A doffing apparatus can be configured to couple to an automatically guided vehicle (AGV). The doffing apparatus can comprise at least one elongate arm, each elongate arm having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length, and at least one driver, each driver being configured to move along a respective elongate arm to move a bobbin toward the distal end of the elongate arm. The doffing apparatus can further comprise at least one alignment device. The doffing apparatus can further comprise a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: receive feedback from the at least one alignment device, provide a control signal to cause the AGV to align the elongate arm with a receptacle at a loader, and move the driver a select distance along the length of the elongate arm.

A navigation module determines the position of an automated guided vehicle. The navigation module includes a light source for emitting light; a receiver for receiving light emitted from the light source; and a processor operatively connected to the light source and to the receiver. The navigation module also includes a first mode of operation in which light is emitted continuously from the light source and the processor processes light received by the receiver to identify a predetermined reflective target; and a second mode of operation in which light is pulsed from the light source and the processor processes light received by the receiver to determine a distance to the predetermined reflective target.

The present teaching relates to a method, system, medium, and implementation of processing image data in an autonomous driving vehicle. Sensor data acquired by one or more types of sensors deployed on the vehicle are continuously received. The sensor data provide different information about surrounding of the vehicle. Based on a first data set acquired by a first sensor of a first type of the one or more types of sensors at a specific time, an object is detected, where the first data set provides a first type of information about the surrounding of the vehicle. Depth information of the object is then estimated via object centric stereo at object level based on the object detected as well as a second data set acquired by a second sensor of the first type of the one or more types of sensors at the specific time. The second data set provides the first type of information about the surrounding of the vehicle with a different perspective as compared with the first data set.

Method for determining coordinates of a vehicle (100), specifically using a sensor arrangement (202) arranged to acquire information in relation to an optical machine-readable tag (302) mounted in a surrounding of the vehicle (100). Furthermore, a location determining arrangement (200) and a corresponding computer program product.

An apparatus for manipulating articles in which a multiaxial industrial robot is arranged on a travel unit and the industrial robot and the travel unit can be supplied with electrical energy via an energy storage unit. The travel unit has a control unit and at least three wheels having at least one drive unit, with the control unit being configured to rotate at least one of the wheels by the drive unit about an axis of rotation standing perpendicular on a symmetrical axis of rotation of the wheel and to rotate it about the symmetrical axis of rotation by the respective drive unit so that the apparatus can be moved in any direction by the travel unit. In addition, area monitoring sensors are arranged on at least two sides of the travel unit to monitor a virtual surface located at a predefined spacing next to and not intersecting the travel unit.

A data structure of an environment map includes: position information indicating a position in a space; and a state quantity variability of the position. The state quantity variability is correlated with the position information, and the state quantity variability indicates a variation tendency of a state quantity of the position with respect to time.

A cooperative vehicle-highway communication system allows vehicles and pedestrians to determine their location by sensing selected coatings on roadways, sidewalks, and other paved surfaces in both indoor and outdoor environments. The systems recognize intelligent materials under sensors to determine geo-location. The intelligent materials are incorporated into paints on the roadway surface to mark key locations. Additionally, vehicles recognize highway paint/markings and signs with intelligent paint that provide specialized message content to support driver information and control applications. The intelligent paint materials include a coating that absorbs light while converting the absorbed light to electromagnetic energy. This electromagnetic energy is read by sensors to recognize the materials. The sensors transform the electromagnetic energy into processing signals to determine operating characteristics of the vehicle, including position and motion characteristics, and to provide operation actions of the vehicle. For mobility impaired pedestrians, the precisely defined geo-locations

A system is described for determining the position of a vehicle on a site and for calculating a trajectory, including at least one vehicle, at least one auxiliary device and at least one reflector element, the at least one reflector element being mounted in the surroundings of the vehicle along a designated route section and the auxiliary device being suitable for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic beams. A method is also described.

A system and method of generating plan information for vehicles in a vehicle traffic or vehicle parking zone, including projecting into space, from a set of grid generators at the vehicle traffic or vehicle parking zone, a set of lines defining a relative navigation grid and encoded with grid data configured to identify predetermined points on the relative navigation grid, and detecting, with a detector module on a vehicle, a location of the vehicle within the grid.

A laser scanner device adapted to be mounted to a vehicle, the device comprising a LIDAR module, the LIDAR module comprising at least one laser source, characterized by a horizontal field of view of at least 60°, an instantaneous vertical field of view of at least ±2°, a scan resolution of at least one point per 0.8° in horizontal and vertical direction, and a frame rate of at least 10 Hz for scanning at least the entire horizontal and instantaneous vertical field of view with said scan resolution.