Transporters and methods for transporting an object. The transporter includes a carrier comprising a plurality of coupling members; a support assembly adapted to support the carrier; and a plurality of automatic guided vehicles configured to obtain kinematic information from a leading automatic guided vehicle of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles. Each of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles includes a carrier connecting member coupled to the respective coupling member of the carrier to enable the carrier to move with the plurality of automatic guided vehicles; and a patrol assembly adapted to enable the respective automatic guided vehicle to move along the predetermined path.

An autonomous guided vehicle includes a frame, a drive section, a payload handler, a sensor system, and a supplemental sensor system. The sensor system has electro-magnetic sensors, each responsive to interaction or interface of a sensor emitted or generated electro-magnetic beam or field with a physical characteristic, the electro-magnetic beam or field being disturbed by interaction or interface with the physical characteristic, and which disturbance is detected by and effects sensing of the physical characteristic. The sensor system generates sensor data embodying at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location information and payload pose or location information. The supplemental sensor system supplements the sensor system, and is, at least in part, a vision system with cameras disposed to capture image data informing the at least one of a vehicle navigation pose or location and payload pose or location supplement to the information of the sensor system.

A robot system includes a mobile robot configured to move, a portable teaching device including a display section configured to display information, the portable teaching device teaching the mobile robot, a first detecting section configured to detect a present position of the portable teaching device, a second detecting section configured to detect a present position of the mobile robot, and a display control section configured to cause, based on a detection result of the first detecting section and a detection result of the second detecting section, the display section to display the present position of the portable teaching device and the present position of the mobile robot.

The present disclosure provides an autonomous mobile apparatus and a control method thereof. The method includes: starting a SLAM mode; obtaining first image data captured by a first camera; extracting a first tag image of positioning tag(s) from the first image data; calculating a three-dimensional camera coordinate of feature points of the positioning tag(s) in a first camera coordinate system of the first camera based on the first tag image; calculating a three-dimensional world coordinate of the feature points of the positioning tag(s) in a world coordinate system based on a first camera pose of the first camera when obtaining the first image data in the world coordinate system and the three-dimensional camera coordinate; and generating a map file based on the three-dimensional world coordinate of the feature points of the positioning tag(s).

A mobile cleaning robot that includes a drive system configured to navigate around an operational environment, a ranging device configured to communicate with other ranging devices of respective electronic devices that are in the operational environment, and processors in communication with the ranging device that are configured to receive a distance measurement from the respective electronic devices present in the operational environment, each distance measurement representing a distance between the mobile cleaning robot and a respective electronic device, tag each of the distance measurements with location data indicative of a spatial location of the mobile cleaning robot in the operational environment, determine spatial locations of each of the electronic devices in the operational environment, and populate a visual representation of the operating environment with visual indications of the electronic devices in the operating environment.

An automatic guiding method for a self-propelled apparatus (10) is provided. The self-propelled apparatus (10) turns and irradiates when a signal light emitted by a charging dock (20) is sensed by a flank sensor (103), and changes its turn direction when another different signal light from the charging dock (20) is sensed by a forward sensor (102). The charging dock (20) switches to emit another signal light different from the signal light currently emitted when each time is triggered by the signal light emitted by the self-propelled apparatus (10). Repeatedly execute the above actions and make the self-propelled apparatus approach the light-emitting unit (202) until the self-propelled apparatus (10) reaches a charging position. It can accurately guide the self-propelled apparatus (10) to the charging position by arranging only two sensors on the self-propelled apparatus.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an autonomous vehicle that may detected other nearby vehicles and identify them as parked or unparked. This identification may be based on visual indicia displayed by the detected vehicles as well as traffic control factors relating to the detected vehicles. Detected vehicles that are in a known parking spot may automatically be identified as parked. In addition, detected vehicles that satisfy conditions that are indications of being parked may also be identified as parked. The autonomous vehicle may then base its control strategy on whether or not a vehicle has been identified as parked or not.

An apparatus for guiding an autonomous vehicle towards a docking station including an autonomous vehicle with a camera-based sensing system, a drive system for driving the autonomous vehicle, and a control system for controlling the drive system. The apparatus includes a docking station including a first fiducial marker and a second fiducial marker, wherein the second fiducial marker is positioned on the docking station to define a predetermined relative spacing with the first fiducial marker, wherein the control system is operable to receive an image provided by the camera-based sensing system, the image including a representation of the first and second fiducial markers, and to control the drive system so as to guide the autonomous vehicle towards the base station based on a difference between the representation of the first and second fiducial markers in the received image and the predetermined relative spacing between the first and second fiducial markers.

A guide-type virtual wall system is provided. The system comprises a beacon (11, 44) and a robot (12), wherein a transmission module of the beacon (11, 44) directionally transmits a first signal, and an area covered by the first signal defines a beacon signal area (13). The robot (12) comprises a beacon signal receiving module corresponding to the beacon signal transmission module. When the robot (12) enters the beacon signal area (13) and the beacon signal receiving module detects the first signal, the robot (12) advances towards the direction of the beacon (11, 44) until it detects a second signal, and then the robot (12) crosses over or exits from the beacon signal area (13). The system can restrict the robot (12) from entering a certain area, wherein the area where a virtual wall is located is not missed, and the robot (12) is also enabled to cross over the virtual wall to enter the restricted area when required.

The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having hitched or towed trailers for transporting cargo and other items between locations. Aspects of the technology provide a smart hitch connection between the fifth-wheel of a tractor unit and the kingpin of a trailer. This avoids requiring a person to make physical pneumatic and electrical connections between the fifth-wheel and kingpin using external hoses and cables. Instead, the necessary connections are made internally, autonomously. For instance, the fifth-wheel may provide air pressure via one or more slots arranged on a connection surface, and the trailer is configured to receive the air pressure through one or more openings on a contact surface of the kingpin. An electrical connection section of the fifth-wheel may also provide electrical signals and/or power to an electrical contact interface of the kingpin. Rotational information about relative alignment of the trailer to the tractor unit may also be provided.