Abstract: An adaptive vehicle is described that analyzes the dynamic behavior of the vehicle operator based on an operator condition (such as the headway maintained by the operator), a vehicle condition (such as vehicle speed) and environmental conditions (such as precipitation rate and tracking distance maintained by a trailing vehicle) to automatically adapt the vehicle (such as adjusting the transmission shift point schedule) to the driving mood, style or expectations of the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A hydraulic flow control valve is disclosed having a secondary orifice that is connected downstream and in series with one of two parallel main orifices and has a flow area that is varied by the pressure gradient across the valve so as to reduce the sensitivity of the flow through the valve to pressure gradient variations thereacross.

Abstract: A slip sensing mechanism for a multilink or articulated belt drive includes a flexible arm on which is disposed a roller maintained in abutment with the belt. The flexible arm has formed integrally therewith or otherwise secured thereto a strain gauge which will provide a measurement proportional to the deflection of the arm. This deflection is indicative of the radius at which the belt is operating relative to a pulley. The roller in abutting the individual link members of the belt causes an oscillating or AC component which is measured by the strain gauge. This AC component is proportional to the speed at which the belt passes thereunder. It is possible by knowing the rotary speed of the pulley and the radius by which the belt is operating to calculate the slip speed, if any, of the belt relative to the pulley by obtaining the difference between the product of pulley speed and belt radius and the product of link width and frequency.