Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for providing a destination preview while using a navigation device. As a user approaches a destination, a mode of navigation assistance may change from route guidance to destination preview. The destination preview may include an overhead perspective of an area surrounding a destination. The destination preview may be animated so as to allow the user to maintain perspective of the current location, planned route, and other objects while previewing the destination. The animated perspective path, including height, zoom level, angle, and speed of a vantage point, may be calculated so as to provide improved visibility for a user.

Abstract: A method for defining a contoured path for an automatic guidance system comprises defining a plurality of reference path segments; for each segment, determining one or more intersection points respectively with other segments; and subsequently defining a contoured path as a sequence of intersecting segments. An automatic guidance system based on the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method to control a high performance road vehicle equipped with a rear spoiler that has at least one adjustable aerodynamic profile, the control method includes the steps of: detecting the tendency to oversteer or understeer when cornering, adjusting the setting of the adjustable aerodynamic profile of the rear spoiler to a greater angle of incidence in order to increase the overall downforce generated by the rear spoiler if oversteering is detected when cornering, and adjusting the setting of the adjustable aerodynamic profile of the rear spoiler to a lower value of the angle of incidence in order to reduce the overall downforce generated by the rear spoiler if understeering is detected when cornering.

Abstract: A method and device for the combined determining of a momentary vehicle roll angle of a motor vehicle and a momentary roadway cross slope of a curved roadway section traveled by the motor vehicle is disclosed. The momentary vehicle roll angle and momentary roadway cross slope are determined from chassis data and transverse dynamics data of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a control station for remotely controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”). The control station is configured to display vehicle status data received from each UAV, including displaying a location of each UAV in a single interface. Through the single interface, the control station may receive a control command input associated with one of the UAVs. The control station may transmit the received control command, or a command derived therefrom, to the respective UAV. The single interface may provide for a user to view and control flight operation of each of the UAVs independently through the single interface.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a steering control unit and an electronic control unit. The steering control unit is configured to control a steering angle of a wheel of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to acquire a target steering angle set as a target to move the vehicle, adjust the acquired target steering angle such that the target steering angle does not exceed a first guard value determined in order to inhibit a change in the steering angle of the vehicle, larger than or equal to a first reference, output the adjusted target steering angle to the steering control unit in order for the steering control unit to control the steering angle to the adjusted target steering angle, and change the first guard value in response to a situation of the vehicle.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) which fly to destinations (e.g., for delivering items) may land on transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks, etc.) for temporary transport. An agreement with the owner of the transportation vehicles (e.g., a shipping carrier) may be made for obtaining consent and determining compensation for landings, and the associated transportation vehicles that are available for landings may be identified by markers on the roof or other identification techniques. The routes of the transportation vehicles may be known and utilized to determine locations where UAVs will land on and take off from the transportation vehicles, and in cases of emergencies (e.g., due to low batteries, mechanical issues, etc.) the UAVs may land on the transportation vehicles for later retrieval.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an automatic train operation system in railway vehicles, the system including: a speed profile generation unit configured to generate speed profile information based on limited speed profile inputted from outside; a track database stored with track gradient information and track curvature information for each track segment; a train speed controller configured to control a speed of the train using a current position, a current speed and the speed profile information of the train inputted from outside; and a propulsion system fault diagnosis unit configured to diagnose a fault status of the propulsion system based on the current speed of the train, the track gradient information, the track curvature information and propulsion notch information inputted from the train speed controller, and to calculate a performance depreciation ratio when the propulsion system is faulted and to provide the performance depreciation ratio to the train speed controller.

Abstract: When a travel path is to be generated for a vehicle, road surface lines (white lines, etc.) delimiting the traffic lane of the vehicle, and also external objects in the vehicle environment, are detected and registered as respective obstacles. Specific points are defined at appropriate locations on each obstacle, and the travel path is generated by connecting respective mid-point positions between opposed pairs of specific points, each pair defined on respective ones of an opposed (left-side, right-side) pair of the registered obstacles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maintaining and stabilizing the position and orientation of a payload attached to a high-altitude balloon are provided. A payload may be attached to a powered gimbal. The powered gimbal may be configured to orient and position the payload in a plurality of directions corresponding to a first, second, and third rotational axis of the balloon-mounted payload system. After the payload is positioned by the powered gimbal, the position and orientation of the payload may be maintained and stabilized by one or more rotational stabilization devices. The stabilization by the one or more rotational stabilization devices can occur along any one, or combination of, the first, second, and third rotational axes.

Abstract: To identify important access roads for a geographic location, multiple previous requests for directions between a multiplicity of sources and one or more destinations identical, or proximate, to the geographic location are identified. Further, routes between the multiplicity of sources and the one or more destinations are determined. Still further, common road segments shared by at least some of the determined routes are identified, and a set of important access roads for the geographic location are selected from among the identified road segments based on how frequently the identified road segments are used.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a motor selectively coupled to the engine, a transmission selectively coupled to the motor, and a controller. The motor is able to operate as a motor (to provide torque to the transmission) and a generator (to charge a battery). In one mode, the controller can command the engine to both propel the vehicle and provide torque to the motor to charge the battery. The controller estimates the maximum available engine torque in the current gear and maintains the vehicle in the current gear of the transmission. And, the controller commands the motor to charge the battery by a magnitude based on the difference between driver demanded torque and an estimated maximum available engine torque in a current gear of the transmission. This allows the engine to operate at (or near) its maximum torque output to fulfill driver demands and charge the battery while inhibiting downshifting.

Abstract: A control system calculates inputs to a control target that has m inputs and n outputs (m=n, each of m and n is a natural number that is more than one), while designating a plurality of combinations of the inputs and the outputs. A feedback controller calculates, with respect to each designated combination, a control input to a non-interference controller based on a difference between a target value and a current value of the control quantity to make the current value follow the target value. The non-interference controller executes, with respect to each designated combination, a non-interference control to reduce influence due to mutual interference between n control quantities. This reduces the number of combinations of the inputs and the outputs, the combinations whose mutual interference needs considering; thereby, the non-interference control may be easily achieved.

Abstract: A calculation method and apparatus for calculating a starting point for acceleration/deceleration operation of a vehicle with high accuracy using more input values while at the same time keeping calculation cost and time to a minimum is disclosed herein. An ECU making up a system calculates a start point for acceleration/deceleration operation of a vehicle on the basis of traveling condition information that changes as the vehicle travels and vehicle information that changes only slightly as a result of the travel of the vehicle. As a result, if the driver maintains a throttle operator at a given opening angle or more at a point before the start point, an actuator applies a force in the direction of closing a throttle valve to the throttle operator, thereby notifying the driver that the vehicle is close to the start point.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus, which executes a regeneration increasing control, includes a stop position specifying unit specifying a stop position, a calculation unit calculating a predetermined position at which a speed of the vehicle reduces to a predetermined speed, a determination unit determining a start point of a deceleration distance as a notification position when a distance between an end point of the deceleration distance and the predetermined position satisfies a predetermined condition, a notification unit notifying the driver to turn off the accelerator, and a regeneration control unit starting the regeneration increasing control when the vehicle has travelled the distance that satisfies the predetermined condition from the notification position.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a predictive traffic law enforcement profiler apparatus and method which incorporates a means to determine current location, time, velocity and also incorporates a means to utilize a database derived from historic traffic law enforcement records, crowd sourced records and historical traffic data and also incorporates a predictive processing means to provide historic traffic law enforcement records and estimates of enforced speed limits and enforcement profiles, patrol locations and schedules of traffic law enforcement to a driver.

Abstract: A trolling plate which, together with a supporting and deployment mechanism, is fixed to and strutted from an outboard motor without the need for engineering modifications or the use special tools; said trolling plate being pivotably deployable into the water in the zone immediately downstream of the propeller of the outboard motor to substantially block the efflux from said propeller and thereby reduce its propulsive effort; said deployment being effected in a universally variable way by means of a suitable actuator; control means of said actuator and/or said deployment mechanism incorporating means to permit the immediate retraction of said trolling plate should it impact an obstruction or should the power of said outboard motor suddenly be increased.

Abstract: A mobile robot system includes a plurality of mobile robots. Each robot has a predetermined size of large, medium, small or back-packable. The mobile robot includes a chassis, drive system components, power components, a main processor, a communication system and a power and data distribution system. The chassis has a predetermined size of large, medium, small or back-packable. Drive system components are operably attached to the chassis and power components are operably connected to the drive system components and the power and data distribution system. The main processor, the communication system and the power and data distribution system are all operably connected together and operably connected to the traction components and the power components. The main processor, the communication system, and the power and data distribution system are all configured for use with the predetermined size of the chassis and at least one other size.

Abstract: Provided is a control device for a steer-by-wire steering mechanism, the control device including: a tire lateral force detection unit configured to detect tire lateral forces acting on left and right wheels; and a toe angle control unit configured to control toe angles of left and right wheels independently of each other such that the detected tire lateral forces become target lateral forces. Not during deceleration, the toe angle control unit sets target lateral forces FLt and FRt such that the total sum of the left and right target lateral forces is not changed and the total sum of absolute values thereof is decreased, and during deceleration, the toe angle control unit sets the target lateral forces FLt and FRt such that straight traveling stability can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of starting a turboshaft engine (5) of an aircraft (1), said aircraft (1) being provided with a rotary wing, said aircraft (1) having a freewheel (15) interposed in a drive train (10) between said engine (5) and a rotor (2) of said rotary wing (1), said engine (5) comprising a gas generator (6) and a free turbine (9), the drive train (10) including an upstream portion (11) connecting said free turbine (9) to said freewheel (15), the method comprising the following steps: measuring the torque (Tq) exerted on said upstream portion (11), and measuring a speed of rotation (Ng) of said gas generator (6); comparing said torque (Tq) with a torque threshold (Stq) and comparing said speed of rotation (Ng) with a gas generator speed threshold (Sng); and stopping said engine (5) when said torque (Tq) is less than the torque threshold (Stq) and when said speed of rotation (Ng) is greater than the gas generator speed threshold (Sng).