This application provides an internet of things platoon communication method. In this method, an internet of things platform plans and manages a communication mode of a platoon in a traveling process. In the traveling process, the platoon selects, based on a communication mode plan sent by the platform, a communication mode corresponding to a current location of the platoon for communication. Because the platform can obtain global information such as a network and a map, the communication mode planned by the platform is more reasonable and accurate. This resolves a problem of one-by-one switchover and repeated switchover of fleet members at road sections such as a congested road section, a road section with poor network coverage, and a multi-block road section.

A system and method for mitigating or avoiding risks due to hazards encountered by platooning vehicles. The system and method involve interrogating, with one or more sensors, a space radially extending from a lead vehicle as the lead vehicle travels over the road surface, perceiving the environment within the space, ascertaining a hazard caused by an object in the space, and causing a following vehicle, operating in a platoon with the lead vehicle, to take a preemptive braking action to avoid or mitigate risks resulting from the hazard caused by the object in the space.

This invention provides impact detection and vehicle cooperation to achieve particular goals and determine particular threat levels. For example, an impact/penetration sensing device may be provided on a soldier's clothing such that when this clothing is impacted/penetrated (e.g., penetrated to a particular extent) a medical unit (e.g., a doctor or medical chopper) may be autonomously, and immediately, provided with the soldiers location (e.g., via a GPS device on the soldier) and status (e.g., right lung may be punctured by small-arms fire).

A system for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation of a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a machine automation portal (MAP) application configured to enable a computing device to (a) display a map of a work site and (b) provide a graphical user interface that enables a user to (i) define a boundary of an autonomous operating zone on the map and (ii) define a boundary of one or more exclusion zones. The system also includes a robotics processing unit configured to (a) receive the boundary of the autonomous operating zone and the boundary of each exclusion zone from the computing device, (b) generate a planned command path that the vehicle will travel to perform a task within the autonomous operating zone while avoiding each exclusion zone, and (c) control operation of the vehicle so that the vehicle travels the planned command path to perform the task.

A module for a leader vehicle of a convoy can have a suite of sensors, a communication system, and a controller. The sensor suite can have at least one feature sensor that detects features and/or terrain in an environment and at least one location sensor that determines a location of the leader vehicle. Via the sensor suite, the controller can detect features as the leader vehicle travels along a route through the environment as well as the route of the leader vehicle. The controller can build a map for at least part of the environment with the detected route therethrough. Data indicative of the map and the detected route can then be transmitted to one or more follower vehicles. In some embodiments, the leader vehicle is manually driven while the follower vehicles operate autonomously.

A robot includes: a communication interface, a memory, and a processor configured to: transmit identification information and state information of the robot to an external server; based on receiving, from the external server, first information including identification information, type information and state information of at least one other robot, store the first information in the memory, based on identifying that an error occurred in communication with the external server, determine whether the robot is to operate as a master robot by comparing the type information and the state information of the at least one other device with type information and first state information of the robot; based on the robot operating as the master robot, plan a movement route of the at least one other robot based on task information of the at least one other robot, and transmit he planned movement route to the at least one other robot.

This invention provides impact detection and vehicle cooperation to achieve particular goals and determine particular threat levels. For example, an impact/penetration sensing device may be provided on a soldier's clothing such that when this clothing is impacted/penetrated (e.g., penetrated to a particular extent) a medical unit (e.g., a doctor or medical chopper) may be autonomously, and immediately, provided with the soldiers location (e.g., via a GPS device on the soldier) and status (e.g., right lung may be punctured by small-arms fire).

A platooning control system includes a platoon controller that generates environmental maps used for platooning of vehicles, and a travel controller that controls travel of a following vehicle following a leading vehicle. The platoon controller generates the environmental maps each representing the position of an object around the vehicles, and delivers the maps to the following vehicle. The travel controller transmits object information indicating the position of an object detected from environmental data outputted by an environmental sensor mounted on the following vehicle to the platoon controller, executes update so that the position of the object represented in the latest environmental map is changed to the position of the object at the time when the following vehicle reaches the position of the leading vehicle represented in the latest environmental map, and controls travel of the following.

A mobile autonomous manufacturing system including an autonomously mobile main device (10) performing a manufacturing task, a first auxiliary device (11) adapted to autonomously supply energy to the main device (10), a second auxiliary device (12), adapted to autonomously supply manufacturing items to the main device (10). A method for operating such a mobile autonomous manufacturing system, in which the auxiliary devices (11,12) move autonomously to and from the main device (10) and synchronously with the main device (10) when supplying the main device (10).

The present invention relates to a method for calibrating a coordinate system of an automated industrial truck, to a method for calibrating a coordinate system of a fleet of automated industrial trucks of the same vehicle type having uncalibrated coordinate systems, and to a system for carrying out one of these methods.