Abstract: An information providing method and apparatus in which a radio wave signal is transmitted from plural artificial satellites and received at plural receiving equipment located within a pre-defined service area, and receiving within a pre-defined range of operational elevation angle by a receiving antenna. The plural artificial satellites are viewable in turn within a pre-defined range of operational elevation angle at an arbitrary location within the pre-defined service area, and an orbit is arranged so that at least one artificial satellite is viewable. Each orbit of the plural artificial satellites is arranged on an individual orbital plane according to a designated service hour. The individual orbit is located in a range where an orbital inclination angle is 63.4 degrees or closer to Japan, and a right ascension of a north-bound node of the individual artificial satellite is separated approximately at regular intervals.

Abstract: A communication system having a plurality of artificial satellites each having a communication unit traveling on elliptical orbits with an orbital period of 24 hours. Arguments of perigee are set to values with a predetermined allowance in a setting process of the plurality of artificial satellites.

Abstract: A transmission or communication system, wherein plural individual elliptical orbits are so defined that an individual right ascension of a north-bound node is established with a designated angle. An artificial satellite is travels on a respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbit and a group of artificial satellites arranged on respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbits are used so that at least one of the artificial satellites having a communication system is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angle in a zenith direction from a service area. The group of artificial satellites are on respective orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of the individual elliptical orbit so that a right ascension of north-bound node is a designated angle and a time period during which respective ones of the group of artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical.

Abstract: A method for collecting and processing information from a vehicle is disclosed. The information is useful for providing a loss-insurance coverage. The method includes the following steps: (a) Information is automatically transmitted from the vehicle to a central vehicle-information management center, the information including information regarding a position of the vehicle, information regarding control of the vehicle, information regarding states of parts of the vehicle, a type of the vehicle, and identification of a user of the vehicle. (b) The central vehicle-information management center computes a utilization service fee based on the type of the vehicle and the identification of the user transmitted in step (a). (c) The central vehicle-information management center transmits the computed fee and a request for confirmation to the vehicle. (d) The vehicle transmits a response to the central vehicle-information management center as to whether the user will effect insurance coverage.

Abstract: A communication terminal for communicating through an artificial satellite, wherein the artificial satellite is placed into an orbit in which an individual satellite orbits on an elliptical orbit so that at least one of the artificial satellites is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angle in a zenith direction from a service area. A group of the artificial satellites are satellites on respective orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of said elliptical orbit so that a time period during which an artificial satellite is viewable from ground is substantially identical and the communication terminal has a transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving a signal through the group of artificial satellites.

Abstract: A method o gathering and analyzing vehicle information is disclosed. A central vehicle-information management center gathers first vehicle information gathered in real time, including position of the vehicle, control of vehicle, and conditions of vehicle parts, and gathers second vehicle information including vehicle type, vehicle identification number, and information regarding users of the vehicles. The central vehicle information management center performs a statistical analysis for the plurality of vehicles based on the first and second information. The first information is transmitted by a transmitter provided on each vehicle, and acquired via a satellite communication system and/or a land-based wireless communication system.

Abstract: A communication line not affected by artificial structures and plants is established between mobile objects and stationary stations surrounded with skyscrapers, and economical artificial satellite service capable of efficiently performing satellite broadcast, mobile satellite communication, satellite-to-satellite communication and earth surveillance is provided using the communication line and by constructing the system with a small number of satellites. Six orbital elements 7-12 of a plurality of artificial satellites at reference time 5 are determined, and a plurality of elliptical orbits corresponding to the determined six orbital elements are combined, and then each of the satellites is appropriately arranged on each of the orbits to form a group of artificial satellites. Satellite communication or satellite broadcast is performed using the group of artificial satellites.

Abstract: A broadcasting or transmitting system using an artificial satellite. The artificial satellite is placed into an orbit in which individual artificial satellites orbit on an elliptical orbit so that at least one of the artificial satellites is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angles in a zenith direction from a service area. A group of the artificial satellites are satellites on respective different orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of said elliptical orbit so that a time period during which one artificial satellite of the group of the artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical to a time period during which another artificial satellite of the group is viewable from the ground.

Abstract: A central vehicle-information management center gathers individual pieces of information on the state of a vehicle on a real-time manner by: acquiring and gathering pieces of information on the position of the vehicle from a reflection signal reflected by an artificial satellite as a result of reflection of a position signal transmitted by an antenna provided on the vehicle to the artificial satellite; and acquiring and gathering a signal reflected by the artificial satellite as a result of reflection of a signal used for representing information on control of the vehicle or information on conditions of vehicle parts and transmitted from the antenna to the artificial satellite or transmitted by the vehicle through a wireless-communication apparatus such as a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) device or a cellular phone.

Abstract: A communication line not affected by artificial structures and plants is established between mobile objects and stationary stations surrounded with skyscrapers, and economical artificial satellite service capable of efficiently performing satellite broadcast, mobile satellite communication, satellite-to-satellite communication and earth surveillance is provided using the communication line and by constructing the system with a small number of satellites.

Abstract: A broadcasting or transmitting system using an artificial satellite. The artificial satellite is placed into an orbit in which individual artificial satellites orbit on an elliptical orbit so that at least one of the artificial satellites is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angles in a zenith direction from a service area. A group of the artificial satellites are satellites on respective different orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of said elliptical orbit so that a time period during which one artificial satellite of the group of the artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical to a time period during which another artificial satellite of the group is viewable from the ground.

Abstract: A transmission or communication system, wherein plural individual elliptical orbits are so defined that an individual right ascension of a north-bound node is established with a designated angle. An artificial satellite is travels on a respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbit and a group of artificial satellites arranged on respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbits are used so that at least one of the artificial satellites having a communication system is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angle in a zenith direction from a service area. The group of artificial satellites are on respective orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of the individual elliptical orbit so that a right ascension of north-bound node is a designated angle and a time period during which respective ones of the group of artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical.

Abstract: An information providing method and apparatus for providing information to a moving body via an artificial satellite. Information for selecting a desired information and position information of the moving body is transmitted, from the moving body. Information is provided to the moving body from the artificial satellite depending upon the position information of the moving body and the desired information, on the basis of information from the moving body.

Abstract: A system and method for a group of artificial satellites. The artificial satellite is placed into an orbit in which an individual satellite orbits on an elliptical orbit so that at least one of the artificial satellites is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angle in a zenith direction from a service area. The group of the artificial satellites are satellites on respective different orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of the elliptical orbit so that a time period during which one artificial satellite of the group of artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical to a time period during which another artificial satellite of the group of the artificial satellites is viewable from ground.

Abstract: An information providing method and apparatus for providing information to a moving body via an artificial satellite. Information for selecting a desired information and position information of the moving body is transmitted, from the moving body. Information is provided to the moving body from the artificial satellite depending upon the position information of the moving body and the desired information, on the basis of information from the moving body.

Abstract: In order to establish the communication lines among the movable bodies and/or fixed stations and to configure communication system with a small number of satellites, present method has the steps of determining six orbit-related parameters by using a input conditions including a geographical condition of the service area, a desired service time and the tolerance of an ascending vertical angle within which the satellite can be viewed from the service area, and establishing the satellite communication with one or more satellites, an individual satellite being arranged on the orbits selected and combined among plural elliptical orbits corresponding to the determined six orbit-related parameters on which the satellites stay for a sufficiently long time that they may come successfully into sight in the zenith direction.

Abstract: A communication system, wherein plural elliptical orbits in which an apogee is located on a specified service area are so defined that an individual right ascension of north-bound node may be established with a designated angle. A satellite is made to travel on an individual elliptical orbit and a group of satellites to be arranged on said elliptical orbits are used so that at least one of artificial satellites having a communication system may be always viewable within a pre-defined range of ascending vertical angle in a zenith direction from the service area.

Abstract: An automatic nuclear fuel assembly replacing apparatus has a bridge and a trolley movable in X and Y axis directions, respectively. Mounted on the trolley is a nuclear fuel grapple movable in a Z axis direction and rotatable about the Z axis. A television camera mounting unit is also mounted on the trolley and movable in the Z axis direction. A control system of the apparatus moves the bridge and the trolley so that the center of an underwater television camera supported by the camera mounting unit is centered to a desired target position. Then, calculations are performed on the deviations of the position of the thus positioned camera and a target fuel assembly in the X and Y axis directions and about the Z axis, respectively. The thus calculated results are corrected by a deviation between the fuel grapple and the camera, whereby the position of the fuel grapple is finally controlled to be in alignment with the position of the target fuel assembly in the X and Y axis directions and about the Z axis.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel identification code reader has an optical sensor for detecting a nuclear fuel identification code marked on a fuel assembly and an ultrasonic wave sensor for detecting the nuclear fuel identification code. It further has first means for recognizing the nuclear fuel identification code based on information derived from the optical sensor and second means for recognizing the nuclear fuel identification code based on information derived from the ultrasonic wave sensor. When the nuclear fuel identification code cannot be recognized by the first means, the detection by the ultrasonic wave sensor and the recognition of the nuclear fuel identification code by the second means are effected. The nuclear fuel identification code can be recognized in a short time with a high accuracy.

Abstract: In a traveling inspection robot system, two carriages are each provided with one pair of guide rollers for guiding the travel in the vertical direction and two pairs of side rollers for guiding the travel in the horizontal direction. The two pairs of side rollers are arranged such that one pair locates on each of the front and rear sides of the pair of guide rollers as viewed in the direction of advance. The two carriages are interconnected by a coupling plate through parallel steering shafts, and a sprocket and a motor for driving the sprocket are provided as travel driving device on one carriage for giving a traction force to a transversely central portion of the upper inner surface of the monorail. An antenna and a current collector are provided on the other carriage. A control circuit unit and a span and tilt mechanism are attached to the coupling plate with a sensor unit mounted to the span and tilt mechanism.