A method includes receiving, from an imaging device associated with a robotic apparatus, an image signal including an object of interest represented in the image signal; receiving, by the robotic apparatus from an external agent, a task indication related to the object of interest, the task indication representative of a task to be performed by the robotic apparatus with respect to the object of interest; and responsive to receipt of the task indication: detecting salient features of the object of interest within the image; storing, by the robotic apparatus, a task context, the task context comprising data pertaining to the salient features and data pertaining to the task indication; and commencing, by the robotic apparatus, the task with respect to the object of interest.

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine having an in-cylinder injection valve, a fuel supply device that supplies fuel to the in-cylinder injection valve, a motor that can generate an electric power through the use of a motive power output from the engine and can output a running motive power, and an electrical storage device that exchanges electric power with the motor. A deposit removal process where deposits adherent to the in-cylinder injection valve are removed by setting a pressure of fuel supplied to the in-cylinder injection valve to a predetermined pressure higher than a normal pressure and injecting fuel from the in-cylinder injection valve is performed during the performance of a forcible charging process for the electrical storage device, and the forcible charging process is continued until the pressure of fuel is returned to the normal pressure after the end of the deposit removal process.

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine having an in-cylinder injection valve, a fuel supply device that supplies fuel to the in-cylinder injection valve, a motor that can generate an electric power through the use of a motive power output from the engine and can output a running motive power, and an electrical storage device that exchanges electric power with the motor. A deposit removal process where deposits adherent to the in-cylinder injection valve are removed by setting a pressure of fuel supplied to the in-cylinder injection valve to a predetermined pressure higher than a normal pressure and injecting fuel from the in-cylinder injection valve is performed during the performance of a forcible charging process for the electrical storage device, and the forcible charging process is continued until the pressure of fuel is returned to the normal pressure after the end of the deposit removal process.

An automated control system including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an input device. The UAV includes: a sensor, a receiver; and memory. The memory includes a task association data including one or more tasks for execution by the UAV. The input device includes a tagging block. The tagging block allows an operator to tag an object of interest and send a tag regarding the object of interest to the UAV, via the receiver, wherein the object of interest is located within a visual field of the UAV. The sensor processes data within the visual field and the input device is configured to communicate the object of interest from the visual field tagged by the operator. The task is selected from the task association data and the UAV executes the task with respect to the object of interest from the visual field.

A method performs shifts in a dog clutch element of a transmission system in a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle has an input shaft being connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, an output shaft being connected indirectly to driven wheels, an electric machine which is in engagement with the input shaft, and an automatic transmission connected between the input and output shafts. The transmission has a dog clutch element for the releasable coupling of two transmission elements. During a desired shifting of the dog clutch element, the torque of the input shaft is adapted via the electric machine, and therefore a reduced load prevails in the region of the dog clutch element and the latter can be disengaged, after which the internal combustion engine is set to a desired target rotational speed, and after which the dog clutch element is engaged when the target rotational speed is reached.

Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for a vapor or gas sampling device. In one aspect, the described collector may include an outer tube having first and second ends, with the hollow tube forming a plurality of perforations proximate to the first end. In some examples, the perforations may prevent the passing of detritus or environmental contaminants through the perforations. The collector may also include inner tube having a first end and a second end, with the hollow tube forming a plurality of perforations proximate to the second end, which is opposite the first end of the outer tube. The inner tube may be positioned or affixed at least partially inside of the outer tube. The perforations on the inner tube may be located towards the second end when relative to the perforations on the outer tube, such that the perforations of the two tubes do not overlap.

Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for an auxiliary heat exchange system for use in scientific sampling. In one aspect, a heat exchange system may include at least one first conduit housed in an external casing, that is removably attachable to a heat/cooling system of a vehicle. Another conduit, such as a tracer tube, may be positioned proximate to the first conduit and housed in the external casing for at least a partial length of the first conduit. The tracer conduit may include a first end that is removably attachable to a gas collection device and a second end removably attachable to a measuring device. The first conduit may be configured to carry heated liquid from the heating/cooling system of the vehicle to maintain at least a threshold temperature of gas samples in the tracer conduit to prevent or reduce the formation of condensates in the tracer conduit.

An automated control system including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an input device. The UAV includes: a sensor, a receiver; and memory. The memory includes a task association data including one or more tasks for execution by the UAV. The input device includes a tagging block. The tagging block allows an operator to tag an object of interest and send a tag regarding the object of interest to the UAV, via the receiver, wherein the object of interest is located within a visual field of the UAV. The sensor processes data within the visual field and the input device is configured to communicate the object of interest from the visual field tagged by the operator. The task is selected from the task association data and the UAV executes the task with respect to the object of interest from the visual field.

Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for a mobile scientific or measuring platform. In one aspect, a mobile scientific platform may include a vehicle having an electric energy source and a measuring device, such as a mass spectrometer, coupled to the electric energy source. An input line may be coupled to the measuring device and one or more sample collectors, for example, for obtaining gas samples. In some aspects, the input line may include a heating element configured to maintain a line temperature that is equal to or above the temperature of the samples collected, to reduce or prevent the formation of condensates in collected samples. In some aspects, the mobile scientific platform may run, or be switched to run, on electric, propone, compressed natural gas, or other similar fuel to enable the collection of gas samples free of (or having reduced levels of) vehicle caused contamination.

An electrified vehicle includes a transmission system including a differential and an electrically powered heating device configured to selectively warm a differential fluid of the differential. The electrically powered heating device is selectively powered to warm the differential fluid.