Abstract: A method of controlling a magneto-rheological power steering coupling is provided. The method is to be employed by a controller and is initiated upon engine start-up. The method includes initializing calibration parameters and reading a plurality of input values. Subsequently, a hand wheel angle rate value is calculated from one of said plurality of input values. A pump speed command value is calculated as a function of at least the hand wheel angle rate value. A pump speed error value is then calculated, and a proportional-integral-derivative calculation is performed acting on the pump speed error value to determine a pulse width modulation duty cycle value. The duty cycle value is then output to a power driver to provide a control signal to the magneto-rheological power steering coupling. Also provided is control system and apparatus operable to perform the functions described hereinabove.

Abstract: A method of providing a return route for a global positioning system (GPS) device is provided. When the starting point and the destination of the return route are exactly opposite to the original starting point and the destination, the GPS device plans and provides a reverse route without re-setting the starting point and the destination all over again, and therefore the time of obtaining a return route can be substantially reduced. The efficiency of the GPS device in planning routes can be effectively promoted.

Abstract: A remote vehicle access system for a vehicle comprises a navigation module that determines a location of the vehicle. A vehicle control module receives an unlock request and one of unlocks a first door and unlocks at least the first door and a second door according to the unlock request and the location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A user selects as a guide route a route from among multiple routes retrieved under respective predetermined retrieval conditions. A retrieval condition under which the route selected by the user was retrieved is stored in an external memory. When a zone affecting driving is recognized along the guide route based on externally acquired information on traffic, a dynamic route that bypasses the zone affecting driving is retrieved according to the retrieval condition stored in the external memory. The retrieved dynamic route is then designated as a guide route.

Abstract: A target vehicle path is corrected in accordance with the environment surrounding a vehicle during parking assist or U-turn assist. To achieve the target vehicle path, target wheel speeds are set for respective wheels so as to generate a speed difference an inside wheel and an outside wheel of a turn. The target wheel speed is achieved by controlling braking force and driving force of each wheel. Thus, it is possible for the vehicle to turn with a smaller turning radius than that generated by a normal steering angle, and to cause the vehicle to move accurately along the target vehicle path that avoids any obstacles that are present.

Abstract: Adaptive navigation techniques are disclosed that allow navigation systems to learn from a user's personal driving history. As a user drives, models are developed and maintained to learn or otherwise capture the driver's personal driving habits and preferences. Example models include road speed, hazard, favored route, and disfavored route models. Other attributes can be used as well, whether based on the user's personal driving data or driving data aggregated from a number of users. The models can be learned under explicit conditions (e.g., time of day/week, driver ID) and/or under implicit conditions (e.g., weather, drivers urgency, as inferred from sensor data). Thus, models for a plurality of attributes can be learned, as well as one or more models for each attribute under a plurality of conditions. Attributes can be weighted according to user preference. The attribute weights and/or models can be used in selecting a best route for user.

Abstract: When a driver returns a brake pedal on a climbing road, brakes of front wheels to which power is output from an engine with brakes of rear wheels being held are released (S140), and a throttle opening TH is gradually increased so that a rotation speed of the engine reaches a target rotation speed Ne* according to a road gradient ? (S180). When an outputtable torque Tem that can be output to the front wheels and the rear wheels becomes larger than a target torque Td* according to the road gradient ?, the brakes of the rear wheels are released (S240) to start a vehicle. This allows a smooth start of the vehicle on the climbing road. On the other hand, when a slip of the front wheels is determined before the outputtable torque Tem reaches the target torque Td*, the brakes of the front wheels are returned to the original state, climbing road start control is prohibited (S260 and S270), and a stopping state is held. This properly addresses the problem when the vehicle cannot smoothly start.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining when to update a surface estimation value indicative of a condition of a roadway surface are provided. The method includes determining a front axle cornering force error value based on a predicted front axle cornering force value and a first front axle cornering force value. The method further includes determining a threshold yaw rate error value based on the front axle cornering force error value. The method further includes indicating that the surface estimation value is to be updated when a yaw rate error value is greater than the threshold yaw rate error value.

Abstract: A vehicle-to-vehicle communication device mounted in a subject vehicle includes (i) a transmitter-receiver for communication with other vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices mounted in other vehicles, (ii) a memory that stores communication wavelengths assigned to the other vehicles, and (iii) a communication control unit. When a certain vehicle is determined to be within a dangerous distance from the subject vehicle, the communication control unit refers to a communication wavelength assigned to the certain vehicle stored in the memory. When the communication wavelength assigned to the certain vehicle is identical to a communication wavelength assigned to the subject vehicle, the communication wavelength assigned to the subject vehicle is changed to another communication wavelength different from the communication wavelength assigned to the certain vehicle.

Abstract: The method includes a preliminary period in which a reference rotorcraft is used that corresponds to a rotorcraft of a particular type, with a series of noise measurements being performed on said rotorcraft (1) in flight using noise sensors (C) disposed on said reference rotorcraft, and with operating domains being determined for the reference rotorcraft in which noise is less than a maximum noise level. Thereafter, the operating point without wind and operating domains with wind are subsequently determined for a rotorcraft of the particular type on the basis of operating domains for the reference rotorcraft.

Abstract: A driving situation detection system capable of detecting driving situations swiftly with high reliability is obtained. The driving situation detection system includes real curve arithmetic means reference vehicle model and observer means, a differentiator unit, a model curve radius arithmetic means, and an assessment unit. The arithmetic means generates real curve radius signals based on wheel speeds. The reference vehicle model and observer means processes input signals utilizing a linear reference model to generate a yaw rate signal and a vehicle body side slip angle signal. The unit differentiates the vehicle body side slip angle signal to generate a vehicle body side slip rate signal. The model curve radius arithmetic means generates a model curve radius signal based on the yaw rate signal and the vehicle body side slip rate signal. The assessment unit detects undesirable driving situations by comparing the real curve radius and the model curve radius.

Abstract: In a method for setting the clutch torque of a clutch, especially a clutch disposed in a drive train of a motor vehicle, the clutch is adjusted using a clutch actuator. This clutch actuator has at least two actuator parts that may be positioned relative to each other at raster values of a position raster. A position setpoint corresponding to a clutch torque and disposed between the raster values of the position raster is calculated, and the actuator parts are positioned relative to each other at a raster value of the position raster that is adjacent to the position setpoint. In addition to the first position raster value, a second position raster value is calculated in such a manner that the position setpoint is disposed between the first position raster value and the second position raster value.

Abstract: A steering ratio control system of a vehicle includes a variable steering ratio mechanism variably adjusting a steering ratio of a steer angle at left and right steered road wheels to a steering-wheel rotation angle, and a braking/driving force control unit individually controlling braking force and/or driving force of the left and right steered wheels. A steering ratio control unit determines a reference steering ratio based on a vehicle's driving state. The steering ratio control unit calculates a steering-ratio correction value needed for canceling torque steer resulting from a difference in braking force and/or driving force between the left and right steered wheels. A final steering ratio is determined based on both of the reference steering ratio and the steering-ratio correction value to drive the variable steering ratio mechanism responsively to the final steering ratio reflecting the steering-ratio correction value.

Abstract: There are provided a point search apparatus and an in-vehicle navigation apparatus capable of searching destination candidates from which a user can view a visual target that he/she desires. A search means is formed so as to search destination candidates from which the user can see a visual target specified by visual target specifying means based on information regarding the three-dimensional position of the visual target and information regarding the three-dimensional position of a point that fulfills a search condition determined by a search condition determining means, and which exists around the visual target.

Abstract: An electronic controller with a sensed ground speed input calculates appropriate cotton harvester row unit speed based on harvester ground speed and a preset ground speed versus a unit speed curve. The controller includes an automatic or manual ratio adjustment input. The ratio adjustment input allows the unit speed to be increased or decreased from the preset speed. The controller reads row unit speed via unit speed sensors and sends a signal to the unit speed actuator or electronic drive control (EDC) on a hydro, variable sheave, or other variable drive device to adjust unit speed to the calculated value. A detector or field vision device such as a camera responsive to cotton on the plants provides a signal to the automatic ratio adjustment input to change the ratio for increased productivity and reduced machine wear.