Abstract: A method of triggering a component in a distributed safety-related system, i.e., a component of an X-by-wire system in a motor vehicle, is described. The component is triggered by a process computer assigned to the component and connected to a communication system via a communications controller. A monitoring unit which is independent of the process computer is provided for monitoring the process computer. To simplify the configuration of such a safety-related system while at the same time at least retaining the safety that is achievable on enabling the components, the functions of the monitoring unit are executed by the communications controller. The communications controller may execute a question-and-answer communication with the process computer.

Abstract: A lane-keep control system includes a traveling condition detector and a controller. The controller includes a steering intention detecting section that detects whether a driver has an intention to steer a vehicle, a first steering torque control section that controls, when the driver has no intention to steer the vehicle, a steering torque according to the traveling condition so that the vehicle keeps a predetermined position between lane markings of a lane, and a second steering torque control section that controls, when the driver has an intention to steer the vehicle, the steering torque according to the traveling condition so that a steering operation of the driver is readily reflected on steering of the vehicle. A lane-keep control method is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite system for controlling an agricultural vehicle. In one embodiment the system comprises a vehicle guidance system for determining a course correction for the agricultural vehicle based upon position data received from a position determining component. The system further comprises a steering controller coupled with the vehicle guidance system and comprising an electric steering output and a hydraulic steering output. The steering controller is for generating a steering command based upon the course correction determined by the vehicle guidance system. The steering controller is further for automatically determining whether it is coupled with either of a steering component or a hydraulic steering component which is coupled with the steering mechanism of the agricultural vehicle.

Abstract: A method for sending navigation information is disclosed. The method can gather various items of navigation information and send those items of navigation information in a certain order. In some cases, the order is established by information that has been received. In other cases, the order has been predetermined. This can assist in making navigation information more readily available and in some cases, users can use parcels of navigation information while other parcels are being still delivered.

Abstract: A select lever device for an automatic transmission includes: a torque sensor to detect an input torque to a drive shaft of a select lever; a select position sensor to detect the stroke angle of the select lever; a characteristic data storing unit in which a mechanical load characteristic of the select lever is stored; and a control unit to which signals and data of these elements are inputted. Further, the control unit includes an electric motor to output to the select lever assist torque for assisting the operating force by a driver, the assist torque being controlled based on the input torque to the select lever, the stroke angle of the select lever, and the mechanical load characteristic of the select lever.

Abstract: A steering column switch system includes a device for recording the position of the steering column switch. The device converts the switching position that has been adopted by the steering column switch into a bit pattern. A decoding unit assigns a switching function to the bit pattern of the position that has been identified. Another device recognizes errors during the detection or transmission of the bit patterns. The decoding unit modifies the assignments between the bit patterns and the switching functions to be initiated as a function of the bit pattern errors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a determined position in real-time of an underwater object using a plurality of sensors operating at various sampling rates and for using the determined position in real-time in order to perform inspection tasks inter alia.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for updating information resident on an avionics device. One avionics device embodiment includes a processor, a memory, and a receiver. The memory can be in communication with the processor. The receiver can receive radio signals including update information. The device can update information resident on the device based upon the update information received.

Abstract: A data protocol converter has two interfaces, one of which can be connected to a standard vehicle diagnostic interface, and the other permitting wireless message transfer using a diagnostic handset. A data protocol translator converts the messages from the standard vehicle diagnostic interface into messages having a wireless data format, so that they can be received in the diagnostic handset using the latter's wireless interface. The data protocol converter has a further interface so that it can be connected to a second standard diagnostic interface according to a different standard. The data protocol translator can convert the messages from the second standard vehicle diagnostic interface into messages having a wireless data format.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating attitude using an inertia measuring apparatus comprising: a Kalman filter 3 adapted to receive a quantity of state ?(t) from the inertia measuring apparatus 1, input the quantity of state into a predetermined system equation and a predetermined observation equation and execute time update processing and observation update processing with regard to the system equation and the observation equation; a processing section 4 adapted to generate an estimated value of a time differentiation of a modified Rodrigues parameter ?(t) based upon an output of the Kalman filter; an integral processing section 5 adapted to generate an estimated value of the modified Rodrigues parameter based upon an output of the processing section; a system propagation matrix generating section 6 adapted to update an observation sensitivity matrix based upon an initial value being given beforehand and an output of the integral processing section and supply the updated output to the Kalman filter; a transformed mat

Abstract: A method of maintaining a constant ground speed of a work machine having an engine, powertrain, and at least one electronic control module (ECM) is disclosed. The method included sensing a parameter indicative of the ground speed of the work machine and responsively producing a signal indicative of the actual ground speed, providing a predetermined maximum ground speed of the work machine, receiving the signal indicative of the actual ground speed and the predetermined maximum ground speed of the work machine by the ECM, applying an algorithm to determine the desirable RPM of the engine of the work machine, and modulating the engine RPMs to the desirable engine RPMs to maintain a constant ground speed of the work machine.

Abstract: A marine vessel navigation control apparatus includes a constant-speed navigation controller and a trim angle controller. The trim angle controller includes an evaluated-value calculation module which calculates evaluated values of a trim angle, an information storage medium, a statistical model creation module which creates a statistical model using the evaluated values stored in the information storage medium as an explained variable, and operation information including the trim angle as an explanatory variable, a target trim angle calculation module which calculates a target trim angle based on the statistical model, and a statistical model storage medium which stores parameters of the created statistical model.

Abstract: A navigation method and apparatus finds a location and a route to a plurality of destinations with the minimum number of stops or the shortest overall distance. The navigation method includes the steps of: specifying a plurality of destinations in a navigation system; searching a one-stop location where two or more specified destinations exist or searching a location of each destination; displaying results of search for prompting a user to decide whether recommended locations of the destinations in the search result is acceptable; repeating the above steps of searching locations and displaying the search results until the user accepts recommended locations of the destinations; and guiding the user to the destinations accepted by the user.

Abstract: A train control system includes a positioning system and consults a database to determine when the train is approaching a configurable device such as a switch or grade crossing gate. The system continuously interrogates the device to determine its status as the train approaches the device, and forces an engineer/conductor to acknowledge any detected malfunction. The train is forced to come to a complete stop before proceeding past the device or may be slowed down to a speed that will allow the engineer/conductor to visually determine whether it is safe to proceed past the device if the engineer/conductor acknowledges a message warning of the malfunction and will stop the train if the engineer/conductor fails to acknowledge the warning message.

Abstract: A remote maintenance system is provided that can perform maintenance on a mobile object by manipulations from a remote location. If a malfunction occurs in a vehicle (4), an ECU of the vehicle (4) is connected to a communication server (3) at a dealer (7). Next, an engineer of a maker (6) starts a maintenance terminal (1) in response to notification from the dealer (7) to transmit a command for requesting a DTC to the communication server (3). The DTC request command is transmitted to the ECU via a data management server (5) and the communication server (3), and the ECU transmits the DTC toward the maintenance terminal (1). The DTC which has been transmitted from the vehicle (4) is input to the maintenance terminal (1) via the communication server (3) and the data management server (5) and is displayed on the maintenance terminal (1).

Abstract: In lane keep control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a deceleration controlled variable is calculated on the basis of a state of a tendency of a vehicular deviation from a traffic lane on which the vehicle is traveling and a braking force acted upon each of driven wheels of the vehicle is controlled on the basis of the calculated deceleration controlled variable.

Abstract: In the present invention, even if a mobile terminal is close to a base station, the position of the mobile terminal is measured accurately. The disclosed method for calculating the position of a mobile terminal comprises: measuring the differences between the propagation distances of the signals on the channels between a plurality of base stations and the mobile terminal; determining if the mobile terminal is close to a base station; calculating the position of the mobile terminal by a common formula if it is determined that the mobile terminal is not in close proximity to any of the base stations; calculating the position of the mobile terminal in close proximity to a base station if it is determined that the mobile terminal is in close proximity to one of the base stations; and outputting the position of the mobile terminal calculated through either of the routines for calculating the mobile terminal position.

Abstract: In a circuit device for analyzing analog signals from first and second circuits. The first and second circuits are designed to output analog signals which are opposite to each other in the positive and negative signs of phase. When short-circuit occurs, the output signals from the first and second circuits interfere with each other and thus these signals are offset by each other, so that malfunction caused by the short-circuit can be prevented, and also neither a device not a terminal is required to be added.

Abstract: A vehicular angular velocity sensor system executes abnormality detection of angular velocity sensors based on comparison between output states of corresponding angular velocity signals. The sensor system includes first low-pass filters and second low-pass filters for the two angular velocity sensors, respectively. Each of the first low-pass filter has a first cut-off frequency to remove components of a high frequency band unnecessary for vehicular control, from angular velocity signals. In contrast, each of the second low-pass filters has a second cut-off frequency that is lower than the first cut-off frequency of the first low-pass filter. Low-frequency-side angular velocity signals that have passed through the second low-pass filters are used for executing the abnormality detection.

Abstract: A fuel pump monitoring system (10) for monitoring fuel pumps (16) and a method for using the system are provided. The fuel pump monitoring system includes a display device (22), an information network (20), a data communication network (18), a monitoring device (12), and an information server (14). The monitoring device collects environmental parameters and operates independent from the vehicle. In one embodiment, the monitoring device uses GPS technology. The fuel pump information server provides fuel pump information and related information to a subscriber. In one embodiment, the monitoring device is in communication with an Iridium satellite constellation (28) and the information is displayed to the subscriber when the fuel pump is substantially anywhere in the world.