This disclosure introduces methods and devices for robotic police officer assistance, incorporating an articulating spotlight, removable camera, spike strip delivery, and chemical agent dispenser, aiming to enhance officer safety during common police activities by allowing remote operation and minimizing the need for officers to be physically present in dangerous situations. Presented herein are methods and devices for robotic police officer assistance. The device comprises an articulating spotlight, a removeable camera, a spike strip delivery mechanism, and a chemical agent dispenser. The robot is controlled by a police officer so that the actions of the robot can be controlled from a position that is safe for the officer. By directing the robotic device, it is not necessary for an officer to be placed in in a dangerous position to conduct some of the most common police activities. When an officer is not required to put their personal safety on the line during common police activities, serious injury to police officers can be avoided. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the robotic device during police activities or emergencies that would otherwise require an officer to be put in harm's way.

A system searches for a track for a vehicle to travel automatically. The system includes a processor. The processor includes a route search unit, a restriction condition generation unit, and a track search unit. The route search unit searches for a series having elements of a position and posture of the vehicle, which is a route for moving from an initial position to a target position of the vehicle, based on a first restriction condition representing a position of an obstacle. The restriction condition generation unit generates a second restriction condition in which a penalty value increases according to a deviation distance from the route. The track search unit searches for a series having elements of a position, posture, speed, and steering angle of the vehicle, which is a track for moving from the initial position to the target position of the vehicle, based on the second restriction condition.

Stored data structures describe a plurality of paths used to work within a field of a work region. The paths include at least one transition path used to enter or exit the field. The plurality of paths are presented to an operator via a user interface and facilitate arrangement of the plurality of paths into an ordered collection that together defines sequentially executed movements and operations of an autonomous work vehicle within the work region. The ordered collection is stored via a network-accessible data center where it can be user selected. In response to the selection, the ordered collection is downloaded from the data center to the autonomous working vehicle in order to perform the sequentially executed movements and operations within the work region.

A method for controlling an off-road vehicle relative to a secondary off-road vehicle. The method, executed by a processor of the vehicle, includes the steps of receiving an input from the secondary off-road vehicle, determining a predicted trajectory path of the vehicle; determining a trajectory position of the vehicle, the trajectory position corresponding to a point of interest related to a distance between the vehicle and the secondary off-road vehicle on the predicted trajectory path; determining a separation distance between the secondary off-road vehicle and the trajectory position; and in response to the separation distance being less than a distance threshold, controlling a speed of the vehicle.

A working system that is capable of carrying out a work by working equipment that is operated remotely, the working system including an image generating unit that generates a virtual space image corresponding to an actual space surrounding a working movable body in which the working equipment is disposed, and a display control unit that displays on a display unit the virtual space image that is generated by the image generating unit, wherein the image generating unit generates the virtual space image including a virtual image corresponding to the working equipment.

A system searches for a track for a vehicle to travel automatically. The system includes a processor. The processor includes a route search unit, a restriction condition generation unit, and a track search unit. The route search unit searches for a series having elements of a position and posture of the vehicle, which is a route for moving from an initial position to a target position of the vehicle, based on a first restriction condition representing a position of an obstacle. The restriction condition generation unit generates a second restriction condition in which a penalty value increases according to a deviation distance from the route. The track search unit searches for a series having elements of a position, posture, speed, and steering angle of the vehicle, which is a track for moving from the initial position to the target position of the vehicle, based on the second restriction condition.

Systems and methods for controlling vegetation growth along a right-of-way via a vehicle. In an embodiment, a method may include determining a portion of a right-of-way to traverse. The method may include determining a flow rate per vehicle speed threshold. The method may include initiating operation of the vehicle. The method may include during operation of the vehicle and as the vehicle traverses the portion of the right of way, determining a current speed of the vehicle and a current flow rate for an operating nozzle. The method may include, if the current speed of the vehicle and the current flow rate for the operating nozzle exceeds the flow rate per vehicle speed threshold, adjusting one or more of (a) the flow rate of the operating nozzle or (b) the current speed of the vehicle.

A method for snake robot navigation, the method including: providing a snake robot comprising a plurality of modules and a plurality of tactile sensors disposed thereon; planning a path over a terrain between an initial position and a target location; detecting a tactile datum from the plurality of tactile sensors; selecting, based on the path, one of a plurality of gaits the snake robot may perform by relative movement of the plurality of modules; dynamically adjusting the selected gait based on the tactile datum; and commanding the plurality of modules to perform the adjusted gait.