Abstract: In an apparatus and method for controlling a damping force characteristic of a vehicular shock absorber, a vertical sprung mass velocity signal V.sub.n is determined on the basis of a vertical G sensor output signal as a control signal. A control gain when a control unit changes a damping force characteristic of either an extension stroke side or a compression stroke side of a piston member of the shock absorber according to the control signal is increased as a moving average of peak values of the vertical sprung mass velocity signal V.sub.n is reduced.

Abstract: A non-volatile RAM stores a selectable trim indicator which, in turn, is used to select one of a plurality tables of trim constant data from read-only memory. The selected table of trim constant data is loaded into working memory of a microprocessor-based control unit to thereby calibrate control logic of an automotive ABS for the vehicle in which the control unit is mounted.

Abstract: Basing on signals (Vi) representing the vertical movements of the vehicle body at selected points (Pi) of the body, and basing on second signals (Xarvl', Xarvr', Xarhl', Xarhr') representing the relative movements between the wheel units and the body of the vehicle, the inventional system infers selected components of movement of the vehicle body, such as heave, roll and pitch movements or the vertical movement of the body at the front and rear axles as well as the roll movement. These components of movement are weighted differently. Basing on these differently weighted components of movement, second body movements are inferred at the points where the wheel suspension systems attach to the body.

Abstract: A misfire detection apparatus and method is provided for detecting misfire in cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. The method includes sensing rotation of a crankshaft and calculating a crankshaft velocity based on the sensed rotation of the crankshaft. The method also includes repeating the sensing and calculating steps a predetermined number of times to develop a measured crankshaft velocity profile. The method further includes obtaining a stored misfire velocity profile based on speed of the crankshaft, comparing the measured crankshaft velocity profile to the stored misfire crankshaft velocity profile to determine if a match exists, and counting a misfire if a match exits.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for dynamically adjusting the positions of the front and rear wheels of an automotive vehicle comprising first and second accelerometers disposed to sense the acceleration of front and rear wheels and to generate first and second electrical signals representative of the magnitude of such acceleration, a speed sensor disposed to sense the speed of the vehicle and to generate a third electrical signal representative of such speed, a steering dispenser disposed to sense the position of the steering mechanism of the vehicle for generating a fourth electrical signal representative of vehicle turning and direction thereof, a plurality of actuators at least one being connected to each wheel to selectively adjust the toe angle of the wheel and control means connected to the actuators responsive to the first, second, third and fourth electrical signals for controlling the actuators to dynamically adjust the toe angle of each wheel to a position optimum for vehicle speed and driving

Abstract: An improved device and method for performing accurate mobile robot dead-reckoning by performing Internal Position Error Correction (IPEC) which corrects systematic as well as non-systematic dead-reckoning errors. A first variation utilizes a smart encoder trailer which adapts an existing dead-reckoning mobile robot. A second variation provides a pair of robotic vehicles coupled with a compliant linkage which monitors relative positioning between the vehicles in order to perform internal position error correction. A third and final variation utilizes a pair of decoupled mobile robotic vehicles, each performing dead-reckoning, further provided with individual transmitter and receiver arrays which determine relative positioning therebetween in order to perform internal position error correction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for designing and editing a distribution system for a building is disclosed. Elements of such distribution systems and requirements of relevant standard, are stored in a computer's memory. Building parameters are entered into a computer manually. The user identify the standard to be followed and the element to be optimized. The system divides the building into sections as appropriate to the user identified standard. The system then computes layout needed to comply with the selected standard. The layout is routed and sized to avoid building structural members, yet the elements of the layout are optimized for size and length. The apparatus prints out a hard copy of the design layout which can include an elements listing needed to complete the system. The design layout as well as the building parameters can be edited. The edited layout is checked for compliance with the identified standard as well as avoidance of building parameters.

Abstract: A circuit for regulating the air conditioning of premises that are stationary or mobile, the premises being air conditioned by means of a conditioning unit controlled by a corrector that receives on its inputs both a reference temperature magnitude and a magnitude representative of the temperature of the premises, the circuit including a member for non-linear and non-stationary simulation of the assembly constituted by the conditioning unit and by the premises, and wherein the corrector comprises means for handling saturation in such a manner as to take account of amplitude limitation in the signal for controlling the process and the model of the process. The invention is particularly applicable to regulating the air conditioning of rail vehicles.

Abstract: A data collection system for a driving machine for collecting data obtained at a plurality of controllers disposed within the driving machine, in which one of the plurality of controllers is used as a master controller to perform sequential polling operation over the other controllers including an external controller through a communication line. The other controller subjected to the polling transmits data obtained at its own controller to the controllers other than its own controller. The master controller continues its polling operation so long as the master controller fails to receive a response to the polling from the external controller. The master controller, when receiving the response to the polling from the external controller, judges that the external controller was connected to a connector for connection with the external controller and stops its polling operation.

Abstract: A vehicle position determination system and method provide accurate vehicle positioning using a global positioning system. Spatial bias techniques are used to improve positioning accuracy while the vehicle is in the midst of a relatively linear path and is not approaching a drastically nonlinear path. The use of spatial bias techniques is suspended while the vehicle is approaching or in a drastically nonlinear path.

Abstract: An adapter which permits the use of present diagnostic tools with newer ISO9141 equipped engine and transmission controllers. The adapter facilitates bi-directional communication while conditioning the signals entering and exiting the adapter and allow the diagnostic tools to operate transparent of the adapter's presence.

Abstract: Shift control system and method are provided for use in a vehicle automatic transmission in which a desired speed range is achieved in accordance with the state of driving of a vehicle. The degree of meandering of a running road on which the vehicle is running is detected. The downhill grade of the running road is also detected. Based on the detection results, it is determined whether or not the running road is a meandering downhill road. When it is determined that the vehicle is running on the meandering downhill road, it is then determined whether or not a downshift is needed. When the downshift has been determined to be necessary, the speed range of the vehicle automatic transmission is shifted from a current speed range to a speed range lower than the current speed range.

Abstract: A maintenance interval indication system, apparatus and method are provided that are cost-effective for general aviation aircraft and that may be retrofitted to existing airplanes. The system includes an on-board aircraft cycle counter and engine run-time and flight time logging instrument that requires no external transducers, no electrical signal inputs and only a single electrical power input from an airframe's electrical system. A microprocessor in the engine cycle logger accepts data input from an acoustic transducer and from a pressure transducer (i.e., altimeter), and correctly logs engine cycles in spite of factors such as: a) touch-and-go landings; b) in-flight engine shutdowns; c) noise from another engine on the same aircraft: d) wide variations in acoustic input levels from one engine to the next; e) changes in acoustic level following an overhaul of the monitored engine; f) transient noise artifacts; and g) transient altitude artifacts.

Abstract: A flight critical computer system for an aircraft includes dual independent lanes having two processors in each lane. The first lane has a primary processor and a redundant processor and provides a first command signal. The second lane includes a primary processor and a redundant processor and provides a second command signal. A first monitor compares the primary processor of the first lane with the primary processor of the second lane and generates first comparison signals as a function of disagreement therebetween. A second monitor compares the output signals of the redundant processor of the second lane and the primary processor of the first lane and generates second comparison signals as a function of disagreement therebetween. A third monitor compares the primary processor of the second lane with the redundant processor of the first lane and generates third comparison signals as a function of disagreement therebetween.

Abstract: A semi-active suspension control system comprises exclusively chassis acceleration sensors (S.sub.1 to S.sub.3) as sensors (1) for obtaining the information for the damping force control. The output signals of these sensors are analyzed in a filter (3), the transmission behavior of which is in linear approximation to the transmission behavior of a discrete Kalman filter, when concentrating on the frequency range between the natural chassis frequency and the natural wheel frequency.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system having a microprocessor-based vehicle recording unit, a remote computerized data reporting unit and a data transfer interface. The vehicle recording unit is mounted on the vehicle and is automatically activated by a vibration sensor signal each time the vehicle is used, to time-stamp each trip and record the distance travelled. The vehicle unit updates and records the distance traveled based upon the number of pulses received from a magnetic sensor mounted on the vehicle. After data from a trip has been recorded in the vehicle unit, a data interface such as an electronic memory card is used to download the data to the remote reporting unit for analysis and generation of reports on trip activity.

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: The present invention relates to a system and method for diagnosing and isolating problems and for monitoring operting conditions on an automobile. The system includes a hand held unit and a master station which can operate alone or in unison to accomplish functions such as logging and displaying data on a real-time basis, logging data remotely and displaying the data at a later time, diagnosing fault conditions, monitoring operating parameters, reprogramming on-board vehicle controllers, displaying service manual and service bulletin pages and ordering parts on-line.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling the braking of an aircraft to a desired setting upon landing or during a rejected takeoff. The inputs to the control system are airplane acceleration and airplane pitch. The output from the control system is an electric current which is sent to a hydraulic servo valve. This valve meters hydraulic pressure to the brakes.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing an off-set from a measured quantity capable of obtaining an accurate information on the measured quantity by removing the off-set contained in the measured quantity. The apparatus includes a plurality of physical quantity detectors, each one for detecting a value of a different one of a plurality of physical quantities which are mutually related through an identical equation of motion; an off-set calculator for calculating, in a prescribed state in which a value of one of the physical quantities detected by one detector is known to be accurate, off-sets of values of remaining physical quantities obtained by remaining detectors in accordance with a value of aforementioned one of the physical quantities detected by aforementioned one detector; and an off-set remover for removing the off-sets calculated by the off-set calculator from values of aforementioned remaining physical quantities obtained by aforementioned remaining detectors.