Abstract: Disclosed is a flight management computer modification that provides a pilot of an aircraft with a list of alternate landing destinations at which he can land the aircraft in case of an emergency on board or due to some reason why he cannot land at an intended destination. Each of the alternate landing destinations is displayed with data regarding the distance between the aircraft's present position and each of the alternate destinations, the estimated time of arrival to fly the aircraft to each of the alternate destinations and an estimate of the fuel remaining on board the aircraft if the aircraft were to land at the alternate destinations. The data allows the pilot to compare the benefits of landing at one of the alternate destinations versus landing at another. The data is calculated assuming a direct flight from the aircraft's present position to the alternate as well as assuming a missed approach at the intended destination and a flight from the intended destination to the alternate landing destination.

Abstract: An electronically controlled arrangement for changing the transmission ratio of a speed-change gearbox of a drive assembly of a motor vehicle, in which a change with the effect of changing-up is prevented by an inhibiting signal formed as a function of parameters of the control of the drive assembly or of the driving state. The change is re-authorized when the accelerator pedal again reaches a significant position determined by a change in level of the inhibiting signal and when a delay time determined by the actuation of the accelerator pedal has elapsed.

Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission, which can easily achieve a variety of shift patterns according to the taste of a driver and the road conditions. The control system includes: a neural network; and a mode switch for selecting either a teaching mode or an automatic mode. The neural network learns in the teaching mode and neuro-computes to output a gear ratio in the automatic mode. Tolerance error is computed from at least one of a propriety of a teaching gear ratio, a compatibility of an input value and a compatibility of the teaching gear ratio. A learning pattern is produced during the teaching mode for correcting load factors of the neural network which, in the automatic mode, outputs a gear ratio used to determine shifting of the transmission.

Abstract: Process-computer-controlled, active rear axle kinematics of a motor vehicle also steered at the rear wheels with an electronically controlled control element, provides that the process computer considers the respective steering angle of the front axle and/or values that can be derived therefrom, a potentially speed-dependent derivative action time constant, a potentially speed-dependent delayed time constant, and a potentially speed-dependent co-steering factor for the automatic control of the rear wheels, and the process computer processes parameters acquired from samples, these parameters correlating at least with those angles, only according to a difference equation--i.e., not according to a differential equation to be iteratively solved--and outputs the rated values acquired as a result thereof for the rear axle or, respectively, rear wheel steering angle and/or rated values derived therefrom to the control element.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a damping characteristic of at least one shock absorber for an automotive vehicle in which, when direction determining signs of both vertical sprung mass velocity (V) and relative velocity (Sv) between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass are the same, the variable control of the damping characteristic C is carried out at either of extension stroke side (V is plus and Sv is plus) or contraction stroke side (V is minus and Sv is minus) to provide C=.alpha..multidot.V/Sv, and when the direction determining signs of both vertical sprung mass velocity (V) and relative velocity (Sv) between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass are mutually different, the variable control of the damping characteristic C is carried out at either of extension stroke side (V is plus and Sv is minus) or contraction stroke side (V is minus and Sv is plus) to provide C=.alpha..multidot.V.

Abstract: A storage medium for map information for a navigation system includes an IC memory chip or an IC memory card of a small memory capacity. This storage medium stores detailed map information of a limited region including part of a highway network and information of the highway network covering a predetermined area which includes the limited region and is wider than the limited region. A system for offering map information for a navigation system includes two storage media. One storage medium is the same as the above-mentioned storage medium and the other storage medium has a small memory capacity. The other storage medium stores detailed map information of a limited region different from the limited region whose information is stored in the one storage medium.

Abstract: An active suspension system of a vehicle has a feed back control system for controlling four suspensions for the four wheels to maintain a reference vehicle height responsive to detected vertical relative displacements between the wheels and the vehicle body at said suspensions, and a feed forward control system for controlling the suspension to reduce pitching of the vehicle responsive to detected longitudinal acceleration. There is further provided a circuit for changing the reference vehicle height which is responsive to the absolute value of the detected longitudinal acceleration or deceleration for reducing the reference vehicle height with increase of the absolute value so that the vehicle body is lowered while the pitching is maintained at a predetermined value so as to obtain better driver's sensation during vehicle acceleration and deceleration and to improve the performance of acceleration and deceleration.

Abstract: A suspension system includes air suspensions provided for individual wheels of a motor vehicle, each including a damping force switching actuator and an air supply/discharge actuator for the air spring. It further includes sensor for detecting the steering angle of a steering wheel, a sensor for detecting the vehicle velocity, and a control device for controlling the damping force and spring constant of each air suspension in accordance with the values detected by means of the sensors. This thereby reduces the roll of the vehicle body and modifies the steering characteristic of the motor vehicle. The control device includes a controller for detecting the gradient and flexure degree of a road.

Abstract: Parameters for operation of a number of vehicle operating subsystems are stored in a vehicle controller and selected to control and configure the operating subsystems. Control and configuration can be based on individual recognized operators of the vehicle or an operating mode can be selected for the vehicle. For example, sport, cruise, luxury, off-road or other performance modes can be set up and selected. If a vehicle is to be operated by an authorized person who is not a recognized operator or is not authorized to select a mode of operation, default operating characteristic parameters are stored and selected. If the authorized person is to be restricted in the possible operation of the vehicle, a further set of limited operating characteristic parameters are stored and selected, preferably by entry of control signals corresponding to a security code. For example, if a valet is parking the vehicle, the limited operating parameters are selected.

Abstract: A controller device for vehicle automatic transmission including oil-pressure driven type friction elements controls the duty factors of the solenoid valves for the respective friction elements involved in the gear shift. In the first control interval A, the duty factors are controlled in accordance with predetermined patterns, such that the friction elements engage with predetermined amounts of slip at the actual beginning of the gear shift. The first interval A is terminated either when a change in the rotational speed of the input shaft of the automatic transmission is detected or when a predetermined length of upper limit for the first interval A expires. When the first interval A terminates, the second control interval B begins, and the duty factors are controlled by a feedback control method.

Abstract: A method and system, is disclosed for using a computer system to simulate a vehicle including a plurality of vehicle duty positions having corresponding display panels. The vehicle duty positions are linked together to form at least one simulated vehicle. The method and system for assigning vehicle duty positions to simulated vehicles incorporates contention resolution techniques which ensure exclusive assignments. Vehicle duty positions assigned to a common simulated vehicle may communicate with one another using the corresponding display panels.

Abstract: A system for controlling damping force characteristics for respective shock absorbers of a vehicle in which each shock absorber is installed between sprung mass and unsprung mass at each tire wheel position, a front tire wheel side sprung mass vertical velocity and a front tire wheel side relative velocity between the sprung mass and unsprung mass are determined, the damping force characteristics of the shock absorbers located at the front tire wheels side are basically controlled on the basis of the control signal determined on the basis of the front tire wheel side sprung mass vertical velocity, and the damping force characteristics of the shock absorbers located at the rear tire wheels side are, on the other hand, controlled on the basis of the control signal determined on the basis of a front tire wheel side road surface input velocity determined on the basis of the front tire wheel side sprung mass vertical velocity and the front tire wheel side relative velocity determined from a front tire wheel side r

Abstract: An anticollision radar system for a vehicle is provided. This system includes a distance sensor for measuring distance to an object present in a given forward detectable range, and determines a curvature of a road on which the system vehicle is moving, determines the probability that the object present in a given forward detectable range of the distance sensor is identified as a preceding vehicle traveling on the same lane as the system vehicle in a preselected relation to the distance to the object measured by the distance sensor and the curvature of the road determined, determines a target speed based on the probability determined, and modifies the speed of the system vehicle to the target speed determined.

Abstract: An automatic transmission control system for an automobile, comprising a vehicle weight estimation unit which estimates a vehicle weight of the automobile a torque estimation unit which estimates an output torque, an acceleration input unit which accepts an acceleration signal; a load estimation unit (110) which estimates a running load from the estimated vehicle weight, the estimated output torque and the accepted acceleration; a memory which stores a plurality of shift schedules therein; and a gear position determination unit (109) which includes the memory, and which selects one of the shift schedules in accordance with the vehicle weight and the estimated running load, so as to determine a gear position of an automatic transmission of the automobile in conformity with the selected shift schedule. An exact shift operation conformed to the vehicle weight and the running load can be performed, and an enhanced fuel consumption can be attained.

Abstract: A driving force controller for an electric vehicle calculates the optimal driving force of each driving wheel based on a formula in response to the detected wheel acceleration and the difference between the wheel speed and the vehicle speed, or alternatively calculates the optimal driving force of each driving wheel based on fuzzy theory by using predetermined membership functions pertinent to the wheel acceleration, speed difference and driving force in response to the detected wheel acceleration and speed difference. The driving force controller thereby controls the driving force of the driving wheel in accordance with the calculated driving force, and prevents slipping of the driving wheel.

Abstract: Vehicle navigation apparatus (10) calculates an initial route to a destination (52) via connected road segments (55, 59) defined in a road map data base. In response to a can't do-reroute signal, indicative of the vehicle user determining unsuitability of following the initial route guidance instructions, a new route (55, 60, 61, 62, 59) to the destination is provided. Automatically excluded from the,new route is a maneuver (ordered road segment pair (55-59)) and/or a road segment of the initial route. This prevents the new route from including an initial guidance instruction which was determined as unsuitable. Also, calculated routes are provided by calculating the route from a predicated position of the vehicle at a subsequent time based on the vehicle's current position, direction and rate of travel. This ensures that when the route is provided at the subsequent time, the vehicle will not have passed the first maneuver to be implemented in the calculated route.

Abstract: The invention provides a route state filter for a vehicle route guidance system for improved tracking of vehicle position with respect to a preselected route. A set of position possibilities are derived by comparing a measured vehicle position to a database containing data representing a map of roads, the possibilities corresponding to possible positions on the roads within an error region around the measured position. A route guidance module receives the position possibilities, checks their validity and applies a filter to remove less likely possibilities. A current position is then selected from the remaining possibilities. An ON/OFF ROUTE status of the vehicle is determined by comparing the selected position with the selected route information in the database. A distance-based filter is utilized to provide improved continuity in the route status determination.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention combines, on a single integrated circuit, an eight channel GPS receiver, a 68330-type microprocessor, a 68681-type DUART serial communications controller, an analog-to-digital converter, a real-time clock, a random access memory and a boot read-only memory. A system integration module and inter-module bus allow tri-state control of the microprocessor such that a commercially available 68332-type emulator may be used for software development.

Abstract: Device for making use of information relating to the breakdowns detected by a central unit (2) of an aircraft, the unit being linked via an address and data bus (4) to a first memory (6) storing this information, comprising a second non-volatile memory (7) which is removable and connectable to said bus (4) and in which the information contained in the first memory (6) may be recopied so as to process it in a computing center.

Abstract: A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle is disclosed in which, in each shock absorber, interposed between the vehicular body and tire wheel, a damping coefficient varying adjuster is provided which changes a damping coefficient at either or both of piston stroke sides according to a control signal input thereto so that the damping coefficient is set to a target damping coefficient position, at lease one sprung mass acceleration sensor and at least one sprung mass speed sensor are provided, and the control unit is provided which outputs the control signal to the damping coefficient varying means according to a result of determination of whether the vertical sprung mass acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold value and according to a direction and magnitude of the sprung mass speed so that the damping coefficient at either or both of the stroke sides is controlled to a target damping coefficient position.