Drivers with ADHD are at greater risk for road accidents and are more prone to traffic violations and risky driving than drivers without ADHD. However, no study has tested if the greater risk of drivers with ADHD generalises to a population of professional drivers that are monitored by their supervisors. We investigated the driving behaviour of transport military drivers with and without ADHD (25 and 146, respectively) based on the reports from an Advanced Driving Assistance System. Results indicated that safety events were significantly more frequent for drivers with ADHD than for drivers without ADHD. Notably, the most significant difference was for speeding violations with a Relative Risk (RR) of 2.13 (113% increase). We conclude that the riskier driving of drivers with ADHD remains even among professional drivers that are monitored by their supervisors. Perhaps drivers with ADHD might benefit from customised intervention programmes.CCS CONCEPTS • Applied computing → Operations research → Transportation • Computer systems organisation → Real-time systems.

Autonomous Driving (AD) introduces dramatic changes to the way we travel. This emerging technology has the potential to impact the transportation sector across a wide array of categories including safety, efficiency, congestion, legislation, and travel behavior. In this survey, we review the main issues involved in AD as discussed in the literature, and shed light on topics that we consider requiring further development based on Google Scholar and the Web of Science (WoS) data base. The paper also provides the results of research trends related to Autonomous Driving based on analysis of the number of search results listed in google trends. According to our research, the fields of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Cloud (V2C) networking are of higher interest due to the technological gaps and standardization processes. In addition, cyber and security research is in acceleration due to its importance.

SpiderBot is a cable suspended mobile robot that is designed to climb walls and hang from ceilings by shooting tethered plungers onto the surface. Removing the plungers, it reels in the web, aims, and repeats the process to climb farther. SpiderBots' design was inspired by the fictional character Spider-Man. The robot can be used for carrying equipment and sensors over a disaster area to help rescue forces. It can maneuver and serve as a moving platform inside building such as workshops and hangers without taking floor space. The robot can also move between floating vessels at sea and serve as a moving crane.

Tracked vehicles can offer the best solution for operation over complex terrains, including difficult surfaces. Tracked configuration is often required to guarantee the best mobility for unrestricted, all-weather tactical operations. A safe and reliable motion requires the vehicle to maintain stable contact with the terrain while avoiding slippage. This becomes critical when traveling over complex surfaces, especially steep and slippery slopes. This paper deals with the problem of how to maintain a stable motion of a multi tracked vehicle traveling over steep slopes. Changes in the vehicle's internal configuration adjust the center of gravity to guarantee a stable motion. The paper analyzes the acceptable positions for the center of gravity given the slope's inclination, and the friction between the vehicle and the surface. Geometric solution for a two dimensional model is first presented, followed by the linear programming solution of a 3D model. Experimental results, as well as a field test conducted on our multi-tracked autonomous vehicle verify the theoretical analysis and provide constraints for stable motion given the vehicle and terrain geometry and friction between the vehicle's tracks and the surface.

Presents an immobilization based control method for spider-like robots that move quasistatically in tunnel environments. The control method is based on an immobilization theory which ensures that when a spider-like mechanism is bracing against the environment at an immobile posture, the naturally occurring compliance at the contacts stabilizes the mechanism as a single body. Based on this result, we present two versions of a position control law for general k-limbed spider robots. We show that if the controller's stiffness (i.e. proportional gain) is above a lower limit determined by the spider and environment parameters, stability of the closed-loop spider system is guaranteed. We present dynamic simulations of a spider robot moving in a tunnel under the influence of the immobilization-based control law. The simulations show excellent convergence properties of the control algorithm. A four-legged spider prototype has been built, and we conclude with a description of initial experiments with this robot.

One problem oftentimes observed with arrays of multiple ultrasonic sensors (sonars) in obstacle detection and avoidance systems is crosstalk. The paper presents a method in which data generated by crosstalk is actually used to generate more reliable and accurate object detection. This is accomplished by assigning a unique code to the signals emitted by each sonar, so that the source sonar can be identified even if its signal's echo is received by another sonar. Using geometric interpolation between the various sonars increases the accuracy of the measurements, overcoming their limited resolution. Experimental results show the potential of our system for mobile robotics obstacle detection and avoidance, as well as for localization using map-matching techniques.

This paper presents a novel design for a mobile robot based on the kinematics of parallel mechanisms. The robot consists of 3 legs, each equipped with an asynchronous driving unit. The legs are connected to the driving units with spherical joints and to the upper plate with a revolute joint. Three additional encoders, attached to the upper revolute joints provide redundant data. This data is used by a kinematic model for accurate estimation of the robot's configuration and position in space, even in rough terrains, where conventional odometry fails. Simulation results show the advantages of the design, and suggest a method for detection of irregularities of surfaces in unknown environments.

This paper presents a novel design of a 4-legged "spider" robot capable of moving in a wide range of two-dimensional tunnels. The spider moves in a quasi-static manner, by stably bracing itself against the tunnel walls and moving a free limb to a new position. The design has been strongly influenced by the recent immobilization theory of Rimon and Burdick (1995, 1998). The theory dictates the minimum number of limbs such a spider can have, as well as the shape of the footpads. The class of tunnel geometries dictates other key parameters of the spider, such as limb dimensions and number of degrees of freedom of each limb. We review the relevant components of the immobilization theory, then describe the details of the spider design. The spider will initially move under a worst-case assumption of slippery tunnel walls, and we also describe a locomotion strategy under this assumption. The spider has been built and is currently undergoing locomotion experiments.

This paper utilizes the idea of "robot ergonomics" in which robotic tasks are evaluated according to ergonomics criteria. Robot performance is continuously recorded in terms of total motion for each robotic link, the load applied on each joint, and the accuracy of each motion. Evaluating robot motion can assist in the design of a robotic cell, where robot position and layout of peripheral equipment are determined. In previous work, the main measure has been arm joint utilization (AJU). Two new measures are developed here: arm joint accuracy (AJA) and arm joint load (AJL). A test case of an articulated industrial robot, performing a kitting task is presented. Robot performance is evaluated for various bin positions, and based on these results, the bin position relative to the robot is determined based on all three measures, AJA, AJL and AJU.

A robot driver system that controls passenger vehicles and trucks in automatic durability road tests is presented. The robot controls the vehicle's speed, gears and steering according to a durability test protocol. Durability testing can be harsh on test drivers, while requiring consistent driving patterns. Automating the test by using a robot driver eliminates the need for an on-board driver and provides better test control. Up to 20 vehicles can travel simultaneously along the track, increasing the efficiency of the facility and reducing the overall test time. The robots perform the mechanical operations normally done by the human driver, with no intervention in the vehicle's internal systems. A radio network provides communication between the vehicles and the base station, while a traffic control manager synchronizes the vehicles travel and transmits an updated path to each vehicle. The system has been successfully implemented and is operating at Chrysler Proofing Ground at Chelsea, Michigan.

A blind traveler walking through an unfamiliar environment and a mobile robot navigating through a cluttered environment have an important feature in common: both have the kinematic ability to perform the motion, but they are dependent on a sensory system to detect and avoid obstacles. The paper describes the use of a mobile robot obstacle avoidance system as a guidance device for blind and visually impaired people. Just as electronic signals are sent to a mobile robot's motion controllers, auditory signals can guide the blind traveler around obstacles, or alternatively, they can provide an "acoustic image" of the surroundings. The concept has been implemented and tested in a new travel aid for the blind, called the Navbelt. The Navbelt introduces two new concepts to electronic travel aids (ETA's) for the blind: it provides information not only about obstacles along the traveled path, but also assists the user in selecting the preferred travel path. In addition, the level of assistance can be automatically adjusted according to changes in the environment and the user's needs and capabilities. Experimental results conducted with the Navbelt simulator and a portable experimental prototype are presented.

Autonomous robot navigation requires the solution of several problems like obstacle avoidance and road following. Traditionally, the problem of obstacle avoidance has been solved by using range information acquired through some form of range measurements like laser range cameras or vision based range estimation. This paper presents a novel approach for obstacle avoidance which does not require true range measurement. Obstacle information is acquired using a single color camera. Detected obstacles are projected into 3D grid derived from the camera geometry and a locally flat earth model for the terrain. A weighted polar histogram technique is used to generate the vehicle steering angle based on the current grid information.>

A blind traveler walking through an unfamiliar environment and a mobile robot navigating through a cluttered environment have an important feature in common: both have the kinematic ability to perform the motion, but are depended on a sensory system to detect and avoid obstacles. This paper describes the use of a mobile robot obstacle avoidance system as a guidance device for blind and visually impaired people. Just like electronic signals are sent to a mobile robot's motor controllers, auditory signals can guide the blind traveler around obstacles, or alternatively, they can provide an "acoustic image" of the surroundings. The concept has been implemented and tested in a new traveling aid for the blind, called the Navbelt. Experimental results of subjects traveling with the Navbelt in different surroundings are presented.>