Abstract: A method for monitoring fuel freshness in a vehicle includes the steps of determining a measure of time that the fuel has been in the vehicle and initiating a remedy if the measure of time is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An operations support system for an engine includes an engine prediction unit configured to receive an engine rating condition and scalars associated with the engine, and to generate condition indicators based on the engine rating condition and the scalars; and a power assurance algorithm unit coupled to the engine prediction unit and configured to generate health indicators based on the condition indicators. The health indicators include a power assurance number.

Abstract: Flapper valve assemblies are provided. One flapper valve assembly includes a flowbody, a flapper valve element, and an elongated stiffening rib formed in the flowbody. The flowbody includes a generally flat plate portion, and an arcuate portion adjacent the generally flat plate portion. The flapper valve element is hingedly coupled to the flowbody proximate the generally flat plate portion. The elongated stiffening rib extends from the generally flat plate portion to the arcuate portion to distribute mechanical stress and to reduce deflection of the flowbody during pressure loading.

Abstract: A flow equalizing override assembly is provided for use in conjunction with a gas turbine engine (GTE) and a fuel divider system. In one embodiment, the flow equalizing override assembly includes a housing assembly, a fuel divider (FD) valve, a remotely-actuatable valve, and a controller. The FD valve includes: (i) a piston slidably disposed within the housing assembly and movable between a default position and a flow equalizing position, and (ii) a control chamber defined by the piston and the housing assembly. The remotely-actuatable valve is fluidly coupled to the control chamber and is configured to selectively adjust the fuel pressure therein. The controller is configured to command the remotely-actuatable valve to adjust the pressure within the control chamber such that the piston moves from the default position to the flow equalizing position after ignition of the GTE.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an inverter coupled to an electric motor are provided. The inverter has a plurality of high switches and a plurality of low switches coupled to the electric motor. An event indicative of deceleration of the electric motor is detected. The inverter is alternated between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation during the deceleration of the electric motor. In the first mode of operation, each of the plurality of high switches is activated and each of the plurality of low switches is deactivated. In the second mode of operation, each of the plurality of low switches is activated and each of the plurality of high switches is deactivated.

Abstract: Automatically and repeatedly crawling multiple multimedia websites to identify and collect information about the multimedia content that is available for delivery over the Internet to a client device for playback on a media player operating on the client device. In one embodiment, the method normalizes the collected information by converting the different formats of the collected information into a common format and converting the different nomenclatures of the collected information into a common nomenclature. The method updates an index with the normalized information, and sends a data feed to the client device to populate the user interface on the client device with the normalized information of the index. The user interface allows the user to navigate and select the multimedia content that is available for delivery over the Internet for playback on the media player.

Abstract: The present application describes a quick-change fastening system for demountably mounting an element to a fastening structure. The element comprises an engagement element that is designed to engage a bearing element of the fastening structure, wherein the element is hingeably held around the bearing element between a hooked-in position and a fastened position. The element further comprises a fastening element that can be affixed to a locking element of the fastening structure when the element is in its fastened position. The engagement element and the bearing element are designed such that along a hingeing movement of the element a form-fit connection is established when the element is in its hooked-in position, and that a force-fit connection is established when the element is in its fastened position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recognizing a location of a target are provided. One system includes a camera configured to generate first data representing an object resembling the target, a memory storing second data representing a template of the target, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive the first data and the second data, and determine that the object is the target if the object matches the template within a predetermined percentage error. A method includes receiving first data representing an object resembling the target, receiving second data representing a template of the target, and determining that the object is the target if the object matches the template within a predetermined percentage error. Also provided are computer-readable mediums including processor instructions for executing the above method.

Abstract: A trim cover arrangement is provided for attachment to a motor vehicle body with a first and second trim cover profile that each can be connected with the body, and are adjacent to each other on the body in the assembly position. At least one of the profiles facing the other profile comprises pointed and/or sharp-edge bounded visible surface that is outwardly visible in the assembly position, which is formed by an at least regionally overlapping arrangement of the first and second profile.

Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a relatively simple health monitoring circuit. The proximity sensor includes a variable gain oscillator, a feedback circuit, and a proximity determination circuit. The variable gain oscillator has a gain that varies with the proximity of a target to a sensor coil, generates an oscillating electrical signal having a substantially constant amplitude magnitude, and generates an energy signal representative of the electrical energy needed to sustain oscillations. The feedback circuit supplies feedback to the oscillator, and the proximity determination circuit, based on the energy signal, supplies a proximity signal representative of target proximity to the sensor coil. The health monitor circuit also receives the oscillating electrical signal and supplies a health status signal representative of proximity sensor health.

Abstract: A car body is provided for a motor vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a structural unit including a rear frame structure with a rear axle and mountings for a fuel tank or an electric accumulator. The structural unit is fixed on a bottom plate of the car body. A correspondingly designed rear frame structure makes it possible to selectively equip the motor vehicle for drives with an internal combustion or purely electric drives or hybrid drives.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing a jump-start without the use of external equipment. The apparatus comprises a first battery electrically coupled to a starter motor for an engine, the first battery providing power to start the engine; a second battery; a power converter electrically coupled to the first battery and electrically coupled to the second battery; and a controller communicatively coupled to the power converter. The controller may be configured to determine a low battery condition of the first battery such that the first battery has insufficient power to start the engine, and when the low battery condition occurs, to direct the power converter to supply power from the second battery to the first battery to thereby allow the engine to be started.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a state of charge of a battery exhibiting a transient response are provided. At least one property of the battery is measured. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the at least one measured property and a transient response of the battery.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the start-up of a gas turbine engine having an exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensor. A determination is made as to whether the EGT sensor is available or unavailable. The gas turbine engine is commanded to accelerate at a nominal acceleration rate during the start-up operation if the EGT sensor is available, and to accelerate at an off-nominal acceleration rate during the start-up operation if the EGT sensor is unavailable. The off-nominal acceleration rate is lower than the nominal acceleration rate.

Abstract: A system and method of conveying missed approach procedures to a pilot are provided. The system and method include rendering a graphic representation of at least one leg of the missed approach procedure on a display. A determination is made as to whether the aircraft is at least substantially flying the at least one leg of the missed approach procedure. At least one visual characteristic of the rendered graphic is selectively varied based on the determination of whether the aircraft is at least substantially flying the at least one leg of the missed approach procedure.

Abstract: A pneumatic actuator is provided for an active hood and includes, but is not limited to a cylinder and a piston, which is movable in the cylinder between a lower terminal position, in which the volume of a chamber delimited by piston and cylinder, which may be impinged using compressed gas, is minimal, and an upper terminal position, in which the volume of the chamber is maximal. The piston is lockable in the lower terminal position by a detent body engaging in first recesses of the cylinder and the piston. A slider is displaceable by impingement using the compressed gas out of an idle position, in which it fixes the detent body in the first recesses, into a triggering position, in which a second recess of the slider overlaps with one of the first recesses and is capable, together with a single one of the first recesses of accommodating the detent body.

Abstract: A self-contained momentum control system (MCS) for a spacecraft is provided for small satellites. The MCS features a miniaturized gyroscopic rotor with a rotational speed in excess of 20,000 RPM. The MCS includes at least three control moment gyroscopic mechanical assemblies (CMAs) rigidly mounted within a single enclosure, where each CMA mounted in an orientation whereby the longitudinal axis of each CMA is either orthogonal to every other CMA or is parallel to another CMA but in the opposite orientation. In order to further reduce the size of the MCS, an electronics package that is configured to interface command and control signals with and to provide power to the CMAs is included within the MCS enclosure. A plurality of shock isolation devices are used to secure each of the CMAs to the enclosure in order to reduce the launch load upon the CMAs thereby allowing the use of smaller rotor spin bearings. The MCS enclosure surrounding the CMAs and support structure is hermetically sealed.

Abstract: A method of displaying information on a display element is provided. The display element may be deployed in a vehicle such as an aircraft. The method obtains range data for objects located in a sensing region at a sampling time, and obtains image data corresponding to an image of the sensing region at the sampling time. The method continues by deriving first graphics content from the range data, and by deriving second graphics content from the image data. The first graphics content is correlated with the second graphics content such that they are spatially and temporally aligned with one another. Then, the correlated graphics content is rendered on the display element.

Abstract: A system is provided that combines an oxygen enrichment device (OBOGS) for generating oxygen-enriched air with a fuel cell system that includes, but is not limited to a fuel cell for using the oxygen-enriched air as a reaction gas within the fuel cell, as a result of which the output of the fuel cell is improved while the size and weight of the fuel cell remain the same.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods and apparatus for performing cruise control in a motor vehicle. Signals are received (e.g., by a positioning system interface) from at least one external infrastructure component, and a geographical location of the motor vehicle is determined (e.g., by a processing and control subsystem) based on the signals. A determination is made whether a difference between a target speed and an actual vehicle speed exceeds a threshold and, when the difference exceeds the threshold, a cruise control procedure is performed to maintain a target speed of the motor vehicle. Performing the cruise control procedure includes determining, based on the geographical location, whether the motor vehicle should adjust its speed toward the target speed.