Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling operation of an autonomously navigating utility vehicle to travel about a working area, there are provided a cell memorizing unit identifying a series of cells on which the vehicle has traveled in the work mode, assigning cell numbers successively to the series of cells, and memorizing the series of cells in association with the assigned cell numbers, the series of cells starting from the charging device to the current cell of the vehicle, a cell selecting unit selecting a return locus cell from among the series of cells in the return mode, the return locus cell being adjacent to the current cell, a cell number of the return locus cell being smaller than a cell number of the current cell, and a travel controlling unit controlling the vehicle to travel on the return locus cell to return to the charging device.

Abstract: A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an autonomous vehicle fleet as a service. In particular, a method may include receiving an indication of a sensor anomaly, determining one or more sensor recovery strategies based on the sensor anomaly, and executing a course of action that ensures the autonomous vehicle system operates within accepted parameters. Alternative sensors may be relied upon to cover for the sensor anomaly, which may include a failed sensor while the autonomous vehicle is in operation.

Abstract: A system for providing deceleration in a hybrid vehicle having a hydraulic braking system and a regenerative braking system. The system includes a hydraulic braking sensor configured to determine a status of the hydraulic braking system. The system also includes a brake pedal unit configured to determine brake pedal data. The system also includes a battery configured to store energy generated by the regenerative braking system. The system also includes a processor configured to determine whether the hydraulic braking system is compromised. The processor is also configured to detect an emergency braking situation based on the brake pedal data. The processor is also configured to increase engine speed of the engine to induce engine braking, and increase the maximum charge limit of the battery to increase a regenerative braking capacity of the regenerative braking system when the hydraulic braking system is compromised and the emergency braking situation is detected.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for displaying a fuel efficiency increasing rate during eco-coasting for an electric vehicle. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a driver may confirm the fuel efficiency increasing rate depending on the eco-coasting performance after driving ends to lead a driver to use an eco-coasting guide function and perform fuel efficiency driving.

Abstract: A method for adaptive mission execution by an unmanned aerial vehicle includes receiving a set of pre-calculated mission parameters corresponding to an initial UAV mission; collecting UAV operation data during flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle; calculating a set of modified mission parameters from the set of pre-calculated mission parameters and the UAV operation data, the set of modified mission parameters corresponding to a modified UAV mission; and executing the modified UAV mission on the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle, an overtake assessment arrangement, and an overtake assessment system are provided. The overtake assessment arrangement is configured to receive, from at least one external source, real time traffic information on one or more surrounding vehicles outside a sensor monitoring area, assess whether to overtake at least one preceding vehicle within the sensor monitoring area or not, based on the real time traffic information received via the communication unit, and provide a vehicle drive arrangement with input indicative of the assessment, such that the vehicle drive arrangement is able to control the host vehicle to overtake the at least one preceding vehicle or not in accordance with the input.

Abstract: An electrical source control apparatus controls a vehicle which travels by using an electrical source system including a first electrical source and a second electrical source. The electrical source control apparatus has: a controlling device for controlling the first and second electrical sources to set a residual power level of the first electrical source equal to first target amount and to set a residual power level of the second electrical source equal to second target amount, and a setting device for setting the first and second target amounts such that each of the first and second target amounts becomes smaller as a speed of the vehicle becomes larger. The setting device sets the first and second target amounts such that a rate of change of the second target amount to the speed is larger than a rate of change of the first target amount to the speed.

Abstract: Setting or regulating a tire inflation pressure in one or more vehicle tires includes measuring and inflating in cycles. In each case, a seal is applied in at least one rotary transmitter. When the seal is applied, a tire filling pressure is changed and/or measured, and then the seal is removed again. The measuring and filling cycles can even be initiated while the vehicle is traveling. In intermediate time periods between the measuring or filling cycles, the seal is not applied. The measuring and filling cycles and the intermediate time periods are set as a function of ascertained current vehicle variables.

Abstract: A control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a drive system including a starter motor, a transverse engine, and a motor/generator, and a power supply system including a high voltage battery, a capacitor, and a hybrid control module that controls charging and discharging of the capacitor. A cell voltage monitor for detecting the voltage of the capacitor is provided, the control system being capable of normal external charging and quick external charging of the high voltage battery. The hybrid control module starts the starter, performs charge and discharge control, and maintains a capacitor voltage at and above a starter start-up enabling voltage at which it is possible to start the starter during ignition off and external charging is set to the quick external charging.

Abstract: A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The leading sensor is onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that is traveling along a route. The leading sensor measures first characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The trailing sensor is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The trailing sensor measures second characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The route examining unit is disposed onboard the vehicle system and receives the first characteristics of the route and the second characteristics of the route to compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics. The route examining unit also identifies a segment of the route as being damaged based on a comparison of the first characteristics with the second characteristics.

Abstract: A system for monitoring positioning of a machine is disclosed. The system includes an IMU located at a first location on the machine and configured to generate positioning data associated with the first location. The system includes a machine controller operatively associated with the machine. The machine controller is configured to determine predicted positioning data for a second location on the machine based on positioning data associated with the first location. The machine controller is further configured to generate a virtual IMU at the second location based on the predicted positioning data for the second location, wherein the virtual IMU generates virtual positioning data for the second location. The system further includes an application controller operatively associated with the machine controller and configured to use the virtual positioning data as input data for one or more machine-associated applications.

Abstract: A new apparatus and method for determining trajectories for hypersonic glide vehicles significantly reduces integrated, or total, heat load, with little reduction in time to distance and maximum range. The new approach identifies a trajectory having large phugoid oscillations and plotting a glide trajectory along the peaks of the phugoid oscillations. The glide trajectory is determined by calculating a first altitude that results in a maximum lift to drag ratio trajectory having damped or small phugoid oscillations, then calculating a different altitude that results in larger phugoid oscillations, and higher phugoid peaks, and finally plotting a trajectory from the first altitude that follows the peaks of the higher phugoid oscillation trajectory. The thus calculated trajectory can be input into a glide vehicle guidance system for controlling the trajectory of the glide vehicle from a point where it reaches the first altitude.

Abstract: A method and a system for diagnosing one or more rail vehicles, each of which has at least one measuring device for measuring measurement values of at least one measurement variable. The method includes the following steps: measuring measurement values by way of at least one measuring device of at least one rail vehicle; transmitting the measurement values from the rail vehicle to a control center situated along the track; evaluating the measurement values in the control center by means of a predefined algorithm, and providing a result of the evaluation as an output.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus that detects that a driver has steered the handle by using a steering torque detected by a torque sensor, switches to the manual steering mode due to a capacity (an integrated value) corresponding to a generated torque, and does not provide an uncomfortable feeling to the driver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for operating an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system comprising a master cylinder, an electromechanical actuator for generating a hydraulic pressure at a plurality of wheel brakes and a set of electrically actuable valve arrangements. The set of valve arrangements comprises a first valve arrangement between the master cylinder and every wheel brake. The first valve arrangements can be controlled in the multiplex operation to generate, by means of the electromechanical actuator, the respective brake pressure intended for each of the wheel brakes. According to an aspect of this technique, the method comprises the steps of: generating a feedback current during the multiplex operation by operating an electric motor of the electromechanical actuator as a generator and supplying the feedback current to at least one electrical load.

Abstract: A disclosed method of maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a backing system includes, among other things, determining that the vehicle-trailer unit is backing up with an electronic control unit for the backing system. A current hitch angle is determined, which represents the relative angle between the vehicle and the trailer with the electronic control unit. A requested hitch angle rate of change versus distance traveled is calculated with the electronic control unit, wherein the requested hitch angle rate of change is based upon a input from a joystick control which provides a requested hitch angle rate of change signal value in proportion to the joystick position.

Abstract: An electric motor is controlled based on a target energization amount calculated based on an operation amount of a braking operation member. Based on the operation amount, it is determined whether or not an inertia compensation control for compensating for the influence of the inertia of a brake actuator is necessary. When the inertia compensation control is determined to be necessary, an inertia compensation energization amount compensating for the influence of the inertia of the brake actuator is calculated using a time-series pattern set in advance based on the maximum response of the brake actuator. Using the inertia compensation energization amount, the target energization amount is calculated. The vehicle brake control device causes an electric motor to generate a braking torque and appropriately compensates for the influence of the inertia of the entire device including the inertia of the electric motor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving vehicle performance and efficiency. The performance is improved by allowing the user to customize parameters and other features through the use of an interface accessible to the vehicle operator or owner, which enables and encourages development and rewards many stakeholders including vehicle producers and third party vendors (e.g. aftermarket), customers, maintenance service providers, and insurance companies. One form of performance improvement, a novel method of accomplishing an enhanced form of energy efficiency calculation for near real-time display to the operator, is provided in detail.

Abstract: This patent application discloses methods and systems for alerting computerized motor-vehicles about predicted accidents. In an example method, a motor vehicle alerts another motor vehicle about a predicted accident, even though that accident is between the alerting car and a third motor vehicle—for example, the alert is transmitted by non-visual electromagnetic (EM) radiation. When an adjacent motor vehicle receives such accident alert and determines it might itself be hit, it will react so as to minimize its chances of being hit or at least to minimize the damage if it is being hit.