A device to inspect a pipeline includes a device housing, a plurality of motors, a plurality of wheels, an inertial measurement unit, and a controller. The plurality of motors is coupled to the device housing. The plurality of wheels extends from the device housing. Each wheel is rotatably coupled to a respective motor. The inertial measurement unit is configured to provide a signal corresponding to an orientation of the device housing relative to the pipeline. The controller is configured to independently control operation of each motor of the plurality of motors based on the signal provided by the inertial measurement unit to maintain the device housing within a desired orientation range relative to the pipeline. Because the controller can independently control each motor of the device, the device can advance along a pipeline with minimal human intervention.

Devices, systems, and methods for constant and reliable power distribution, using a redundant power bridge battery architecture, in autonomous vehicles are described. An example method includes determining that each of a plurality of sensors is operating within in a nominal range for the respective sensor, and distributing, based on the determining, power from at least one alternating current (AC) power source or at least one direct current (DC) power source to at least one power distribution unit (PDU), wherein a first power bridge is coupled to the at least one AC power source and the at least one DC power source and a second power bridge is coupled to the at least one DC power source and the at least one PDU, and wherein the plurality of sensors is used to monitor a health of the vehicle and any single point failure is detectable.

The present disclosure relates to a charging pile control system which comprises at least one video monitoring device configured to collect images or video data in a monitoring scope, parse the collected images or video data, and transmit the parsed images or video data to a multi-functional charging pile, the monitoring scope covering at least one parking space and its surrounding area; and a multi-functional charging pile configured to receive the images or video data transmitted by the at least one video monitoring device, analyze according to the images or video data to obtain a position of an electric vehicle entering the monitoring scope relative to an idle parking space among the at least one parking space, and controls the electric vehicle to implement automatic parking. The present disclosure further relates to relevant multi-functional charging pile and electric vehicle.

A hybrid system of virtual walls and lighthouses for self-propelled apparatuses includes a self-propelled apparatus and a hybrid apparatus. The hybrid apparatus has a virtual-wall mode and a lighthouse mode. A first switch unit switches the hybrid apparatus to the virtual-wall mode or the lighthouse mode. The hybrid apparatus selectively being on one of a first detection mode, a second detection mode and a third detection mode emits first signals continuously. On the virtual-wall mode, after the self-propelled apparatus receives the first signal, the self-propelled apparatus walks away the block region of the hybrid apparatus. On the lighthouse mode, after the self-propelled apparatus receives the first signals, the self-propelled apparatus enters and then passes through the lighthouse region of the hybrid apparatus.

A robotic vehicle may include control circuitry configured to execute stored instructions to direct operation of the robotic vehicle on a defined area, and an electrical resistance sensor in communication with the control circuitry. The electrical resistance sensor may be configured to detect motion indicative of a lift event and a collision event using a single sensor.

A power supply system includes: a robot including a power storage device; a movable power supply device; and a controller. The power supply device includes a first electrical connector which is electrically connectable to a second electrical connector of the robot and which is electrically connected to a power supply source via a wire, and the controller performs control for electrically connecting the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector and supplying power to the robot, on the basis of information about an amount of power stored in the power storage device.

A battery system for an electric vehicle is disclosed having a first battery connectable to a first electric drive; a second, redundant battery, connectable to a second, redundant electric drive; and an electronic power switch having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, the first input terminal being electrically connected to the first battery, the second input terminal being electrically connected to the second battery, and the output terminal being electrically connectable to an electrical accessory, the electronic power switch being configured to selectively and electrically connect the output terminal to the first input terminal or the second input terminal to provide electrical power from the first battery or the second battery to the electrical accessory.

A system and method for UAV power management includes a processor for monitoring power loads in the UAV and switching power sources based on a load profile in real time. The system may monitor flight phases or issued commands to proactively switch power sources in anticipation of an eminent change in the load profile.

A vehicle control system for moving a vehicle to a target location is disclosed. According to examples of the disclosure, a camera captures one or more images of a known object corresponding to the target location. An on-board computer having stored thereon information about the known object can process the one or more images to determine vehicle location with respect to the known object. The system can use the vehicle's determined location and a feedback controller to move the vehicle to the target location.

A method for navigating a vehicle automatically from a current location to a destination location without a human operator is disclosed. The method includes identifying a vehicle location using global positioning system (GPS) data regarding the vehicle. Also included is identifying that the vehicle location is near or at a parking location. Then, using mapping data defined for the parking location. The mapping data at least in part is used to find a path at the parking location to avoid a collision of the vehicle with at least one physical structure when the vehicle is automatically moved at the parking location. The method includes instructing the electronics of the vehicle to proceed with controlling the vehicle to automatically move from the current location to the destination location at the parking location. The electronics use as input at least part of the mapping data and sensor data collected from around the vehicle by at least two vehicle sensors. The path is configured to be updatable dynamically based on changes in the destination location or changes along the path. The destination location is a parking spot for the vehicle at the parking location.