Abstract: A self-contained avionics sensing and flight control system is provided for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system includes sensors for sensing flight control parameters and surveillance parameters, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Flight control parameters and location signals are processed to generate flight control signals. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is configured to provide a look-up table storing sets of values with each set being associated with a servo mechanism mounted on the UAV and with each value in each set indicating a unique duty cycle for the servo mechanism associated therewith. Each value in each set is further indexed to a bit position indicative of a unique percentage of a maximum duty cycle for the servo mechanism associated therewith. The FPGA is further configured to provide a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) generators coupled to the look-up table. Each PWM generator is associated with and adapted to be coupled to one of the servo mechanisms.

Abstract: A method, a controller and a vehicle for performing agricultural operations on a field with parallel arranged rows having ends. The operations are performed at positions related to the positions of the rows under control of the controller, based upon stored information about the orientation of the rows, stored information about a distance between adjacent rows, a distance signal related to a distance traveled by the vehicle and a direction signal related to the heading of the vehicle. The invention is particularly suited for providing dams to prevent water from a head ditch to enter into pre-selected, dry furrows on a field with an irrigation arrangement with raised rows and lower furrows between the rows, or dams matching up with adjacent raised rows so that water runs down each furrow.

Abstract: A controller and methods for controlling the speed of a vehicle having an electric motorized drive is provided. In one embodiment, a method involves determining a steady state average torque and a torque during acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle traveling over an underlying surface. Speed of the vehicle is controlled based on the steady state average torque, the torque during acceleration or deceleration the measured regeneration current generated by a motorized drive arrangement of the vehicle that applies torque to at least one ground-contacting element of the vehicle for traveling over the underlying surface, weight of the vehicle and payload, the torque applied to the ground-contacting element, acceleration of the vehicle and the speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a configuration in which a control is performed for actuating the steering cylinder 17 so that the steering angle of the front wheel 11a (steering wheel), which is detected by the steering angle detector 62, becomes a target steering angle which is set in accordance with an operational state of the steering dial 42, the target steering angle of the front wheel 11a (steering wheel), which is set in accordance with an operational state of the steering dial 42, is compared with a detected steering angle of the front wheel 11a, which is detected by the steering detector 62, and when the difference between the target steering angle and the detected steering angle is a predetermined value or higher, the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 is regulated so that the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 becomes a predetermined speed or lower.

Abstract: Route guidance systems, methods, and programs detect a current position of a vehicle and search for a route to a destination on the basis of the vehicle position. The systems, methods, and programs set a guidance point at a predetermined distance before a target point on the searched route. If a guidance condition is met, the systems, methods, and programs provide route guidance about the target point when the vehicle reaches the guidance point, the guidance condition being met on the basis of the presence or absence of traffic lights at each of at least one intersection between the guidance point and the target point. If the guidance condition is met, the systems, methods, and programs output route guidance, the content of the route guidance being preset based on the guidance condition.

Abstract: A method and system for boosting a torque output of a drive train comprises an engine speed detector for detecting an engine speed of an engine having a baseline torque versus engine speed curve. A data processor determines if the detected engine speed is within a first range of engine speeds, if the detected engine speed is within the first range, the electric motor is activated to rotate substantially synchronously with the engine speed within the first range in an electric propulsion mode in accordance with a supplemental torque versus engine speed curve. The supplemental torque versus engine speed curve intercepts the baseline torque versus engine speed curve at a lower engine speed point and a higher engine speed point.

Abstract: A process of enabling and providing a service for improving haulage efficiency in a haulage system includes identifying a customer who may benefit from the service. Haulage vehicles of a fleet of haulage vehicles are equipped with a system for monitoring haulage parameters of the haulage vehicles. Equipment for gathering data on the monitored haulage parameters and for gathering information on haulage vehicle location along haul roads is provided. Target haulage parameters which result in desired haulage system performance are determined. The data is analyzed and deviations of actual haulage system performance from desired haulage system performance are determined.

Abstract: A system for managing a power source in a vehicle having an engine and an electric machine can set first and second discharge limits for the power source, where the second discharge limit is higher than the first discharge limit. A buffer value can be determined as a function of at least the second discharge limit and an engine-on power requirement. A driver demand for power can be determined, and the engine started when the engine is off and the driver demand for power exceeds the buffer value.

Abstract: A guidance route search device essentially having means for specifying a route point and means for selecting a guidance schedule. The route specifying means specifies plural route points guided up to a destination point. The selecting means functions to select a guidance schedule covering plural route points reachable by previously set time of arrival at a destination point and causing staying time at the plural route points to be the maximum within maximum staying time set in advance for the route points. This enables a guidance schedule for guiding through plural route points to be generated with consideration of staying time at each route point.

Abstract: In order to quickly update map data in region units without generation of contradiction to adjacent non-updated regions after the updating, under map data updating, time and date of updating of update region of a terminal is obtained with designation of a region as the update object used as a trigger, a mesh ID on the external boundary of the partial update region is obtained, and the differential updating data ID of the updated differential updating data is also obtained from the terminal. The partial updating data and differential updating data required for updating of the designated region of the terminal are selected from the information obtained above and these selected data are applied to the map data of terminal. When updating is conducted using the partial updating data and differential updating data, the time and date of updating of the relevant partial update region ID are changed and the differential updating data ID is registered to the differential management data.

Abstract: The adjustment method includes an estimation step in which valve characteristics of the linear solenoid valves fitted to the hydraulic control circuit are measured, and estimated linear valve characteristics of the linear solenoid valves in isolation state are estimated based on the measured valve characteristics using predetermined correlations; and a correction value output step in which estimated linear piston-end pressures of the hydraulically-driven friction engagement elements immediately before the hydraulically-driven friction engagement elements are engaged are calculated based on the estimated linear valve characteristics, and the correction values that are applied to the control command values to adjust the drive currents supplied from the valve control unit to the linear solenoid valves are calculated based on differences between the estimated linear piston-end pressures and nominal piston-end pressures, and then output.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential mechanism, and an electric motor which is operatively connected to the differential mechanism and an operating state of which is controlled to control a differential state between input and output shaft speeds, and a transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path between the differential portion and a vehicle drive wheel, the control apparatus including a differential-state switching portion for switching the differential portion between differential-state and non-differential states, a shifting control portion for controlling a shifting action of the transmission portion, and a learning control portion for effecting learning compensation of a control amount of a control element to be controlled during the shifting action, wherein the learning control portion includes a differential-state learning control portion operable to implement the learning compensation

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a run-time configuration change for domain data in a database for an information systems where the domain data defines entities which are acted upon by the information system and where the reconfiguration of the domain data can take place without taking the information system offline and making it inaccessible to users.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus basically has a clutch release detecting component, a time measuring component and a rotational speed synchronization control component. The clutch release detecting component detects when a clutch arranged between an engine and a manual transmission has been released to prevent rotation from being transferred from the engine to the manual transmission during shifting. The time measuring component measures an amount of time that elapses after the clutch is released. The rotational speed synchronization control component starts rotational speed synchronization control when the clutch is released and a prescribed delay time has elapsed since the clutch was released so that an engine rotational speed matches a predicted input rotational speed of the manual transmission being based on a vehicle speed and a gear position that is occurring after shifting is completed.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle motion control device capable of controlling the driving force distribution to the wheels with superior stability and response while effectively utilizing the tire grip.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling deployment of a safety device for a vehicle. The system may include a pre-impact collision assessment system, an impact detection system, and an inflatable safety device. The safety device may be partially inflated when a collision threat is detected based on a signal from the pre-impact collision assessment system. The inflatable device may be subsequently either more fully inflated or deflated.

Abstract: A method for constructing and revising road maps in a vehicle map database using vehicle location signals to provide traffic flow information for recognized vehicle patterns from past vehicle travel. The method includes identifying vehicle travel segments as a series of exemplar points from the location signals. Exemplar points in each travel segment are eliminated to define the travel segment by a beginning exemplar point and an ending exemplar point. A potential ending exemplar point may be redefined if an average location of the exemplar points from a line connecting the beginning point and the potential ending point is outside of a threshold distance. The travel segments are stored in a database, where each stored travel segment includes a travel time. The method compares new vehicle travel segments to the stored vehicle travel segments to identify a match, and then revise the vehicle travel time for the stored travel segments.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the estimation of health parameters p(k) representing symptoms of a slowly degrading system, in particular industrial gas turbines. According to the invention, an estimation of a true health or independent parameter vector at time step k uses the estimation of the true health or parameter vector at a previous time step k?1 as a starting value for the production of a predicted health parameter vector at time step k. Based on the latter and a set of measured values of input variables of an extended model of the system, a prediction of output variables of the model is produced. This predicted model output is compared with measured values of the output variables to yield an error. From this error, a health parameter estimator in turn produces a health parameter estimate as a revision of the predicted health parameters.

Abstract: There is provided a control system for a powertrain system including an electro-mechanical transmission that is selectively operative in a plurality of fixed gear modes and continuously variable modes. The control system is adapted to execute the following steps, comprising determining a range of permissible engine input speeds and a range of permissible engine input torques, and determining motor input torques for the first and second electrical machines based upon the range of permissible engine input speeds and the range of permissible engine input torques. A cost is determined for each of the motor input torques. A preferred engine input speed and a preferred engine input torque are identified based upon the costs for the motor input torques.

Abstract: When displaying map information including a place where a 2-dimensional code is set according to the information containing the 2-dimensional code, the map can be displayed in a direction facilitating a user to view the map. A mobile terminal includes 2-dimensional code read means for reading a 2-dimensional code set at a particular location and containing position information on the location where it is set and the azimuth information on the location with respect to the read reference direction of the 2-dimensional code. The mobile terminal further includes display means for displaying a map, rotation angle calculation means, and map rotation means. The 2-dimensional code read means outputs position information recorded in the 2-dimensional code and the 2-dimensional code read reference direction and azimuth information. The rotation angle calculation means calculates a rotation angle from the 2-dimensional code read reference direction and azimuth information.