Abstract: Monitoring of high-lift systems for aircraft. In one configuration, a method for monitoring a high-lift system includes monitoring a first current draw of a first drive station of the high-lift system, and monitoring a second current draw of a second drive station of the high-lift system. The method further includes comparing the first current draw and the second current draw to determine if a differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds a threshold, and generating a failure signal if the differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A printed circuit board testing method includes determining a position of a robot at a predetermined time interval and determining whether the determined position of the robot is within a preset position range. The method determines whether one or more shielding boxes are open according to unique identifiers of the shielding boxes stored in a storage system when the determined position of the robot is within the preset position range. The method obtains a predetermined path of each determined open shielding box from the storage system when one or more shielding boxes are open. The method further determines a shortest predetermined path among the obtained predetermined paths, and transmits a control signal including the determined predetermined path to the robot.

Abstract: According to a navigation server (1) of the present invention, in a mileage matrix containing elements which denote a mileage and are defined by respective mileage factors, a first element of the elements in the mileage matrix which is defined by recognized mileage factors is determined on the basis of the mileage of the recognized mileage of a first vehicle. A second element of the elements in the mileage matrix which is defined by unrecognized mileage factors is determined on the basis of the first element. According thereto, even when the mileage factors of a second vehicle are used to define the second element but not the first element, the previous mileage of the second vehicle can be evaluated with high accuracy in consideration of a relationship between the mileage and the mileage factors of the first vehicle estimated according to the known relationship therebetween.

Abstract: A method, device and system of an autonomous neighborhood multi-copter commerce network in a community are disclosed. In one embodiment, an autonomous neighborhood multi-copter includes a storage compartment of the autonomous neighborhood multi-copter in which items are storable, a computer system of the autonomous neighborhood multi-copter that is communicatively coupled to a commerce server of a neighborhood communication system through a wireless network to autonomously navigate the autonomous neighborhood multi-copter to a destination in the neighborhood specified by the commerce server using a peer-to-peer network of client side devices in the neighborhood that are geo-constrained to a location of a defined neighborhood, and a navigation server of the autonomous neighborhood multi-copter to provide a remote sensing capability to the autonomous neighborhood multi-copter such that the autonomous neighborhood multi-copter is autonomously navigable to the destination using the peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: The present teachings provide apparatus and methods for measuring the power output of a person, such as a cyclist. According to various embodiments, while measuring the power output, the present teachings provide for the harvesting of the input energy to provide electrical power to the apparatus. Among others, embodiments are described wherein power measurements are obtained from the drive train of a bicycle by making use of piezoelectric element(s) capable of producing electricity when deformed by applied forces. In addition, telemetry information of the applied forces can be obtained with the use of an inertial measurement unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in identifying at least one alternate airport for an aircraft. One example method includes identifying a plurality of airports based on static data associated with the plurality of airports, and identifying, at a processing device, at least one preferred airport from the plurality of airports based on dynamic data associated with at least the at least one preferred airport, wherein the static data and/or the dynamic data is associated with at least one weight that enables at least one of the plurality of airports to be identified based on a relative importance of the static data and/or the dynamic data.

Abstract: A method of surveying a section of a railway to determine amounts of ballast to be replaced keyed to position coordinates of track locations includes moving a survey vehicle along the railway, optically scanning the track at selected intervals to obtain optical data points with associated position coordinates, recording images at the intervals with position coordinates, recording position coordinates of no-spread zones, processing the optical data points to derive ballast unit weights associated with locations along the track, detecting anomalous unit weights, accessing images associated with the locations of the anomalous unit weights, accessing the anomalous unit weights to adjust as necessary, and loading the adjusted data into a computer of a ballast train to control the application of replacement ballast along the track according to the detected position of the ballast train.

Abstract: An output power of the internal combustion engine (1) is transmitted to a drive wheel via a torque converter (2B) having a pump impeller and a turbine runner. A lockup clutch (2C) directly connects the pump impeller and the turbine runner during a coast running of a vehicle. When the accelerator pedal is slightly depressed during a coast running of a vehicle in a fuel cut-off state, the lockup clutch (2C) disengages. In addition, fuel recovery of the internal combustion engine (1) is suppressed until the engaging pressure of the lockup clutch (2C) decreases, thereby preventing a vehicle speed change caused by an output power increase of the internal combustion engine (1) before the lockup clutch (2C) substantially disengages.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a trailer backup assist system. The system and method communicates predetermined trailer parameters, which are embedded on a tag attached to the trailer, to a controller in the trailer backup assist system. A trailer backup assist system is configured using the predetermined trailer parameters and the configured trailer backup assist system is activated to operate using the trailer parameters.

Abstract: A computer program product is provided including computer readable program code for controlling the operation of an autonomous vehicle. The computer program product includes computer readable program code for using navigation data from a first data source until the autonomous vehicle reaches a specific area for which a second data source has navigation data for the specific area, and computer readable program code for using navigation data from the second data source to control operation of the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is within the specific area. Non-limiting examples of a specific area include construction zones, private property, secure areas, and state parks. When the autonomous vehicle reaches these specific areas, navigation data specific to this area may be downloaded from a second data source.

Abstract: A method comprises controlling the operation of an autonomous vehicle using navigation data from a first data source until the autonomous vehicle reaches a specific area for which a second data source has navigation data for the specific area, and using navigation data from the second data source to control operation of the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is within the specific area. Non-limiting examples of a specific area include construction zones, private property, secure areas, and state parks. When the autonomous vehicle reaches these specific areas, navigation data specific to this area may be downloaded from a second data source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: providing a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud; providing a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device; providing a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle; and causing, by use of a data processor, data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer.

Abstract: A vehicle hybrid drive device having an EV running mode enabling a vehicle to run only with a second rotating machine used as a drive power source while an engine is disconnected from a drive power transmission path, a series HEV running mode enabling the vehicle to run only with the second rotating machine used as the drive power source while a first rotating machine is rotationally driven to generate electricity by the engine disconnected from the drive power transmission path, and a parallel HEV running mode enabling the vehicle to run with the engine and at least one of the first and second rotating machines used as the drive power sources while the engine is connected to the drive power transmission path. If a driver desires power-performance-oriented running or fuel-efficiency-oriented running, the range for selecting the series HEV running mode is made narrower or wider, respectively, than usual.

Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous mode are disclosed. In one aspect, an example method is disclosed that includes obtaining, by a computer system, lane information that provides an estimated location of a lane of a road on which a vehicle is travelling, where the computer system is configured to control the vehicle in an autonomous mode. The example method further includes determining, by the computer system, that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable and, in response to determining that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable, the computer system analyzing trajectories of other vehicles to locate a potential merge point on the road and creating a new trajectory that follows the lane at the potential merge point.

Abstract: A method and a system that control a drive torque of a vehicle in which there is a change in a torque of a predetermined magnitude when drive power of the vehicle enters a zone in which a predetermined maximum output is generated to allow a driver to feel that the drive power of the vehicle enters the maximum output zone during traveling. The method may include calculating, by a controller, a drive request torque of a vehicle and calculating drive power displayed on a drive power gauge of an instrument cluster based on the calculated drive request torque. In addition, the method may include adding, by the controller, a predetermined additional torque to the drive request torque when the calculated drive power displayed on the drive power gauge enters a predetermined zone of the drive power gauge.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for presenting winds aloft symbology on an aircraft display unit are disclosed. Symbology image data representative of a plurality of sets of winds aloft symbologies may be generated as a function of flight plan data and weather data; flight plan data representative flight plan comprised of a plurality of waypoints may be received along with weather data representative of winds aloft data corresponding to each waypoint. Each set of winds aloft symbologies may be comprised of winds aloft symbology corresponding to each waypoint of the flight plan at a single altitude and symbolize winds aloft at that altitude. When provided to a display unit, each set of winds aloft symbologies represented in the symbology image data may be presented in a series of increasing or decreasing altitudes, where the series is presented sequentially or simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an intervention torque of a steering assistance system on a steering system of a vehicle in the context of a required lane change, the method encompassing a step of adapting a magnitude of the intervention torque in response to a detected marking that announces a lane merge in advance of a beginning of said merge.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting hand signals of a cyclist by an autonomous vehicle are described. An example method may involve a computing device receiving a plurality of data points corresponding to an environment of an autonomous vehicle. The computing device may then determine one or more subsets of data points from the plurality of data points indicative of at least a body region of a cyclist. Further, based on an output of a comparison of the one or more subsets with one or more predetermined sets of cycling signals, the computing device may determine an expected adjustment of one or more of a speed of the cyclist and a direction of movement of the cyclist. Still further, based on the expected adjustment, the computing device may provide instructions to adjust one or more of a speed of the autonomous vehicle and a direction of movement of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A guidance system includes an SNS server that distributes guidance information, e.g., to a smartphone. The SNS server includes a post information DB, a map DB, and a guidance information DB. Pieces of post information and selected guidance information are transmitted to the smartphone via a communication unit. The smartphone displays the pieces of post information, and includes a setting unit that sets, as a destination, a location contained in a piece of post information among the displayed pieces of post information, and a guidance unit that provides, by using the guidance information, guidance on a guidance route to the destination.

Abstract: An operation system for cooperatively responding to a target moving in the air by an aircraft and a flying object launched from a launch facility. A control facility (16) receives target information including information indicating a position of a target aircraft (18) moving in the air, and SAM information including information indicating a position of a SAM (20) launched from a launch facility (12) toward the target aircraft (18). The control facility (16) then calculates a course of the SAM (20) heading for the target aircraft (18) based on the received target information and SAM information as a no-fly zone of an aircraft (14) that responds to the target aircraft (18).