Abstract: Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Disclosed are systems, methods, and apparatus for actively adjusting the shape of a propeller blade of an aerial vehicle during operation of the aerial vehicle. For example, the propeller blade may have one or more joints that adjust to alter the shape of the propeller blade. The altered shape of the propeller blade causes the propeller to generate different frequencies of sound as it rotates. By altering multiple propeller blades of the aerial vehicle, the different sounds generated by the different propeller blades may effectively cancel or reduce the total sound generated by the aerial vehicle, and/or alter the total frequency generated.

Abstract: A branching and merging determination apparatus includes a recognizer and a determiner. The recognizer recognizes a target present in front of an own vehicle. The determiner determines, based on a result of the recognition of the target by the recognizer, presence or absence of branching and merging of roads. Specifically, the determiner is configured to: estimate a traveling section where branching or merging of roads is probably present; and determine that no branching or merging of roads is present in a region of the estimated traveling section where there is a preceding vehicle traveling at a higher speed than the own vehicle.

Abstract: Arrangements relating to the transitioning of a vehicle between operational modes are described. The vehicle can transition between a first operational mode and a second operational mode. The second operational mode has a greater degree of manual involvement than the first operational mode. For instance, the first operational mode can be an unmonitored autonomous operational mode, and the second operational mode can be a monitored autonomous operational mode or a manual operational mode. It can be determined whether an operational mode transition event has occurred while the vehicle is operating in the first operational mode. In response to determining that an operational mode transition event has occurred, a time buffer for continuing in the first operational mode before switching to the second operational mode can be determined. A transition alert can be presented within the vehicle. The transition alert can represent the determined time buffer.

Abstract: A system and method to preserve the integrity of data being extracted from an electronic data recorder (“EDR”) of an electronic control module (“ECM”) makes use of a forensic link adapter and, optionally, a sensor simulator (when ECM is out of the vehicle). The forensic link adapter has one or more first microprocessors and a first software means which prevent any message being sent by an external network from corrupting the previously recorded data measurements. The data measurements are then extracted, verified, and stored in a separate file. The sensor simulator has one or more second microprocessors, a second software means, and a bank of resistors that mimic sensors normally in communication with the ECM. The simulator “tricks” the ECM into thinking it is still in the vehicle by using the replicating vehicle system values the ECM normally sees when in the vehicle.

Abstract: A mapping program for execution by at least one processing unit of a device is described. The mapping program selects a traffic segment defined in a first data structure describing congestion in an area of a map. The mapping program identifies a portion of a road in the map area that corresponds to the traffic segment by using a second data structure to correlate the traffic segment in the first data structure to the road that is defined in a third data structure. The mapping program defines a traffic congestion representation to render for the identified road portion, based on data about the corresponding road in the third data structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a big data-based method or system for recommending electric vehicle (EV) charging stations with the shortest charge waiting time, which comprises a driving information receiving unit for receiving a charging station search request, and information about estimated discharge time and a current location from an electric vehicle; a charging station information receiving unit for receiving power consumption data from charging stations in real time; a charge waiting time calculation unit for receiving the power consumption data from the charging station information receiving unit, and, in response to a charging station search request, calculating charge waiting time of the charging stations on the basis of their power consumption; and an optimal charging station providing unit for receiving the information about the estimated discharge time and current location from the driving information receiving unit, and receiving the charge waiting time from the charge waiting time calculatio

Abstract: Disclosed is a navigation device which extracts an entrance and exit section which exists ahead of a vehicle and in which a vehicle is permitted to make a lane change between an HOV lane and a normal lane on the basis of information about the position of the vehicle and map data in which the HOV lane and the normal lane are defined by a single link, extracts a branch point on the HOV lane existing ahead of the vehicle on the basis of the map data and the position information, determines a guidance time for the extracted entrance and exit section, and another guidance time for the branch point, and provides guidance notifying that the vehicle can exit the HOV lane or guidance notifying that the vehicle can enter the HOV lane at the guidance time, or provides guidance on the branch at the other guidance time.

Abstract: A system control method is provided for measuring a distance between a smart key and a vehicle. When the distance between the smart key and the vehicle is changed based on a predetermined distance whether a hydrogen leak occurs is detected by a hydrogen sensor detection controller. A driver is then informed of a hydrogen leak via a display on a cluster, a turn-on of an emergency light, and a warning sound of the vehicle. Alternatively, a starting-impossible state of the vehicle or shutting-down starting of the vehicle is maintained to ensure safety measures based on the concentration of the leaking hydrogen.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric power storage device, an electric motor, and an electronic control unit. The internal combustion engine is configured to generate a traveling driving force. The electric motor is configured to generate a traveling driving force by receiving electric power supply from the electric power storage device. The electronic control unit is configured to control the internal combustion engine and the electric motor during switching between a selected state of a first mode and a selected state of a second mode such that a speed at which a vehicle driving torque approaches a value subsequent to the switching of the selection state from a value prior to the switching of the selection state within a predetermined period of time from a time point of the switching is lower than the speed subsequent to an elapse of the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A vehicle operation sensing system includes an operation sensor, a fixture sensor, and a vehicle operation sensing unit. The operation sensor is an acceleration sensor fixed to an operation member, and sensing an acceleration generated in the operation member at least in a gravitational acceleration direction. The operation member has one end fixed to a vehicle and the other end a position of which is displaced in the gravitational acceleration direction when the operation member is operated. The fixture sensor is an acceleration sensor used at a position unchanging part of the vehicle, and sensing an acceleration generated in the vehicle at least in the gravitational acceleration direction. The vehicle operation sensing unit has an operation sensing part sensing an operation of the operation member by using a sensing result of the fixture sensor as an object to be compared with a sensing result of the operation sensor.

Abstract: Provided are navigation technologies capable of preferentially guiding a vehicle to a route of a driving lane that can be available if given conditions are met. A navigation device is provided with a storage unit adapted to store lane information including the presence or absence of a driving lane that can be available if given conditions are met (hereinafter referred to as a conditional lane), a conditional-lane determining unit adapted to determine whether a vehicle equipped with the navigation device meets the conditions for driving in the conditional lane, and a route searching unit adapted to search a recommended route to a destination, wherein said route searching unit uses lane information to preferentially search for a route which utilizes a road including the conditional lane, when the conditional-lane determining unit determines that the aforementioned conditions are met.

Abstract: A platoon travel system organizes a platoon having plural platoon vehicles traveling in two vehicle groups, in which a preset inter-vehicle distance is reserved between each of the platoon vehicles. When a new vehicle joins in the platoon, the platoon travel system adjusts the inter-vehicle distance by decelerating, among all platoon vehicles, deceleration target vehicles that are the platoon vehicles behind a join position in the platoon, which are included in a latter one of the two vehicle groups.

Abstract: A new system monitors ethanol alcohol levels of a vehicle operator by collecting sweat from the operator's hands, and detecting the presence, if any, of ethanol in the sweat. The system can then be used, if ethanol is present, to take action, such as immobile vehicle disablement, in the event of intoxication caused by an impermissibly high levels of ethanol of the operator. The system includes devices, referred to as pods in the description, which are sweat-collecting devices that are attached to the steering wheel of the vehicle. If the measurable ethanol in collected moisture from the operator's hands exceeds a preset threshold, the system could be configured to warn the operator to park the vehicle thereafter to disable operation of the vehicle, but if the operator does not so discontinue operation of the vehicle hazard warning lights and audible warnings within and without the vehicle will be activated alerting near vehicles of a dangerous vehicle being operated in close proximity.

Abstract: Included are embodiments for multimode vehicular navigation control. Some embodiments include a vehicle that has a memory component and a vehicle control module (VCM), where the VCM includes a controller. Additionally, the memory component may store functional modes of operation and control modes of operation, each of the control modes of operation being associated with a mechanism for controlling the vehicle, and each of the functional modes of operation being associated with a desired function of the vehicle. In some embodiments the VCM receives control commands from a system operator and implements the control commands, utilizing the controller. In some embodiments, at least one of the control modes of operation is configured for automatic control of the vehicle and at least one of the control modes of operation is a torque control mode for providing a power signal directly to a vehicle motor, without utilization of the controller.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the status of a vehicle utilizing a monitoring unit and a receiver unit. The monitoring unit is operatively connectable to the vehicle via a diagnostic port and detects the voltage output by the vehicle's battery when the vehicle's engine is turned on and off, and voltage output by the alternator while the engine is running. From these voltage measurements, the monitoring unit determine the operational status of the vehicle's battery and alternator by comparison to predefined criteria, such as optimal voltage ranges or a threshold minimum voltage. When the monitoring unit detects that the vehicle's battery or alternator may be malfunctioning, a signal indicating a malfunction is transmitted to the receiver unit, for example the driver's cellular phone, which will generate a warning notification alerting the operator to the existence and component responsible for the malfunction.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a vehicle's position in a roadway lane. A camera mounted on the vehicle generates a current image of the lane and the method identifies a current lane-center line in the current image. A reference image is generated and the method identifies a reference lane-center line in the reference image. The method then calculates an error between the current lane-center line and the reference lane-center line and provide steering commands to adjust the position of the vehicle so that the error is reduced.

Abstract: Detecting traffic signaling of a mobile environment includes receiving image frames captured by an imaging device to detect a traffic signal candidate therefrom based on at least a vehicle location. A score having a predefined value is established for the traffic signal candidate. The traffic signal candidate is tracked by incrementing the score when the traffic signal candidate is determined to appear, based on a probabilistic estimator that indicates an expected value for a location of the traffic signal candidate, in a tracked image frame of the captured image frames. The score is decremented when the traffic signal candidate is determined not to appear, based on the probabilistic estimator, in the tracked image frame. The traffic signal candidate is recognized as a traffic signal based on whether the score is above a specified threshold.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for a train control system are disclosed, and are based on virtualization of train control logic and the use of cloud computing resources. A train control system is configured into two main parts. The first part includes physical elements of the train control system, and the second part includes a virtual train control system that provides the computing resources for the required train control application platforms. The disclosed architecture can be used with various train control technologies, including communications based train control, cab-signaling and fixed block, wayside signal technology. Further, the disclosure describes methodologies to convert cab-signaling and manual operations into distance to go operation.

Abstract: A ramping subsystem of a control system for a dual path electronically controlled hydrostatic transmission is used to modify the commanded rate of change of pump and motor acceleration, deceleration and direction change command (performed to command machine motion from forward to reverse or vice versa) in order to achieve desired machine performance and operator feel. Pump and motor acceleration, deceleration and direction change command rates are then further modified using scaling tables based on selected maximum machine speed using operator input device.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for decluttering an aircraft display. Chart data, flight data and user input data are obtained. User input data reflects pilot preferences. A modified combination of chart data and flight data is generated in response to user input data. Symbology that is graphically representative of the modified combination is displayed.