Transporters and methods for transporting an object. The transporter includes a carrier comprising a plurality of coupling members; a support assembly adapted to support the carrier; and a plurality of automatic guided vehicles configured to obtain kinematic information from a leading automatic guided vehicle of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles. Each of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles includes a carrier connecting member coupled to the respective coupling member of the carrier to enable the carrier to move with the plurality of automatic guided vehicles; and a patrol assembly adapted to enable the respective automatic guided vehicle to move along the predetermined path.

Provided is a navigation system for a leader vehicle leading follower vehicles, including: the leader vehicle, configured to transmit, real-time movement data to follower vehicles; and, the follower vehicles, each comprising: a signal receiver for receiving the data from the leader vehicle; sensors configured to detect at least one maneuverability condition; a memory; a vehicle maneuver controller; a distance sensor; and a processor configured to: determine a route for navigating the local follower vehicle from an initial location; determine a preferred range of distances from the vehicle in front of the respective follower vehicle that the respective follower vehicle should stay within; determine a set of active maneuvering instructions for the respective follower vehicle based on at least a portion of the data received from the guiding vehicle; determine a lag in control commands; and, execute the set of active maneuvering instructions in the respective follower vehicle.

A combinable and detachable vehicle includes: a front connecting portion and a rear connecting portion provided at a front portion and a rear portion of a vehicle, respectively, and connected to another vehicle when the vehicle is combined with the other vehicle; a front monitoring portion and a rear monitoring portion monitoring a forward area and a rearward area of the vehicle, respectively; and a controller determining whether the other vehicle is connected to the front connecting portion or the rear connecting portion of the vehicle based on information received from the front connecting portion or the rear connecting portion, or the front monitoring portion or the rear monitoring portion, and controlling whether to operate each of a front component and a rear component of the vehicle depending on a direction of the vehicle is connected to the other vehicle.

An apparatus for safety collaboration in computer-assisted or autonomous driving (CA/AD) vehicles includes an input interface to obtain sensor data from one or more sensors of a CA/AD vehicle, an output interface, and an analyzer coupled to the input and output interfaces to process the sensor data to identify an emergency condition of the CA/AD vehicle, and in response to the identified emergency condition, cause a communication interface of the CA/AD vehicle, via the output interface, to broadcast a request for assistance to be received by one or more nearby CA/AD vehicles. The apparatus may be disposed in the CA/AD vehicle.

A control system for a vehicle includes an engine controller operable to determine a requested engine torque in response to a cruise control set command and a cruise control offset value, determine an engine torque command in response to the requested engine torque and a torque limit, and control operation of an engine in response to the engine torque command. The control system also includes a platooning controller operable to determine and provide to the engine controller the cruise control set command, the cruise control offset value and the torque limit effective to cause the engine controller to control the engine to provide a desired following distance between the vehicle and a second vehicle.

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to sensor systems. In some aspects, a method may include determining a classification of a first vehicle of a plurality of vehicles traveling in a platoon. The method may include causing, based at least in part on the classification, the first vehicle to share sensor data with a second vehicle in the platoon according to a sensor data sharing profile, wherein the sensor data is associated with a sensor system of the first vehicle. Numerous other aspects are provided.

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner robot comprising a dust collector arrangement mounted on wheels, a suction hose and a floor nozzle mounted on wheels, where the floor nozzle is fluidically connected to the dust collector arrangement via the suction hose, also comprising a motorized fan unit for suctioning an air stream in through the floor nozzle, where the motorized fan unit is arranged between the floor nozzle and the dust collector arrangement in such a manner that an air stream suctioned in through the floor nozzle flows through the motorized fan unit and into the dust collector arrangement. where the dust collector arrangement comprises a drive device in order to drive at least one of the wheels of the dust collector arrangement, and where the floor nozzle comprises a drive device in order to drive at least one of the wheels of the floor nozzle.

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner robot comprising a floor nozzle supported on wheels and a dust collection unit, wherein the floor nozzle comprises a driving device for driving at least one of the wheels of the floor nozzle, wherein one of the wheels, a plurality of or all of the wheels of the floor nozzle are omnidirectional wheels, wherein the floor nozzle comprises a base plate with a base surface, which, when the vacuum cleaner robot is in operation, faces the surface to be cleaned, the base plate having provided therein an air flow channel, which extends parallel to the base surface and through which air to be cleaned enters the floor nozzle, and wherein the floor nozzle comprises a rotating means for rotating the air flow channel about an axis perpendicular to the base surface.

A method of maintaining vehicle formation includes receiving a desired formation distance between a lead vehicle and a follower vehicle; receiving a pre-planned path for the follower vehicle; and defining a dynamic zone around a current position of the lead vehicle. The dynamic zone has a boundary characterized by a first radius from the current position of the lead vehicle. The first radius can be substantially equal to the desired formation distance. The method further includes determining a next speed of the follower vehicle based on a current position of the follower vehicle with respect to the boundary of the dynamic zone; determining a commanded curvature of the follower vehicle based on the current position of the follower vehicle with respect to the pre-planned path; and outputting the next speed and the commanded curvature to a control system of the follower vehicle for navigation of the follower vehicle.

The present invention relates to a driverless transport system (81), comprising a plurality of driverless transport devices (10) having a support structure (12) with an outer contour (14); an undercarriage (16) which is secured to the support structure (12) and has at least one first wheel (18) and a second wheel (20), wherein the first wheel (18) is mounted in the undercarriage (16) so as to rotate about a first axis of rotation (D1) and the second wheel (20) is mounted in the undercarriage (16) so as to rotate about a second axis of rotation (D1); a drive unit (22) by means of which the first wheel (18) and the second wheel (20) can be driven independently of each other; a control unit (94) for controlling or regulating the driverless transport devices (10); and a communication device (76) by means of which information can be exchanged between the control unit (94) and the driverless transport devices (10), wherein one of the driverless transport devices (10) is designed as a master (86) and the other driverless transport devices (10) are designed as slaves (88).