Abstract: Autonomous flight is performed in an open loop mode over a first range of altitudes, wherein a plurality altitude-related data from a plurality of altitude-related sensors is ignored while performing the autonomous flight in the open loop mode. The autonomous flight is performed in a closed loop mode over a second range of altitudes, wherein: the plurality of altitude-related data from the plurality of altitude-related sensors is used while performing the autonomous flight in the closed loop mode, and the first range of altitudes is a non-overlapping, lower range of altitudes compared to the second range of altitudes. The altitude-related data may include, among other things, a radar signal or a phase associated with a radar signal.

Abstract: Vehicle management systems can be configured to help govern self-driving vehicles. A vehicle management system can communicatively couple a self-driving vehicle to a remote computing device of a user of the vehicle. Detecting a battery charge indication below a threshold can trigger several responses configured to minimize the risk of the self-driving vehicle failing to pick up the user due to the remote computing device having a low or dead battery.

Abstract: A map-localization system for navigating an automated vehicle includes a path-detector, a digital-map, and a controller. The path-detector is used to detect observed-geometries of a roadway traveled by a host-vehicle. The digital-map indicates mapped-geometries of roadways available for travel by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the path-detector and the digital-map. The controller is configured to determine a location of the host-vehicle on the digital-map based on a comparison of the observed-geometries to the mapped-geometries.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic device configured to send a service request of a service to a remote server; receive an authority from the remote server; and control, according to the authority, an on-board device mounted on a target vehicle that is assigned by the remote server to provide the service to a user associated with the electronic device.

Abstract: A railway safety critical application system substitutes commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and/or software for railway-domain specific product components, yet is validated to conform to railway safety critical system failure-free standards. The safety critical system uses a pair of tasks executed on a controller of a COTS personal computer or within a virtual environment with asymmetric communications capability. Both tasks receive and verify safety critical systems input message data and security code integrity and separately generate output data responsive to the input message. The first task has sole capability to send complete safety critical system output messages, but only the second task has the capability of generating the output security code. A failure of any of systems hardware, software or processing capability results failure to transmit a safety critical system output message or an output message that cannot be verified by other safety critical systems.

Abstract: A guidance system may derive a K-turn path when a vehicle reaches an end of a first way line in a field. The guidance system may send the K-turn path to a steering controller to turn the vehicle around in a headland area to the beginning of a second way-line in the field. A first segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a first path in a forward direction and a second segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a second path in a reverse direction. A third segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a third path in the forward direction to a starting location of the second way-line. The K-turn path uses less area than other types of turns reducing the amount of headland used for turning around the vehicle.

Abstract: A powertrain system for a vehicle includes an electric power source having a first motor configured to provide a first amount of torque to the vehicle and a second motor configured to provide a second amount of torque to the vehicle different from the first amount of torque. The system further includes one or more attachable electric power gear assemblies configured to couple the two or more motors to a propeller shaft for providing the torque to the vehicle. The system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the electric power source and configured to dynamically activate or deactivate each of the first or second motors based on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle. The first and second motors comprises at least one of a same number of poles or a same number of phases.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a hydraulic idle stop and go (ISG) system using an electro hydraulic power steering (EHPS) system includes measuring a pressure in an accumulator, a steering angle, and a steering angular velocity; determining whether the measured pressure in the accumulator is less than an absolute value of a first reference pressure; determining whether the measured steering angle is less than an absolute value of a reference angle when the measured pressure in the accumulator is less than the absolute value of the first reference pressure; determining whether the measured steering angular velocity is less than an absolute value of a reference angular velocity when the measured steering angle is less than the absolute value of the reference angle; and opening a solenoid valve when the measured steering angular velocity is less than the absolute value of the reference angular velocity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for autonomous lane detection are presented. One example method includes the steps of receiving a signal from a first device; responsive to a comparison of a measured received frequency of the signal to a source frequency of the signal and to one or more thresholds, determining a distance to the first device; and determining a lane in which the vehicle is operating based on the distance and a lane map. Another example method further includes the steps of determining a location and a heading of the first vehicle; and outputting, to a crowdsourcing server, the location, the heading, and the distance to the first device.

Abstract: A transmission includes a drive source, a first input shaft, a second input shaft, a first gear group, a first synchronous engagement mechanism, a second gear group, a second synchronous engagement mechanism, an output shaft, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to control the first synchronous engagement mechanism to synchronously engage one of the at least one first driving gear with the first input shaft before selecting one of the at least one second driving gear and connecting the second input shaft to the drive source through a second connection and disconnection device so as to move a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant positioning system includes at least one inflatable bladder structured and positioned so as to urge a portion of the body of the vehicle occupant in a predetermined direction when the bladder is inflated.

Abstract: A system for communicating between a machine and a remote system generates machine data and image data on-board the machine. The data is segmented into machine data subsets and image data subsets. At least some of the machine data subsets and only some of the image data subsets are transmitted off-board the machine to an off-board controller. The off-board controller updates an electronic map based upon the image data subsets, and generates a machine movement plan based upon the updated electronic map.

Abstract: An autonomous driving control apparatus executes an autonomous driving control of a vehicle. The autonomous driving control apparatus includes: a first determination unit configured to determine whether the autonomous driving control can be engaged or not; an autonomous driving control engage trigger input unit; a triggered engage mode configured to engage the autonomous driving control when an autonomous driving control engage trigger is input by a driver to the autonomous driving control engage trigger input unit after the first determination unit determines that the autonomous driving control can be engaged; an automatic engage mode configured to automatically engage the autonomous driving control when the first determination unit determines that the autonomous driving control can be engaged; and a switching unit configured to switch between the triggered engage mode and the automatic engage mode.

Abstract: A vehicle (100) comprises a docking port and a selectively demountable switch (10) having a body and a rotary knob (40) on the body, and an interface between the switch and the docking port to enable commands entered by operation of the rotary knob to be communicated to the vehicle (100). The vehicle (100) incorporates a tow-assist system to facilitate reversing of a trailer, the vehicle (100) being of the type having a positive power-assisted steering mechanism (350) for its steerable wheels (250). The system comprises computing means (310) and the demountable switch (10). The computing means (350) is arranged to interpret rotational movement of the knob (40) on the body as desired steering movements of the trailer when the vehicle (100) is being reversed and to effect steering commands for the positive power assisted steering mechanism (350) to achieve said desired steering movements of the trailer.

Abstract: A method and system for separating and releasing component parts of a payload of a floating platform in response to a high collision probability is disclosed. The method includes, determining if an in-flight aircraft is within at least a safety zone associated with a floating platform, wherein the floating platform comprises releasably-coupled component parts; and activating, responsive to a determination that the in-flight aircraft is within at least the safety zone, a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism is configured to uncouple the component parts.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system having an external safety system for protecting a pedestrian, and a device for activating the external safety system the device being connected to a pre-crash sensor system (10, 11) and an in-crash sensor system (16). The device is arranged to perform an object classification of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system and to determine a threshold (T1, T2) for the in-crash sensor system as a function of the object classification.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to provide a service using a sensor and image recognition in a portable terminal that supports Augmented Reality (AR). The method includes determining whether the portable terminal is parallel to ground using an acceleration sensor. When the portable terminal is parallel to the ground, either a map including nearby Point Of Interest (POI) information or constellation information is displayed.

Abstract: A system includes an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system configured to travel on a route during a trip. The energy management system is configured to receive trip information from a second vehicle system that includes one or more constraints including at least one of speed, distance, or time restrictions for the vehicle system along the route. The energy management system is further configured to generate a trip plan for controlling movement of the vehicle system along the route during the trip. The trip plan is generated based on the one or more constraints. The trip plan has a plan speed profile that designates speeds for the vehicle system according to at least one of distance or time during the trip. The energy management system is further configured to control movement of the vehicle system during the trip according to the plan speed profile of the trip plan.

Abstract: An obstacle avoidance system is provided to assist a pilot in avoiding obstacles. The obstacle avoidance system includes a set of proximity sensors and a pilot interface device. The set of proximity sensors detects nearby obstacles by emitting a signal and receiving a reflected signal from an obstacle. A processor receives an obstacle indication from the set of proximity sensors and detects the obstacle that is in proximity to the aircraft based at least in part on the reflected signal. The processor acquires a distance and a direction to the obstacle and calculates a threat level posed by the obstacle. The pilot interface device is operable to display the following: an ownship icon indicative of the aircraft, a velocity vector icon indicative of a velocity vector of the aircraft, and an obstacle graphic indicative of the distance, direction, and threat level of the obstacle.

Abstract: An obstacle avoidance system is provided to assist a pilot in avoiding obstacles. The obstacle avoidance system includes a set of proximity sensors and a pilot interface device. The set of proximity sensors detects nearby obstacles by emitting a signal and receiving a reflected signal from an obstacle. A processor receives an obstacle indication from the set of proximity sensors and detects the obstacle that is in proximity to the aircraft based at least in part on the reflected signal. The processor acquires a distance and a direction to the obstacle and calculates a threat level posed by the obstacle. The pilot interface device is operable to display the following: an ownship icon indicative of the aircraft, a velocity vector icon indicative of a velocity vector of the aircraft, and an obstacle graphic indicative of the distance, direction, and threat level of the obstacle.