An electric power steering apparatus including a torque sensor to detect a steering torque and a motor control unit to control a motor that applies an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, including: a function to switch a control system of the motor between a torque control system to control a motor output torque and a position/speed control system to control a steering angle of a steering in accordance with a predetermined switching trigger. The fade processing time from the torque control system to the position/speed control system and the fade processing time from the position/speed control system to the torque control system are individually set.

A bin exchange system is disclosed that includes a plurality of automated carriers, each of which is adapted to be remotely movable on an array of track sections, at least one input station by which bins may be introduced to the array of track sections, at least one processing station in communication with the array of track sections wherein objects may be moved between bins, and at least one output station by which bins may be removed from the array of track sections.

A motor vehicle has an electrically assisted steering system. A steering angle velocity of the motor vehicle, and a driver manual torque change applied by a driver of the motor vehicle are determined. At least the steering angle velocity and the driver manual torque change are analyzed to determine whether the driver manual torque change and the steering angle velocity are not correlated. An error signal is output if the driver manual torque change and the steering angle velocity are not correlated.

A control apparatus of a vehicle including a steering operator is provided. The control apparatus includes an environment detection unit configured to detect a surrounding environment of the vehicle, a travel control unit configured to execute automatic steering control based on the surrounding environment, and an operation detection unit configured to detect a first operation and a second operation by a driver. The travel control unit can take a first state in which automatic steering control is not performed, a second state in which automatic steering control is performed on condition of the second operation, and a third state in which automatic steering control is performed without condition of the second operation. The travel control unit transitions from the third state to the first state on condition of the first operation.

Embodiments disclose a system and method to generate smooth steering commands for an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV). According to one embodiment, a system determines a planning steering command based on a driving trajectory of an ADV. The system receives a current steering feedback from a sensor of the ADV for a current planning cycle. The system generates one or more smooth steering commands based on the planning steering command and the current steering feedback over one or more planning cycles. The system controls the ADV based on the one or more smooth steering commands so a change in steering applied to the ADV for any planning cycle is within a predetermined steering change threshold for the ADV. That way, the system applies incremental changes for the steering of the ADV.

A rotational control system for a steering wheel includes a steering wheel, the entire steering wheel switchable between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition, a steering wheel angle of the entire steering wheel in a straight ahead position in the non-rotational condition. The rotational control system also includes a steering gear operatively coupled to the plurality of road wheels, the steering wheel and the steering gear electrically coupled to each other. The rotational control system further includes a controller in operative communication with the steering wheel and the steering gear, the controller configured to control the steering gear independent of the entire steering wheel when the vehicle is in an autonomous vehicle driving condition, and the controller configured to allow switching between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition at any time while the vehicle remains in the autonomous vehicle driving condition

A rotational control system for a steering wheel includes a steering wheel, the entire steering wheel switchable between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition, a steering wheel angle of the entire steering wheel in a straight ahead position in the non-rotational condition. The rotational control system also includes a steering gear operatively coupled to the plurality of road wheels, the steering wheel and the steering gear electrically coupled to each other. The rotational control system further includes a controller in operative communication with the steering wheel and the steering gear, the controller configured to control the steering gear independent of the entire steering wheel when the vehicle is in an autonomous vehicle driving condition, and the controller configured to allow switching between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition at any time while the vehicle remains in the autonomous vehicle driving condition

An autonomous traveling device to tow a cart including a caster, which swivels around an axis perpendicular to a rotation axis of a wheel, includes a drive wheel, and circuitry configured to detect a position of the autonomous traveling device, drive the drive wheel to move the autonomous traveling device, drive the drive wheel to move the autonomous traveling device backward, and drive the drive wheel to turn the autonomous traveling device. In response to a detection that the autonomous traveling device towing the cart is at a turning position, the circuitry drives the drive wheel so that the autonomous traveling device turn by a predetermined angle while moving forward or backward. Based on a determination that the autonomous traveling device towing the cart is at a moving-back position, the circuitry drives the drive wheel to move the autonomous traveling device backward to a target position.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to identifying and displaying traffic lanes that are available for autonomous driving. This information may be displayed to a driver of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode, in order to inform the driver of where he or she can use the autonomous driving mode. In one example, the display may visually distinguishing between lanes that are available for auto-drive from those that are not. The display may also include an indicator of the position of a lane (autodrive or not) currently occupied by the vehicle. In addition, if that lane is an autodrive lane the display may include information indicating how much further the vehicle may continue in the autonomous driving mode in that particular lane. The display may also display information indicating the remaining autodrive distance in other lanes as well as the lane with the greatest remaining autodrive distance.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to identifying and displaying traffic lanes that are available for autonomous driving. This information may be displayed to a driver of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode, in order to inform the driver of where he or she can use the autonomous driving mode. In one example, the display may visually distinguishing between lanes that are available for auto-drive from those that are not. The display may also include an indicator of the position of a lane (autodrive or not) currently occupied by the vehicle. In addition, if that lane is an autodrive lane the display may include information indicating how much further the vehicle may continue in the autonomous driving mode in that particular lane. The display may also display information indicating the remaining autodrive distance in other lanes as well as the lane with the greatest remaining autodrive distance.