Abstract: A vehicle computer system configured to communicate with a mobile device, comprising a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile device. The vehicle computer system also includes a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to receive information from one or more vehicle sensors regarding vehicle usage, send the information to an off-board server via the wireless transceiver, wherein the information is utilized in a damages-model regarding the vehicle, and output the information concerning the damages-model to a user display.

Abstract: A method is described for ascertaining a group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units during the travel of a vehicle. The method includes a step of recognizing at least one first illumination unit and at least one second illumination unit in a detection range of a sensor and recognizing a subsequent departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor. The method also includes a step of detecting a distance and/or a time which the vehicle travels after a departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor up to a departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor.

Abstract: A method of minimizing ice buildup on a windshield of a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) monitoring a state of the vehicle; (b) determining a state of the windshield wiper; (c) determining an ambient temperature of the vehicle; and (d) initiating a timer when the state of the vehicle changes from an on state if the ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature and the state of the windshield wiper prior to the vehicle changing to the off state is an on state, and turning the windshield wiper to the on state after a period of time. The windshield wiper may remain on at least through a full cycle from a park zone, to a fully extended position, and back to the park zone. The wiper may remain on for a predetermined period of time determined based upon the ambient temperature or other condition.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle communication system and a method carried out by the system to determine at a remotely-located vehicle a performance criteria of a communication network connection in the vehicle. Steps of the method include: monitoring the vehicle's communication network connection for at least one of a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters are associated with the performance criteria of the network connection; correlating a performance status test indicative of the performance criteria of the network connection with at least one of the plurality of parameters; and determining the performance criteria of the network connection based on the correlation.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a detection and avoidance apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) and systems, devices, and techniques pertaining to automated object detection and avoidance during UAV flight. The system may detect objects within the UAV's airspace through acoustic, visual, infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral, or object detectable signal emitted or reflected from an object. The system may identify the source of the object detectable signal by comparing features of the received signal with known sources signals in a database. The features may be, for example, a light arrangement or number of lights associated with the object. Furthermore, a trajectory envelope for the object may be determined based on characteristic performance parameters for the object such as cursing speed, maneuverability, etc. The UAV may determine an optimized flight plan based on the trajectory envelopes of detected objects within the UAV's airspace to avoid the detected objects.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for position acquisition and/or monitoring are disclosed. The position acquisition and/or monitoring can be performed with improved intelligence so that data acquisition, transmission and/or processing is reduced. As a result, the position acquisition and/or monitoring is able to be performed in a power efficient manner.

Abstract: A technique for simplifying the structure of an idling stop device. The idling stop device 100 includes a deceleration detector 200 which detects decelerations of a vehicle. The idling stop device 100 also includes an estimation part 350 which acquires, based on the deceleration detected by the deceleration detector 200, first deceleration when a vehicle is decelerated to a preset speed of less. Based on the acquired first deceleration, the estimation part 350 estimates a first brake pressure applied to the vehicle when the vehicle is decelerated to the preset speed or less.

Abstract: An aircraft navigation system and navigation method. The system comprises a civil-certified GPS-receiver for determining first position information based on C/A-GPS-signals, and a military-type GPS-receiver for determining a second position information based on P(Y)-GPS-signals. A monitoring unit detects a first abnormal condition during jamming conditions within the C/A-GPS-signals. The unit compares the first position information with the second position information and detects a second abnormal condition when a difference between these position information is larger than a threshold value for more than a threshold duration. Upon detecting an abnormal condition, an alert procedure is initiated. In remotely piloted aircraft, Command & Control link-loss is also monitored and during link-loss, a transponder code automatically indicates communication failure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an operating state for an aircraft are provided. In one example, a method can include accessing, by one or more computing devices located on an aircraft, a database of precomputed operating parameters associated with aircraft trim determined in a priori process. The method can further include receiving a real time measurement of one or more dyanamic parameters associated with the aircraft. An aircraft trim parameter can be determined from the precomputed operating parameters independent of the real time measurements. The method can further include determining an enhanced operating state for the aircraft based at least in part on the aircraft trim parameter and the real time measurement of the one or more dynamic operating parameters.

Abstract: A method for classifying surroundings of a motor vehicle includes: providing a hypothesis regarding the class to which the surroundings belong; sampling pieces of information from the surroundings of the motor vehicle; determining a criterion which supports or weakens the hypothesis based on the sampled pieces of information; and determining a probability of the hypothesis being correct, using the criterion with the aid of Bayesian filtering.

Abstract: A method and system utilizing one or more agricultural drones in combination with agricultural equipment, e.g., an agricultural boom sprayer, to evaluate the crops being farmed, and to improve the real-time delivery and dispensing of liquid from the sprayer including monitoring and verifying that the liquid is being dispensed correctly and/or in accordance with a desired distribution pattern or level.

Abstract: On-Board Diagnostics (OBDs) produced by a vehicle are monitored in real time. The OBDs are evaluated in view of rules or policies to take actions with respect selective component lockdown of resources for a mobile device that is operational within the vehicle. For example, the display screen of the mobile device is blacked out and locked out when the OBDs indicate the vehicle is moving.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller that is programmed to, in response to an accelerator lift-pedal event, generate a drag torque, with at least one of an engine and electric machine, having a magnitude that is based on a deceleration fuel shut-off torque of the engine and a desired power output of the electric machine, and limit the drag torque to a threshold value that is based on the deceleration fuel shut-off torque.

Abstract: An apparatus for a remote parking includes: an user input unit to receive a user input for instructing a parking of a vehicle remotely; a distance detection unit to detect a separation distance to a side vehicle located around the vehicle; a parking operation unit to accomplish an automatic parking of the vehicle; and a controller to control the parking operation unit so that a separation distance to a passenger seat side vehicle located in the side of passenger seat of the vehicle is adjusted to a preset reference distance based on the detected separation distance, when receiving the user input through the user input unit.

Abstract: An electric-vehicle power management system including a processing hardware unit and multiple modules executable by the processing hardware unit. The modules include a calendar module configured to, by way of the processing hardware unit, obtain a user itinerary indicating multiple appointment locations to be visited by a user of an electric vehicle and associated times to visit the appointment locations. The modules also include a routing module configured to, by way of the processing hardware unit, determine optional routes connecting the appointment locations indicated by the itinerary, and a vehicle-energy module configured to, by way of the processing hardware unit, predict states of charge, or changes in state of charge, for the vehicle in connection with the optional routes, yielding state-of-charge predictions. The routing module determines selected routing based on the state-of-charge predictions from the vehicle-energy module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crane, having a jib rotatable about an upright axis, at which jib a trolley is movably arranged, from which trolley a hoist rope connected to a load hook runs off, as well as a load hook position determining device for determining the position of the load hook. The load hook position may be determined optically by means of one camera only, which camera is mounted on the trolley of the crane and views from the trolley in a predetermined and thus known viewing direction downwards onto the load hook. In doing so, the position of the load hook in the camera image is determined by an image evaluator. To simplify detection of the load hook in the camera image, the image evaluator may include rope run determining means for determining the rope run of the hoist rope running off from the trolley.

Abstract: A zero fuel time is determined and presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Zero fuel time may be determined based on a fuel burn rate and an amount of remaining fuel. A return to base time is determined and presented to an operator of a UAV. Return to base time may be determined based on a location of the UAV and a location of a base. Zero fuel time and return to base time are presented to an operator of a UAV proximate to one another using contrasting and/or varying visual characteristics to ease comparison and identification of this data.

Abstract: A computing system includes: a control circuit configured to: determine environment measurements representing conditions measured about a building structure located at a geographic location; generate a map based on the environment measurements for mapping a tier of the building structure along a vertical direction; and a storage circuit, coupled to the control circuit, configured to store the map for representing the building structure.

Abstract: Hybrid-electric and pure electric vehicles include a traction battery. During vehicle operation, impedance parameters of the traction battery may be estimated. To ensure accurate estimation results, certain persistent excitation criteria may be met. These conditions may not always be met, in which case active excitation of the traction battery power demand may be initiated. During periods of generally constant battery power demand in which a predetermined range of frequency component amplitudes of battery power demand is less than a predetermined magnitude, active excitation may be desired. A controller may cause at least one of the frequency component amplitudes to exceed the predetermined magnitude without affecting acceleration of the vehicle. Battery power demand may be affected by operation of an electric machine and an electrical load. An engine and a wheel brake may be operated to offset changes in battery power demand such that driver wheel output power is not affected.

Abstract: A work machine to cut timber including a control system, a felling head, a hydraulic motor configured to adjust the position of the felling head, and a spool valve operatively connected to the hydraulic motor, the spool valve being configured to move the felling head responsively through operation of the hydraulic motor. A machine controller coupled to the operator controller and the spool valve executes stored program instructions to generate a first control signal responsive to an operator control signal provided by the operator controller, generate a second control signal as a function of the generated first control signal, adjust a position of the spool of the spool valve in response to a concurrent receipt of the first control signal and the second control signal by the first proportional control valve and the second proportional control valve to move the felling head through operation of the hydraulic motor.