A working vehicle includes a steering device including a steering handle, a vehicle body to travel with either manual steering by the steering handle or automatic steering of the steering handle based on a traveling reference traveling line, and a controller to permit automatic steering based on steering angles of the steering device obtained when the vehicle body travels a predetermined distance while being steered by the manual steering.

A multifunctional steering column for a transportation vehicle having a steering bracket for connection of the steering column to a transportation vehicle body of the transportation vehicle; a steering tube held on the steering bracket and which has a steering tube axis; a steering wheel connection for mechanical coupling of the steering column to a steering wheel; and a steering gear end at which a steering gear clutch with a steering gear connection for mechanical coupling to a steering gear of the transportation vehicle is arranged. Also disclosed is a transportation vehicle and a method for operating a transportation vehicle.

A manual steering command value generation unit generates a manual steering command value, using a steering torque. A summed angle command value calculation unit calculates a summed angle command value, by adding the manual steering command value to an automatic steering command value. A control unit performs angle control of an electric motor, based on the summed angle command value. The control unit includes a basic torque command value calculation unit that calculates a basic torque command value, a disturbance torque estimation unit that estimates a disturbance torque other than a motor torque of the electric motor applied to an object driven by the electric motor, and a disturbance torque compensation unit that corrects the basic torque command value, based on the disturbance torque. The manual steering command value generation unit uses an estimated torque calculated based on the disturbance torque, when generating the manual steering command value.

The disclosure describes systems and methods including a mobile device for remotely controlling the movement of a vehicle and trailer. The mobile device provides an intuitive user interface and control input mechanism for controlling the movement of the vehicle and trailer. The control input mechanism uses the tilt and heading of the mobile device to provide a propulsion command and a steering curvature command.

The disclosure describes systems and methods including a mobile device for remotely controlling the movement of a vehicle and trailer. The mobile device provides an intuitive user interface and control input mechanism for controlling the movement of the vehicle and trailer. The control input mechanism uses the tilt and heading of the mobile device to provide a propulsion command and a steering curvature command.

An image capturing device that detects a change in lane width for a vehicle without using information on an adjacent lane is mounted in the vehicle and includes a first camera which captures a first image and a control device which recognizes, in the first image, first and second compartment line L1 and L2 that regulate lanes. The control device determines the presence or absence of a change in lane width on the basis of relationships among the widths of the first compartment line L1 at two points PV1, PV2 at which the distances from a vehicle on the first image are different, the widths of the second compartment line L2 at the two points PV1, PV2 on the first image, and the distances between the first compartment line L1 and the second compartment line L2 at the two points PV1, PV2 on the first image.

The disclosure describes systems and methods including a mobile device for remotely controlling the movement of a vehicle and trailer. The mobile device provides an intuitive interface for controlling the movement of the vehicle and trailer by changing the orientation of a vehicle graphic (e.g., of the vehicle and trailer) according to a position of the mobile device around a periphery of the vehicle and trailer. This allows the user to walk around the vehicle and trailer to determine a best position from which to control the vehicle and trailer depending on a given situation without losing the intuitiveness of the user interface.

A turning mechanism of a vehicle turns a wheel and is coupled to a steering wheel through a steering shaft. A torque sensor detects a torque applied to a first position of the steering shaft, as a sensor-detected torque. An upper friction torque is an absolute value of the sensor-detected torque that is caused by a friction force acting on the steering shaft between the first position and the steering wheel when the steering shaft is rotated. A vehicle control system repeatedly estimates the upper friction torque and variably sets a determination threshold to the estimated upper friction torque or more. The vehicle control system determines whether a driver state is a hands-on state or a hands-off state based on a comparison between the absolute value of the sensor-detected torque and the determination threshold.

A vehicular system (1) includes a lateral shift amount measurement part that has a plurality of magnetic sensors that senses magnetism of magnetic markers (10) arrayed along a vehicle width direction and measures a lateral shift amount that is a positional deviation of a vehicle (5) in a vehicle width direction with respect to the magnetic markers (10) and a course estimation part that uses a difference between the lateral shift amounts with respect to two magnetic markers (10) disposed with a space provided therebetween in a road surface (100S) where the vehicle (5) travels and estimates a deviation of the vehicle (5) in a traveling direction with respect to a line segment direction connecting the positions of the two magnetic markers.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies, the at least two wheel assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.