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: A control system for a multiple ratio transmission including a hydrokinetic torque converter with a pressure actuated friction bypass clutch, pressure actuated clutches and brakes controlling ratio changes in forward drive and for effecting reverse drive, a solenoid operated pressure control that develops an optimum clutch and brake pressure for smooth engagement and for increased torque capacity during start-up, and separate solenoid regulator valves for ratio shift valve control and for bypass clutch pressure control.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for motor vehicle anti-theft wherein the apparatus comprises a device for blocking a motor vehicle's exhaust gases path and a device for moving the blocking device. The moving device moves or displaces the blocking device to one of a first position, whereat the blocking device is completely removed from an exhaust gases path, and a second position, whereat the blocking device completely blocks an exhaust gases path. The method comprises the steps of actuating the moving device and moving the blocking device to a position, whereat the blocking device completely blocks off or seals off a motor vehicle exhaust gases path.

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: An embedded system controller-based vehicle tracking system using vehicle positioning. An embedded system controller controls a traffic intersection using an optical system. The embedded system controller receives a vehicle location and a vehicle schedule. The embedded system controller calculates whether the vehicle is on time and reports the on-time status to the driver interface. The driver may -request that the system report a panic or emergency situation to the dispatch center through an external data communications network. The external data communications network may also send vehicle status, such as vehicle position and vehicle condition. A transit company using the system may provide vehicles equipped with the vehicle tracking system with schedules on a daily basis, using a portable data transfer device. The embedded system controller also communicates to the vehicle data network for the communication of vehicle position.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system is equipped with a microcomputer for reliably detecting whether or not programs for controlling activation of passenger protection devices are being properly executed and, based on this detection, preventing problems from occurring in the control operations of the programs. According to one aspect of the invention, the system monitors a program executed on an interrupt basis at prescribed regular time intervals, a repeatedly executed program, and the operations of these programs, synchronously with the execution of the programs, and resets the microcomputer if an error is detected in the execution of either program. According to another, at the time of moving to a subroutine a code peculiar to the subroutine is saved at the entry portion and the saved code is compared with the code peculiar to the executed subroutine at the exit portion for detecting occurrence of error and if error is detected the microcomputer is reset.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a motor-driven power steering system of a motor vehicle for preventing generation of actuation noise of a clutch without sacrificing reliability of the steering system. A current calculating/driving means 91 calculates a motor current command value I.sub.0 on the basis of a vehicle speed V and a steering torque T for driving a motor 13. An abnormal torque decision reference value arithmetic means 901 calculates an abnormal torque decision reference value T.sub.0 and a reference time t.sub.0 in dependence on the vehicle speed V, while a load torque calculating means 902 calculates a load torque T.sub.L on the basis of the steering torque T and the motor current command value I.sub.0. A motor rotation decision means 907 estimates a rotation number N.sub.M of the motor 13 from a motor regeneration voltage. When the load torque T.sub.L is greater than the abnormal torque decision reference value T.sub.0 and when a duration t.sub.L thereof is greater than the reference time t.sub.

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: A moving body measuring device, having an image taking unit for taking an image of a moving body, a controllers for controlling the image taking unit and a frame memory for memorizing an image data of the image of the image taking unit, which processes the image data, detects the moving body and obtains an information of the moving body which comprises an existence domain setting circuits for previously setting an existence domain of the moving body extended along a moving path of the moving body based on the image data, a sampling circuits for sampling a data showing the moving body based on the image data in the existence domain, and a timewise data accumulating circuits for timewisely and continuously accumulating at every constant period, the data showing the moving body sampled by the sampling circuits which detects a timewise change of the moving body moving in the previously set existence domain.

Abstract: A wheel aligner comprises a communications unit attachable to the conventional heads and the console to provide for cordless communication of information between the heads and the console in the absence of cables.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling overspeed conditions of an electronically controlled transmission and engine wherein the transmission has an output shaft and is electronically shiftable by an electronic shift control module between forward and reverse gears to rotate the output shaft in forward and reverse directions and a neutral gear without shaft rotation. The transmission has an operator controlled shift lever for requesting a gear from the forward, neutral and reverse gears and operates in a present gear from among the forward, reverse and neutral gears. The method includes determining forced downshift shift points, overspeed downshift shift points, overspeed upshift shift points, a directional shift inhibit speed, and overspeed values for each gear based on transmission speed; determining output shaft speed; and operating the shift lever to request a gear.

Abstract: A multiple ratio transmission for an automotive vehicle comprising a main gear unit with at least three ratios and an overdrive gear unit with a direct drive ratio and an overdrive ratio, and a control valve system that will permit upshifting and downshifting of the overdrive gear unit while inhibiting ratio changes in said main gear unit from either a second ratio manual drive mode or from a third ratio manual drive mode.

Abstract: A neural network is trained with a general set of data to function as a general model of a machine or process with local condition inputs set equal to zero. The network is then retrained or receives additional training on an extentd data set containing the general set of data, characterized by zero values for the local condition inputs, and data on specific local conditions, characterized by non-zero values for the local condition inputs. The result is a trained neural network which functions as a general model when the inputs for the local conditions inputs are set equal to zero, and which functions as a model of some specific local condition when the local condition inputs match the encoding of the some local data set contained within the training data. The neural network has an architecture and a number of neurons such that its functioning as the local model is partially dependent upon its functioning as the general model.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a ride vehicle for use in an amusement attraction. The ride vehicle mounts a passenger supporting structure upon a motion base, so that the passenger supporting structure may be articulated about one or more axes as the vehicle moves. Thus, this "simulator ride" carries passengers through three-dimensional scenery and articulates the passenger supporting structure in synchronism with motions of the ride vehicle, the motions of moving show sets, which are external to the vehicle, sound, projection and other effects. The ride vehicle is programmably-controlled by a redundant, two computer control system aboard each vehicle, which controls motions of the ride vehicle in synchronism with actions of the motion base and other special effects in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of ride programs.

Abstract: A shift control system for shifting an automatic transmission from a predetermined gear stage to another by draining an oil pressure from predetermined frictional engagement element to release the same frictional engagement element and by feeding the oil pressure to another frictional engagement element to engage the same frictional engagement element while controlling the drain oil pressure of the frictional engagement element to be released and the engaging oil pressure to the frictional engagement element to be engaged. The shift control system includes an engine racing detector for detecting the racing of the engine while the transmission is being shifted in a clutch-to-clutch manner, and a hydraulic control circuit for controlling at least one of the drain oil pressure and the engaging oil pressure, on the basis of the degree of racing of the engine, as detected by the engine racing detector, such that the amount of racing of the engine falls within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A pattern recognition system is utilized in a supplementary inflatable restraint (SIR) system to distinguish between deployment and non-deployment events. The pattern recognition system preferably includes dedicated hardware or a microprocessor programmed to perform a neural network simulation utilizing crash data in the form of vehicle acceleration data. Training and trial vectors are generated from the data to train and, subsequently, test the neural network.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a vehicle regulating engine speed during shifts so as to reduce driveline torque and shift shock. The control system includes separate microprocessor based engine and transmission controllers which communicate via a data link. When a shift is initiated, the transmission controller delays a first period of time CTSDELAY sufficient for the transmission to disengage the old gear ratio and then produces a CTSSPEED signal. The transmission controller continues to produce the CTSSPEED signal for a second period of time CTSDUR which corresponds to the time required for the transmission to engage the new gear ratio. The engine controller receives the desired engine speed signal and regulates engine speed into correspondence with the desired speed. During upshifts, the CTSSPEED signal is set to a speed which is a predetermined amount above the synchronization speed of the new gear for an upshift.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording operational events in an automotive radar system. The invention provides an Event Recording Apparatus (ERA) that records selectable vehicle performance, operational status, and/or environment information, including information useful for accident analysis and updated software for use by a system processor capable of reading data from the ERA. The preferred embodiment of the ERA comprises a non-volatile solid-state memory card, a memory card adapter located in a vehicle, and a microprocessor, either as part of the memory card or embedded in a system within the vehicle, for controlling the storage of data within the memory card.

Abstract: A gear control means determines the gear position of an automatic transmission based on a vehicle speed V and throttle opening T input from a vehicle speed sensor and throttle opening sensor, and on a predetermined gear change-over lines which take form of kinked lines expressing "vehicle speed/throttle opening" characteristics for up-shifting and down-shifting respectively. The gear control means is provided with a memory unit and a gear determining unit.

Abstract: An improved airport control/management system for controlling and managing the surface and airborne movement of vehicular and aircraft within a defined and selected airport space envelope of an airport, the traffic, comprising apparatus for establishing a precise 3-dimensional digital map of the selected airport space envelope, the map containing GNSS positioning system reference points, a computer with a monitor screen for receiving and displaying the 3-dimensional map, transmit and receive radio equipment located on at least one vehicle/aircraft in the airport space envelope to generate and transmit continuous GNSS-based location reports a receiver associated with the computer to receive the reports from the vehicle/aircraft, programming associated with the computer and using the reports to superimpose 3-dimensional image corresponding to a path of the vehicle/aircraft onto the 3-dimensional map, apparatus associated with the 3-dimensional map for generating airport control and management signals as a funct