Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for controlling air quality within an interior of a vehicle. Air quality data is received from a vehicle mounted sensor of the vehicle, and at least one of a sensor of another vehicle, an external environment sensor, or a remotely located information source system. A first air quality measure is determined for an external environment exterior to the vehicle and a second air quality measure of an internal environment of the vehicle is determined based on the air quality data. At least one control signal to send to a climate control system of the vehicle is determined based on the determined first air quality measure and determined second air quality measure. Air quality within the internal environment of the vehicle is controlled by sending the at least one control signal to the climate control system.

Abstract: A housing for a ground vehicle-mountable aerial vehicle is provided. The housing includes a base portion defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity. The cavity is structured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle therein. The cavity is configured so as to open upwardly when the housing is mounted on the vehicle. The housing also includes a drafting wall structured to extend from the base portion at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.

Abstract: A wiper system according to the present invention includes wiper blades (2a, 2b) that perform a reciprocating wiping operation on a windshield (3), and a raindrop sensor (9) that detects the current amount of rainfall based on water droplets adhering to the windshield (3). If rainfall more than or equal to a predetermined amount is detected by the raindrop sensor (9), a heavy rain mode in which a wiping range of the wiper blades (2a, 2b) is made narrower than in a normal wiping operation is carried out. In the heavy rain mode, the wiper blade (2a) arranged on the driver's side is activated at high speed (Hi) within a heavy rain time wiping area X set near the forward field of view of the driver to ensure the field of view of the driver.

Abstract: A system for preventing aquaplaning in a vehicle, said system comprising: a tank suitable for containing a fluid; sensor means configured to reveal the conditions of the vehicle and/or the environment in which the vehicle is found, and in particular, the conditions of a street surface; injector means configured to generate a jet of fluid on said street surface, said injector means being associated with at least one wheel of the vehicle; a control unit associated with sensor means and configured for controlling said injector means according to the conditions revealed by said sensor means. A unique feature of the system of the present invention consists in the fact that said injector means comprise at least one “fan-type” nozzle and equipped with a slit-shaped outlet opening suitable for creating a flat jet of fluid.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a compressor; a first accumulator fluidly connected with the compressor; a second accumulator fluidly connected with the compressor; a first nozzle directed at a first sensor and fluidly connected with the first accumulator; a second nozzle directed at a second sensor and fluidly connected with the second accumulator; an occupancy sensor; and a computer in communication with the compressor, the accumulators, and the occupancy sensor. The computer is programmed to, upon determining that the vehicle is unoccupied based on data received from the occupancy sensor, instruct the compressor to pressurize the accumulators of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using unassisted vehicles to assess damage in a particular location are described. According to certain aspects, the systems and methods may utilize an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The UGV and the UAVs may be configured with various sensors to capture various damage or environmental data. The UGV and/or the UAVs may also transmit captured data to a central facility for processing. The UGV may serve as a mobile docking and recharging platform for the UAVs and may therefore extend the range and endurance of the UAVs. The UGV may be configured for remote operation, thus eliminating the need to send personnel into a potentially dangerous environment.

Abstract: A system for controlling a front seat of an automobile in connection with a headrest may include a sensor inputter, electric seat inputter, and a seat controller, in which the seat controller may automatically lower a height of the headrest when the front seat of the automobile slides forward in an interior of the automobile, and the seat controller may automatically raise the height of the headrest when the front seat slides rearward in the interior of the automobile.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control device performs vehicle speed control for controlling the vehicle speed of a host vehicle so that the vehicle speed of the host vehicle becomes a preset vehicle speed that is set in advance when a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle is not detected and for controlling the vehicle speed of the host vehicle so that the host vehicle follows the preceding vehicle when the preceding vehicle is detected. The vehicle speed control device determines whether the host vehicle is positioned in an acceleration-control-inhibited area based on the position detected by a position detection unit and, when the preceding vehicle is not detected and a position determination unit determines that the host vehicle is positioned in the acceleration-control-inhibited area, the vehicle speed control device performs acceleration-control-inhibition vehicle speed control of the host vehicle.

Abstract: Vehicular movement detection systems and methods are disclosed. A computing device is configured to monitor sensor data and location data associated with a first user device including one or more sensors, and monitor traffic data associated with a location of the first user device based on the sensor data and location data. In response to the data, the computing device determines whether to provide a user-selectable message to the first user device based on a vehicle speed, proximity to a destination, and vehicle speed relative to traffic speed. The user-selectable message comprises a prompt configured to transmit a search request for a listing location. In response to the determination, the user-selectable message is provided to the first user device. In response to receiving a search request, the computing device is configured to transmit instructions to the first user device to direct the first user device to a first listing location.

Abstract: A navigation device that can access map data and avoidance data, the avoidance data including information for identifying undesirable locations, receive location information representing a geographical location and direction of travel in relation to the map data; and establish, based on the location information and map data, whether the geographical location and direction of travel approach a navigation decision point having a plurality of navigation choices, where each navigation choice corresponds to an onward route leaving the navigation decision point; determine, based on the map data and avoidance data, for at least one onward route leaving the navigation decision point, whether the onward route unavoidably includes an undesirable location; and provide result information to the output section based, at least in part, on the determination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a shaft shear event in a turbine engine. An accelerometer coupled to the engine detects an axial acceleration indicative of a shaft shear event in the engine. A control system is configured to, in response to the detected axial acceleration, transmit a signal to initiate a shut down of a fuel system of the engine.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that enable an autonomous vehicle motion planning system to learn to generate motion plans that mimic human driving behavior. In particular, the present disclosure provides a framework that enables automatic tuning of cost function gains included in one or more cost functions employed by the autonomous vehicle motion planning system.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an arrangement comprising, a volitant body comprising at least one actuator; a control unit for controlling said actuator; and a mechanical arrangement for operationally connecting said volitant body to a reference point remote from said volitant body. There is further provided a corresponding method for operating such an arrangement.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect a first road feature, an adjustable suspension system, and a processing device. The processing device is configured to determine, using a drive history map, a location of the vehicle based on the first road feature and apply a suspension profile to the suspension system. The suspension profile is associated with a second road feature identified by the drive history map, which is at a different location from the first road feature.

Abstract: A steering control method and device for autonomous vehicles is provided. The steering control method includes sensing traffic lanes on a road on which a vehicle is being driven and deriving a vanishing point positioned on lines extending from the traffic lanes. A sensitivity of a steering angle that corresponds to a vertical coordinate of the vanishing point in a matrix and an initial steering angle that corresponds to a horizontal coordinate are then determined. Further, a steering control value that corresponds to the initial steering angle and the sensitivity of the steering angle are determined.

Abstract: A vehicle's accelerator pedal depression amount is detected; a speed limit of a road on which the vehicle is traveling is determined; a start of a lane change is estimated; an upper-limit speed is determined each time when the speed limit changes; and the travelling speed is controlled to not exceed the upper-limit speed even if the accelerator pedal depression amount increases to cause the speed of the vehicle to exceed the upper-limit speed. The speed of the vehicle is controlled, until a predetermined timing, to not exceed the upper-limit speed determined before the start of a lane change is estimated, if (i) the start of a lane change is estimated, and (ii) a reduction in the speed limit is determined. After the predetermined timing, the speed of the vehicle is controlled to not exceed the currently determined upper-limit speed.

Abstract: Unmanned vehicles may be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may accomplish tasks by breaking out into sub-drones, re-grouping itself, changing form, or re-orienting its sensors. This morphing of the unmanned vehicle may happen based on the unmanned vehicle sensing certain conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing overcharge of a battery in an eco-vehicle includes: a detector detecting the overcharge of the battery; and a signal processor controlling a high voltage relay according to an output signal output from the detector to block a charge of the battery.

Abstract: Provided are a vehicle steering device and the like, which are capable of converging a lateral displacement at a forward gazing-point distance to a target travel line with simple control. A target travel line for a vehicle to travel by following a travel path recognized from an image taken by a camera or the like is set. A lateral speed, which is a change amount of the lateral displacement that is a difference between a position of the target travel line at the forward gazing-point distance and a position of the vehicle, is controlled so that the lateral displacement is reduced. A target steering angle is calculated based on the lateral speed, and a steering angle of the vehicle is controlled based on the calculated target steering angle.

Abstract: A user, such as the driver of a vehicle, to retrieve information related to a point of interest (POI) near the vehicle by pointing at the POI or performing some other gesture to identify the POI. Gesture recognition is performed on the gesture to generate a target region that includes the POI that the user identified. After generating the target region, information about the POI can be retrieved by querying a server-based POI service with the target region or by searching in a micromap that is stored locally. The retrieved POI information can then be provided to the user via a display and/or speaker in the vehicle. This process beneficially allows a user to rapidly identify and retrieve information about a POI near the vehicle without having to navigate a user interface by manipulating a touchscreen or physical buttons.