehicle are performed based on remote instructions, wherein the remote instructions are sent by a device which is remote from the vehicle; determining at least one safety measure decision for the vehicle based on the analyzed network conditions, wherein the at least one safety measure decision includes a set of safety measure instructions to be sent to a safety system of the vehicle; and implementing the at least one safety measure decision with respect to the vehicle by sending the set of safety measure instructions to the safety system of the vehicle, wherein the safety system controls the vehicle operations based on the set of safety measure instructions.

A control device controls a vehicle having a predetermined function. The control device is configured to obtain, via a network, data on availability of the predetermined function of the vehicle from a server that stores the data, and obtain the data, which is obtained from the server by a terminal device of a user of the vehicle, from the terminal device, and the control device comprises a control unit configured to: determine, when obtaining the data from one of the server and the terminal device fails, whether the predetermined function is available based on the data obtained from the other one of the server and the terminal device; and enable the predetermined function when it is determined that the predetermined function is available.

A device for establishing a communication network and collecting situation information at a site of a collapse disaster is disclosed. The device includes a ground drone 10 deployed at the site of the collapse disaster, the ground drone 10 having a communication device 80 mounted thereon, a flying drone 32 mounted on and carried by the ground drone 10 to fly and photograph the site of the collapse disaster, a camera device 40 mounted on the ground drone 10 to photograph surroundings of the ground drone 10, a storage 50 installed on the ground drone 10, and a plurality of repeater modules 60 connected by the wireless communication network to relay wireless communications between the ground drone 10, the flying drone 32, and a command and control center 100, wherein the storage 50 accommodates the repeater modules 60, and throws the repeater modules 60 in response to an operation signal.

A control system configured to control a system including a mobile robot configured to move autonomously and a server configured to be connected to the mobile robot by wireless communication includes one or more processors configured to, when the mobile robot is unable to communicate with the server, determine a state of the mobile robot, including whether the mobile robot has an abnormality, based on information acquired by sensors around the mobile robot.

Apparatuses for operating a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) over a communications network that includes at least one sparse datalink that hampers remotely controlling the ROV in real time or near real time. In some embodiments, remote operation of the ROV is enabled by locating a local awareness/autonomy edge-processing node on the ROV side of the sparse datalink(s) and configuring the local awareness/autonomy edge-processing node to provide the ROV with local control based on remote supervisory commands received over the sparse datalink(s). In some embodiments, the local awareness/autonomy edge-processing node maintains situational awareness information regarding the environment local to the ROV that autonomy algorithms on the local awareness/autonomy edge-processing node use in controlling the ROV to perform one or more tasks within the need for real time or near real time remote control. Related methods, software, and systems are also disclosed.

An information processing apparatus acquires a route plan of a movable apparatus; acquires information regarding an obstacle factor hindering a way of the route plan of the movable apparatus; calculates the degree of obstacle for the route plan of the movable apparatus based on the information regarding the obstacle factor; determines an obstacle countermeasure for reducing the degree of obstacle based on the information regarding the obstacle factor and the route plan; and performs at least one of control for causing the obstacle factor evacuate and control for the movable apparatus to avoid the obstacle factor based on the obstacle countermeasure.

An operation control system of a mobile object configured to be autonomously movable, the operation control system comprising: a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the mobile object; a recognition unit configured to recognize a state of a periphery of the mobile object; a decision unit configured to decide, in a case where the mobile object is in a stopped state, a condition for another mobile object to pass by the mobile object according to a result of the recognition by the recognition unit; and a sharing unit configured to share information indicating the position of the mobile object in the stopped state detected by the position detection unit and the condition decided by the decision unit with the other mobile object.