Abstract: A preferred route may be determined from an origin location to a destination location. The preferred route avoids a particular maneuver or particular maneuvers identified by a user. The determination is made by processing directed links (e.g., one-way edges) in a graph that includes one or more links and two or more nodes. The determination of a preferred route may include an estimate of the time required at one or more intersections along alternative routes and/or an estimate of the time required to travel the alternative routes based on the day of the week or the day of the year in which travel occurs. Individual routing preferences, such as a preference of a rural over an urban route and avoiding particular maneuvers in a route, also may be considered.

Abstract: A vehicle control system (10) including a vehicle motion control subsystem (12) that has an input receiving an intended driving demand (14) and a plurality of coordinator subsystems (16) for coordinating actuators of the vehicle. The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) communicates with the coordinator subsystems (16) to determine whether a single coordinator subsystem (16) can carry out the intended driving demand (14). The vehicle motion control subsystem (12) will distribute demand signals among one or more of the coordinator subsystems (16) to allow the vehicle to implement the intended driving demand (14).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining likelihood of rollover of a vehicle and/or mitigating rollover of the vehicle is responsive to measured vehicle lateral acceleration and a measured one of vehicle roll rate and vehicle suspension displacements to derive estimates of roll angle and roll rate. First, preliminary, estimates of roll angle and roll rate are derived and used as pseudo-measurements in a dynamic, closed loop observer equation which represents a model of the vehicle in a first roll mode for roll angles small compared to a reference value indicating two wheel lift-off and a second roll mode for roll angles at least near a reference value indicating two wheel lift-off. The observer equation has parameters and gains with values for each mode stored as a function of roll angle index derived from measurements and pseudo-measured values. The observer equation produces second, improved values or roll angle and roll rate together indicating the likelihood of vehicle rollover.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a damping system. The system has at least two dampers for damping between sprung and unsprung masses in the compression and rebound directions. Sensors generate signals based on position and other parameters of motion representative of the displacement between the sprung and unsprung masses. The process determines the appropriate compression and rebound forces to be applied at the wheels. A regulator responds to at least one of the independent compression and rebound control signals for adjusting, respectively, at least one of compression and rebound resisting forces of the dampers between the masses. Compliance for the dampers is emulated with software to produce the desired compliance forces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing a failure of an output shaft speed sensor of an automatic transmission is provided, which comprises: determining whether a current transmission is a forward driving range; determining whether a failure criterion exists based on a current gear, an input shaft speed, an output shaft speed, and an engine speed, if the current transmission is the forward driving range; and maintaining the current gear if a downshift criterion exists, or upshifting a gear if a upshift criterion exists, if the failure criterion exists.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area are provided. The occupant is characterized as one of an adult, child or other category. One characterization change parameter, such as a hysteresis time period or thresholds for characterization, is applied for a first time period. After that time period, the characterization change parameter is changed. For example, if the characterization stays the same for ten seconds, the hysteresis is changed from five to ten seconds. As another example, if the characterization stays the same for one minute, the thresholds associated with that characterization are broadened to decrease the likelihood of a change in characterization. In some systems and methods, a confidence parameter or probability associated with the characterization is used to control the changes of the characterization change parameter.

Abstract: In a multimedia information and control system for use in an automobile, at least one interface is employed which enables a user to access information concerning the automobile and control vehicle functions in an efficient manner. The user may select one of a plurality of displayed options on a screen of such an interface. Through audio, video and/or text media, the user is provided with information concerning the selected option and the vehicle function corresponding thereto. Having been so informed, the user may activate the selected option to control the corresponding vehicle function.

Abstract: A method of replicating a real-world vehicle rollover of a vehicle having wheels utilizing a vehicle testing apparatus having a support. The method includes positioning the vehicle on the support. Static properties of the vehicle are then determined. An initial set of forces and moments to be applied to the support are determined based upon at least the static properties. The support is actuated based upon the initial set of forces and moments to replicate the vehicle rollover. An actual response of the vehicle to the initial actuating of the vehicle testing apparatus is measured to determine dynamic properties of the vehicle. So long as all of the wheels remained on the support during the actuating of the vehicle testing apparatus, sets of forces and moments are continuously determined. The vehicle testing apparatus can be repeatedly actuated based upon the sets of forces and moments to further replicate the vehicle rollover.

Abstract: A method of facilitating delivery of traffic messages is disclosed. Data indicating a plurality of traffic conditions on a road network are obtained. For each of the traffic conditions, the data provides a location description. For each of the traffic conditions, the location description is converted into a location reference code assigned by a traffic message supplier. A plurality of traffic messages representing the traffic conditions is transmitted. Each of the traffic messages includes the location reference code of the traffic condition.

Abstract: An improved method for correlating between targets in an air traffic control system. A methods or systems according to the invention compare selected components of a first target report to the components of a second target report, produce a confidence level on each component comparison, and determine whether to declare the targets similar based on the confidence level on each component compared. The first and second target reports may include ADS-B target reports and TIS target reports. The individual components of the reports may be range, bearing, track angle, and relative altitude. The methods or systems may use a fuzzy logic probability model to produce a continuous confidence level on each component comparison.

Abstract: A computerized, Internet-based method and system for scheduling the servicing a set of items of equipment such as a fleet of motor vehicles each requiring the performance of service operations according to predetermined repair and maintenance schedules comprises compiling databases of information (1) relating to the items of equipment, the service operations (3) to be performed on them and service facilities (4) capable of performing the service operations, deriving by means of a searching and matching system (7) from the compiled information matches for an item, a required service operation and the availability of service facilities for performing the service operation; selecting from the matches a service facility capable of performing the service operation the item and scheduling by means of a notification system (9) the performance of the service operation on the item by the selected service operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a motor vehicle, in particular a traction-slip control system (TCS), wherein a diagonal axle twist is detected and evaluated as a regulating variable.

Abstract: A flight guidance system providing perspective flight guidance symbology using positioning and terrain information provides increased pilot situational awareness of the pilot's aircraft. The guidance system uses a positioning system and a detailed mapping system to provide a perspective display for use in an aircraft. A precision pathway flight guidance (PFG) symbology set is thereby displayed on a pilot display. The PFG symbology set includes broken line symbols representing an open tunnel and providing flow field data, a half-bracket symbol to indicate that the aircraft is no longer in the open tunnel represented by the broken line symbols and a quickened flight path vector (QFPV) symbol to provide the pilot with predictive flight path information. A flight director system and tunnel generator component provide for updating the displayed PDFG symbology set based upon current aircraft conditions (e.g., aircraft position) and stored flight path information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for routing and scheduling maintenance for aircraft. An aircraft routing and maintenance scheduling system generates an aircraft routing proposal based on information describing a possible flight of an aircraft and a maintenance scheduling proposal that corresponds to the aircraft based on information describing a possible maintenance schedule of the aircraft. The system determines a proposed flight assignment and proposed maintenance scheduling assignment based on the aircraft routing proposal and maintenance scheduling proposal. Thereafter, the system produces a flight assignment plan and maintenance scheduling plan using the proposed flight assignment and proposed maintenance scheduling assignment when the proposed flight assignment and proposed maintenance scheduling assignment meet a decision criterion describing requirements for aircraft routing and maintenance scheduling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for determining the position for a working part of a tool on a working machine with a position-determining apparatus (2, 4, 5, 6; 2, 4a, 4b, 5, 6?; 31, 33, 49, 50, 51, 1?,53). At least one detector equipment (4, 5, 6; 4a, 4b, 5, 6?; 31, 33; 49, 50, 51, 53) is placed at a defined place on the working machine (3; 52) in order to determine the position of this position in a fixed coordinate system. At least one positional relationship device (11) determines the positional relation of the working part in relation to the detector equipment in a machine-based coordinate system. A calculating device (20) calculates, with signals from the position-determining apparatus and the positional relationship device, the position of the working part in the fixed coordinate system.

Abstract: A method of route calculation in an vehicle navigation device is described, whereby a route from a starting location or a current location to a destination location is calculated, so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the route to an alternate destination location which has facilities for eliminating the deficiency is calculated instead of the original destination location. In addition, a method of navigation of a driver of a vehicle from a starting location to at least one destination location is also described, a trip route from the starting location or a current location to the at least one destination location being determined, and driving instructions being generated as a function of a current location so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the trip route to an alternate destination location which has the facilities for eliminating the deficiency is calculated.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a plurality of vehicle cockpit devices via a two-part process that utilizes device position constraints to determine candidate arrangements and then, ultimately, recommended arrangements of the vehicle cockpit devices to determine a desired setting of the various devices. The position constraints are determined using positioning data obtained from an occupant. An exploratory search routine is used to determine the candidate arrangements with the cockpit devices being moved to each candidate arrangement so that the occupant can be queried concerning the desirability of each such arrangement. The occupant's responses are then stored for later retrieval. Thereafter, a plurality of recommended arrangements of the cockpit devices are determined using a meta-heuristic pattern search along with a neural network search accelerator that permits screening of each recommended arrangement.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the attitude and momentum of a spacecraft while deploying an appendage from the spacecraft. The method comprises the steps of predicting an environmental torque the spacecraft will be subjected to during deployment of the appendage, computing a magnitude and a direction of momentum to add to the spacecraft to at least partially oppose the predicted environmental torque, and storing the computed magnitude and direction of momentum in at least one of the momentum wheels before deploying the appendage.

Abstract: Where raw location data representing a position of the one or more mobile units is available, vehicular traffic data representing a position of one or more vehicles can be generated based on the raw location for the one or more mobile units. Such generation of vehicular traffic data can include speed-based filtering and/or position-based filtering of the raw location data.

Abstract: When the drive guide is performed by acquiring the drive route information from the information center, a control unit of the navigation terminal receives the information of a partial drive route in the total drive route connecting the place of departure and the place of destination and starts the drive guide on the basis of the received information of partial drive route, even if the information of the total drive route connecting the place of departure and a place of destination is not received.