Provided is a self-driving vehicle, e.g., a follower vehicle, that engages in communicative behaviors using body dynamics. Also provided is a method of using body dynamics to communicate behaviors in a self-driving vehicle. The vehicle may include a shifting assembly configured to shift and/or tilt a vehicle body to communicate such behaviors, e.g., acceleration, deceleration, and near constant velocity. The shifting and/or tilting of the body in combination with the vehicle's operation communicates those operations to bystanders. With better informed bystanders, improved safety between bystanders and the vehicle may be achieved.

In a suspension controlling apparatus for a vehicle including a suspension whose damping force is variably settable and a control unit capable of controlling the damping force of the suspension, for appropriately obtaining a pitch behavior. When a vibration state of a vehicle in a vertical direction exceeds a given vibration state, a control unit controls damping force of suspensions on the basis of a target damping force in order to execute a skyhook control. However, when acceleration in a forward and rearward direction of the vehicle is outside a given range, a decision condition for the given vibration state is changed to a condition on the side on which the skyhook controlling damping force control of the suspensions is less likely to be started.

An object is to provide a signal processing device capable of reducing a sudden change in the rate of change of an output signal at the time of switching between two signals. In the signal processing device, when a signal of a larger value is selected, a smoothing signal is generated based on the deviation between two signals such that the smoothing signal has a value larger than the values of the two signals between two points at which the smoothing signal intersects the two signals, or when a signal of a smaller value is selected, the smoothing signal is generated based on the deviation between two signals such that the smoothing signal has a value smaller than the values of the two signals between two points at which the smoothing signal intersects the two signals.

A lift device includes a chassis, a boom pivotally coupled to the chassis, a first leveling assembly pivotally coupled to a first end of the chassis, a second leveling assembly pivotally coupled to an opposing second end of the chassis, and a control system. The first leveling assembly includes a first pair of actuators positioned to facilitate a first pitch adjustment and a first roll adjustment of the first end of the chassis. The second leveling assembly includes a second pair of actuators positioned to facilitate a second pitch adjustment and a second roll adjustment of the opposing second end of the chassis. The control system is configured to (i) actively control the first pair of actuators and the second pair of actuators during a first mode of operation, and (ii) actively control the first pair of actuators and facilitate passive control of the second pair of actuators during a second mode of operation.

An electric suspension apparatus includes electric actuators provided for a plurality of wheels, respectively, an acceleration sensor disposed in each of the electric actuators, the acceleration sensor detecting a first acceleration, and an electric suspension control ECU controlling each of the electric actuators based on the first acceleration, and the electric suspension control ECU decreases a control amount to the electric actuator, in a case where a first speed based on the first acceleration in an up-down direction is equal to or less than a predetermined speed.

A vehicle suspension includes and axle. An upper control arm bracket is fixedly positioned relative to the axle and defines a first axis. An upper control arm is rotatably coupled to the upper control arm bracket about the first axis. A lower control arm bracket is fixedly positioned relative to the axle and defines a second axis. A lower control arm is rotatably coupled to the lower control arm bracket about the second axis. An upper control arm relocation bracket is configured to be mounted to the axle and includes a clevis defining a third axis and configured to rotatably couple the upper control arm about the third axis. The relocation bracket includes a first aperture coaxial with the first axis when the relocation bracket is mounted to the axle and a second aperture coaxial with the second axis when the relocation bracket is mounted to the axle.

An unmanned ground-based hygiene maintenance vehicle, UGV, includes a housing with a base plate, top plate and housing side wall substantially perpendicular to the base plate. Arranged in the housing is at least one wheel drive coupled to at least one wheel in a recess in the base plate. The UGV includes sensors for sensing the environment of the UGV, and a controller for autonomous location and navigation of the UGV based on sensing parameters of the sensors. The UGV includes an articulated robot arm on the top plate of the housing and to support a hygiene maintenance tool. The UGV includes at least one load-receiving element coupled to the housing side wall and extending outwards from the housing side wall, wherein the load-receiving element includes a load support surface for supporting a hygiene maintenance tool supply module with respect to a vertical direction extending transverse to the base plate.

A method for the automated control of the longitudinal movement of a motor vehicle having an automated positive acceleration process in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and an automated deceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. An acceleration variable is determined based on a jerk value and limited in terms of absolute value. And the jerk value is in turn determined in a driving mode in which, starting from a vehicle actual longitudinal speed and a vehicle actual longitudinal acceleration, the motor vehicle is adjusted to a predeterminable vehicle longitudinal speed taking into account a predeterminable maximum positive driving mode vehicle longitudinal acceleration, a predeterminable maximum driving mode vehicle longitudinal deceleration and at least one predeterminable driving operating mode jerk absolute value which limits the jerk.

A lift machine includes a base having a first end and a second end, a first assembly, and a second assembly. The first end has first and second pivot points defining a first lateral axis. The second end has third and fourth pivot points defining a second lateral axis. The first assembly is pivotably coupled to the first and second pivot points. The first assembly extends away from the base in a first direction such that first and second tractive elements are longitudinally offset from the first lateral axis and spaced from the first end of the base. The second assembly is pivotably coupled to the third and fourth pivot points. The second assembly extends away from the base in a second direction such that third and fourth tractive elements are longitudinally offset from the second lateral axis and spaced from the second end of the base.

In one embodiment, one or more suspension systems of a vehicle may be used to mitigate motion sickness by limiting motion in one or more frequency ranges. In another embodiment, an active suspension may be integrated with an autonomous vehicle architecture. In yet another embodiment, the active suspension system of a vehicle may be used to induce motion in a vehicle. The vehicle may be used as a testbed for technical investigations and/or as a platform to enhance the enjoyment of video and/or audio by vehicle occupants. In some embodiments, the active suspensions system may be used to perform gestures as a means of communication with persons inside or outside the vehicle. In some embodiments, the active suspensions system may be used to generate haptic warnings to a vehicle operator or other persons in response to certain road situations.