Abstract: In one embodiment, a navigation system provides predictive natural guidance utilizing a mobile landmark based on location data. The location data may be a schedule. A controller receives data of a schedule of a mobile landmark. The location data could be collected in real time or estimated. The mobile landmark may be a vehicle or a celestial body. The controller correlates a route from an origin location to a destination location and the location of the mobile landmark. The controller generates a message based on the correlation. The message is output during presentation of the route and references the mobile landmark.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lateral control apparatus including: an offset measuring unit that measures current lateral offsets of at least two other vehicles at a current time based on a center of a driving lane; a preview offset calculating unit that predicts a lateral offset of the other vehicle based on the center of the driving lane based on a location and a speed of the other vehicle at a time when a predetermined time has elapsed to calculate a preview offset; a priority determining unit that determines a priority of the other vehicles based on a difference between the lateral offset and the preview offset; and a controller that generates a route for lane keeping control of own vehicle based on the lateral offset of the other vehicle to which a top priority is assigned by the priority determining unit.

Abstract: A vehicle turn monitoring method comprises determining an intent for a host vehicle to execute a left turn before the host vehicle begins to execute the left turn, monitoring a location relationship between the host vehicle and a remote vehicle before the host vehicle begins to execute the left turn, and evaluating a travelling condition of the host vehicle before the host vehicle begins to execute the left turn. The method further includes determining, by operation of a processor, whether to perform a threat mitigation operation before the host vehicle begins to execute the left turn based on the location relationship and the travelling condition.

Abstract: A system for selecting shift schedules of a transmission of a vehicle configured to change gears according to two or more shift schedules includes a controller. The controller is configured to estimate mass of the vehicle based on a plurality of accelerations of the vehicle from a standstill, and estimate a road load of the vehicle based on the estimated mass. The controller is also configured to estimate a grade of terrain over which the vehicle is travelling based on the estimated mass of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to select between at least a first shift schedule and a second shift schedule based on at least one of the estimated mass of the vehicle, characteristics of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, the estimated grade of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, and functions capable of being performed by the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of modifying a worksite for calibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a first machine on the worksite. The method may include receiving a signal from the first machine indicative of an aspect of the vehicle model in need of calibration. The method may also include determining, in response to receipt of the signal, that the worksite includes a calibration site having a characteristic corresponding to the aspect of the vehicle model, and that calibrating the aspect of the vehicle model requires modifying the characteristic of the calibration site. The method may further include autonomously modifying the characteristic of the calibration site with a second machine at the worksite, and directing the first machine to the modified calibration site for autonomous calibration of the aspect of the vehicle model.

Abstract: An electronic controller for a variable ratio transmission and an electronically controllable variable ratio transmission including a variator or other CVT are described herein. The electronic controller can be configured to receive input signals indicative of parameters associated with an engine coupled to the transmission. The electronic controller can also receive one or more control inputs. The electronic controller can determine an active range and an active variator mode based on the input signals and control inputs. The electronic controller can control a final drive ratio of the variable ratio transmission by controlling one or more electronic solenoids that control the ratios of one or more portions of the variable ratio transmission.

Abstract: When a depression force of an accelerator pedal is increased than a base depression force by a predetermined increase amount when an accelerator opening degree becomes greater than an accelerator opening degree threshold value, an overshoot control is performed so that a depression force increase command is once increased than a depression force increase target command value which increases the depression force of the accelerator pedal than the base depression force by the predetermined amount, and returned to the depression force increase target command value. In this overshoot control, an overshoot controlled variable of the overshoot control is set based on a magnitude of a hysteresis of the base depression force of the accelerator pedal.

Abstract: A method for determining barrier crossing information for convoyed objects (22) using historic trajectory data (28). Trajectories (28) having similar geographical and directional properties are bundled so that trajectory density can be measured as a function of position and time (s, t). Visual presentation of the trajectory information can be used to determine certain types of barrier crossing information useful in a digital map. Frequency analysis on a number of trajectory density time series may be performed to determine specific barrier crossing locations (26) through the detection of vehicle bursts. Such frequency analysis may also indicate barrier crossing times and schedules in the case of crossing patterns.

Abstract: A display system of an excavating machine including a work machine having a bucket with an excavation edge and an arm to which the bucket is swingably attached, and a body to which the work machine is attached, the system including: a vehicle condition detector detecting first information related to a current position of the excavating machine and second information related to a posture of the body; a storage storing position information of a target surface indicating a target shape of an object and appearance information of the bucket; and a processor obtaining virtual images indicating positions of planes passing through both ends of the excavation edge from among planes parallel to a plane on which the arm moves based on the first and second information, and the appearance information, and displaying the virtual images on a screen with the bucket as viewed from above the excavating machine.

Abstract: A method and a system for changing the segments of an SOC indicator of a vehicle at non-linear rates or for changing the number of the segments in an on state more slowly when the SOC is high or low as opposed to when the SOC is in the middle range. The system can be implemented with a vehicle including a battery, a sensor, a processor, a controller and a display. The method may include determining a display SOC based on the SOC of the vehicle, providing, by a display, three sets of lights including a low-SOC set, a middle-SOC set, and a high-SOC set, each light is illuminated or de-illuminated based on whether the display SOC has changed by an amount greater than the light's assigned power increment or decrement, where the middle-SOC power increments and decrements are less than the low-SOC or high-SOC power increments and decrements.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling attitude of a vehicle using a reaction wheel onboard the vehicle. One exemplary method involves receiving a torque command for adjusting the attitude of the vehicle using the reaction wheel, determining a phase error of the reaction wheel based at least in part on the torque command, and determining a motor torque command for the reaction wheel based on the phase error. The motor torque command is provided to an electric motor of the reaction wheel to apply a corresponding torque to the rotor of the reaction wheel. The relationship between the magnitude of the motor torque command and the magnitude of the phase error is nonlinear. In exemplary embodiments, the magnitude of the motor torque command exceeds the stiction torque, at least instantaneously, when the reaction wheel has fallen behind an expected position by more than a threshold amount.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system for preventing collisions with a terrain. The system includes a detecting means for detecting risks of collision with the terrain after a predetermined forecasting delay. The system further includes a determining means for determining, based on a trajectory followed by the aircraft, a possible limit point for success of the vertical terrain avoidance maneuver. The system further includes indication means for giving indications on azimuth clearance sections, around the direction in which the aircraft is moving, suitable for success of the vertical terrain avoidance maneuver. The system further includes means for estimating a free-travel distance in each azimuth clearance sector on a straight distancing trajectory with constant gradient and over a distance correspond to more than one minute of flight, the free-travel distance being free of potential conflicts with the terrain.

Abstract: A plan through a space having a near field and a far field is determined. Using a sensor device, measurements of the far field are obtained and stored in an electronic memory. A processor uses the measurements to determine the viability of each far field plan among a plurality of candidate far field plans. The processor also determines a flexibility score for each of the candidate far field plans and selects a composite plan comprising the viable far field plan having a highest flexibility score among the viable candidate far field plans.

Abstract: A method and a system for changing the power consumption value available for an HVAC unit of a vehicle when an available battery power for batteries of the vehicle is low. A method and a system for non-linearly changing the power consumption value available for the HVAC unit when the available battery power decreases to a power value less than a low power value. The system can be a vehicle including batteries, an HVAC unit, an ECU and a memory. The method may include setting an HVAC power consumption value to a relatively constant power value when the available battery power is greater than a low power value and decreasing the HVAC power consumption value by a non-linear rate of power reduction when the available battery power decreases to a power value less than the low power value.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with first and second intake valves and a piston configured to rotate the engine's crankshaft. The method includes determining whether deceleration of the vehicle is desired and ceasing supply of fuel to the cylinder when such condition is satisfied. The method also includes closing the first intake valve at a first predetermined instance and closing the second intake valve at a second predetermined instance via a specifically configured device when the fuel supply has been ceased. The second predetermined instance is after the first predetermined instance relative to rotational position of the crankshaft and magnitude of compression pulses in the cylinder during deceleration is reduced relative to when the cylinder is being fueled. A system for controlling the hybrid vehicle and a vehicle employing such a system are also provided.

Abstract: A microprocessor driven two dimensional search engine examines transmission operating points within a plurality of search range spaces and assists in determining properties associated with the driveline at various operating points within the space. The size of the space is reduced by rearrangement of data.

Abstract: A method controlling operation of a mechanism mechanically coupling first and second axles of a transmission system of a motor vehicle, the first axle being driven as standard and the second axle being driven as an option depending on a status of the coupling mechanism, the transmission system being capable of operating in a first mode in which a value of transmittable torque that can be transmitted by the mechanical coupling mechanism is fixed, or in a second mode in which the value of the transmittable torque that can be transmitted by the mechanical coupling mechanism is higher than the value of the transmittable torque for the first mode.

Abstract: A system for managing a temperature of a working fluid in a vehicle powertrain can include a temperature sensor and a controller. The working fluid can be located in a transmission of the powertrain, and a temperature sensor can be in thermal contact with the working fluid and configured to output data indicative of a real-time temperature of the working fluid. The controller can be in electrical communication with the temperature sensor and at least one of a power source and the transmission. The controller can be configured to compare the data from the temperature sensor to a temperature threshold, select a terminal speed limit when the data indicates that the temperature is less than or substantially equal to the temperature threshold, and select a reduced speed limit when the data indicates that the temperature is greater than the temperature threshold.

Abstract: A method and system of monitoring a structure, the method including: a) synchronously acquiring data comprising a plurality of operational parameters and at least one strain data, b) building a significant points dataset from the data acquired in step a), and c) modelling a relationship between the operational parameters and the strain data using the built significant points dataset to train a non-adaptive prediction functional supervised approximation method, wherein the step of building a significant points dataset comprises deletion of redundant information from the acquired data. The resultant models may be used to process structure real operation data in order to estimate the eventual crack initiation and crack growth on a set of predefined locations of the structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processing information generated by GNSS receivers received signals such as GPS, GLONASS, etc. GNSS receivers can determine their position in space. The receivers are capable of determining both coordinates and velocity of their spatial movement. When a receiver is used in any machine control systems, velocity vector heading (in other words, velocity vector orientation) should be determined along with velocity vector's absolute value. Angle, determining velocity vector orientation, is calculated based on velocity vector projections which are computed in navigation receivers. The accuracy of velocity vector orientation calculated based on velocity vector projections strongly enough depends on velocity vector's absolute value. To enhance the accuracy, a method of smoothing primary estimates of velocity vector orientation angles using a modified Kalman filter has been proposed.