B60L3/0015

APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF DOCKING FOR AUTONOMOUS ROBOT NAVIGATION
20220197298 · 2022-06-23 · ·

An apparatus, system and method of operating an autonomous mobile robot having a height of at least one meter. The apparatus, system and method may include a robot body; at least two three-dimensional depth camera sensors affixed to the robot body proximate to the height, wherein the at least two three-dimensional depth camera sensors are both directed toward a major floor surface from the affixation and, in combination, comprise an at least substantially 360 degree field of view of the major floor surface around the robot body; and a processing system for receiving of data within the field of view from the at least one three-dimensional depth camera sensor, detecting the presence of a plurality of AR tags on the upper surface of the charging base, calculating a virtual alignment point associated with the center of the robot docking connector, calculating a virtual alignment point associated with the center of the charging base docking connector, and outputting a path of travel between the center of the charging base docking connector and the center of the robot docking connector, whereby a physical connection is made.

Micro autonomous vehicle with exchangeable utility pods

An autonomous vehicle includes an autonomously driven vehicle frame with a retractable pivot mechanism disposed on a platform surface of the vehicle frame. Changeable utility pods are configured to attach to and be removed from the vehicle frame by way of the retractable pivot mechanism onboard the frame, and autonomously change the vehicle from a passenger transport to a logistics transport by changing utility pods. A processor provides autonomous vehicle operations that include extending the retractable pivot mechanism from a retracted position recessed in the platform surface of the vehicle frame to an extended position that engages a utility pod conveyor channel. The retractable pivot mechanism engages a conveyor channel disposed on a mating surface of a utility pod, and conveys the utility pod along the conveyor channel to a centered and laterally-aligned position on the vehicle frame by rotating the pod into position once centered over the pivot mechanism.

Terminal protection apparatus and terminal protection method

A train activates an emergency brake when a Station Loop Coil (SLC) used for a stop-position determination function to determine whether the train has stopped at a stop target in a terminal becomes unable to be detected (non-detected state) before the train is determined to have stopped at a stop-position by the stop-position determination function after the SLC has been detected. Thus, the train can be prevented from colliding with a car stop disposed at an end of a track as a result of overrunning. In the terminal protection, an emergency brake or a service brake is activated also when a reception duration during which the SLC continues to be detected reaches a predetermined threshold time period, or when a traveling position of the train reaches a disposed position of the SLC but the SLC is not detected.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MOBILE CHARGING DEVICE
20220169134 · 2022-06-02 · ·

The invention relates to a method for controlling a mobile charging device, which comprises the following steps: receiving an order information from the user, the order information comprising the charging location where the electric vehicle will be charged; determining a navigation route between the mobile charging device and the charging location according to the order information; navigating the mobile charging device to the charging location according to the navigation route and connecting the mobile charging device with the charging interface; and charging the electric vehicle through the charging interface. The invention relates to a system of the same. Through the invention, the mobile charging device can be intelligently dispatched according to user needs and make it autonomously travel to the user's electric vehicle and charge it, thereby greatly optimizing the charging resources of the electric vehicle.

Vehicle power devices, systems, and methods for fail operational electronic control unit power management
11345253 · 2022-05-31 · ·

A power supply device for a vehicle that includes two or more independent power sources, a simple low-power voltage monitor connected to a fast switch device, an electronic control unit (ECU), and a dedicated standby monitor element. Each power source has a separate path to connect to the load(s). That is to say, a primary path connects the primary power source to the one or more loads, and a backup path connects the backup power source to the one or more loads. Furthermore, each path includes a back-to-back blocking element, which prevents a direct connection between the primary power source and the backup power source. At standby, both or all paths are blocked except the standby monitor, ensuring extremely low quiescent current. When the system is ON, the voltage level of the power system is monitored; if the voltage level drops below a threshold level, then the paths are switched.

Method and apparatus for an active convertor dolly
11338698 · 2022-05-24 · ·

The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for an active convertor dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a system to connect a tractor to a trailer. The apparatus further includes a charge generating system for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer.

Managing storage of electrical energy

A system for managing storage of electrical energy can include an electromagnetic machine and a controller. The electromagnetic machine can have a rotor and a stator. The rotor can be configured to be connected to a shaft. One of the rotor or the stator can have first windings and second windings. The controller can be configured to control first circuitry and second circuitry. The first circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow from a first energy storage device to the first windings to cause the shaft to rotate. The second circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow selectively: (1) from a second energy storage device to the second windings to cause the shaft to rotate or (2) from the second windings to the second energy storage device to cause the second energy storage device to be charged.

METHOD AND SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ADVANCED DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM DATA COLLECTION AND UPLOAD
20230245506 · 2023-08-03 ·

In one exemplary arrangement, a data logging device for a vehicle is disclosed that comprises a computing unit, a data interface and a data box. The computing unit is configured to collect data from a vehicle. The collected data is transferred from the computing unit to the data box that is integrally housed in the data logging device via the data interface. The data box is configured to transmit data externally from the data logging device to a cloud storage solution.

Electric powered vehicle with maximum speed limiting device
11760200 · 2023-09-19 · ·

An electric powered vehicle may include a maximum speed limiting device. In the first mode, in a case where the distance is shorter than a first reference value, the maximum speed is limited to a value lower than the maximum speed applied when the distance is longer than the first reference value. In the second mode, in a case where the distance is shorter than a second reference value, the maximum speed is limited to a value lower than the maximum speed applied when the distance is longer than the second reference value. In a case where the distance changes from a value shorter than the first and second reference values to a value longer the first and second reference values, the maximum speed limiting device increases the maximum speed at an earlier timing in the second mode than in the first mode.

Software interlock

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interlock component for a software system. The interlock component may comprise an input for receiving an interaction request for a first system component and system data. The interlock component may comprise a processor arranged to assess the interaction request and the system data relative to predefined system logic rules to determine if the interaction request satisfies the system logic rules. The interlock component may comprise an output arranged to output the interaction request to the first system component in the event that the system logic rules are satisfied.