Abstract: A vehicle-carried navigation system wherein a current position is judged rapidly even when setting or extensive correction of a current position is executed and displaying of a map is updated rapidly in a current position displaying mode even when a vehicle moves at a high speed and a map around a current position is displayed rapidly even when the display mode is changed over from a map displaying mode to a current position displaying mode. When one of a current position detecting apparatus and a picture drawing apparatus tries to read out map data from a map data storage apparatus, a judging device judges whether or not such map data have been read into and are held in the other apparatus, and if such map data are already held in the other apparatus, then the map data are not read out from the map data storage apparatus but are transferred from the other apparatus to the one apparatus by map data transfer device.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a semiconductor output device (3) , a sensor (5) generating an electric signal (7) relevant to heat generation (6) of the output device (3) and a microprocessor unit MPU 2, inside a chip (1). The MPU (2) is constructed of a memory (20) and CPU (22). The electric signal (7) generated from the sensor (5) is processed by the CPU (22) in accordance with a stored program of the memory (20). Accordingly, the drivability of the semiconductor output device (3) can be set in an optimum state corresponding to changes in chip temperature including changes that are only momentary.

Abstract: Vehicles having front and rear steerable wheels (14,16) and a plurality of steering modes are commonly used in many applications. A vehicle (10) includes a steering input device (24) having a plurality of positions corresponding to the desired rate of turn of the vehicle (10) and a steering control (23) for changing the steering mode in which the vehicle (10) is operating. The steering control accomplishes (23) the steering mode transition while causing the rate of turn of the vehicle (10) to be substantially equal to the desired rate of turn throughout the transition.

Abstract: A novel yawing-momentum detecting apparatus, and yawing-detecting method for a vehicle, and also a motion controlling apparatus for the vehicle with employment of this yawing-momentum detecting apparatus. The yawing-momentum detecting apparatus for the vehicle comprises: a plurality of acceleration sensors disposed at symmetrical positions on said vehicle with respect to a vertical axis passing through a gravity center of the vehicle within a plane perpendicular the vertical axis; units for calculating yawing momentum of the vehicle occurring around the vertical axis based upon outputs from the plural acceleration sensors; and characteristic correcting units for correcting output characteristics of the plural acceleration sensors under known acceleration values to coincide with reference output characteristic values when the known acceleration values are obtained under a certain vehicle operating condition.

Abstract: An anti-lock control system in which a pressure increasing cycle changes according to the behavior of a wheel during a pressure increasing mode of anti-lock control. The anti-lock control system determines a coefficient of friction of a road surface, sets a maximum vehicle body deceleration according to the coefficient of friction, calculates the deceleration of the wheel speed to be controlled, compares the deceleration of the wheel speed to be controlled with the maximum vehicle body deceleration Gmax to determine whether or not to increase or maintain constant the brake fluid pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying the identity of an observed anonymous target 16 from a plurality of anonymous reflective targets 16 positioned at predetermined spaced apart locations within an area 14 of operation of an automatic guided vehicle 10 is provided. The anonymous targets 16 each have a predetermined width and a predetermined orientation angle. A dead reckoning system 78 and scanner 12 on the vehicle 10 each deliver signals to the onboard computer 52. The onboard computer 52 processes the signals in accordance with preprogrammed instructions and corrects the position and heading of the vehicle 10 based on the sensed position of the reflected electromagnetic radiation delivered from the spaced anonymous targets 16. The onboard computer 52 verifies the identity of the reflecting anonymous targets 16 through an incident and subtended angle analysis which considers the orientation and width of the anonymous targets 16.

Abstract: Method for signalling insufficient maneuverability of an aircraft according to which:in a preparatory phase: with the aid of a plurality of N flight configurations, the weighting coefficients between three quantities G1, G2, G3 are determined, representative respectively of the acceleration, the slope angle of the trajectory and the risk of stalling, coefficients such that the weighted sum of said quantities is less than a threshold when maneuverability is insufficient;in an in-flight utilization phase: said weighted sum is calculated and a signal signifying insufficient maneuverability is generated if said sum is less than said threshold.Application to controlling aircraft.

Abstract: An implement position control device including a central processing unit (6) coupled to an ultrasonic transducer (17) and receiver/amplifier (20) adapted to calculate the distance to a reference target (12 and a relatively more distant surface (9). Control pulses are initiated by the CPU (6) to manipulate a solenoid (25) by means of a valve driver (24) in response to the calculated distance measurements. An autotune task (26) causes a series of precise pulses to manipulate the solenoid, thereby permitting calculation of the transfer function (52) defining the relationship between pulse width and implement position.

Abstract: A communication network keeps track of the locations of mobile units which utilize the network. On powering up, the mobile units determine their current locations using signals broadcast, for example, by overhead satellites. They then send data communication messages to the network describing their locations. The network saves the locations and returns data messages that describe borders which surround the mobile units' locations. The mobile units repetitively determine their current locations on a regular schedule. When their current locations are outside of their prescribed borders, they send other location data messages to the network to update the location data being maintained by the network and to receive a definition of a new border.

Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) in which a plurality earth orbiting satellites transmit position information to mobile radio stations on earth, is provided with a separate source satellite position data broadcast digital channels and one or more dial-up service separate communication channels (selected from a data link supported by terrestrial cellular telephone and other radio packet data services) for assisting the mobile radio station to access position information from the satellites. A controller is coupled to the mobile radio station for connecting to the separate communication channel for extricating the satellite position data via separate communication channel. The controller includes a microprocessor for processing the satellite position data to enable the mobile radio station to rapidly locate and access position information from said earth orbiting satellite. A unique system for processing the data is disclosed.

Abstract: A plurality of sensors, such as a door handle lift switch, a headlight switch, and an ignition switch, are normally provided in an automotive electrical system. A master microcontroller normally is coupled to each of these sensors for receiving a signal therefrom and responsive thereto generating a corresponding controller signal. Power drivers, each operatively coupled to the master controller, normally are provided for energizing and powering loads coupled thereto, with each load being either an indicator or actuator that is operated responsive to its corresponding sensor. The self-diagnostic method includes the steps of mechanically actuating a selected one of the sensors, and then electrically actuating a first confirming indicator, such as an audible chime, indicative of the master controller receiving and successfully processing the corresponding sensing signal.

Abstract: A method and system (10) for generating a reconfigurable terrain and culture database of a simulated environment. Terrain and culture data are extracted from at least one of a plurality of digital data sources (14), and the extracted data is transformed into a predetermined central database format (22) from which the extracted data may be edited (24) and formatted (28) for a particular imaging system. The terrain and culture data are not merged until formatting in order to enable rapid reskinning of the terrain or the addition of further culture detail.

Abstract: A traction control system for an automotive vehicle comprises, a brake fluid pressure control actuator associated with at least driven wheels for reducing traction created through the driven wheels, and sensors for monitoring an acceleration-slip state of at least one of the driven wheels. A recovery control unit is arranged for deriving a degree of turn of the vehicle, and for deriving a rate of change in the vehicle turning degree. The recovery control unit is responsive to the change-rate in the turning degree during an acceleration-slip control, for controlling traction in a transient state shifting from turning to straight-ahead driving, in such a manner as to increase a recovery amount of driving torque caused by the driven wheel as the turning degree is weakened.

Abstract: A gait generation for a biped mobile robot having a body and two legs each connected to the body and having a foot at its distal end in walking a terrain including a first surface and a second surface met at a dihedral angle such that the robot feet are in simultaneous contact with the different two surfaces. The centers of ground contact pressure distribution of the first and second surfaces are determined. A virtual third surface which assumes to vary from the first surface to the second surface is established. Then a virtual ZMP (Zero Moment Point) is assumed on the virtual third surface such that the virtual ZMP is displaced along a path obtained by connecting the centers of the ground pressure distribution of the first and second surfaces. And a gait for the robot is generated such that a ZMP kinematically determined from the motion of the robot coincides with the target ZMP.

Abstract: A spacecraft (201) maintains its north-south positioning by using one of two pairs of single-gimballed throttled thrusters (221-224) on a face of the spacecraft (201). The throttles (118) and gimbals (116) of the thrusters (221-224) are controlled to produce torques on the spacecraft (201) that will maintain a desired attitude for the spacecraft (201) while simultaneously desaturating the momentum stabilizing wheels ( 120, 121 ) of the spacecraft (201).

Abstract: A path analyzer for determining if a specified path is blocked by a given solid obstacle in three dimensional space. A programmable comparator converts path endpoints into first and second map signals, wherein each map signal indicates whether the corresponding path endpoint's position on predefined X, Y and Z coordinate axes is above, below or within a range of coordinate values associated with a specified obstacle. The specified obstacle is modelled as a rectangular parallelepiped, regardless of the actual shape of the obstacle. A first high speed decoder uses these map signals to make an initial determination as to whether the specified path is blocked, not blocked, or may be blocked by the specified obstacle. Whenever the first decoder determines that the path may be blocked, a second decoder determines the minimum number of additional computations needed to resolve whether the specified path is blocked.

Abstract: When the body of an automobile equipped with a stand-alone navigation system is magnetized by an external magnetism, an unknown magnetization vector is determined by correcting the known magnetization vector. Even very small changes in the magnetization vector can be corrected without putting a burden on the user of the automobile. A magnetization vector directed from a reference position toward the center of a magnetic circle which indicates the magnetized condition of the automobile body is detected, and a geomagnetic vector which is directed from the reference position in the direction in which the mobile body progresses is detected. An instantaneous direction vector which is directed from the center of the magnetic circle in the direction in which the mobile body progresses and which has a direction angle is calculated.

Abstract: Instruments, for example monitoring and diagnostic systems, are often designed to operate in connection with a variety of machine types. Advantageously, the instrument may receive data for each parameter from either the sensor directly or from another controller depending on the machine to which it is connected. The subject invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively receiving data from one of a plurality of sources. A plurality of sensors produce signals in response to sensed parameters and deliver a first group of one or more signals to an instrument via a wire harness. A control receives a second group of one or more of the sensor signals and responsively delivers the second group to the instrument via a communication link. A processor determines whether one of the plurality of sensor signals is being delivered via the wire harness or the communication link and responsively monitors one of the wire harness and communication link.

Abstract: A system for controlling a safety device for a vehicle has a first and a second switching element connected in series in this order from a power source toward the ground. A condenser is interposed between a connecting point for both the first and second switching element and the ground in such a manner as to be in parallel relation to the second switching element. The actuating element for the vehicle safety device is connected in serial relation to the condenser between the connecting point and the ground. The control system further has an electric current supply control device. This electric current supply control device periodically effects ON/OFF control operations over the first and second switching elements.

Abstract: A system for controlling locomotion of a biped walking robot. The system carries out feedback control for eliminating the deviation between a target value and the detected angle of inclination of the linkage mechanism in the absolute coordinate system. Hence, stable dynamic walking is achieved at all times even during locomotion over rough terrain. In the stability control, the number of joints with respect to which control is conducted is reduced to the minimum required and control is conducted separately but in coordination with respect to the movement or motion in the pitch direction and the movement or motion in the roll direction, while the remaining joints are controlled locally. Thus, the control is considerably simplified. In addition, feedback control is conducted with respect to the velocity components so as to realize the desired posture angles and the feedback gain adjusted so as to achieve the response speed required by the individual linkages.