Abstract:
On the basis of a driving guiding method which steers a cart (4), when one of marker lines (2) is detected, to the side of another marker line (2) among a plurality of marker lines (2), the method of the invention prevents the driving of the cart (4) from concentrating on the line (2) on the external side when the marker lines (2) are curved. A plurality of lines (1) to be detected, which are extended linearly, are laid down between the marker lines (2) in such a fashion that these lines (1) are in parallel with one another but cross the marker lines (2) on their extension. When the cart (4) equipped with means for detecting the to-be-detected lines (1) moves straight and crosses the to-be-detected lines (1), an angle of entrance of the cart (4) to the to-be-detected lines is calculated when the detection means detects two or more to-be-detected lines (1), and a steering angle is controlled in accordance with the entrance angle so calculated so that an angle of advance to the parallel lines of the to-be-detected lines (1) is always kept at a constant value.
Abstract:
A cart for transporting objects and various goods, in particular on golf courses, comprising at least one electric traction motor fed by at least one set of accumulators installed on board the cart, a series of ultrasonic sensors apt to detect the signals coming from an external source of signals, and a microcomputer control unit which interfaces with said sensors and with an electronic speed regulator of said at least one electric motor, is automatically guided to maintain a pre-determined position set in respect of the position of said extemal source of reference signals. Special algorithms are implemented in the microcomputer control unit of the cart in order to exactly determine the mutual position cart / source and to avoid interferences with similar carts operating in the same area.
Abstract:
Der selbstfahrende Golf-Caddy enthält eine Hochfrequenzpeileinrichtung und eine Ultraschallpeileinrichtung. Wenn der Caddy mittels eines Handsenders in den Bereitschaftzustand versetzt wird, wird zunächst ermittelt, ob er Ultraschallsignale von dem Handsender empfängt. Ist dies nicht der Fall, ermittelt er mittels Hochfrequenzpeilung die Richtung des Handsenders und nähert sich diesem auf geradliniger Bahn mit verhältnismäßig großer Geschwindigkeit. Wenn der Caddy in den Ultraschallpeilbereich gerät, wird automatisch auf Ultraschallpeilung umgeschaltet, wobei er dem Handsender auch auf Kurvenbahnen folgt und ständig der Abstand von dem Sender ermittelt wird. Bei Erreichen eines vorbestimmten Minimalabstandes werden die Motoren des Caddy abgeschaltet. Er folgt dem Sender erst dann wieder automatisch, wenn dieser einen vorbestimmten Abstand zu dem Caddy erreicht hat. Durch die Ultraschallpeilung ist gewährleistet, daß der Caddy exakt einen vorgegebenen Minimalabstand von der Spielperson einhält.
Abstract:
Provided is a distance measuring device with a suppressed calculation amount for a parallax image. A distance measuring device 4 that generates the parallax image to measure a distance includes image sensors 3a and 3b each capturing an image, an edge image extractor 13 that extracts an edge image in accordance with the image, the edge image including pixel values each containing identification information used to identify an edge caused by a brightness variation from light to dark or an edge caused by a brightness variation from dark to light, a binarized edge image generator 15 that generates a binarized edge image in accordance with the identification information of the edge image, a parallax image generator 17 that generates the parallax image from the binarized edge image, and a distance image calculator 19 that calculates a distance image from the parallax image.
Abstract:
A target-following vehicle (1) comprises: a frame (2) carrying wheels (3), the frame having a front side and a rear side; driving means (121; 122; 123) for driving the wheels; control means (110) for controlling the driving means; a remote target unit (200) associated with the vehicle; stereoscopic location detection means (150) for detecting the relative location of the remote target unit (200) with respect to the vehicle. The control means control the driving means such that the front side of the frame is directed to the remote target unit, and such that the distance between vehicle and remote target unit is reduced if that distance is more than a predetermined desired distance.
Abstract:
Techniques are directed to operating a utility vehicle having global positioning system (GPS) circuitry and a geofencing data repository. Such techniques involve receiving, from the GPS circuitry, GPS output that indicates geolocation. The techniques further involve updating geofencing data within the geofencing data repository based on the GPS output that indicates geolocation. The techniques further involve, after updating the geofencing data, providing control to the utility vehicle based on the geofencing data within the geofencing data repository.
Abstract:
A control apparatus for a self-moving cart is disclosed, in particular a golf caddy, comprising at least a speed control of a motor onboard the cart and a logical control unit which adjusts said speed control of said motor based on the relative position of a reference user, furthermore comprising a proximity detection device meant to face the rear side of the cart, with respect to the travelling direction, so as to detect a relative distance with respect to a user following the cart, said logical control unit being configured so as to determine said speed control depending on said detected relative distance so that it is maintained in a tolerance range defined by a maximum distance and a minimum distance, wherein said minimum distance is such as to enable the user to operatively reach on/off means of said apparatus meant to be installed onboard said cart.
Abstract:
A distance measuring device reduces an amount of calculations required to generate a parallax image. The distance measuring device that generates the parallax image to measure a distance includes image sensors each capturing an image, an edge image extractor that extracts an edge image in accordance with the image, the edge image including pixel values each containing identification information used to identify an edge caused by a brightness variation from light to dark or an edge caused by a brightness variation from dark to light, a binarized edge image generator that generates a binarized edge image in accordance with the identification information of the edge image, a parallax image generator that generates the parallax image from the binarized edge image, and a distance image calculator that calculates a distance image from the parallax image.