Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to generating and utilizing three-dimensional terrain maps for vehicular control. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

A modular mobility base for a modular autonomous bot apparatus transporting an item being shipped including a mobile base platform, a component alignment interface, a mobility controller, a propulsion and steering system, and sensors. The component alignment interface provides an alignment channel into which another modular component can be placed and secured on the platform. The mobility controller generates propulsion control signals for controlling speed of the modular mobility base and steering control signals for navigation of the modular mobility base. The propulsion system is connected to the platform and responsive to the propulsion control signal. The steering system is connected to the mobile base platform and is responsive to the steering control signal to cause changes to directional movement of the modular mobility base. The sensors are disposed on the platform provide feedback sensor data to the mobility controller about a condition of the modular mobility base.

A modular mobility base for a modular autonomous bot apparatus transporting an item being shipped including a mobile base platform, a component alignment interface, a mobility controller, a propulsion and steering system, and sensors. The component alignment interface provides an alignment channel into which another modular component can be placed and secured on the platform. The mobility controller generates propulsion control signals for controlling speed of the modular mobility base and steering control signals for navigation of the modular mobility base. The propulsion system is connected to the platform and responsive to the propulsion control signal. The steering system is connected to the mobile base platform and is responsive to the steering control signal to cause changes to directional movement of the modular mobility base. The sensors are disposed on the platform provide feedback sensor data to the mobility controller about a condition of the modular mobility base.

The disclosure relates to assessing and responding to wheel slippage and estimating road friction for a road surface. For instance, a vehicle may be controlled in an autonomous driving mode in order to follow a trajectory. A wheel of the vehicle may be determined to be slipping such that the vehicle has limited steering control. In response to determining that the wheel is slipping, steering of one or more wheels may be controlled in order to orient the one or more wheels towards the trajectory in order to allow the vehicle to proceed towards the trajectory when the wheel is no longer slipping. In addition, the road friction may be estimated based on the determination that the wheel is slipping. The vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous driving mode based on the estimated road friction.

The disclosure relates to assessing and responding to wheel slippage and estimating road friction for a road surface. For instance, a vehicle may be controlled in an autonomous driving mode in order to follow a trajectory. A wheel of the vehicle may be determined to be slipping such that the vehicle has limited steering control. In response to determining that the wheel is slipping, steering of one or more wheels may be controlled in order to orient the one or more wheels towards the trajectory in order to allow the vehicle to proceed towards the trajectory when the wheel is no longer slipping. In addition, the road friction may be estimated based on the determination that the wheel is slipping. The vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous driving mode based on the estimated road friction.

A vehicle may have actuators, including a drive device with a drive motor that can act on a drive wheel, a brake device with a brake that can act on a drive wheel, and/or a steering device with a steering sensor by way of which the steering angle of a wheel is adjustable, a vehicle movement controller, and a setpoint value input means, a setpoint value processing means for detecting setpoint value settings of the setpoint value input means, to calculate a yaw acceleration setpoint value and translational acceleration setpoint values from the setpoint value settings. The setpoint value processing means may be configured to transfer the calculated yaw acceleration setpoint value and translational acceleration setpoint values to the vehicle movement controller, which is configured to actuate one or more of the actuators such that the yaw acceleration setpoint value and the translational acceleration setpoint values are reached.

A vehicle may have actuators, including a drive device with a drive motor that can act on a drive wheel, a brake device with a brake that can act on a drive wheel, and/or a steering device with a steering sensor by way of which the steering angle of a wheel is adjustable, a vehicle movement controller, and a setpoint value input means, a setpoint value processing means for detecting setpoint value settings of the setpoint value input means, to calculate a yaw acceleration setpoint value and translational acceleration setpoint values from the setpoint value settings. The setpoint value processing means may be configured to transfer the calculated yaw acceleration setpoint value and translational acceleration setpoint values to the vehicle movement controller, which is configured to actuate one or more of the actuators such that the yaw acceleration setpoint value and the translational acceleration setpoint values are reached.

A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, a wireless communication module, a detection system outputting a signal including scene data of an area to a rear of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller receives, via the wireless communication module, an automated hitching initiation command from an external wireless device, receives the scene data and identifying the trailer within the area to the rear of the vehicle, derives a backing path to align a hitch ball mounted on the vehicle to a coupler of the trailer, and controls the vehicle steering system to maneuver the vehicle including reversing along the backing path.

A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, a wireless communication module, a detection system outputting a signal including scene data of an area to a rear of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller receives, via the wireless communication module, an automated hitching initiation command from an external wireless device, receives the scene data and identifying the trailer within the area to the rear of the vehicle, derives a backing path to align a hitch ball mounted on the vehicle to a coupler of the trailer, and controls the vehicle steering system to maneuver the vehicle including reversing along the backing path.

Provided is a control apparatus for a vehicle configured to perform parking assist control, the control apparatus including a first power supply device, a second power supply device, and a power supply circuit, the power supply circuit being configured to, when an abnormality occurs in the first power supply device during the performance of the parking assist control, supply an electric power from the second power supply device to a braking device and a shift switching device, and the braking device and the shift switching device being configured to operate such that a timing at which a current flowing from the second power supply device to the braking device reaches a maximum value and a timing at which a current flowing from the second power supply device to the shift switching device reaches a maximum value do not overlap.