Abstract: A system for monitoring the area surrounding a vehicle, especially behind the vehicle and/or a connected trailer. The system includes distance sensors, which are arranged in a main plane and in at least one additional plane, for detecting objects in the respective monitoring region that pose a risk of collision and/or that limit passage height and/or width. The system also includes a device that evaluates the distance sensor signals to ascertain the current distance of the vehicle from the detected object and to compare the current distance against a predefinable, vehicle-specific setpoint distance value and to output a warning signal if a predefinable difference value therebetween is not reached. To cover the monitoring region both in area and height, additional distance sensors are arranged in at least one additional plane such that objects that cannot be identified by the sensors in the main plane can be detected over the entire width of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a mobile vehicle 1A having a front wheel 3f and a rear wheel 3r, the steered wheel 3f can be steered by an actuator 8. A control device 15 controls the actuator 8 so as to stabilize the inclination angle ?b in the roll direction of the vehicle body 2 and the steering angle ?f of the steered wheel 3f. The control device 15 causes a ratio between the sensitivity of the steering of the steered wheel 3f to the change in observed value of the inclination angle ?b and the sensitivity of the steering of the steered wheel 3f to the change in observed value of the steering angle ?f to be changed in accordance with the traveling speed of the mobile vehicle 1A.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a potentially hazardous condition exists. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken relating to the hazardous condition. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching the location where the potentially hazardous condition exists.

Abstract: Technology is provided that enables vehicle speed to be grasped more accurately utilized for adjusting vehicle height. A vehicle height adjusting device includes: a relative position changing device capable of changing relative positions of a vehicle body frame and a rear wheel of a vehicle; a vehicle speed grasping section configured to grasp vehicle speed, which is moving speed of the vehicle body frame; and a change-over valve control section configured to control the relative position changing device on the basis of the vehicle speed grasped by the vehicle speed grasping section and change the relative positions of the vehicle body frame and the rear wheel to adjust vehicle height, which is the height of the vehicle body frame. The vehicle speed grasping section grasps the vehicle speed on the basis of front wheel rotating speed, which is the rotating speed of a front wheel, and rear wheel rotating speed, which is the rotating speed of the rear wheel.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided, including: at least one articulatable arm having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one joint region disposed between the distal and proximal ends; an optical fiber bend sensor provided in the at least one joint region of the at least one articulatable arm; a detection system coupled to the optical fiber bend sensor, said detection system comprising a light source and a light detector for detecting light reflected by or transmitted through the optical fiber bend sensor to determine a position of at least one joint region of the at least one articulatable arm based on the detected light reflected by or transmitted through the optical fiber bend sensor; and a control system comprising a servo controller for effectuating movement of the arm.

Abstract: An electronic traction optimization system includes a control unit adapted to produce a corner speed estimate signal for each wheel of a machine, produce an ideal target speed signal for each wheel having a value at least partially responsive to the corner speed estimate signals, produces a practical target speed signal for each wheel, generates an actual target speed signal having a value responsive to a comparison of the ideal target speed signal and the practical target speed signal for each wheel. The control unit compares each actual target speed signal to an associated wheel speed signal to obtain a wheel speed error signal for each wheel and converts each wheel speed error signal to a clutch control signal, wherein each differential clutch actuator is responsive to an associated clutch control signal.

Abstract: In a movement direction control apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium, a reaction torque accompanying rotation of a rotor is utilized to control a rotation angle of a body in a yaw direction. A specification of a yaw angle of a wheel as a target of the movement direction is received, and information of a friction torque is acquired. A rotation angular acceleration in the yaw direction is calculated, based on the yaw angle, the specification of which has been received, and the reaction torque is calculated, based on the calculated rotation angular acceleration in the yaw direction. An operation instruction to a motor for yaw is generated, based on the calculated reaction torque and the acquired information of the friction torque.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device scans through a scanning zone while emitting light pulses and receives reflected signals corresponding to the light pulses. The LIDAR device scans the emitted light pulses through the scanning zone by reflecting the light pulses from an array of oscillating mirrors. The mirrors are operated by a set of electromagnets arranged to apply torque on the mirrors, and an orientation feedback system senses the orientations of the mirrors. Driving parameters for each mirror are determined based on information from the orientation feedback system. The driving parameters can be used to drive the mirrors in phase at an operating frequency despite variations in moments of inertia and resonant frequencies among the mirrors.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a pixel array having a plurality of image pixels and a plurality of test pixels. The test pixels may each include a photodiode configured to receive a test voltage. For example, the photodiodes of test pixels may be coupled to a bias voltage supply line or the photodiodes may receive test voltages via a column readout line or a row control line. The test voltage may be output on a column line associated with the column of pixels in which the test pixel is located. Verification circuitry may compare the output test signal with a predetermined reference signal to determine whether the imaging system is functioning properly. If an output test signal does not match the expected output signal, the imaging system may be disabled and/or a warning signal may be presented to a user of the system.

Abstract: System and method for providing feedback to drivers. The system monitors selected vehicle parameters while a vehicle is being driven, and detects one or more vehicle operation violations by comparing the selected vehicle parameters to predetermined thresholds. A mentoring message is provided to the driver if the threshold is exceeded. If a vehicle operation violation has not been corrected within a preselected time period, then a violation report may be sent to a third party or a central server and/or a different mentoring message may be provided to the driver. Vehicle parameter data may be monitored from an on-board vehicle diagnostic system. The mentoring message may be an audible warning, such as a spoken message, or a visual warning, such as a text message. The selected vehicle parameters may be a vehicle speed, a vehicle acceleration, or a vehicle seatbelt use.

Abstract: In a mobile vehicle 1 having a vehicle body 2, a front wheel 3f, and a rear wheel 3r, the steering control wheel 3f can be steered by a steering actuator 8 about a steering axis Csf which is tilted backward. The steering actuator 8 is controlled by a control device 15. The height a, from a ground surface 110, of the intersection point Ef of the steering axis Csf of the steering control wheel 3f and a virtual straight line connecting the ground contact point of the steering control wheel 3f and the center of axle of the steering control wheel 3f in a basic posture state of the mobile vehicle 1 is set to satisfy a prescribed condition.

Abstract: A method for estimating the position of a telematics-equipped vehicle during navigation includes: receiving a partial map corresponding to a route; receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) data corresponding to a current position of the vehicle; performing a closest street (CS) mapping based on the GPS data and the partial map so as to provide an estimation for a vehicle position on a street of the partial map; performing speed sum (SS) mapping based on the estimated vehicle position and speed readings corresponding to vehicle speed so as to provide an estimation of distance traveled with reference to a previous vehicle position; and presenting a map matched vehicle position to a user based on the CS mapping and the SS mapping.

Abstract: In a method for collision-free interaction between a machine having mobile machine elements and objects in its vicinity, safety regions are established and monitored using the knowledge of the current position and the dynamic behavior. In particular, image data of the mobile machine element are recorded by means of an image acquisition system and are correlated with a database compiled in a training phase with image data of at least one mobile machine element. The database contains image data relating to a plurality of movement phases within the movement process of the machine. Using the database, both the current position of the mobile machine element is ascertained and a future position, reachable within the stopping time, is estimated. The dynamic behavior of the machine in the event of collision risk is optimized on the basis of this estimation.

Abstract: An in-vehicle electronic control unit is fed via a power supply relay energized when a power supply switch is closed while the vehicle is in motion. When a filler lid open command switch is closed in a vehicle stop state in which the power supply switch is opened, the power supply relay is energized and a microprocessor starts to operate and continues to energize the power supply relay by generating a self-hold command output, and opens a filler lid as a safety door after performing decompression processing control of a fuel tank. Then, the filler cap is opened and a refuel operation is performed manually. Thereafter, the microprocessor stops the self-hold command output when the filler cap and the filler lid are closed or a predetermined time has elapsed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a limb strike detector are provided. In certain embodiments, a system for detecting limb strikes comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that provides inertial measurements; and a processing unit that receives the inertial measurements from the IMU.

Abstract: In a driving force control apparatus of a vehicle of the present invention, a calculation portion of a meter_ECU outputs a mode selected by a mode selection switch or a temporary switch to a calculation portion as a request mode and has a multi-information display 12 display the mode selected by a driver. A calculation portion of an E/G_ECU outputs the request mode to a throttle control calculation portion and a transmission control calculation portion as a control mode for throttle opening-degree control and transmission control of a transmission with a driving force characteristic of the corresponding mode. A control mode arbitration calculation portion forcedly switches the control mode to a normal mode during warming-up driving or when a shift select lever is set to an R range. At this time, display of the request mode is not switched but the mode selected by the driver is displayed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for monitoring a flight control actuator of an aircraft, including: an actuator (1), sensors (3a-3d) in the actuator (1) to collect, during each flight of the aircraft, series of measurements of parameters relative to the said actuator, processing means (5) to calculate a set of damage indicators using, cumulatively, the series of measurements observed during each of the aircraft's successive flights, and a memory (7; 7a) to store the said set of damage indicators, where the said memory is integrated in the actuator.

Abstract: A redundantable robotic mechanism is disclosed for improving reliability of transport equipment. The redundantable robot assembly typically comprises independent robots with separate controls, motors, linkage arms, or power, thus providing the capability of operation even if parts of the assembly are not operational or when parts of the assembly are removed for repair. The redundantable robot assembly can be also designed to allow in-situ servicing, e.g. servicing one robot when the other is running. The disclosed redundantable robot assembly provides virtual uninterrupted process flow, and thus greatly increases the yield for the manufacturing facility.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a system and method of automatically transporting cargo from a loading station to an unloading station using a vehicle. Loading and unloading of cargo may be accomplished automatically without the need for human operators of either the loading station, the unloading station, or the vehicle. The unloading and loading station each comprise guide rails and a plurality of directional signal sources used by the vehicle to control its current position so that it may retrieve and deliver a target load. The vehicle comprises at least one sensor for detecting modulated directional signals and a controller to control the current position of the vehicle based on the received signals.

Abstract: A system and method for switching a positioning device between using a first positioning technology and using a second positioning technology includes determining a location of the positioning device based on the first positioning technology, determining environment information corresponding to the location of the positioning device, and determining a location of a boundary where switching from the first positioning technology to the second positioning technology should occur. The method also includes switching from the first positioning technology to the second positioning technology prior to the positioning device crossing the boundary.