Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Eth Zurich

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Hilti Aktiengesellschaft

Alstom Technology Limited

Varian, Inc.

Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich

Mecos Traxler Ag

Roland Siegwart

Paul A Beardsley

Iain Matthews

Katsu Yamane

Martin M Rufli

Andreas Breitenmoser

Daniela Rus

Roland Richard Moser

Sertac Karaman

Fausto Casaro

Igor Gilitschenski

Sascha Korl

Francesco Mondada

Javier Alonso Mora

Wolfgang Fischer

Alfons Traxler

Alain Laager

Hermann Blum

Timothy Sandy

Abel Gawel

Marco Hutter

Philip Buhler

Fabien Tache

Andrei Cramariuc

Cesar Cadena

David Krummenacher

Lennon Rodgers

Thomas Stastny

Michael Bischoff

Michael Burri

Dario Mammolo

Silvan Fuhrer

Robert Simpson

Michael Arigoni

Nitish Kumar

René Zurbrügg

Francesco Milano

A method for setting more precisely a position and/or an orientation of a device head in a measuring environment by a distance measuring device which has a number of M, M≥1, distance measuring sensors and which is connected to the device head. A control device is communicatively connected to the distance measuring device and an on-board sensor device. The position and/or the orientation of the device head is determined by the on-board sensor device and the position and/or the orientation of the device head determined by the on-board sensor device is set more precisely by the control device.

Method for setting more precisely a position and/or orientation of a device head

An approach to place recognition from an image makes use of the detection of objects at a set of known places as well as at an unknown place. Images of the detected objects in an image of the unknown place are processed to yield respective numerical descriptors, and these descriptors are used to compare the unknown place to the known places to recognize the unknown place. At least some embodiments make use of a trained parameterized image processor to transform an image of an object to an object descriptor, and the training of the processor is meant to preserve distinctions between different instances of a type of object, as well as distinctions between entirely different types of objects.

Visual object instance descriptor for place recognition

A vehicles configured for navigating surface transitions. Navigation of surface transitions is controlled by information obtained by sensors carried by the vehicle. The vehicle may be propelled forward using force generated by tiltable propellers carried by the vehicle.

Vehicles configured for navigating surface transitions

Techniques are disclosed for controlling robot pixels to display a visual representation of an input. The input to the system could be an image of a face, and the robot pixels deploy in a physical arrangement to display a visual representation of the face, and would change their physical arrangement over time to represent changing facial expressions. The robot pixels function as a display device for a given allocation of robot pixels. Techniques are also disclosed for distributed collision avoidance among multiple non-holonomic robots to guarantee smooth and collision-free motions. The collision avoidance technique works for multiple robots by decoupling path planning and coordination.

Display with robotic pixels

An automotive device for the inspection of internal spaces having ferromagnetic surfaces includes at least two magnetic wheels () or caterpillars, or at least two magnetic legs for the advancement of the device along the surfaces to be inspected. According to the invention, the device includes actively powered rotating arms () attached to a wheel (), caterpillar, or leg of the device. Each rotating arm () has a length longer than the shortest distance between the point of attachment of the rotating arm to the device and the surface. When the device is in a position, where there is magnetic contact to the surface in two or more points and the device is no longer able to advance due to the strength of the magnetic forces, the rotating arms are brought into non-magnetic contact with the surface in order to create an air gap between the surface and the magnetic wheel and thus reduce the magnetic forces. The device is thereby enabled to overcome the magnetic forces and advance the device along the surface.

Automotive inspection device

A vacuum pump is provided with back-up bearings in addition to magnetic bearings for supporting its rotor with respect to the pump housing. The rotor has a hollow rotary shaft extending backwards enclosing in its inner space a forwardly protruding tubular shaft affixed to the pump housing, and another cylindrical member affixed to the rotor protrudes backward inside this fixed tubular shaft. One set of back-up bearings is provided on the outer surface of the fixed tubular shaft spaced from the inner surface of the rotor shaft and another set of back-up bearings is provided on the inner surface of the fixed tubular shaft, spaced from the protruding cylindrical member. The back-up bearings thus positioned can be made smaller for improved dynamic emergency capabilities.

Vacuum pump with magnetic bearing system and back-up bearings

A magnetic bearing supports an object such as a rotor in a stable, contactless position. The bearing has electromagnets, each associated with a respective current control means (e.g., amplifier or power switch), disposed to exert magnetic forces in various directions to levitate the rotor. A constant-current source feeds a constant (total) current the electromagnets in parallel. Sensing means detect movements of the rotor from the position and inform a controller that responds by controlling the respective current to each electromagnet to maintain the rotor in position.

Magnetic bearing with constant-current source

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Schwyz, Switzerland

Roland Siegwart