Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Weifeng Xiong

James Carthew

Aditya Singh

Gaurav Pandey

Mohsen Lakehal-ayat

Zijian Wang

An extrinsic-calibration system includes at least one target and a computer. Each target includes three flat surfaces that are mutually nonparallel and a corner at which the three surfaces intersect. The computer is programmed to estimate a first set of relative positions of the corner in a first coordinate frame from a first sensor, the first set of relative positions corresponding one-to-one to a set of absolute positions of the at least one target; estimate a second set of relative positions of the corner in a second coordinate frame from a second sensor, the second set of relative positions corresponding one-to-one to the set of absolute positions; and estimate a rigid transformation between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame based on the first set of relative positions and the second set of relative positions.

Sensor calibration

Techniques and examples pertaining to single channel line-of-sight (LOS) communication are described. The transmitting end of the LOS communication involves direct modulation of a light emitted from a light emitter. The receiving end of the LOS communication involves receiving a video stream of the light emitter emitting the light, wherein the video stream comprises a plurality of video frames that are continuous in time. The receiving end of the LOS communication also involves converting the video stream to a binary string comprising a plurality of binary bits. Each of the binary bits corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of video frames, and the binary string contains a repeated binary pattern representing a message being conveyed. The receiving end of the LOS communication also involves extracting the binary pattern from the binary string and then decoding the binary pattern to obtain the message.

Single channel light communication for vehicle registration

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to a multi-drone automotive system that includes a first drone configured to carry one or more detachable drones. The first drone, which may be referred to as a carrier drone, may be mounted upon an automobile and operated in a tethered mode of flight. The detachable drones may be launched from the carrier drone to carry out untethered flight. The carrier drone and/or the detachable drones may be used for various applications. In one example application, the carrier drone may use a first camera that is mounted upon the carrier drone, to capture a first set of images during the tethered mode of flight. A detachable drone may be launched from the carrier drone in an untethered mode of flight in order to capture a second set of images by using a second camera mounted upon the detachable drone.

Multi-drone automotive systems and methods of use

Apparatuses for precision loading of packages for last-mile autonomous delivery are provided herein. An example apparatus includes a base; a platform rotatably supported on the base, the platform comprising at least one slot; an armature configured to protrude through the at least one slot when the at least one slot has been aligned with the armature through rotation of the base; a translating member that is configured to traverse above and across an upper surface of the platform; and a controller having at least one processor coupled to at least one memory, the controller being configured to place a package on the platform into a selected orientation through selective control of at least one of rotation of the platform, extension of the armature, translation of the translating member, or combinations thereof.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Weifeng Xiong