Abstract: Method and system for monitoring a movable asset including an operating part for maintaining an environment in an interior space of the asset conducive to transport of objects includes incorporating a diagnostic module into the asset for diagnosing the operating part, obtaining a diagnosis via the diagnostic module of the operating condition of the operating part, determining whether the diagnosis indicates an abnormal operating condition of the operating part, and when the determination of the diagnosis indicates an abnormal operating condition, transmitting a signal indicative of the abnormal operating condition in association with an identification of the asset to a remote facility. The operating part may be a refrigeration unit and the asset may be a cargo container, e.g., a reefer. In this case, determining whether the diagnosis indicates an abnormal operating condition of the operating part may entail determining whether refrigerant is leaking from the refrigeration unit.

Abstract: Method and system for tracking packages including readable indicia in a movable cargo container includes mounting at least one scanner to an interior surface of the container capable of reading the indicia on, in or associated with the packages, operatively reading the indicia from the packages, converting the read indicia into an identification of the packages, and transmitting the package identifications to a remote facility. Each scanner may be controlled to read the indicia at predetermined times, upon command from the remote facility or upon detection of an event which could result in a change in the contents of the container. A positioning system may be arranged on the container to determine its location and the location of the container transmitted with the package identifications. This provides an entity managing the delivery or transport of the packages with an efficient way to track its package in real-time.

Abstract: Pipeline including a system for monitoring fluid flowing through the pipeline includes a conduit defining an interior and at least one sensor assembly arranged in the interior. Each sensor assembly includes an energy generating system and at least one flow measuring device coupled to the energy generating system to be powered thereby. The flow measuring device provides information about flow of fluid in the conduit. The information may be transmitted to a remote monitoring location via a telematics or communications unit connected to each sensor assembly.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring a fluid storage tank which includes a housing defining an interior receivable of a removable fluid. An interior sensor system is arranged on the housing to obtain information about any fluid in the interior of the housing different than the location of the tank. A location determining system is arranged on the housing to monitor the location of the tank, and a communication system is coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system and which is arranged to transmit the information about the fluid in the interior of the housing and the location of the tank to one or more remote facilities. The communication system may be arranged on the housing itself, which is especially applicable when the housing is movable, for example, such as the housing of a Frac tank. The location and condition of the fluid in the tank can thus be known at all times.

Abstract: Accident avoidance system for a host vehicle includes a global positioning system residing on the host vehicle for determining the host vehicle's location as the host vehicle travels based on signals received from one or more satellites, a map database having digital maps corresponding to an area including the location of the host vehicle as determined by the global positioning system, a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system residing on the host vehicle operative for receiving signals including location information acquired by global positioning systems residing on other vehicles directly from the other vehicles indicating the locations of the other vehicles, and a navigation system including a display residing on the host vehicle for displaying images to an occupant of the host vehicle showing the digital maps and indications of the locations of the host vehicle and the other vehicles on the digital maps.

Abstract: Method and system for obtaining information about traffic-related devices providing variable information includes providing a vehicle with a map database including the location of the devices, determining the location of the vehicle, as the location of the vehicle is determined to be approaching the location of each device, as known in the database, obtaining an image of the device, and analyzing the image to determine the status of the device. The vehicle may be controlled based on the status of the device, which is optionally displayed to the driver or other occupant of the vehicle. For example, when the device is a stoplight, the method can detect if the driver of the vehicle is slowing the vehicle when the stoplight is red, and if not, automatically cause the vehicle the slow down or stop.

Abstract: Method and system for guiding a person to a location includes providing a processor, coupling an operator control such as a user interface to the processor to enable the person to enter a phone number which is provided to the processor, the processor being arranged to determine a physical location associated with the entered phone number, and guiding the person to the physical location associated with the entered phone number as determined by the processor. The method may be implemented in a vehicle context whereby the processor is arranged on a vehicle and the person is guided to the physical location by controlling a steering system, a throttle and/or brakes of the vehicle to automatically guide the vehicle to the physical location. Alternatively, the person may be guided to the physical location by providing audible and/or visual directions to the person operating the vehicle.

Abstract: Method for avoiding collisions between a host vehicle and other vehicles in which the position of the vehicles is determined, the vehicles are equipped with a transmitter/receiver, and in the host vehicle, the possibility of a collision involving the host vehicle is assessed by receiving signals from the transmitter/receivers of each other vehicle, analyzing the received signals to extract positional information about the transmitter/receivers from each signal, and when a received signal contains additional information of interest about a possible collision involving the host vehicle, analyzing the extracted positional information to determine whether any signals contain additional information of interest about a possible collision involving the host vehicle. Additional information is extracted only from such signals and analyzed to ascertain whether a collision between the host vehicle and any other vehicles is likely to occur in order to enable action to be taken to prevent the collision, e.g.

Abstract: Arrangement for a vehicle including a sensor system arranged on the vehicle for sensing an event requiring an emergency response, a location determining device for determining the location of the vehicle, a communication device arranged on the vehicle for automatically communicating to a remote location when an event has occurred that the event has occurred and providing the remote location with the determined location of the vehicle, and a power source for providing power for the sensor system, the location determining device and the communication device. The communication device communicates to the remote location upon occurrence of the event. The location determining device may be arranged partially or entirely on the vehicle or elsewhere. The remote location may be an emergency response center which can direct aid to the vehicle's location.

Abstract: Driving condition monitoring system for a vehicle on a roadway includes stationary mounting structures arranged proximate the roadway, and sensors located in the mounting structures in a vicinity of the roadway and apart from the roadway. The sensors generate information about the roadway or an environment around the roadway. An arrangement on the vehicle or associated with the sensors initiates a transmission of the information generated by each sensor to the vehicle when the vehicle is proximate the sensor.

Abstract: License plate for a vehicle includes a plate having an indicia and arranged to be mounted on the vehicle, and a transponder arranged in the plate. The transponder is arranged to receive a signal from an interrogator, modify the received signal and transmitted the modified signal to the interrogator. The transponder may be a SAW transponder, an RFID transponder and/or include a reflective or back scattering antenna, a polarization antenna, a rotating antenna, or a corner cube or dihedral reflector. An energy harvesting component can be arranged on the license plate or in the license plate for providing power to the transponder. The energy harvesting component generates energy during or from movement or vibration of the vehicle.

Abstract: Asset including an arrangement for monitoring inanimate objects in an interior thereof includes a sensor system arranged on each object in the asset and arranged to obtain data about the object, a location determining system arranged on the asset to monitor the location of the asset, and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the sensor system and the location determining system. The communication system transmits the data about each object obtained by the sensor system and the location of the asset provided by the location determining system to one or more remote facilities, these remote facilities being those interested in the information about the objects in the asset being monitored.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for determining inattentiveness of an operator of a vehicle includes determining the position of the vehicle, analyzing the determining position of the vehicle relative to a map, monitoring motion of the vehicle relative to the map to determine whether the vehicle is deviating from the map, and providing a warning when the monitored motion of the vehicle deviates from normal motion or operation of the vehicle. The position of the vehicle may be determined using a satellite-based positioning system and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The IMU may be a MEMS-packaged IMU integrated with the satellite-based positioning systems.

Abstract: Method for creating and managing a digital map for use by vehicles and including information relating to travel lanes on which the vehicles travel includes illuminating the environment outside of and around the vehicle with infrared illumination in an eye-safe part of the infrared spectrum as the vehicle is traveling on a travel lane to be mapped, forming, on the vehicle, at least one image from reflections from any objects in the path of the infrared illumination (such as by means of an image sensor), analyzing each image to obtain information about the object from which the infrared illumination has been reflected, and incorporating the information into the map if not already present therein. A driver of the vehicle may be alerted if the information obtained about an object in the environment outside of and around the vehicle indicates that a collision with the object is about to occur.

Abstract: System for preventing vehicle accidents at intersections includes a positioning system arranged in a vehicle for determining the absolute position thereof, a memory unit within the vehicle for storing data relating to edges of at least one lane of the roadway on which the vehicle may travel and the edges of at least one intersecting lane at an intersection, a receiver arranged in the vehicle for receiving position information about another vehicle in an intersecting lane, a processor coupled to the positioning system, the receiver and the memory unit for predicting a collision between the vehicles based on the position and optionally speed thereof and optionally map data, and a reactive component or system arranged in one or both vehicles and coupled to the processor. The component or system is arranged to initiate an action or change its operation if a collision is predicted.

Abstract: Method and system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel includes providing a vehicle travel management system which monitors the location of vehicles in a travel lane and the location of the travel lane, creating dedicated travel lanes for vehicles equipped with the vehicle travel management system, and managing travel of vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes to maximize travel speed of the vehicles and minimize collisions between the vehicles. The travel management may entail establishing and maintaining communications between the vehicles with the movement of the vehicles being coordinated to enable a minimal distance between adjacent vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes. Entry into the dedicated travel lanes is optimally restricted only to vehicles equipped with the vehicle travel management system.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing map information to an operator of a vehicle includes forming a map database to reside on the vehicle, e.g., after installation on the vehicle, and which includes for example, data about lanes that the vehicle can travel on locations of a boundary or edges of the travel lanes, data about traffic control devices in the database, data about guard rails along travel lanes and/or data about inanimate objects such as poles and trees alongside the travel lanes. The database is managed to ensure that it has current information about a travel lane on which the vehicle is currently situated. This may entail establishing wireless communications to the vehicle to enable data to be provided to the database, e.g., from other vehicles and/or from infrastructure.

Abstract: Method and system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel includes creating dedicated travel lanes for vehicle travel, determining the location of vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes, and providing instructions to the vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes to enable them to travel in a manner which maximizes speed. To determine the location of the vehicles, a vehicle travel management system may be arranged in each vehicle to determine the location of that vehicle, e.g., using a GPS-based positioning system or similar system, and which also optionally receives travel instructions which can be implemented by a vehicle control system to control the direction and speed of the vehicle. The vehicle control system can be designed to assume control of vehicle travel without requiring driving by an occupant of the vehicle and control vehicle travel based on the provided instructions.

Abstract: System for determining position of a vehicle includes an integral inertial measurement unit (IMU) including accelerometers and gyroscopes for providing raw data about movement of the vehicle and a correction unit coupled to the IMU and arranged to receive and/or derive positional corrections and the raw data from the IMU and generate accurate positional information about the vehicle based on the raw data and positional corrections. A navigation system is coupled to the correction unit and receives and acts upon the positional information of the vehicle provided by the correction unit. The IMU may be a MEMS-packaged IMU and integrated with the correction unit in combination with one another. A map database may be coupled to the navigation system which would receive information about a travel lane the vehicle is travelling on and could guide an operator of the vehicle based on the accurate positional information and travel lane information.

Abstract: Vehicular arrangement for obtaining information about objects exterior to the vehicle includes at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system arranged along an edge or a side of the vehicle, each combined system including an infrared illuminator for directing infrared illumination outward from the vehicle, an imager sensitive to infrared illumination and visible light, the imager being arranged to form images of an environment around the vehicle and thereby enable identification of objects in the images, a radar or laser radar system arranged to simultaneously determine a distance between the vehicle and objects identified in images obtained by the imager with the identification of the objects in the images. A reactive system is arranged on the vehicle to consider both the identification of the objects and their distance from the vehicle and react accordingly.