Abstract: An automatic steering system having misoperation prevention is provided. The system includes a mode selecting switch operated by a driver having four switches for selecting any of four parking modes. If the driver pushes the switch for a desired parking mode, the switch is turned on or lit for 5 seconds. If the driver, having confirmed whether the selected parking mode is wrong or not, pushes an automatic parking start switch in the course of such period, automatic parking control is started. When the automatic parking start switch is not pushed while the switch is lit, or when the vehicle is moved by the driver to conduct the spontaneous parking, the switch is turned off to cancel the automatic parking control.

Abstract: The elimination of a steering angle detector from an automatic steering system including an electric motor used as an actuator is accomplished and the steering angle of a wheel is calculated based on the rotational angle of the electric motor. In the electric motor, if a terminal voltage is represented by u; a supplied current is j; a resistance is R; an inductance is L; a rotational angle is .alpha.; and a constant depending on characteristic of the electric motor is K, the terminal voltage u is represented by the following equations: ##EQU1## If this equation is solved with respect to the rotational angle .alpha. and the inductance L having a small value is omitted, the rotational angle .alpha. is given according to the following equation: ##EQU2## The rotational angle .alpha. of the electric motor and the steering angle of the wheel are in a proportional relationship to each other and hence, if the rotational angle .alpha.

Abstract: An automatic steering system for appropriately maintaining an operational amount of a brake pedal in carrying out automatic parking control, while allowing a vehicle to creep. Data for a steering angle of a wheel relative to a distance of movement of a vehicle is previously stored in a memory section in correspondence to four parking modes. If a desired parking mode is selected by a mode selecting switch and a driver permits the vehicle to creep, while depressing a brake pedal, a control section controls the operation of a steering actuator to carry out automatic parking.

Abstract: A new bicycle seat post shock absorber for dampening impacts and vibrations directed though the bicycle frame to a bicycle seat. The inventive device includes a cylindrical seat post plunger inserted into the hollow interior of a tubular sleeve member designed for insertion into the lumen of a tubular frame member of a bicycle. A spring member disposed around the seat post plunger functions as a biasing means biases the seat post plunger away from the sleeve member. A movement limiting shoulder included on the seat post plunger limits the amount of insertion of said seat post plunger into the sleeve member.