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. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a potentially hazardous condition exists. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken relating to the hazardous condition. 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 the location where the potentially hazardous condition exists.

Abstract: A mapping application that intelligently places distance labels along a route in a map is disclosed. A distance label placed at a particular position of the route shows the distance to the particular location from the starting point of the route. Distance labels allow the user of the map to quickly appreciate the distances between the various points of interest (e.g., maneuvers) along the route. In some mapping applications that display the route as a list of driving directions, the distance labels are placed alongside the list of driving directions, and each distance label is associated with a maneuver in the list of directions.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle includes a power unit; a load handling assembly coupled to the power unit; at least one obstacle detector mounted to the power unit; and a controller. The at least one obstacle detector detects object located along a path of travel of the power unit, and generate a distance signal upon detecting an object corresponding to a distance between the detected object and the power unit. The controller receives the distance signal and generates a corresponding vehicle stop or predetermined maximum allowable speed signal based on the distance signal, wherein if a sensed object is located within a speed zone associated with a predetermined maximum allowable travel speed comprising a fixed speed greater than zero (0) miles per hour, as determined by the distance signal, the vehicle speed is reduced to the predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed.

Abstract: A method for recycling motor power includes controlling a first motor of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a decelerating state to work in concert with a second motor of the UAV in an accelerating state to effect rotation of the UAV, receiving power from the first motor at a power bus in electrical connection with the first motor and the second motor, and providing a portion of the received power to the second motor through the power bus during the rotation of the UAV.

Abstract: A system for optimizing life of a battery pack in a plug-in vehicle includes sensors for measuring battery performance data, including an open-circuit voltage, charging current, and/or temperature of the battery pack, a GPS receiver, a user interface, and a controller. The controller executes a method to monitor degradation of the battery pack using the performance data, and determines driving and charging histories for an operator of the vehicle using the measured battery performance data and a position signal from the GPS receiver. The histories identify the days, hours, and locations at which the operator has driven the vehicle and charged the battery pack. The controller identifies a state of charge data bin missing performance data or containing old performance data. The controller then controls a charging operation of the battery pack via a charging control signal, and records the measured battery performance data for the identified SOC data bin.

Abstract: Probe data collected at times of low traffic density is analyzed to derive a Raw Road Design Speed Limit (RRDSL, 16) for each road segment or group of segments in a digital map. The RRDSL (16), comprised of longitudinally distributed speeds, is associated with the road segment and stored in a digital medium to indicate the limits of the road section in free flow traffic. The longitudinally distributed speeds may be limited by local speed limits or other business logic to establish a Legal Raw Road Design Speed Limit (LRRDSL, 17). Either the RRDSL (16) or the LRRDSL (17) can be further modified to smooth acceleration and deceleration rates between changes in the longitudinally distributed speeds to create an Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (OLSP, 18), which represents optimized energy consumption. A signal can be produced if a driver's current speed rises unacceptably above a longitudinally distributed speed in real time. The signal can be audible, visible and/or haptic.

Abstract: A method and a route and train configuration for switching a train off and on in a parking position include a train side automatic train control device and a route side train monitoring system. In order to switch the train on and off economically and independently from personnel, the following steps are provided: A) entering the parking position, wherein a train reclosing unit, together with a route side coupling module connected to the train monitoring system, establishes an electrical connection; B) switching off train side subsystems using the train control device; C) shutting down and switching off the train control device; D) event triggered reactivation of the train control device using the train reclosing unit; E) switching on remaining train subsystems by using the train control device, and F) exiting the parking position, while separating electrical connection between the reclosing unit and the coupling module.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method and/or computer program product selectively blocks a self-driving vehicle's access to a roadway. A vehicle interrogation hardware device receives an autonomous capability signal from an approaching self-driving vehicle. One or more processors compare the predefined roadway conditions to current roadway conditions of the access-controlled roadway. In response to the predefined roadway conditions matching the current roadway conditions of the access-controlled roadway within a predetermined range, the processor(s) determine whether the level of autonomous capability of the approaching self-driving vehicle is adequate to safely maneuver the approaching self-driving vehicle through the current roadway conditions of the access-controlled roadway.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in traversing a vehicle transportation network may include determining a stabilized codeword indicating whether an expected path for the remote vehicle and an expected path for the host vehicle are convergent based on the host vehicle information, the remote vehicle information, and a reference direction, wherein a false negative incorrectly indicating that the expected path for the remote vehicle and the expected path for the host vehicle are divergent on a condition that a difference between a remote vehicle heading angle for the remote vehicle and a reference direction is within a heading approximation offset threshold, is identified as convergent. Traversing a vehicle transportation network may include traversing a portion of the vehicle transportation network in response to the stabilized codeword.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to manage deployed drones are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include detecting, by a first drone, whether the first drone is in communication with a command center via a first communication network to determine a configuration parameter of a first message to broadcast discovery information associated with the first drone. Disclosed example methods also include, in response to the first drone being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, broadcasting, from the first drone, the first message configured with a first value for the configuration parameter. Disclosed example methods further include, in response to the first drone not being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, broadcasting, from the first drone, the first message configured with a second value for the configuration parameter different from the first value.

Abstract: A method having a preparation stage for preparing an approach path (25) to a theoretical position (20?) of a platform (20). During a consolidation stage, a current position (20?) of said platform (20) is determined and an alert is triggered when the distance (D1) between said theoretical position (20?) and said current position (20?) is greater than a first threshold. During a security stage, entities provided with respective automatic identification systems and present in a predetermined monitoring zone (OCZ) are monitored, and a horizontal representation of said approach path (25) is displayed on a display screen (8) together with the following for each entity: a plot (41) representing its current position; an indication (42) of the travel direction of the entity; and a representation (43) relating to the danger level of the entity.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance apparatus includes a power supplying parameter acquisition device, a power receiving parameter storage device, a charge efficiency calculator, and a display processing device. The power supplying parameter acquisition device is configured to acquire in a electric vehicle a power supplying parameter which corresponds to a specification of a power supplier. The power receiving parameter storage device is configured to store a power receiving parameter corresponding to a specification of a power receiver. The charge efficiency calculator is configured to calculate a charge efficiency according to a relative position between the power supplier and the power receiver based on the power supplying parameter and the power receiving parameter. The display processing device is configured to display on a display a range of the charge efficiency with respect to a center of the power receiver to guide the electric vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety apparatus (20) for monitoring charging of an electrical energy store in a motor vehicle (100), having at least one first sensor device (21a) and at least one second sensor device (21b), the two of which are each designed to capture motion data for the motor vehicle (100) and to provide said motion data as a sensor signal; and a control device (25) that is coupled to the at least one first sensor device (21a) and to the at least one second sensor device (21b) and that is designed to deactivate the at least one second sensor device (21b) while the electrical energy store is being charged and, if the control device (25) detects motion of the motor vehicle (100) on the basis of one of the provided sensor signals, to actuate at least one actuator device (30) of the motor vehicle (100) in order to brake the motor vehicle (100).

Abstract: A bumper includes a carrier having a wall extending along a longitudinal axis, and a first leg and a second leg extending away from the wall in a first direction. A plurality of fins are movably attached to the carrier between the first leg and the second leg, and are spaced from each other the longitudinal axis. The fins may be moved to a deployed position to reinforce the bumper to improve low-speed damageability of the bumper, and may be moved to an inactive position, which may allow a fascia to more easily deform relative to the deployed position to provide energy absorption for pedestrian impacts.

Abstract: A method of recycling motor power of a movable object is provided to recycle and redistribute power from at least one motor in a decelerating state. The method comprises determining whether an operating state of at least one motor of the movable object is a decelerating state, and recycling power from the at least one motor having a decelerating state. The method also comprises redistributing the recycled power to other power consuming components of the movable object. The method of present invention increases the energy efficiency and a battery life of the movable object. The movable object may be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Abstract: Method for operating a longitudinal driver assistance system (2) of a motor vehicle (1), which controls, in a pure follow mode, the speed of the motor vehicle (1) such that a distance to a vehicle in front as the control object remains constant, and which, in a free travel mode, controls the speed to a desired speed, a likelihood of the vehicle (14) in front of pulling out being determined depending on sensor data of at least one ambient sensor. The control with respect to the vehicle (14) in front and/or the control in the free travel mode is modified or ended directly after termination of the follow mode depending on the pulling-out likelihood.

Abstract: A method of recycling motor power of a movable object is provided to recycle and redistribute power from at least one motor in a decelerating state. The method comprises determining whether an operating state of at least one motor of the movable object is a decelerating state, and recycling power from the at least one motor having a decelerating state. The method also comprises redistributing the recycled power to other power consuming components of the movable object. The method of present invention increases the energy efficiency and a battery life of the movable object. The movable object may be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an engine, a plurality of electrical load subsystems, and at least one controller. During an auto start of the engine, the at least one controller detects a starter disengage condition. In response to detecting the starter disengage condition, the at least one controller periodically determines a value of an operating parameter associated with the vehicle, causes a first subset of the electrical load subsystems to be enabled when the value of the operating parameter falls with a first predefined range of values, and causes a second subset of the electrical load subsystems to be enabled when the value of the operating parameter falls within a second predefined range of values.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method selectively controls a self-driving vehicle's access to a roadway. A vehicle interrogation hardware device receives an autonomous capability signal from an approaching self-driving vehicle. One or more processors compare predefined roadway conditions to current roadway conditions of the access-controlled roadway. In response to the predefined roadway conditions matching the current roadway conditions of the access-controlled roadway within a predetermined range, the processor(s) determine whether the level of autonomous capability of the approaching self-driving vehicle is adequate to safely maneuver the approaching self-driving vehicle through the current roadway conditions of the access-controlled roadway.

Abstract: A vehicle front end includes a bumper and a carrier attached to the bumper. A plurality of fins are movably attached to the carrier and are spaced from each other. The fins taper in a direction transverse to the bumper. The fins may be moved to a deployed position to reinforce the bumper to improve low-speed damageability of the bumper, and may be moved to an inactive position, which may allow a fascia to more easily deform relative to the deployed position to provide energy absorption for pedestrian impacts.