Abstract: Vehicles and vehicle systems including locking devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a front wheel, a steering rack assembly that includes a rack coupled to the front wheel, where the rack extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is translatable with respect to a unibody of the vehicle in the vehicle lateral direction, and a locking device coupled to the steering rack assembly, where the locking device includes a deactivated configuration that allows translation of the rack and an activated configuration that restricts translation of the rack.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for passive timing of asynchronous Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) attitude data using information derived from a pattern of skipped and duplicate samples of attitude data generated by the IMU. One embodiment is an attitude controller for a vehicle that generates samples of attitude data at a first frequency (f1) from an IMU of the vehicle. The IMU updates the attitude data at a second frequency (f2). Each update of the attitude data includes a time stamp. The attitude controller is processes time stamps in the samples to identify a pattern of at least one of a skipped sample of an update to the attitude data and a duplicate sample of an update to the attitude data. The attitude controller estimates lag times between updates of the attitude data and samples of the attitude data based on the pattern and a relationship between f1 and f2.

Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft propulsion control system in which multiple gas turbine engines (10) are under the control of a controller (30). One or more sensor is arranged to sense a condition indicative of vapor trail formation by an exhaust flow from one or more of the engines. The controller (30) is arranged to be responsive to a thrust demand (51) for the aircraft and to control the thrust produced by each of the engines (10) concurrently so as to alter the efficiency of the engines upon sensing of the vapor trail formation condition, while satisfying the aircraft thrust demand. The controller (30) may output a separate throttle control signal (35) to each engine (10).

Abstract: A steering device of a working vehicle includes a lever, a first switch, a lever support member, a second switch, and a control device. The first switch sets a steering signal to be in a valid/invalid state. The lever support member is provided so as to be able to flip up from a certain position of performing tilting operation. The second switch attains conduction when the lever support member is located at the certain position, and attains non-conduction in conjunction with the case where the lever support member is flipped up. The control device sets steering with use of the lever to be valid/invalid. The first switch has a plurality of terminals which respectively attain conduction of a steering signal in accordance with a setting of a valid state and an invalid state and are electrically connected to the control device in parallel with the second switch.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for applying an ingredient to a geographic area, the agricultural implement includes a chassis, weight bearing conveyance devices, a component and a weight distribution system. The weight bearing conveyance devices including a fore conveyance device and an aft conveyance device. The fore and aft conveyance devices are connected to and carry the chassis respectively in a fore and an aft position. The component is carried by and coupled to the chassis. The weight distribution system is configured to allow an adjustment of a position of the component relative to the chassis.

Abstract: In a method for setting a parking brake that has an electromechanical brake device having an electrical brake motor, the release time duration for displacing the electrical brake motor in the release direction is determined from the closing time duration in which the brake motor was previously displaced in the closing direction.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The location of the delivery device can be determined as it is lowered to the ground using image tracking. The UAV can include an imaging system that captures image data of the suspended delivery device and identifies image coordinates of the delivery device, and the image coordinates can then be mapped to a location. The UAV may also be configured to account for any deviations from a planned path of descent in real time to effect accurate delivery locations of released payloads.

Abstract: The present invention provides a trailer track estimation system by image recognition including: an image photographing unit which photographs a trailer which is connected to a rear side of a vehicle; a control unit which estimates a connection angle of the trailer using an image photographed by the image photographing unit; and a display unit which displays a value estimated by the control unit on a screen.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for generating a vertical speed indicator (VSI) are disclosed. The VSI generating system may include a source of first vertical speed (V/S) data, a source of second V/S, an image generator (IG), and a display system. The IG may be configured to acquire first V/S data; acquire second V/S data; and generate image data as a function of the first V/S data and the second V/S data. The first V/S data could include actual V/S, and the second V/S data could include a target V/S other than a manually-selected V/S. The image data could be representative of an image of an aircraft VSI comprised of at least one indication of the actual V/S, and at least one indication of the target V/S other than a manually-selected V/S.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating an aircraft energy indicator(s) is disclosed. The energy indicator generating system is comprised of one or more sources of aircraft performance factors data, an image generator (IG), and a presentation system. The IG may be configured to receive the aircraft performance factors data representative of at least aircraft altitude and speed; determine descent path data as a function of at least the aircraft performance data; determine target aircraft energy data as a function of at least the descent path data; determine actual energy data as a function of at least the aircraft performance data; and generate presentation data as a function of the target energy data and the actual energy data, where the presentation data is representative of one or more images of an aircraft energy indicator presentable to a viewer.

Abstract: An aircraft electric taxi system diagnostics and prognostics evaluation method, including receiving, with a computer, an electronically recorded first performance parameter of a first electric taxi system of a first aircraft during a taxi operational event at an airport; and comparing the first performance parameter with a first performance factor statistical model generated in response to the first performance parameter and first comparative performance parameters; and calculating a first performance parameter difference based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for passively detecting aircraft wingtip strikes includes generating a digital base map represented by a plurality of aerodrome cells. A numeric value representative of the specific wingtip is assigned to each of the aerodrome cells. An index count array is generated that has a separate entry for each numeric value. A digital aircraft structure representative of an aircraft is generated, and is represented by a plurality of aircraft cells. A determination is made as to whether a portion of the aerodrome cells are or would be replaced with the plurality of aircraft cells. Each numeric value of the aerodrome cells that are or would be replaced is counted to determine a replacement count associated therewith and that is entered into the separate entry in the index count array for that numeric value. One or more potential aircraft wingtip strikes are detected based on the replacement counts.

Abstract: A method of assisting a pilot in order to minimize the risks of an aircraft rolling over on the ground, the aircraft having a main rotor and a yaw movement control rotor (4), together with lateral cyclic pitch control means for the main rotor and yaw movement control means for the yaw movement control rotor. At least one measurement is taken relating to left forces exerted on a left side undercarriage and to right forces exerted on a right side undercarriage in order to evaluate asymmetry, if any, between the left and right forces, and then a recommended position (26) is determined for at least one of the yaw and lateral cyclic pitch control means in order to make the left and right forces more symmetrical. Each recommended position is displayed on a display unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of controlling the flight path of an aircraft to follow as closely as possible a predetermined four-dimensional flight path, such as when flying continuous descent approaches. A method of controlling an aircraft to follow a predetermined four-dimensional flight path is provided that comprises monitoring the actual along-track position and the actual vertical position of the aircraft relative to the corresponding desired positions on the predetermined flight path. The aircraft's elevators are used to correct deviations of the along-track position and the aircraft's throttle is used to correct deviations of the vertical position.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control device is provided with at least one controller that controls the outputs of the engine and of the motor according to the driving state, the engagement and disengagement of the clutch, and the transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission. The at least one controller is programmed to start the engine and forcibly downshift the continuously variable transmission to a transmission ratio with which it is possible to start on an uphill road upon determining that the vehicle is on an uphill road while in an electric vehicle mode in which it is possible to travel by the drive force of the motor with the clutch released and the engine stopped.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for generating journey options in response to a journey request from an origin to a destination. Routes from the origin to the destination are selected as candidates to fulfill the journey request. Delay-related statistical information is derived from delay-related data for past journeys. A minimum connecting time at a connection between first and second segments of each route is estimated based on the statistical information. Journey combinations are determined from the routes based on origin departure time, destination arrival time, and schedule information for the first and second segments of each route. For each route in each journey combination, a determination is made whether the schedule information for the first and second segments satisfies a condition related to the minimum connecting time. Each journey combination for which the condition is satisfied by each route comprising the journey combination is selected as a journey option.

Abstract: With first and second wagons (1, 3), including an emitter similar to the one of an access point and a receiving wagon (2), including a receiver similar to the one of a device onboard a train and measuring a quantity relating to a received signal, this method consists of: placing the first wagon at a previous implantation point while the emitter of the first wagon emits a first signal, moving the receiving wagon away from the first wagon; when the quantity relating to the first signal is under a threshold, immobilizing the receiving wagon; while the emitter of the second wagon emits a second signal, moving the second wagon away from the receiving wagon; when the quantity relating to the second signal is under the threshold, immobilizing the second wagon; and storing its position as the implantation point of an access point.

Abstract: A method for determining the starting capability of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which can be started by an electric motor powered by a battery, including detecting first battery parameter values during a successful starting sequence of the internal combustion engine at a first time, detecting second battery parameter values at a second time following the first time, determining at the second time the expected battery voltage for a starting sequence of the internal combustion engine taking place at a third time based on the detected first and second battery parameter values, and comparing the battery voltage expected at the third time with a predetermined threshold value in order to derive therefrom the starting capability of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to system and methods for optimizing identification of locations within a search area using hash values. A hash value represents location information in a single dimension format. Computing points around some location includes calculating an identification boundary that surrounds the location of interest based on the location's hash value. The identification boundary is expanded until it exceeds a search area defined by the location and a distance. Points around the location can be identified based on having associated hash values that fall within the identification boundary. Hashing operations let a system reduce the geometric work (i.e. searching inside boundaries) and processing required, by computing straightforward operations on hash quantities (e.g. searching a linear range of geohashes), instead of, for example, point to point comparisons.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for providing adaptive automatic climate control functionality for a vehicle. A sensor is configured to detect when a manual override of an automatic climate control feature of a vehicle has occurred. A processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to initiate the automatic climate control feature for the vehicle and adjust a calibration of the automatic climate control feature when the manual override has been detected.