Dead reckoning correction utilizing patterned light projection is provided herein. An example method can include navigating a drone along a pattern using dead reckoning, the pattern having a plurality of lines, detecting one of the plurality of lines using an optical sensor of the drone, determining when a line of travel of the drone is not aligned with the one of the plurality of lines, and realigning the line of travel of the drone so as to be aligned with the one of the plurality of lines to compensate for drift that occurs during navigation using dead reckoning.

A vehicle adapted to an automated valet parking service in a parking lot includes a recognition sensor that recognizes a mark around the vehicle. The vehicle performs a self-position estimation process for identifying a vehicle position in the parking lot based on an installation position and a recognition result of the mark by the recognition sensor. The vehicle performs vehicle traveling control for causing the vehicle to automatically travel in the parking lot based on the vehicle position. The automated valet parking service includes an additional service implemented on the vehicle during a period in which the vehicle is left in the parking lot. When restarting the vehicle traveling control after completion of the additional service, the vehicle executes the self-position estimation process in a return space where the mark is installed to acquire a latest vehicle position, and restarts the vehicle traveling control based on the latest vehicle position.

A robot includes a body that is movable relative to a surface one or more measurement devices within the body to output information based on an orientation of the body at an initial location on the surface, and a controller within the body to determine an orientation of the body based on the information and to restrict movement of the body to an area by preventing movement of the body beyond a barrier that is based on the orientation of the body and the initial location.

The present disclosure provides a system, method and associated apparatus for autonomous vehicle transportation. The system includes: an operation system configured to generate a transportation plan for a vehicle and transmit the transportation plan to a vehicle controller of the vehicle; and the vehicle controller configured to control, in accordance with the transportation plan, the vehicle to autonomously move to a position of a checkpoint at an entrance to a target highway port, and interact with a checkpoint controller corresponding to the position of the checkpoint for autonomously passing the checkpoint; and control the vehicle to autonomously move from the position of the checkpoint to a specified loading/unloading position in the target highway port, and interact with a loading/unloading control apparatus for autonomous loading/unloading at the loading/unloading position. The system, method and associated apparatus can achieve fully autonomous goods transportation, save transportation costs and reduce driving security risks.

Systems and methods for optimizing sensory signal capturing by reconfiguring robotic device configurations. A method includes determining at least one predicted future sensor reading for a robotic device based on navigation path data of the robotic device, wherein the robotic device is deployed with at least one sensor, wherein each predicted future sensor reading is an expected value of a future sensory signal; determining an optimized sensor configuration based on the at least one predicted future sensor reading, wherein the optimized sensor configuration optimizes capturing of sensor signals by the at least one sensor; and reconfiguring the at least one sensor based on the optimized sensor configuration, wherein reconfiguring the at least one sensor further comprises modifying at least one sensor parameter of the at least one sensor based on the optimized sensor configuration.

A method for controlling the motion of a mobile warning triangle for placement behind a stationary vehicle on a roadway acquires color information of the lane markings detected by a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor of the mobile warning triangle. When the mobile warning triangle is placed on the roadway, the first to third sensors are preset in position to detect the lane markings and their colors. The white or yellow color information of the lane markings or of the black-colored roadway are detected or not detected on an individual basis by the sensors and deviations from a required path are recognized when different colors are received in certain combinations by the sensors. If no deviation is recognized in the colors, the mobile warning triangle is controlled to continue moving forward.

In a method and system for position capture of a vehicle along a driving route, situated on a concrete floor having a reinforcement: the vehicle carries out a reference drive along the driving route, the vehicle records measuring points along the driving route, and each measuring point allocates a signal from the reinforcement to a position on the driving route; a reference profile of the driving route is determined based on the measuring points ascertained during the reference drive; the vehicle drives along the driving route and records further measuring points; a profile segment is determined from the further measuring points; the profile segment is uniquely allocated to a segment of the reference profile, e.g., using a correlation method; a position on the driving route is uniquely allocated to the vehicle with the aid of the profile segment allocated to the reference profile.

The invention relates to a method of creating a map of a navigation region of a vehicle, the method comprising: traveling along a path, predefined by a track guidance marking present in the navigation region, with the vehicle; determining distances of the vehicle from objects possibly present in an environment of the path; and creating the map based on the track guidance marking and on the distances. The invention further relates to a method of determining a pose of a vehicle in a navigation region, the method comprising: determining a position of the vehicle relative to a track guidance marking present in the navigation region; determining distances of the vehicle from objects possibly present in an environment of the vehicle; and determining the pose based on the position, on the distances, and on a map. The invention further relates to a corresponding mapping apparatus and to a corresponding localization apparatus.

Embodiments relate to a charging dock which allows a mobile robot to self-dock for charging more efficiently and reliably. The charging dock has a pivoting face including a disk fashioned with charging connection points. When a robot encounters the dock, the pivoting face is able to pivot to ensure the charging disk can align with corresponding charging pickup points within the robot's charging receptor. The pivoting face improves efficiency and reliability of the robot's docking procedures.

The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having hitched or towed trailers for transporting cargo and other items between locations. Aspects of the technology provide a smart hitch connection between the fifth-wheel of a tractor unit and the kingpin of a trailer. This avoids requiring a person to make physical pneumatic and electrical connections between the fifth-wheel and kingpin using external hoses and cables. Instead, the necessary connections are made internally, autonomously. For instance, the fifth-wheel may provide air pressure via one or more slots arranged on a connection surface, and the trailer is configured to receive the air pressure through one or more openings on a contact surface of the kingpin. An electrical connection section of the fifth-wheel may also provide electrical signals and/or power to an electrical contact interface of the kingpin. Rotational information about relative alignment of the trailer to the tractor unit may also be provided.