Abstract: A method for controlling the lateral movement of a terrestrial vehicle arranged to track a predetermined trajectory, particularly in an assisted driving or autonomous driving scenario, comprising: determining a lateral offset of the vehicle center of mass from the predetermined trajectory; determining a look-ahead error defined as a distance of a virtual look-ahead position of the vehicle center of mass from the predetermined trajectory; and controlling the steering angle of the vehicle so as to also minimize the lateral offset and the first derivative of said look-ahead error over time.

Abstract: A suspension including a spring interposed between the body (B) of the vehicle and the wheel (W); a regenerative hydraulic shock-absorbing unit comprising a hydraulic shock-absorber arranged parallel to the spring, a motor and pump unit with a volumetric hydraulic machine and an electric machine coupled to the hydraulic machine), and an electronic control unit arranged to control the torque of the electric machine. A hydraulic actuator is arranged in series with the spring. A reservoir and a hydraulic circuit are connected to each other, the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir. The hydraulic circuit includes a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a working fluid between the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine, the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for active control of the sound of the engine of a land vehicle, which comprises a device for detecting a fundamental frequency of the sound of the engine, and comprises a generator of signals representing sound waves that have spectral characteristics that depend upon the aforesaid fundamental frequency. The apparatus comprises a modulator, which includes a module that applies a modulation to said waveforms so as to control a value of roughness or fluctuation strength of an audio signal for driving an actuator, which generates an engine noise.

Abstract: A method for configuring a system for recognizing a class of objects of variable morphology, comprising providing a machine learning system with an initial data set to recognize instances of objects of the class in a sequence of images of a target scene; providing a three-dimensional model specific to the class of objects, the morphology of which can be defined by a set of parameters; acquiring a sequence of images of the scene using a camera; recognizing image instances of objects of the class in the acquired image sequence; conforming the generic three-dimensional model to recognized image instances; storing variation ranges of the parameters resulting from the conformations of the generic model; synthesizing multiple three-dimensional objects from the generic model by varying the parameters in the stored variation ranges; and complementing the data set of the learning system with projections of the synthesized objects in the plane of the images.

Abstract: Path planning method for computing optimal parking maneuvers for road vehicles including the steps of computing a set of value functions of a cost function of parking maneuvers reaching the target set of states as unique viscosity solution of a Hamilton Jacobi Bellman equation, supplying the set of value functions, together with a starting state of the vehicle, as input to the dynamic programming calculation procedure calculating at least the set of vehicle controls. The set of equations modeling the evolution of the state of said road vehicle is a switched system of equations between a first sub-system if the vehicle is in forward motion and a second sub-system if the vehicle is in reverse motion. The cost function takes into account the arrival time a number of direction changes of the road vehicle between forward motion and reverse motion.

Abstract: A throttle body or actuator for an engine, comprising a main body which defines at least one supply duct having a through lumen for a gas mixture, a choke valve placed inside said supply duct so as to modify said through lumen. The choke valve is provided with an occluding body connected to a control shaft, at least partially housed in a seat in the main body. The control shaft, inside the seat and on the side of the occluding body, is provided with a first gasket adapted to prevent the penetration of dirt and gas from the supply duct. Downstream of the first gasket, on the side of the control shaft, at least one vent is provided, adapted to allow the expulsion, outside the seat, of any gas which has leaked through the first gasket.

Abstract: A suspension including a spring interposed between the body (B) of the vehicle and the wheel (W); a regenerative hydraulic shock-absorbing unit comprising a hydraulic shock-absorber arranged parallel to the spring, a motor and pump unit with a volumetric hydraulic machine and an electric machine coupled to the hydraulic machine), and an electronic control unit arranged to control the torque of the electric machine. A hydraulic actuator is arranged in series with the spring. A reservoir and a hydraulic circuit are connected to each other, the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir. The hydraulic circuit includes a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a working fluid between the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine, the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir.

Abstract: An exhaust system provided with exhaust gas after-treatment for a combustion engine comprising an exhaust pipe and a pumping device, which is buried inside the tank, from which it draws so as to feed a water solution of urea under pressure to an electromagnetic injector; the tank is supplied with urea powder and water, which are mixed on the inside so as to obtain a water solution of urea with a variable concentration; and a water supply circuit to supply water to the tank, which is provided with a first pipe, which draws the water from a basin and is regulated by a first valve, which allows water to be introduced into the tank, if necessary, or to be drained to the surrounding environment when the water quantity already contained in the tank is sufficient.

Abstract: A method of estimating the MFB50 combustion index of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine provided with a drive shaft coupled to at least a pair of position sensors, each of which is arranged at a respective end of the drive shaft; the estimation method comprising the steps of: acquiring the signals coming from two position sensors; determining the angular torsion of the drive shaft based on the signals from the two position sensors; and estimating the MFB50 combustion index of the single cylinders of the internal combustion engine based on the angular torsion of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising a number of cylinders and wherein the air mass trapped inside each cylinder is adjusted by means of a respective intake valve; the control method includes determining the total target torque; determining a target number of active cylinders; determining a target supercharge pressure such to guarantee the total target torque and controlling the intake valves of the target number of active cylinders (3) according to the target supercharge pressure such as to guarantee the total target torque.

Abstract: A method to determine the actual quantity of metal powders or ashes trapped in a particulate filter, which involves determining an estimated value of the quantity of metal powders trapped in the particulate filter based on an estimation model; determining a measured value of the quantity of metal powders trapped in the particulate filter; updating the estimated value of the quantity of metal powders trapped in the particulate filter as a function of the measured value; and determining the actual quantity of metal powders or ashes trapped in a particulate filter as a function of the update of the estimated value of the quantity of metal powders trapped in the particulate filter.

Abstract: A method to determine the mass of air trapped in each cylinder of an internal combustion engine, which comprises determining, based on a model using measured and/or estimated physical quantities, a value for a first group of reference quantities; determining, based on said model, the actual inner volume of each cylinder as a function of the speed of rotation of the internal combustion engine and of the closing delay angle of the intake valve; and calculating the mass of air trapped in each cylinder as a function of the first group of reference quantities and of the actual inner volume of each cylinder.

Abstract: A method for estimating an operating current I dispensed by a battery pack or cell including the steps of acquiring characterization data of the battery pack or cell, related to measured time trends of a voltage Vm and of a characterization current Im of the battery pack or cell, associated with a respective characterization temperature value Tk; and then processing the characterization data to determine a plurality of parameters P of a model of the battery pack or cell, as a function of temperature and state of charge SOC. Measuring an operating voltage V of the battery pack or cell and an operating temperature T and for estimating the operating current I of the battery pack or cell. A plurality of time observation windows Wi is identified and characterization voltage Vmi values are detected.

Abstract: Internal combustion engine having: a cylinder defining a combustion chamber; an exhaust duct that is flown through by the exhaust gases; and a system to supply a water-based operator liquid to the combustion chamber having: a tank designed to contain a certain amount of water-based operator liquid and a heating device designed to heat the water-based operator liquid contained in the tank. The heating device has: a first gas-liquid heat exchanger, which is designed to be flown through by at least part of the exhaust gases flowing along the exhaust duct; a second liquid-liquid heat exchanger, which is designed to heat the water-based operator liquid contained in the tank; and a hydraulic circuit, which is designed to send round an exchange fluid through the first heat exchanger to transfer the heat from the exhaust gases to the exchange fluid and through the second heat exchanger to transfer the heat from the exchange fluid to the water-based operator liquid contained in the tank.

Abstract: Exhaust gas recirculation valve actuator device in an internal combustion engine, comprising an actuator body housing where the stem of an exhaust gas recirculation valve, extends along an axial direction. A motor acts to move the recirculation valve along the axial direction X-X, to pass from an open configuration to a closed configuration. A transmission is interposed between the motor and the exhaust gas recirculation valve. The device also includes support and guide mechanism and a sealing mechanism, in correspondence of a connection interface of the actuator body with an associable valve body, which houses an exhaust gas passage duct, wherein the actuator body is mechanically separable/connectable from/to said associable valve body.

Abstract: An estimation method to determine the concentration of recirculated exhaust gas present in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine; the concentrations of recirculated exhaust gas in a gas mixture flowing through an intake duct are periodically stored in a buffer; a first instant is determined, in which a programming of a following combustion in the cylinder is carried out; an advance time is determined, which elapses between the first instant and a second instant in the future, in which air will be taken into the cylinder for the following combustion in the cylinder; a transport time is determined; a third instant in the past is determined by subtracting from the first instant an amount of time which is equal to the difference between the transport time and the advance time; and the concentration of recirculated exhaust gas present in the cylinder in the second instant is estimated depending on a concentration of recirculated exhaust gas contained in the buffer (30) and corresponding to the third instant.

Abstract: An electric power system for a vehicle provided with a storage assembly comprising a first storage system with a number of electrochemical cells connected to one another in series and/or in parallel and a second storage system arranged in series to the first system and with a number of electrochemical cells connected to one another in series and/or in parallel; wherein the storage assembly is designed to supply power with a dual voltage; and wherein the electric power system comprises, furthermore, a DC/DC converter, which is designed to transfer the electric charge from the second storage system to the first storage system, and vice versa, and integrated in a BMS device for the management of said storage assembly, which is designed to carry out the balancing of the electrochemical cells of the second storage system and to estimate the state of charge and the state of health of the two storage systems.

Abstract: A device for the acquisition and conditioning of a sound signal generated by a source of an internal combustion engine and comprising a box-shaped support body having a first measuring assembly and a second measuring assembly; wherein the first measuring assembly is provided with at least two first microphones which lie on a first plane and are configured for the detection of a first acoustic signal generated by the source along a first provenance direction; and wherein the second measuring assembly is provided with at least a second microphone arranged on a second plane configured for the detection of a second acoustic signal generated by the source along a second provenance direction different from the first provenance direction.

Abstract: A pointer device has a light-guiding body, including a shaft, a hub coaxial with the shaft and having a rear surface covered by a shield, and a pointer, which projects radially from the hub. A cap is defined by at least one piece separate from the light-guiding body and is mounted on the hub in a fixed position. The hub has an emitting surface, a first reflecting surface configured to reflect and direct a first light flow from the shaft to the pointer, and at least a second reflecting surface, which is configured to reflect and direct a second light flow from the shaft to the emitting surface and is, at least in part, set apart from the first reflecting surface. The cap has at least one light-permeable area, aligned with the emitting surface, and a barrier arranged radially between the emitting surface and the first reflecting surface.

Abstract: Fuel pump for an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel pump has: an auxiliary tank designed to receive a fuel flow from a low-pressure fuel pump; a pumping device drawing the fuel from the auxiliary tank through a suction duct; a Venturi choke arranged along the suction duct; and a degasification duct, which originates in a ceiling of the auxiliary tank and leads to the middle of the Venturi choke.