Abstract: A rail vehicle combination has a first motor train unit and at least one second motor train unit, each of which has a drive mechanism and a brake mechanism. Each of the brake mechanisms of the at least two motor train units has a plurality of brake units. In order to obtain a flexible utilization of the brake mechanism capacities of the coupled motor train units, a brake effect management system is formed in the coupled state. The management system is of a higher order than the brake mechanisms and is connected thereto. The management system is configured to distribute a braking effect onto the brake units of the at least two motor train units.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus, according to an embodiment, may include: a detecting unit configured to detect the angle of a pinion gear that is positioned in the front wheel, a column torque, and a motor current; a frequency estimating unit configured to estimate a road surface frequency that is generated by the road on which the vehicle travels based on at least one of the angle of the pinion gear, the column torque, or the motor current; a rack force estimating unit configured to estimate a rack force based on at least one of the angle of the pinion gear, the column torque, or the motor current; and a control unit configured to extract road surface information that is contained in the rack force based on the road surface frequency and configured to control a steering apparatus based on the road surface information and the rack force.

Abstract: A current state of a vehicle can be identified. At least a minimum acceleration capability of the vehicle is determined. A desired acceleration profile to follow is determined based at least in part on the minimum acceleration capability. An acceleration of the vehicle is controlled based at least in part on the desired acceleration profile.

Abstract: A bicycle control system is provided that is configured to control a bicycle component using a threshold value that is appropriate for the rider. The bicycle control system includes a controller for controlling a bicycle component based on a threshold value and a parameter related to a running state of a bicycle. The controller changes the threshold value when an operating unit is operated, and the change amount of the threshold value when the operating unit is operated is determined based on an operating state of the operating unit.

Abstract: A battery monitoring device suitable for monitoring performance of one or more battery cells, such as with respect to a battery pack powering a vehicle. The battery monitoring device includes a signal injector configured to produce a replacement physical set that emulates one or more physical properties associated with the one or more battery cells, a multiplexer configured to selectively output, during different periods of time, the replacement physical set received from the signal injector or a physical set of physical properties received from the one or more battery cells, a sensor circuit configured to separately convert the physical set to a first signal set representing a first digitized measurement of the physical set and the replacement physical set to a second signal set representing a second digitized measurement of the replacement physical set, and a controller configured to compare the first signal set to the second signal set for a variance outside of a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A suspension controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes a suspension whose damping force is variably settable and a control unit capable of controlling the damping force of the suspension on the basis of a target damping force, to control the damping force of the suspension with a desired control amount and a high responsibility. A control unit includes a acceleration calculation device for calculating an acceleration in a forward and rearward direction of a vehicle on the basis of an operation input amount to the vehicle and a target damping force setting device for determining a target value of damping force on the basis of a damping force map determined in advance in response to the acceleration and a differentiation value of the acceleration.

Abstract: A method for monitoring component usage during vehicle service activities has been developed. The method includes receiving with a diagnostic tool diagnostic data from a vehicle, receiving with the diagnostic tool a component identifier corresponding to a component in the vehicle that is replaced in a service procedure in response to the diagnostic data from the diagnostic tool, transmitting with the diagnostic tool the diagnostic data and the component identifier to a server, and transmitting with the server the component identifier to a listener computing device that is associated with a manufacturer of the component.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system includes determining an operator-selected mode and a charging mode for the energy storage device. A first speed/load region at which the internal combustion engine is in an OFF state is determined for the operator-selected mode and the charging mode for the energy storage device, wherein the first speed/load region is defined by output torque and vehicle speed. A second speed/load region includes a preferred speed that is selected for operating the internal combustion engine is determined for the operator-selected mode and the charging mode for the energy storage device. The preferred engine speed is substantially imperceptible in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The internal combustion engine is operated at the preferred engine speed that is imperceptible in the passenger compartment when the output torque request and the present vehicle speed are within the second operating region.

Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes at least one processor programmed to receive, from one or more sensors, outputs indicative of a motion of the vehicle. The at least one processor is also programmed to determine an actual trajectory of the vehicle based on the outputs from the one or more sensors; receive, from a camera, at least one environmental image associated with the vehicle; and analyze the at least one environmental image to determine information associated with at least one navigational constraint. The at least one processor is further programmed to determine a target trajectory, including the actual trajectory of the vehicle and one or more modifications to the actual trajectory based on the determined information associated with the at least one navigational constraint; and transmit the target trajectory from the vehicle to a server.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may emit masking sounds during operation of the UAV to mask other sounds generated by the UAV during operation. The UAV may be used to deliver items to a residence or other location associated with a customer. The UAV may emit sounds that mask the conventional sounds generated by the propellers and/or motors to cause the UAV to emit sounds that are pleasing to bystanders or do not annoy the bystanders. The UAV may emit sounds using speakers or other sound generating devices, such as fins, reeds, whistles, or other devices which may cause sound to be emitted from the UAV. Noise canceling algorithms may be used to cancel at least some of the conventional noise generated by operation of the UAV using inverted sounds, while additional sound may be emitted by the UAV, which may not be subject to noise cancellation.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing, among other things, a wheelchair-assist robot for assisting a wheelchair user with everyday tasks or activities at work, at home, and the like. In an embodiment, the mobile wheelchair-assist robot includes a wheelchair interface component configured to exchange control information with a wheelchair controller. In an embodiment, a wheelchair-assist robot mount assembly is provided for, among other things, electrically and physically coupling a wheelchair-assist robot to an associated wheelchair.

Abstract: A multi-body self-propelled device can include a drive body and a coupled head. The drive body can include a spherical housing, an internal drive system within the spherical housing to propel the multi-body self-propelled device, and a magnet holder coupled to the internal drive system to hold a first set of magnetic elements. The drive body can further include a first power source within the spherical housing to power the internal drive system and a first inductive interface. The coupled head can include second set of magnetic elements to establish a magnetic interaction with the first set of magnetic elements through the spherical housing. The coupled head can also include a second power source, and a second inductive interface. The multi-body self-propelled device can transfer power between the coupled head and the drive body via the first and the second inductive interfaces.

Abstract: A limp-home driving method at the time of a breakdown of a parking switch for a vehicle includes a first step of diagnosing a breakdown of a plurality of air parking switches provided in a hybrid vehicle by connecting the air parking switches to a hybrid control unit (HCU) and a transmission control unit (TCU), respectively, through parking wires, and connecting the HCU and the TCU with each other by controller area network (CAN) communication, a second step of informing a driver of a breakdown state at the time of confirming the breakdown of the air parking switches in the first step, and a third step of limiting an output of the vehicle and performing a limp-home function in a state in which an ISG (Idle Stop and Go) control is stopped, after the second step.

Abstract: An operator control element in a motor vehicle generates an activation signal as a function of the activation of the operating element, and a control unit receives the activation signal and measures a signal length of the activation signal, and signals the activation if the signal length becomes greater than a predetermined debounce time. Despite possible incorrect triggering of the activation signal owing to voltage fluctuations, the debounce time is to be short. The control unit determines for this purpose an operating parameter, and on the basis of the operating parameter it is detected that a supply voltage, made available at the control unit, satisfies a predetermined instability criterion, and when the instability criterion is satisfied the control unit delays the measurement of the signal length for a predetermined blocking time.

Abstract: A map information update apparatus includes: a map information storage unit that stores district map information including a plurality of division areas; a receiver that receives a broadcast wave carrying information of one or more of the plurality of division areas; a wireless communication unit that receives a radio wave carrying information of one or more of the plurality of division areas by wireless communication; and an information update unit that updates, when the district map information does not satisfy a first basis, the district map information for each division area based on the information carried by the broadcast wave received by the receiver and updates, when the district map information satisfies the first basis, the district map information for each division area based on the information carried by the radio wave received by the wireless communication unit.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for directing movement of a physical object within a three-dimensional (3D) navigable region of an environment. Generally, the apparatus divides the navigable region into geometric segments, and assigns a sequence of the geometric segments from a location to a destination to, and for movement of, the physical object. That is, the apparatus assigns a next geometric segment to the physical object moving in a current geometric segment in the sequence. The next geometric segment is then analyzed based on operational parameters of the physical object and a condition of the environment. In at least one increment, the next geometric segment is adjusted and reassigned to the physical object based thereon. Thereafter, the apparatus directs the physical object to move from the current geometric segment into the next geometric segment so assigned, or into the next geometric segment so reassigned in the at least one increment.

Abstract: A base station for providing dynamic power management is disclosed, comprising, a processor within an enclosure mounted in a vehicle, a power management unit coupled to the processor, a controller area network (CAN) bus monitoring system coupled to the power management unit and to a CAN bus of the vehicle, a voltage measurement module also coupled to the power management unit and to a battery of the vehicle; a baseband processor coupled to the processor, a first wireless access functionality coupled to the baseband processor, and a second wireless access functionality coupled to the baseband processor, wherein the power management unit is coupled to each of the first and the second wireless access functionality to enable access radio bringup, access radio shutdown, and graceful user detach based on a power state at the power management unit.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: identifying a free-travel mode for representing a user travelling without a calculated navigation route or an expressed destination determining a contextual parameter during the free-travel mode; and determining a target access identification with a control circuit for communicating with a communication target during the free-travel mode.

Abstract: A lane keeping assist/support (LKAS) system for preventing lane departure of a vehicle includes: an LKAS controller determining whether an adjacent vehicle is present by analyzing around-view images of the vehicle acquired by an around-view monitoring (AVM) system; a vehicle position calculator calculating a position of the vehicle; an adjacent vehicle position calculator calculating a position of the adjacent vehicle; a torque controller determining whether a proximity index generated according to the calculated position of the vehicle and the calculated position of the adjacent vehicle is less than a threshold value and correcting an initial torque timing and an initial torque based on the calculated position of the vehicle when the proximity index is less than the threshold value; and a steering apparatus controlling steering of the vehicle according to the corrected initial torque timing and the corrected initial torque.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for managing the drive system of a hybrid vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric machine having an energy storage means, wherein the vehicle has information on the topology of an approaching downward section of road. Said method includes: predicting a power need of the vehicle according to at least one slope degree of said section of road; predicting the mode of operation of the drive system as well, said mode of operation being selected from at least: a freewheel descent, a descent assisted by the drive system, preferably by the electric machine only, a descent braked by energy recovery; and adjusting the energy level in the storage system prior to arrival on the section of road according to said predictions.