An autonomous mobile apparatus that autonomously docks with a docking station, includes a main body including at least one connection unit connected to the docking station, a drive unit configured to move the main body, and a processor configured to control the drive unit, wherein the processor controls operation of the drive unit in a first mode for causing the main body to move in proximity to the docking station and a second mode for bringing the connection unit into contact with the docking unit of the docking station.

An autonomous mobile apparatus that autonomously docks with a docking station, includes a main body including at least one connection unit connected to the docking station, a drive unit configured to move the main body, and a processor configured to control the drive unit, wherein the processor controls operation of the drive unit in a first mode for causing the main body to move in proximity to the docking station and a second mode for bringing the connection unit into contact with the docking unit of the docking station.

The disclosure relates to a method for making sensor data more robust to adversarial perturbations, wherein sensor data are obtained from at least two sensors, wherein the sensor data obtained from the at least two sensors are replaced in each case piecewise by means of quilting, wherein the piecewise replacement is carried out in such a way that the respectively replaced sensor data from different sensors are plausible relative to one another, and wherein the sensor data replaced piecewise are output.

A vehicle sets a first determination region of a first obstacle and a second determination region, on the basis of a position of the first obstacle. The second determination region is located at a position farther than the first determination region. A reliability of the second obstacle is set to a first reliability in a case where a position of a second obstacle falls outside the first determination region and falls outside the second determination region. The reliability of the second obstacle is set to a second reliability higher than the first reliability in a case where the position of the second obstacle falls within the first determination region or falls within the second determination region. Braking is applied to the vehicle body and/or acceleration of the vehicle body is suppressed, on the basis of the reliability of the second obstacle and the position of the second obstacle.

A vehicle sets a first determination region of a first obstacle and a second determination region, on the basis of a position of the first obstacle. The second determination region is located at a position farther than the first determination region. A reliability of the second obstacle is set to a first reliability in a case where a position of a second obstacle falls outside the first determination region and falls outside the second determination region. The reliability of the second obstacle is set to a second reliability higher than the first reliability in a case where the position of the second obstacle falls within the first determination region or falls within the second determination region. Braking is applied to the vehicle body and/or acceleration of the vehicle body is suppressed, on the basis of the reliability of the second obstacle and the position of the second obstacle.

An autonomous vehicle includes an array of sensors, a processor, and a switch. The array of sensors generate sensor data related to one or more objects in an external environment of the autonomous vehicle and the processor determines an environmental context. The switch transfers the sensor data from the array of sensors to the processor, where the switch is configured to: (a) receive first sensor data from a first sensor group of the array of sensors; (b) receive second sensor data from a second sensor group of the array of sensors; (c) determine an order of transmission of the first sensor data over the second sensor data in response to the environmental context; and (d) transmit the first sensor data to the processor prior to transmitting the second sensor data based on the order of transmission.

A sensor, including at least one transducer for emitting signals and for receiving reflected echo signals, the transducer being set up to output an analog measuring signal, an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog measuring signal into a digital measuring signal, an evaluation unit for evaluating the digital measuring signal, and a communication unit for transmitting a measuring result of the evaluation via a digital communication interface. The communication unit is equipped to receive a request for diagnostic data via the digital communication interface, and is also equipped to switch the sensor to diagnostic operation and to transmit requested diagnostic data via the digital communication interface. The communication unit is set up to communicate with at least two different data rates via the digital communication interface, a higher data rate being used for transmitting the diagnostic data than for transmitting the measuring result during normal operation of the sensor.

A sensor, including at least one transducer for emitting signals and for receiving reflected echo signals, the transducer being set up to output an analog measuring signal, an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog measuring signal into a digital measuring signal, an evaluation unit for evaluating the digital measuring signal, and a communication unit for transmitting a measuring result of the evaluation via a digital communication interface. The communication unit is equipped to receive a request for diagnostic data via the digital communication interface, and is also equipped to switch the sensor to diagnostic operation and to transmit requested diagnostic data via the digital communication interface. The communication unit is set up to communicate with at least two different data rates via the digital communication interface, a higher data rate being used for transmitting the diagnostic data than for transmitting the measuring result during normal operation of the sensor.

A method of operating electro-acoustical transducers such as PMUTs involves applying to the transducer an excitation signal over an excitation interval, acquiring at the transducer a ring-down signal indicative of the ring-down behavior of the transducer after the end of the excitation interval, and calculating, as a function of said ring-down signal, a resonance frequency of the electro-acoustical transducer. A bias voltage of the electro-acoustical transducer can be controlled as a function of the resonance frequency. An acoustical signal received can be transduced into an electrical reception signal and a damping parameter of the electro-acoustical transducer can be calculated as a function of the ring-down signal so that a cross-correlation reference signal can be synthesized as a function of the resonance frequency and the damping ratio of the electro-acoustical transducer. Such a cross-correlation reference signal can be used for cross-correlation with the electrical reception signal to improve the reception quality.

A method of operating electro-acoustical transducers such as PMUTs involves applying to the transducer an excitation signal over an excitation interval, acquiring at the transducer a ring-down signal indicative of the ring-down behavior of the transducer after the end of the excitation interval, and calculating, as a function of said ring-down signal, a resonance frequency of the electro-acoustical transducer. A bias voltage of the electro-acoustical transducer can be controlled as a function of the resonance frequency. An acoustical signal received can be transduced into an electrical reception signal and a damping parameter of the electro-acoustical transducer can be calculated as a function of the ring-down signal so that a cross-correlation reference signal can be synthesized as a function of the resonance frequency and the damping ratio of the electro-acoustical transducer. Such a cross-correlation reference signal can be used for cross-correlation with the electrical reception signal to improve the reception quality.