Abstract: A system and method for controlling the navigation of surface based vehicle uses a route that is obtained by manually driving the vehicle over the route to collect data defining the absolute position of the vehicle at various positions along the route. The collected data is smoothed to provide a consistent route to be followed. The smoothed data is subsequently used to automatically guide the vehicle over the route.

Abstract: A system (400) for positioning and navigating an autonomous vehicle (310) allows the vehicle (310) to travel between locations. Position information (432) is derived from global positioning system satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) or other sources (624) when the satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) are not in the view of the vehicle (310). Navigation of the vehicle (310) is obtained using the position information (432), route information (414), obstacle detection and avoidance data (416), and on board vehicle data (908 and 910).

Abstract: In apparatus and method for controlling a damping force characteristic for a vehicular suspension system, a relative velocity between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass is calculated using a predetermined transfer function from a sprung mass vertical velocity derived on the basis of a sprung mass acceleration signal. The predetermined transfer function is, in a embodiment, expressed as G.sub.U(S) =(QS.sup.2 +RS)/(FS.sup.2 +DS +E), wherein Q=-m.sub.1 .multidot.c.sub.2, R=-m.sub.1 .multidot.k.sub.2, F=c.sub.1 .multidot.c.sub.2, D=c.sub.1 .multidot.k.sub.2, E=k.sub.1 .multidot.k.sub.2, S denotes a Laplace operator, c.sub.1 denotes an attenuation constant of each shock absorber, c.sub.2 denotes an attenuation constant of the corresponding one of road wheels, k.sub.1 denotes a spring constant of the shock absorber. k.sub.2 denotes a spring constant of the corresponding one of the road wheels, m.sub.1 denotes the sprung mass, and m.sub.2 denotes the unsprung mass.

Abstract: A vehicle motion control system is combined with a wheel slip control system so as to stabilize vehicle behavior during traction control during which a drive wheel cornering power varies. When the wheel slip control is in operation, a signal of a drive wheel slip is transferred from the wheel slip control system to the motion control system. In response to this signal, the motion control system rewrites a constant representing a drive wheel cornering power, and produces a control signal for controlling the vehicle motion by using the rewritten constant.

Abstract: A system for carrying out shift control of an automatic transmission in accordance with a rotational speed of an input shaft thereof during shifting comprises calculating an input torque coefficient in accordance with torque of the engine detected and a rate of time change calculated, converting the input torque coefficient calculated into a velocity ratio, calculating a rotational speed of the input shaft of the automatic transmission in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine detected and the velocity ratio, and carrying out torque-down of the engine in accordance with the rotational speed of the input shaft calculated.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is controlled using a target acceleration map which contains values of target accelerations corresponding to a plurality of values of a first indication (e.g., the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal or the engine throttle opening) representative of the driver's intention for acceleration or deceleration and a plurality of values of a second indication representative of speeds of the motor vehicle. The target acceleration map is arranged such that when each of the values of the second indication is constant, each of the values of the target acceleration increases as the value of the first indication increases, at a rate which is greater if the first indication is smaller. From such a target acceleration map, a target acceleration is determined on the basis of the actual values of the values of the first and second indications at the time, and the speed reduction ratio of the transmission is controlled so that the target acceleration is achieved.

Abstract: The personal tracking system including the intelligent position determining means coupled with the cellular phone and the base station is disclosed. The base station includes a computer, a modem, and a telephone. The computer further includes base station software for communicating with the mobile unit. The mobile unit transmits the location data to the base station at certain times and at certain locations.

Abstract: A material dispensing system for agricultural pesticides and chemicals. The system uses distributed processing with a main controller and a plurality of sub-controllers to control pesticide metering devices. The metering devices are attached to a pesticide container.

Abstract: A computer interface board for electronic automotive vehicle service equipment systems is adapted for installation into a non-dedicated, general purpose computer to serve as the central processor for the automotive service system or as a component of multiple systems, while enabling the computer to be also available for other applications. The interface board provides microprocessors for controlling various data receiving and transmitting functions through multiple ports between the computer and instruments integral to the vehicle service system.

Abstract: A method for navigating with a vehicle navigation system using recognition of geographical region types in a map database. The system's map database stores information representative of a plurality of geographical region types. A geographical region type of a geographical region in which the navigation algorithm is operating is determined. At least one parameter related to the navigation algorithm is then set to correspond to the geographical region type. Navigation is performed using the navigation algorithm. Throughout the operation of the navigation algorithm, the system repeatedly determines whether the geographical region type has changed, and if so, changes the algorithm parameter(s) to correspond to the new geographical region type.

Abstract: There is provided a map information display apparatus comprising a control unit, responsive to a signal informing that a predetermined area on a display unit has been indicated, for switching a display from a state of displaying a single map image on the screen in scroll mode in which the center of the map image constantly shows the current position of the vehicle detected by a position detecting unit and the map image is scrolled as the vehicle travels to a state of displaying a first map image with the same scale as the single map image which has been displayed on the screen in a base screen region and a second map image with a scale in a window screen region. Furthermore, touching an area of the base or window screen region switches the display into single display mode.

Abstract: In a traction control system for a vehicle provided with an engine having a supercharger, the traction control is terminated when the actual supercharging pressure is converged on a target supercharging pressure which is set according to the operating condition of the engine while the traction control by feedback control of the supercharging pressure is being effected.

Abstract: Test signals are generated by a microcontroller (i.e., micro) and coupled to a transistor which is in series with an inductive sensor of a wheel speed sensor input circuit to test the input circuit. In one test, a test signal from the micro sweeps through a range of predetermined frequencies to turn the transistor off and on to provide a simulated wheel speed signal which is used to compute a corresponding number of simulated wheel speeds. The programmed micro compares the simulated wheel speeds with the predetermined frequencies to determine if the various components of the circuit are operating properly and also to determine if the wheel speed arithmetic of the programmed micro is operating properly since actual wheel speed routines within the micro are used to compute the simulated wheel speeds.

Abstract: In a vehicle with an electric power steering system, an electric power steering control apparatus comprising a torque sensor outputting a torque signal indicative of steering column torque, a controller receiving the torque signal and, responsive thereto, providing a motor current command, an electric motor providing power assist to the electric power steering system responsive to the motor current command, and a compensating filter, within the controller, receiving the torque signal and providing a transfer function operation thereon, wherein the motor current command is responsive to the output of the compensating filter and wherein stability margins of the system are enhanced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for notifying the possibility of a malfunction of an automatic transmission, which includes a throttle valve sensor for detecting the degree of the throttle valve's opening to generate a throttle valve signal, a shift valve sensor for detecting the on/off state of the two shift valves to generate a .

Abstract: A trigger circuit for occupant protection systems in motor vehicles comprises a control unit which will effect the triggering of a means of restraint such as an airbag, depending on sensor signals generated by one or more external sensor units. To achieve a degree of triggering certainty, data interrogation must take place in very short time intervals. A safe transmission of data between the control unit and the sensor units will be ensured if, in accordance with this invention, the information units to be transmitted will each be encoded by means of a PWM signal with a certain period duration. The control unit will check the period duration of the PWM signal received, and, in the event of this actual period duration not matching the specified nominal value, it will not accept the relevant unit of information.

Abstract: A driving-torque distribution integrated control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle, for controlling a driving torque distribution between front and rear wheels and a driving torque distribution between right and left wheels, comprises a first torque distribution control section responsive to a first control command for controlling a front-and-rear driving torque distribution between subsidiary drive wheels installed at a first side of front and rear sides of the vehicle and primary drive wheels installed at a second side of the front and rear sides, and a second torque distribution control section responsive to a second control command for controlling a right-and-left drive torque distribution between said primary drive wheels. First and second target slip arithmetic units derive target slip states for the subsidiary drive wheels and for an outer drive wheel of the primary drive wheels, and first and second actual slip arithmetic units derive the actual slip of the subsidiary and outer drive wheels.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus provides a steering assist of an electric motor directly to a vehicle steering system so as to reduce necessary steering power to be applied by a driver, and it is provided with a control unit including a phase compensation section implemented by software. The gain and phase of a steering torque signal from a steering torque sensor can be accurately set which correspond to the running and steering states of the vehicle, on the basis of a vehicle velocity signal from a vehicle velocity sensor. Thus, the gain in a high vehicle velocity condition and in such a frequency range outside the steering region can be controlled to substantially decrease so as to avoid parasitic oscillation and hence prevent the occurrence of magnetostrictive sound and hunting due to the parasitic oscillation. Accordingly, optimum steering feel can be achieved which corresponds to the states of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing map information of varying resolution to a navigation device. In one embodiment, a position determining system is attached to a navigation device. The position determining system generates position information, such as location, of the navigation device. The position information is transmitted to a base station containing map information. Map information related to, for example, the location of the navigation device is then transmitted from the base station to the navigation device. The map information is displayed on a display of the navigation device. Therefore, the base station only transmits map information related to the position information of the navigation device.

Abstract: A process is provided for determining a travel-situation-dependent steering angle, in which a specification of a characteristic value for the transverse motion of the vehicle is given, the actual value of the yaw angular velocity of the vehicle is evaluated, and a criterion is derived as a function of the actual value of the yaw angular velocity as well as the predetermined characteristic value. As a function of the criterion, an influencing of the travel behavior of the vehicle takes place by an intervention in the vehicle steering. For the derivation of the criterion, additionally the side slip angle, the steering angle and the vehicle velocity are evaluated, and, for the derivation of the criterion, the lateral forces at the vehicle wheels are taken into consideration.