A method for moving a vehicle to a component of an object at a distance therefrom, the vehicle having a navigation module which has a camera and an evaluation electronics, and an identification element is attached to the object in a predetermined position in such a way that it is recognized by the camera in a far range (D.sub.max) of the vehicle from the object, and a reverse driving line of the vehicle is calculated by the evaluation electronics from the perspective position of the camera in relation to the identification element. The method improves the approach of a vehicle to a stationary object. In a start position (S) of the vehicle, the navigation module generates a static object coordinate system (K.sub.O) and a reverse driving line is calculated from the start position (S) to a pre-positioning point (S.sub.Vi, S.sub.Vii, S.sub.Viii).

A work vehicle includes a first detection unit that detects an optical beam emitted from a beam projector disposed at one end of a reference travel path, a first position deviation calculation section that calculates position deviation by a vehicle body from the reference travel path based on a detection signal from the first detection unit, a second detection unit that detects a work boundary line that occurs due to work travel, a second position deviation calculation section that calculates position deviation of the vehicle body traveling along successive travel paths from the work boundary line based on a detection signal from the second detection unit, and a steering information generation section that, based on the position deviation calculated by the first position deviation calculation section and the second position deviation calculation section, generates steering information for correcting the position deviation.

An autonomous mobile device (AMD) uses sensors to explore a physical space and determine the locations of obstacles. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques are used by the AMD to designate as keyframes some images and their associated descriptors of features in the space. Each keyframe indicates a location and orientation of the AMD relative to those features. Anchors are specified relative to keyframes. A marker is specified relative to one or more anchors. Because markers are associated with features in the physical space, they maintain their association with the physical space through various processes such as SLAM loop closures. Markers may specify locations in the physical space, such as navigation waypoints, navigation destinations such as a goal pose for exploring an unexplored area, as an observation target to facilitate exploration, and so forth. Markers may also be used to specify block listed locations to be avoided during exploration.

An autonomous moving apparatus includes a handheld housing adapted to contain a printing head, an actuating mechanism adapted to move the housing on top of a printing surface, an audio sensor, and at least one non-audio sensor selected from a group comprising a distance sensor, a touch sensor, and an image sensor. Processing circuitry is adapted to execute a code for analyzing an audio signal captured by the audio sensor to detect a voice command; in response to the detection of the voice command, analyzing readings of at least one non-audio sensor to identify a triggering event; in response to the detection of the triggering event, instructing the actuating mechanism such that the housing moves along a printing pattern associated with the triggering event, and instructing the printing head to print media extracted from the readings, selected according to an analysis of the readings.

Implementations set forth herein relate to using fiducial markings on one or more localized portions of an agricultural apparatus in order to generate local and regional data that can be correlated for planning and executing agricultural maintenance. An array of fiducial markings can be disposed onto plastic mulch that surrounds individual crops, in order that each fiducial marking of the array can operate as a signature for each individual crop. Crop data, such as health and yield, corresponding to a particular crop can then be stored in association with a corresponding fiducial marking, thereby allowing the certain data for the particular crop to be tracked and analyzed. Furthermore, autonomous agricultural devices can rely on the crop data, over other sources of data, such as GPS satellites, thereby allowing the autonomous agricultural devices to be more reliable.

A method for docking a robot at a charging station includes the following steps: the charging station outputs a first transmitting signal and a second transmitting signal, wherein an overlapping zone and two non-overlapping zones are formed within the signal transmission range of the first and second transmitting signals, and a blank zone forms within a predetermined distance. When the robot needs to move to the charging station, the robot detects its entry into the overlapping zone or one of the two non-overlapping zones, and the robot moves in the direction of the charging station by alternately moving in and out between the overlapping zone and one of the two non-overlapping zones until the robot moves to the blank zone, then the robot either moves directly towards the charging station, or rotates and then moves backwardly towards the charging station, thereby allowing the robot to dock at the charging station.

Systems and methods are provided herein for coordinating movement of components of a workspace utilizing a controller device. The controller device may operate in a first state. The computing device may be associated with an interaction area having a first access point and a second access point, wherein a light curtain is generated at the first access point. While operating in the first state, access to the interaction area is restricted. The computing device may transition to operating in a second state based at least in part on detecting the first breach, wherein operating in the second state comprises enabling access to the interaction area at the second access point. While operating in the second state, a second breach of the light curtain may be detected and at least one remedial action performed based on the detection.

The present invention relates to a position recognition method comprising the steps of: measuring a space in a first direction by means of at least one measurement device provided in a vehicle; recognizing a first marker by means of the measurement means; computing first positional information of the vehicle; acquiring map information; and specifying comprehensive positional information of the vehicle, wherein the first marker includes a coordinate value of the first marker, the first positional information is a coordinate value of the vehicle computed through recognition of the first marker, and the step of specifying the comprehensive positional information combines the first positional information of the vehicle with the map information.

A method of mowing multiple areas includes training a robotic mower to mow at least two areas separated by a space, including moving the robotic mower about the areas while storing data indicative of location of boundaries of each area relative to boundary markers, training the robotic mower to move across the space separating the areas, and initiating a mowing operation. Training the robotic mower to move across the space separating the areas includes moving the robotic mower to a traversal launch point of a first of the areas and moving the robotic mower to a traversal landing point of a second of the areas. The mowing operation causes the robotic mower to move to the traversal launch point, move from the traversal launch point across the space to the traversal landing point, and then mow the second of the areas.

Provided is an automated valet parking system giving an instruction to a target vehicle by specifying a node section at which the target vehicle is located, setting a node status including information on whether passing of a node is allowed, specifying a target node that is the node including a next-passing node among unpassed nodes of the target vehicle and having a predetermined number smaller than a total number of the unpassed nodes, the next-passing node being the node through which the target vehicle passes next on the target route, and transmitting node information associated with the target node to the target vehicle. When the node status at the next-passing node is re-set from a node impassable status to a node passable status, the automated valet parking system transmits the node information of the target node ahead of the next-passing node among the unpassed nodes to the target vehicle.