Abstract: A mobile mapping system is designed to generate a geometrically precise three-dimensional detailed model of an unknown indoor environment. There is no limit on the distance the mobile system may travel, nor on the type of details that can be mapped. The same design is used for environments ranging from simple office hallways to long winding underground mine tunnels. Surfaces and features can be mapped from images acquired by a unique configuration of different types of optical imaging sensors and positioning devices. This configuration ensures that all the information required to reconstruct the three-dimensional environment is included in the collected images. Provided a sufficient overlap between two-dimensional intensity images and combining such with three-dimensional range images, the method reconstructs an environment by adjusting a plurality of images simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of operating a control system for controlling the electrically-operated components of a motor vehicle in which a central processor and satellite processors for the components are connected with a multiplex single-conductor bus and master signals and control signals are transmitted bidirectionally between the processors along the bus. The central processor and the satellite processors can both operate as masters with respective characteristic addresses and the satellite or central processor upon receipt of a master signal and/or control signal can issue master or control signals with a priority determined by the bus access times of the respective signals.

Abstract: A safety system that will evacuate passengers on an airplane while in flight. The In-Flight Evacuation System operates while the airplane is still in flight. While in operation the In-Flight Evacuation System will systematically evacuate passengers from the airplane. During the process the seats will rotate 180 degrees to face the rear of the plane. The seats will move towards the rear of the plane due to a rotating device connected along the bottom of the seats. When evacuation is deemed necessary, the rear doors on the plane will opened. The seats will continue to be rotated until it reaches the evacuation doors. At that point the seats will disengage. The top portion of the seat complete with a survival kit will be released with the passengers as the bottom of the seat rotates into a open compartment beneath the passenger cabin. A parachute will be activated as the passengers leave the rear of the plane. The passengers will slowly ascend to earth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio navigation emulating GPS device. In one embodiment, the radio navigation emulating GPS device receives an identifier associated with a conventional radio navaid. The present radio navigation emulating GPS device then retrieves latitude and longitude information corresponding to the received conventional radio navaid from a database. A satellite based position information system generates position information for the aircraft on which the present radio navigation emulating GPS device is disposed. The present radio navigation emulating GPS device then generates navigation information for the aircraft using the retrieved latitude and longitude information and the satellite based position information for the aircraft. The present radio navigation emulating GPS device then presents the navigation information in a manner which emulates the presentation of navigation information generated by a conventional radio navigation device.

Abstract: The disclosed flight control system includes a rotor blade speed monitor for monitoring the rotor blade speed of the jet powered tri-mode aircraft and for outputting a rotor blade speed command. The flight control system also includes an aircraft attitude controller for controlling the aircraft attitude of the jet powered tri-mode aircraft. Weighted rotor blade attitude stabilization commands and weighted aero surface attitude stabilization commands are output from the aircraft attitude controller to distribute power, control, and lift between the rotor blade and the aero surfaces. Relative weights of the weighted rotor blade attitude stabilization commands decrease with increasing aircraft travelling velocities, and relative weights of the weighted aero surface attitude stabilization commands increase with increasing velocities.

Abstract: An system is provided for testing emergency lighting units using a receiver connected to the emergency lighting unit and a portable transmitter operable remotely with respect to the emergency lighting unit. The emergency lighting comprises a transfer relay for switching a battery between a primary power source and a lamp. A TEST button and the receiver each include a normally closed contact switch connected in series with each other, as well as with a primary power source input and transfer control circuitry. The transmitter generates encoded signals for wireless transmission to the receiver as long as a control switch on the transmitter is being activated by a user. The receiver receives and decodes the encoded signals and opens its normally closed relay as long as encoded signals are being received, causing the transfer control circuitry to activate the transfer relay to switch the battery from the primary power source to the lamp.

Abstract: A roadable helicopter according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a vehicle that drives like a conventional car in its road configuration, and converts to fly like a helicopter in its flight configuration. The operator of the helicopter only needs to press a button to initiate the conversion from one configuration to the other. To facilitate the flight configuration, the helicopter is preferably equipped with a dual, coaxial counterrotating rotor system to provide lift, propulsion, and control in the flight configuration. In the road configuration, however, the rotor system automatically folds into a rotor bay formed in the rear of the helicopter. The roadable helicopter may also include an automatic control/stability/navigation system that permits fully automatic flight.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking method and system using the cellular network infrastructure is disclosed. A cellular transceiver which is installed in a vehicle that requires tracking, operates on a continuous standby mode to remain constantly accessible to the cellular security provider. The cellular transceiver is turned to an active mode when tracking of the vehicle is initiated. The general location of the stolen vehicle can be determined by paging the cellular transceiver located in the stolen vehicle to identify one or more cell sites located near the stolen vehicle. The information is then relayed to a tracking vehicle which makes use of a radio direction finder to obtain an accurate bearing on the location of the stolen vehicle.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine for producing propulsive forces, an electric motor for selectively generating assistive drive forces in addition to the propulsive forces and generating electric energy converted from the propulsive forces, and an energy storage unit for selectively supplying electric energy to the electric motor and storing electric energy converted by the electric motor.

Abstract: A control system for monitoring and controlling the operation of a mobile material distribution apparatus including at least one boom having a plurality of distribution nozzles or distribution ports located along its length for distributing material is disclosed. The control system monitors various sections of the booms and provides the user with a graphical representation of the operating states of the nozzles/distribution ports in each monitored boom section. By taking into account the actual operating states of each of the sections of the monitored booms, the disclosed control system provides more accurate mapping of the materials distributed by the controlled apparatus. In addition, the disclosed control system considers the operating states of any fence row nozzles disposed on the monitored booms in determining the amount of material to be supplied to the monitored booms to achieve a desired distribution rate.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for a vehicle including an electronic control system, which processes input signals representative of the rotational behavior of the individual wheels, and wherein the differences of the tire tread circumferences of the individual wheels are determined by way of short-time and long-time correction factors. The long-time correction factors LZ.sub.n. are determined from the differences D.sub.R1 between the short-time correction factors KZ.sub.R1 and the long-time correction factors LZ.sub.R1 of the respective wheel by averaging LM.sub.r1 the differences during a predetermined time interval and by evaluating and weighting the average value. For the quick identification of an emergency wheel, every time the vehicle engine is started, the long-time factor LZ.sub.R1 is equalled once to the short-time factor KZ.sub.

Abstract: A combined flying machine comprises a fuselage (1) in the form of a central hick wing with a vertical open tunnel (2), in which there is mounted a lifting rotor (4). Said machine is also provided with outboard wings and a tail unit (8). The machine is equipped with a landing device on an air cushion (19) that surrounds an outlet from the tunnel. A power plant of said flying machine comprises two engine modules (13), disposed from two sides of the tunnel (2) and connected with the lifting rotor (4) and the propulsion propellers (12). The area of the tunnel cross-section in the plane of the lifting rotor rotation amounts to 0.3 to 0.8 of the area of the landing device air cushion, which ensures a safe landing of the flying machine on an unprepared landing site even with a failure of one of the engine modules.

Abstract: A nose assembly and method for controlling the rotation and stabilizing the orientation of a vehicle during landing maneuvers. The vehicle includes a nose assembly that is coupled to an airframe thereof and that has a frame and flap assembly. The flap assembly includes an actuating means and a flap coupled to the frame such that the actuating means moves the flap from and between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position in response to a guidance signal received from a flight control computer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flap assembly includes a plurality of flaps each coupled to the nose assembly frame and an actuating means that selectively positions the plurality of flaps in response to a signal.

Abstract: A space platform assembly designed to be attached to the outer surface of a space station structure for deployment of a tethered space platform into isolation orbit alongside the space station. The space platform is designed to carry payloads such as for research experimentation in the microgravity environment of space. The tether comprises a loose power/data umbilical for the deployed space platform while it orbits free of the vibration and g-jitter problems of the space station.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for proximate field orientation of an autonomous device and utilizes a transmitted wave having a first frequency of slow propagation, whereby reflections from obstacles within a proximate area are detected. According to the present invention receivers are arranged in a slanted plane or preferably along a curved base-line to, in a simple way, obtain a three-dimensional direction to an obstacle reflecting the frequency of slow propagation. Additionally, an absorber or a screen or a combination thereof is arranged above at least one receiver to act as an "eyebrow" attenuating undesired reflections which at the receiver come from overhead.

Abstract: An aircraft modal suppression system which recognizes that the frequency and phase of the body bending mode varies when the weight of the aircraft differs from the design gross weight. An active damper notch filter which is tabulated as a function of aircraft gross weight is utilized, thereby enabling not only the frequency, but also the width and depth of the notch filter to vary according to the gross weight of the aircraft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface of a body exposed to circumfluent fluid with elevations protruding from the base surface.In order to design the surface of a body exposed to circumfluent fluid with elevations protruding from the base service with an even more favorable flow, it is provided that when the surface is viewed from the top the elevations are bordered in each case by two boundary lines of which the one boundary line is longer and possesses a greater curvature than the other boundary line so that the cross-section area of an airfoil is produced.

Abstract: One embodiment of a mechanical emergency dual-release mechanism for use in combination with a helicopter external cargo hook system that includes a cargo hook assembly that is operative to jettison an externally-attached cargo includes an interface member for mounting the dual-release mechanism in rigid combination with the cargo hook assembly, a pulley axle mounted in rigid combination with the interface member, a cockpit pulley assembly mounted in rotatable combination with the pulley axle, a cabin pulley assembly mounted in rotatable combination with the pulley axle, and a displacement transfer member that operatively interconnects the cockpit pulley assembly and the cabin pulley assembly. The cabin pulley assembly is functionally interconnected to the cargo hook assembly and operative in response to a mechanical stimulus generated by means of the cockpit pulley assembly or the cabin pulley assembly to activate the cargo hook assembly to jettison the externally-attached cargo.

Abstract: A reduced amplitude corrugated web spar for use in airplane wings and the like is disclosed. The amplitude of the corrugation is determined based upon general stability requirements of the spar, and the fasteners are offset from the center line of the web corrugations. The resulting spar is easier to manufacture and still provides the structural integrity required of the wings.

Abstract: A cover and method for applying the cover unto the wing comprising a flexible material to cover the top surface of said wing, said material having a leading edge to cover the leading edge of said wing and a trailing edge to cover trailing edge of said wing; a first set of spaced apart attachment straps each said first attachment strap extending from said trailing edge of said cover under said wing for quick release attachment to said leading edge of said cover, so as to attach and quickly release said cover to said wing; a second set of spaced apart removal straps, each said straps extending from said leading edge of said cover over said wing for quick release attachment to said trailing edge of said cover so as to remove said cover from said leading edge to said trailing edge of said wing by pulling said removal straps.