A method for determining an energy-efficient path of an autonomous device wherein said autonomous device moves over a global grid of cells into which a given operating area has been split, the method being characterized in that determination of said energy-efficient path comprises the steps of: processing of the current cell (201); taking a measurement σ of the processing (202); classifying the measurement σ to be of a particular level Σ (203), taking into account a predefined division, of the measurements results range, into a plurality of measurements levels; storing said classified measurement in a memory of the autonomous device (204) and associating it with the current cell; selecting a reference probability grid (205); updating (207) the probabilities by applying the reference grid (100) to the global grid at its current position such that every cell on the reference grid (100) corresponds unambiguously to one cell on the global grid;

and moving the autonomous device to a next cell of the global grid (208) and setting said next cell as the current cell (201) in order to process the next cell.

Among other things, planning a motion of a machine having moving capabilities is based on strategic guidelines derived from various basic principles, such as laws, ethics, preferences, driving experiences, and road environments.

A system including a processor and memory may provide for automatically activating or deactivating a feature of a fleet vehicle. For example, one or more fleet vehicles may include one or more of a global-positioning system, a speed governor, electronically-controlled brakes, an electronically-controlled accelerator, a speed limiter, or an on-board computer with a processor and memory. One or more features may be activated by a local or remote computing device or system. For example, a system may determine one or more recommended routes between two or more locations. The system may track a fleet vehicle's progress along a route, and activate a feature of the fleet vehicle based on the fleet vehicle following or not following the recommended route. For example, the system may cause activation of a speed limiter on the fleet vehicle, disable the fleet vehicle, and/or activate or deactivate autonomous features of the fleet vehicle.

Provided is a flight control apparatus including a pair of sensors that are spaced apart in a vertical direction on a surface of a flying object which uses motive power of a power source powered by a battery to fly and that detect a physical quantity corresponding to a state of an airflow, and a control unit that controls a flight state of the flying object on the basis of a difference between outputs of the pair of sensors.

According to various aspects, a method of generating a collision free path of travel may include defining a global search area encompassing at least a global start position and a global target position; and determining a set of collision free trajectories by iteration, the set of collision free trajectories connecting the global start position to the global target position via one or more local target positions, each iteration including: determining a local search area within the global search area; determining, from the global obstacle map, a local obstacle map associated with the local search area; defining a local start position and one or more local target positions within the local search area; and calculating, in the local search area, a collision free trajectory from the local start position to the one or more local target positions considering the local obstacle map.

A method, apparatus, and system for controlling an aircraft. A target state for the aircraft is identified. A current mission state is determined for the aircraft. A sequence of actions is selected from a pool of potential actions to reach the target state from the current mission state for the aircraft. The sequence of actions is selected based on the current mission state. The actions in the sequence of actions for which preconditions for the actions that have been met are performed. The actions are performed in an order defined by the sequence of actions.

A method for generation of a vehicle path for a vehicle. The method includes, using an excursion planning processor to perform generating a grid of attitude constraint masks, wherein each attitude constraint mask corresponds to a respective possible attitude of the vehicle. The method also includes defining a distance function between two points on a vehicle path, such that the vehicle path defines a change in orientation of the vehicle, determining a vehicle path component, of the vehicle path, between the two points having a selected cost, selecting a vehicle path in the grid of attitude constraint masks from the vehicle path component, and generating an excursion plan so that the vehicle travels along the vehicle path.

Product transport is facilitated by a processor(s) obtaining data related to a planned transport event, and analyzing the data to predict energy usage of a transport vehicle in performing the planned transport event, including transporting one or more transport containers. The processor(s) determine, based at least in part on the predicted energy usage, an energy source size for a transport container of the transport container(s) to be transported by the transport vehicle, and determine whether the transport vehicle is to proceed with the transport event. The determining whether to proceed is based, at least in part, on the processor(s) determining that an energy source of the determined energy source size is integrated within the transport container, with the integrated energy source being adapted in the container to contribute energy to the transport vehicle when the transport container is positioned within the transport vehicle for transport.

A charging pad according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an input terminal connected to a high-priority charging pad; an output terminal connected to a low-priority charging pad; a charging unit configured to charge a robot positioned on the charging pad in accordance with a preset operating state; and a control unit configured to switch an operating state of the charging unit from an operation stop state to an operation standby state when a status signal for the high-priority charging pad is received from the input terminal. The control unit is configured to output the status signal for the charging pad through the output terminal when occupation of the charging unit by the robot is detected in the operation standby state.

A method and system for generating an optimal trajectory path tasking for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for collection of data on one or more collection targets by a sensor on the UAV.