Abstract: Disclosed herein are a parking assistance apparatus and a parking assistance method thereof. The parking assistance apparatus includes a sensing unit sensing at least one of forward and backward access distances to a current surrounding object, a controller performing an electronic parking brake operation and including predetermined forward and backward access distance ranges to a reference surrounding object, a first judgment unit judging whether or not at least one access distance deviates from at least one access distance range, a display unit displaying the at least one access distance and the at least one access distance range, if the first judgment unit judges that the at least one access distance deviates from the at least one access distance range, and a steering driving unit driving an electronic steering driving apparatus until the at least one access distance enters the at least one access distance range.

Abstract: A position output device for outputting position data indicating a current position of an object, is based on position data of a determined current position of the object as determined by a satellite navigation system. When a position jump has occurred in the position data from the satellite navigation system, an appropriate current position is outputted. An estimated current position is generated based on the output position outputted at the latest update time. It is determined whether or not a position jump has occurred, based on the distance between the estimated position and the satellite navigation system-based determined position, which is being updated by the satellite navigation system. When it is determined that a position jump has occurred, a position adjustment vector is generated by calculation, which is then used to generate an adjusted position.

Abstract: In a method of obtaining a rotation speed of a right wheel (RWr), the method includes: detecting a motor rotation speed detection value (LMa) using a resolver (20A); detecting a wheel rotation speed detection value (LWa) using a wheel speed sensor (13A); obtaining a ring gear rotation speed conversion value (Rb) based on the motor rotation speed detection value (LMa) and the wheel rotation speed detection value (LWa); detecting a motor rotation speed detection value (RMa) using the resolver (20B); obtaining a wheel rotation speed conversion value (RWb) based on the ring gear rotation speed conversion value (Rb) and the motor rotation speed detection value (RMa); detecting a wheel rotation speed detection value (RWa) using a wheel speed sensor (20B); and selecting the wheel rotation speed conversion value (RWb) or the wheel rotation speed detection value (RWa), whichever is greater, as the rotation speed of the right wheel (RWr).

Abstract: A map scrolling method and apparatus for a navigation system prevents from displaying certain icons while displaying other icons based on conditions and settings of the navigation system during a transition period of a map scrolling operation. The map scrolling method includes the steps of: detecting activation of a map scrolling operation; checking whether there is any limit condition attached to icons as to remove them from a map image; scrolling the map image while removing the icons to which the limit condition is attached from the map image during a transition period of the map scrolling operation; and displaying all of the icons when the map scrolling operation is completed.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: executing addition processing when current IB is equal to or more than a current upper limit value IB(0) and there is a divergence between command power Pc and an upper limit value Woutf of an allowable range of electric power at the time of agreement between the current IB and the current upper limit value IB(0); and executing normal Woutf determination processing when the current IB is less than the current upper limit value IB(0) or there is no divergence between the command power Pc and the upper limit value Woutf at the time of agreement between the current IB and the current upper limit value IB(0).

Abstract: In a transmission control device for a hybrid vehicle, when an engine torque is equal to or less than a predetermined value during a constant speed traveling, a learning engine rotational speed is set to a rotational speed being higher by +? than the present engine rotational speed. Then, a learning engine torque is calculated that corresponds to the learning engine rotational speed, a learning clutch actuator operation amount is obtained that corresponds to the learning clutch torque, and a clutch actuator is operated based on the learning clutch actuator operation amount. Thereafter, when the engine rotational speed and the engine torque are in stable states, a clutch torque value corresponding to the learning clutch actuator operation amount is compensated by a stable engine torque value.

Abstract: To automatically prevent a reverse movement by inhibiting an excessive increase in an output torque of an electric motor. A means (31) calculates a target value for a rotation speed based on a command from a system (20), a means (32) calculates a deviation between a detection value from a rotation speed sensor (81) and the target value, a means (33) calculates a first target torque in a direction that the deviation will be eliminated, and a means (34) calculates, based on a command from the system (20), a second target torque in the same direction as the target value. A means (50) calculates a variation in a rotation angle of an electric motor (12) in a first range, and a means (60) calculates the same variation in a second range.

Abstract: The gear shifting control device comprises a speed change operation completion detecting portion, a rotation difference judging portion for judging whether or not the absolute difference between the engine rotation speed and the input rotation speed exceeds a predetermined value and a clutch torque—operating amount correcting portion which replaces the clutch torque corresponding to the clutch actuator operating amount corresponding to the target clutch torque with a presumed clutch torque. Thus the correction accuracy for the clutch actuator operating amount can be improved by learning a speed change state by extracting a suitable state for learning.

Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern changes into a normal pattern of a drive range is satisfied, and whether or not a second condition that a vehicle is running (a driver has an intention to cause the vehicle to run) is satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When the above-mentioned first condition and second condition are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern and recovers the driving force.

Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus that changes the travel characteristic of a vehicle on the basis of a change of the acceleration of the vehicle, when the travel characteristic is to be changed because the acceleration has changed, the amount of change of the travel characteristic to be changed is adjusted on the basis of the pre-change travel characteristic that is present immediately prior to the change of the acceleration.

Abstract: A braking assistance system for a vehicle towed by a towing vehicle. The braking assistance system includes at least one sensor configured to be coupled to the towed vehicle and to detect information about at the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle, and an electronic control unit having a processor. The electronic control unit is in electronic communication with the sensor to receive information about the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle. The processor is configured to determine an electrical connection between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, determine a deceleration of the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle based on the information from the at least one sensor, identify a brake assist situation, and initiate a brake control operation to control braking of the towed vehicle during the brake assist situation.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing a sway of a trailer attached to a vehicle. In one embodiment, the system includes a controller, a plurality of sensors in electronic communication with the controller and transmitting sensor data to the controller, a torque vectoring device in electronic communication with the controller, and a computer readable memory storing instructions executed by the controller. The instructions cause the controller to evaluate the sensor data received from the sensors to determine a current vehicle yaw rate, a target vehicle yaw rate, and a yaw rate error of the vehicle. The instructions further cause the controller to determine if the vehicle is traveling in a straight line, to determine a torque distribution signal, and to transmit this signal to the torque vectoring device to stabilize the sway of the trailer without braking the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and methods for autonomously tracking and simultaneously providing surveillance of a target from air vehicles. In one embodiment the system receives inputs from outside sources, creates tracks, identifies the targets and generates flight plans for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and camera controls for surveillance of the targets. The system uses predictive algorithms and aircraft control laws. The system comprises a plurality of modules configured to accomplish these tasks. One embodiment comprises an automatic target recognition (ATR) module configured to receive video information, process the video information, and produce ATR information including target information. The embodiment further comprises a multisensor integrator (MSI) module configured to receive the ATR information, an air vehicle state input and a target state input, process the inputs and produce track information for the target.

Abstract: A method and system that facilitates operation of autonomous equipment by providing a mission planner to maintain line-of-sight contact between a plurality of coordinated machines, including a method for maintaining line-of-sight (LoS) communication between a plurality of machines that creates a mission plan for a work site that includes a path plan for each of the plurality of machines that maintains the line-of-sight communication between the plurality of machines by taking into account a topography for the work site; and loads the path plan for each respective one of the plurality of machines into each respective one of the plurality of machines, wherein the path plan specifies a machine travel path for each respective one of the plurality of machines.

Abstract: Selectively enabling a vehicle by way of a portable wireless device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: enabling a vehicle when a portable wireless device is communicatively coupled to an onboard device by way of a first communication network; sending an indication of location of the vehicle to a data center; and disabling the vehicle when the portable wireless device is no longer communicatively coupled to the onboard device. In some cases, the sending by: receiving global positioning system (GPS) signals by the portable wireless device; establishing that the portable wireless device is proximate to the vehicle; and sending an indication of location to the data center, the sending by the portable wireless device.

Abstract: A system and method for associating a vehicle and vehicle trailer is described. The system comprises one or more sensors that transmit information wirelessly to a tractor display unit. The tractor display unit determines whether the sensor is associated with a trailer to which it is connected and filters out messages from sensors that are not associated with its trailer. To determine which sensors are associated with its trailer, a processor in the tractor display unit synchronizes the reception of sensor messages with the reception of a synchronizing signal, such as a signal generated by operating an auxiliary power system, turn signal, or brake.

Abstract: A ride control system for controlling a plurality of vehicles on a path includes a path processor and a bi-directional voting circuit in circuit with the path processor. Each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles may include a vehicle processor supported by the at least one vehicle and shunt relays in circuit with the at least one vehicle processor. Each vehicle processor may be configured to close a respective shunt relay upon a predetermined condition of the vehicle whereby the bi-directional voting circuit is activated to notify all other vehicles.

Abstract: In a method for course prediction in driver assistance systems for motor vehicles, a dynamic course hypothesis is created on the basis of vehicle-dynamics data of the vehicle, which method includes the following steps: creating an infrastructure course hypothesis on the basis of data from at least one information source that describe the traffic infrastructure; calculating, on the basis of features of the information source, a weighting factor that describes the reliability of the infrastructure course hypothesis; and fusing the infrastructure course hypothesis with the dynamic course hypothesis, with weighting in accordance with the calculated weighting factor, to produce a definitive course hypothesis.

Abstract: Method for estimating the negative pressure in a motor vehicle brake force booster, and a stop/start control device is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for estimating the negative pressure in a motor vehicle brake force booster with reference to the hydraulic pressure in a brake master cylinder. According to the embodiment, the negative pressure is estimated solely on the basis of hydraulic pressure in the brake master cylinder and of the actual engine speed. One embodiment of the invention also relates to a stop/start control device for a motor vehicles.

Abstract: A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes a clutch that is able to allow and interrupt transmission of driving force to a propeller shaft, and a traction control unit that controls at least one of the driving force generated by an engine and braking force applied to right and left front wheels to suppress a slip of the right and left front wheels. When the drive mode is switched from a two-wheel-drive mode to a four-wheel-drive mode, if the relative rotational speed between a first rotary member and a second rotary member constituting a clutch is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, an ECU outputs a control command signal for suppressing the slip of the right and left front wheels to the traction control unit.