Abstract: In a method for operating a hybrid drive device of a motor vehicle, which has at least two different drive assemblies, especially an electric machine and an internal combustion engine, that are able to be connected to at least two drive trains of the motor vehicle, during the reconnecting of one of the drive assemblies, particularly from a first to a second of the drive trains, or from the second to the first drive train, and/or during a synchronization, a replacement torque substantially corresponding to the torque produced by the one drive assembly is able to be provided by an additional one of the drive assemblies by the at least partial closing of a clutch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that uses existing power line infrastructure in a building as a distributed reception antenna capable of receiving signals from very low-power wireless sensors, thus allowing these sensors to be detected at ranges that are otherwise impractical with over-the-air reception. Also disclosed is a wireless sensor platform that is able to be sensed throughout a building with very low current draw. The disclosed technique may also be utilized to extend the range of mid-frequency consumer electronic devices by leveraging the power line as a reception antenna.

Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, an industrial vehicle can include an Environmental Based Localization (EBL) sensor communicatively coupled to one or more processors. The EBL sensor can detect objects within a field of view. The one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to access a feature set and an occlusion set that are associated with an industrial facility. An occlusion path that intersects a detectable occlusion of the occlusion set and the sensor origin of the EBL sensor can be determined. A feature intersection of the occlusion path can be determined. A detectable feature can be classified as an occluded detectable feature based at least in part upon location of the feature intersection. The industrial vehicle can be navigated through the industrial facility utilizing the feature set exclusive of the occluded detectable feature.

Abstract: A method for operating a stabilizer arrangement which has two stabilizer modules and an actuator, wherein the stabilizer modules are arranged along an axle of a motor vehicle and are acted on by the actuator, wherein at least one kinematic variable of each wheel which is oriented in the vertical direction of the axle is determined, wherein by using a value of the at least one kinematic variable a value for at least one pilot control parameter is determined by a pilot control arrangement, which value is made available to a control cascade which includes an angle control module, a rotational speed control module and a power control module, wherein a value for a power control for operating the actuator is made available by the control cascade from the value for the pilot control parameter, which is dependent on the value of the kinematic variable.

Abstract: A system for controlling vehicle speed in accordance with a current value of vehicle set-speed. The system responds to user input to change the current value of vehicle set-speed to a different value and is configured to store the current value of set-speed in a memory as a stored set-speed and to change the current value of set-speed in dependence on the user input. The speedometer indicates both the current and stored set-speeds. The system can return the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed upon receipt of a “resume” or other user command. The system can enter into a descent control mode that applies braking torque but no drive torque and can also enter into a full functionality mode that provides either drive or braking torque to maintain the vehicle at the set-speed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a computer-implemented method for determining safety factors or a safety factor formula for use in a braking model of at least one train, a computer-implemented method for determining a plurality of safety factors for use in a braking model of at least one train, and braking systems for use on trains.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a blind intersection along a section of road. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a blind intersection is located along a section of road. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the blind intersection located along the section of road. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a blind intersection.

Abstract: A spherical modular autonomous robotic traveler (SMART) is provided for delivering a payload along a surface from a first position to a second position. The SMART includes an outer spherical shell for rolling along the surface, an inner spherical chamber within the outer shell to carry the payload, a plurality of weight-shifters arranged in the inner chamber, and a controller to activate a select weight-shifter among the plurality. The weight-shifters can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically. The outer shell rolls in a direction that corresponds to the activated weight-shifter by torque induced thereby. The inner chamber maintains its orientation relative to the surface, even while the outer shell rolls along the surface. Each weight-shifter includes a channel containing an armature and an electromagnet activated by the controller. For the symmetrical arrangement, the channel is oriented from bottom periphery to lateral radial periphery of the inner chamber.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a hybrid electric vehicle includes: a clutch provided between an engine and a motor generating power; a transmission serially connected to the motor; a driving information detector detecting driving information including an output speed of the motor, an output speed of the transmission, and a rotation speed of a driving shaft serially connected to the transmission; and a controller limiting an input torque of the motor or an input speed of the motor to a predetermined level or less when a difference between the output speed of the motor and the output speed of the transmission detected by the driving information detector is higher than a predetermined value. As a result, it is possible to prevent a hybrid electric vehicle from starting at an unwanted speed.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted network system includes a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) communicatively connected to a communication path of a vehicle-mounted network, each of which is configured to selectively perform a normal mode of operation and a sleep mode, and a management apparatus. The plurality of ECUs are configured to be individually powered on and off by a power supply relay of the management apparatus. The management apparatus is configured to acquire information indicative of a vehicle situation and determine a scene from the acquired information, determine control contents for powering on or off at least one specific ECU, of the plurality of ECUs, corresponding to the determined scene, if any, and power on or off the at least one specific ECU based on the determined control contents.

Abstract: A technique for controlling engine starting while shifting a hybrid vehicle is provided that minimizes fuel consumption of the engine by determining an improved engine starting time and drivability when a current operating state of the hybrid vehicle requests a kick down shift required to start the engine and coupling of the engine clutch. In particular, the technique controls engine starting while shifting a hybrid vehicle by employing an information detector configured to detect a current operating state of the hybrid electric vehicle, and a controller configured to control an operation of a transmission, a motor, an engine, and an engine clutch based on output signals from the operating information detector.

Abstract: A method for navigation by road users in the area of a traffic congestion, includes the steps of determining a group of road users in the area of the traffic congestion, who are users of a predetermined service, the capturing of travel data of the members of the group, the determining of driving maneuvers for the members of the group based on the captured driving data and the outputting the driving maneuvers to the associated members of the group. The driving maneuvers are coordinated with one another, in order to reduce the effects of the traffic congestion for the members of the group.

Abstract: An abnormal battery detecting system for an electric vehicle includes a power supply unit, a displaying unit, a battery module, a safety protection unit, a detecting unit, and a controlling unit. The battery module a main power source of the electric vehicle. The safety protection unit is connected with the battery module and the power supply unit. The detecting unit is connected with the battery module and the power supply unit for detecting the battery module. If the battery module is abnormal, the detecting unit generates at least one feedback signal that is received by the controlling unit. The controlling unit compares the feedback signal with at least one preset default value and generates an abnormal level signal to the displaying unit and the safety protection unit. The safety protection unit is selectively enabled to control an operation of the battery module according to the abnormal level signal.

Abstract: A method of customizing a vehicle component control system of a vehicle including creating with a controller a user profile comprising at least one performance characteristic. The user profile is stored in a memory device. At least one vehicle control characteristic of the vehicle component control system is adapted based on the at least one performance characteristic of the user profile.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is provided a device comprising electrical connector means adapted releasably to connect the device to an electrical circuit overload protection apparatus of a motor vehicle, the device comprising means for measuring an amount of electrical current flowing therethrough and means for outputting from the device a signal corresponding to the amount of electrical current flowing therethrough.

Abstract: A remote-controlled mobile triangle sign includes a triangle sign having at least one surface with a reflective area; a remote controller configured to transmit control signals; and a remote-controlled car. The remote-controlled car includes a power supply module; a drive motor powered by the power supply module; and a remote control receiving and execution module for receiving the control signals. The triangle sign is mounted on top of the remote-controlled car, and the remote control receiving and execution module is electrically connected to the drive motor and provides output signals.

Abstract: A system and method for providing path planning and generation in a semi-autonomous or autonomously driven vehicle that provides a steering correction for collision avoidance purposes. The method includes detecting a lane center of a roadway lane that the vehicle is traveling along and determining a lane centering path that directs the vehicle from its current position to the lane center. The method also includes detecting a moving object in front of the vehicle and determining if a collision between the vehicle and the object will occur if the vehicle travels along the lane centering path at the current vehicle speed. The method solves a fifth-order polynomial equation to define a collision avoidance path from the current vehicle position to a waypoint a safe distance from the object and a return path from the waypoint to the lane center that the vehicle is automatically steered along.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle having a power-transferable combination of an engine and a motor-generator is controlled to prevent a vehicle vibration while preventing an over-revolution of the engine when the engine is started. In such control, while the engine is determined to be in a starting state, an instruction value correction is performed for correcting a per-unit-time change amount of an actuator instruction value, such as a target air intake amount and/or a target air load amount, according to a target output of the engine so that a steep increase of the engine revolution speed is prevented. With such a correction of the instruction value, an air intake amount of the engine and the engine revolution speed is gradually increased, thereby preventing the over-revolution of the engine and a steep increase of a load torque of the motor-generator, which prevents vehicle vibration when the engine is started.

Abstract: Various examples of a controller, method and system for monitoring a tractor-trailer vehicle train are disclosed. In one example a tractor controller is manually-initiated or a user-initiated tractor controller and includes an electrical control port for receiving an electrical sync signal and an electrical start signal, and a communications port for receiving data. A processing unit of the tractor controller includes control logic and is in communication with the electrical control port. The control logic is capable of receiving a data signal at the communications port which includes a time value and a unique identification which corresponds to the towed vehicle in response to the electrical start signal. At a predetermined response time, the tractor controller determines the position of the towed vehicle in the tractor-trailer vehicle train based on the data received from the towed vehicles.

Abstract: A system and method for providing navigational maneuver instructions, where a navigation apparatus is configured to generate navigation map data on a navigation system display. The navigation apparatus may include a communications input for receiving at least one of traffic data and vehicle data. A secondary display apparatus may be communicatively coupled to the navigation system, wherein the navigation system is configured to determine a maneuver instruction sequence based on traffic data and/or vehicle data. The maneuver instruction sequence includes a series of directional instructions for responding to the traffic data and/or vehicle data. At least some of the directional instructions are represented for display as a series of generic navigational indicia.