Abstract: A method for controlling a braking torque of a drive system and for braking a vehicle includes in a first state connecting phase connections of a synchronous machine to one another by a changeover apparatus and short circuiting the phase connections such that a first braking torque develops at the synchronous machine. In a second state the phase connections are connected to one another by the changeover apparatus and to a resistance, such that a second braking torque develops at the synchronous machine. The changeover apparatus periodically switches between the first and second states at a switching frequency of 10 Hz or higher to produce a pre-settable braking torque at the synchronous machine, with the changeover between the first state and the second state being controlled by a timing element in an unregulated manner.

Abstract: A server acquires location information data and direction information data. The location information data indicates a travel path of vehicles with discrete locations. The direction information data indicates a traveling direction at each location indicated by the location information data. The server generates information about a new travel route that does not exist in the map data, based on off-route location information data indicative of a travel path deviated from travel routes existing in map data. The server estimates partial travel routes indicative of parts of the new travel route, based on the off-route location information data and the direction information data indicative of associated traveling directions of vehicles. The server then estimates the shape of the new travel route, based on the estimated partial travel routes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a self-arming immobilizer system for immobilizing a vehicle. In an embodiment, the system comprises a signal input for receiving a signal indicating the absence of an authorized operator in a position of control in the vehicle; and an immobilizer unit adapted to receive the signal input, and in response to the signal indicating the absence of an authorized operator in a position of control in the vehicle, switch one or more relays to disable one or more circuits in the vehicle to immobilize and secure the vehicle. In an embodiment, upon arming, the immobilizer unit is adapted to passively disarm the vehicle upon detection of a first key fob within a defined first distance from a sensor located on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the first key fob is operable to wirelessly arm or disarm the vehicle from a defined second distance from a sensor located on the vehicle.

Abstract: An obstacle-avoidance system for a vehicle, the obstacle-avoidance system may comprise: a communication device; a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors configured to detect collision threats within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and a processor. The processor may communicatively couple to the communication device and the plurality of sensors and configured to receive navigation commands being communicated to a control system via said communication device. The processor may also receive, from at least one of said plurality of sensors, obstruction data reflecting the position of an obstruction. Using the obstruction data, the processor identifies a direction for avoiding said obstruction. In response, the processor may output, via said communication device, a command to said control system causing the vehicle to travel in said flight direction.

Abstract: System and methods for servicing and monitoring shock struts are provided. A shock strut servicing assistance system may comprise: a controller in electronic communication with a display; and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising: calculating, by the controller, a dead volume of the shock strut; and determining, by the controller, if a dead volume of the shock strut is negative or not. The operations may further comprise receiving, by the controller, a temperature of a gas and at least one shock strut design parameter, wherein the calculating is performed using the temperature of the gas and the at least one shock strut design parameter.

Abstract: A method of mowing an area with an autonomous mowing robot comprises storing, in non-transient memory of the robot, a set of geospatially referenced perimeter data corresponding to positions of the mowing robot as the mowing robot is guided about a perimeter of an area to be mowed, removing from the set of perimeter data one or more data points thereby creating a redacted data set and controlling the mowing robot to autonomously mow an area bounded by a boundary corresponding to the redacted data set, including altering direction of the mowing robot at or near a position corresponding to data in the redacted data set so as to redirect the robot back into the bounded area.

Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle is provided that includes a brake system having at least one wheel count encoder configured to output a wheel count signal and a controller configured to limit a velocity of the vehicle in a first mode. The controller is also configured to stop the vehicle at a target location in a second mode, and prevent overshoot of the target location by the vehicle in a third mode.

Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system are disclosed. One such method includes sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and displaying the result as a map image. Direction control or zoom control objects may be included as interactive overlays on the displayed map image. The displayed map image may also include route or location overlays.

Abstract: A method of determining a wet surface condition of a road. An image of a road surface is captured by an image capture device of the host vehicle. The image capture device is mounted on a side of the host vehicle and an image is captured in a downward direction. A region of interest is identified in the captured image by a processor. The region of interest is in a region rearward of a tire of a host vehicle. The region of interest is representative of where a tire track as generated by the tire rotating on the road when the road surface is wet. A determination is made whether water is present in the region of interest as a function of identifying the tire track. A wet road surface signal is generated in response to the identification of water in the region of interest.

Abstract: Wakeboat hull control systems are provided that can include a first accelerometer operatively associated with the hull of the wakeboat to measure the acceleration of the hull along a first axis; a second accelerometer operatively associated with the hull of the wakeboat to measure the acceleration of the hull along a second axis, the first axis being non-parallel to the second axis; and processing circuitry calculating the rotation of the hull of the wakeboat about a third axis based on the acquired measurements. Wakeboat hull control methods are provided that can include using the processing circuitry to calculate the rotation of the hull of the wakeboat about a third axis based on the acquired measurements.

Abstract: A harvester includes an auger tube having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, an auger flight within the first portion of the tube and terminating prior to the second portion to move grain to the second portion, a window along the second portion of the tube and a camera to capture images of grain within the second portion of the tube. A computing device determines grain mass flow based upon the captured images, a dimension of the second portion of the tube and a grain density factor.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.

Abstract: A method of displaying information pertaining to an air vehicle is disclosed. Information is displayed indicative of first portions of a map where distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold. Information is displayed indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold. The first and second portions are updated based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle. In another example, a map including a projected flight path of an aircraft is displayed. Location-based information pertaining to radio frequency (RF) status between the aircraft and at least one ground radio is displayed on the map. The location-based information pertaining to RF status is updated based on a change in the current position of the air vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and computer readable medium for collaborating on geographical maps between two or more computers are disclosed. In particular, sharing a geographical location on a map between two or more computers and co-navigating a map between two or more computers are disclosed. With respect to sharing a geographical location, the geographical location is retrieved to the first computer. The geographical location is added to the map being rendered at the first computer and is sent to a second computer. A map including the geographical location is rendered at the second computer. With respect to co-navigating, a map is displayed from a map perspective at the first computer. The map perspective is sent to the second computer. A map from the same map perspective being displayed at the first computer is rendered at the second computer.

Abstract: Vehicle route-planning system can acquire position signals and surrounding images from vehicle terminal apparatuses in real time. The vehicle route-planning system includes an images-analyzing module and a vehicle route-planning module. The images-analyzing module synthesizes a driving condition signal in real time, according to position signals and surrounding images. The vehicle route-planning module can merge the real-time driving condition signal and a map data to synthesize a real-time driving condition mapping data. When a vehicle terminal apparatus receives a route terminal point configuration, the vehicle route-planning module can generate an optimized vehicle-route signal corresponded to the route terminal point configuration, according to the position signal of the vehicle terminal apparatus, the route terminal point configuration and the real-time driving condition mapping data.

Abstract: For monitoring the function of a driver assistance system, the environment of a vehicle is detected by at least one sensor, sensor data of the environment is generated, and at least one measurement variable is determined from the sensor data and is compared to reference values for the measurement variable to monitor the function of the driver assistance system. The result of the function monitoring is subsequently output and/or stored in accordance with the result of the comparison.

Abstract: An approach is provided for constructing a delivery path that enables a UAV to safely access a delivery surface and avoids restricted access surfaces from the open sky. The approach involves determining at least one delivery path to at least one delivery surface, wherein the delivery path represents at least one three-dimensional variable width path along which an aerial delivery vehicle can access the at least one delivery surface. The approach also involves transecting the delivery path with one or more planar surfaces. The approach further involves determining one or more shapes on the one or more planar surfaces, wherein the one or more shapes represent one or more intersections of the delivery path and the one or more planar surfaces. The approach also involves constructing at least one delivery path data object comprising at least one ordered list of the one or more shapes to represent the delivery path.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine such as a combine harvester has multiple working units for processing crop picked up from a field, a driver assistance system for the sensor-supported control of the working units, an environmental sensor system for detecting environmental information and spatial areas of applicability located in the environment of the harvesting machine. The driver assistance system has a memory for storing data and a computing unit for processing data, including the data stored in the memory. A functional system model for at least one part of the harvesting machine is stored in the memory. The computing unit functions as a characteristic control on the basis of the system model and autonomously determines machine parameters of at least one working unit and specifies these to the particular working unit.

Abstract: Technologies for determining a user's location by a mobile computing device include detecting, based on sensed inertial characteristics of the mobile computing device, that a user of the mobile computing device has taken a physical step in a direction. The mobile computing device determines a directional heading of the mobile computing device in the direction and a variation of an orientation of the mobile computing device relative to a previous orientation of the mobile computing device at a previous physical step of the user based on the sensed inertial characteristics. The mobile computing device further applies a Kalman filter to determine a heading of the user based on the determined directional heading of the mobile computing device and the variation of the orientation and determines an estimated location of the user based on the user's determined heading, an estimated step length of the user, and a previous location of the user at the previous physical step.

Abstract: A wireless control system for a bicycle, comprising a first shift control unit for a component of a bicycle, the first control unit comprising a radio configured to receive control signals, wirelessly transmitted by a second control unit of the bicycle; the radio operable to receive the control signals only when the radio is operating in a listen mode; and a processor configured to: activate the listen mode of the radio for a first length of time; detect, with the radio, a noise level during the first length of time; and extend the activation of the listen mode for a first extended time period when the noise level achieves a noise level threshold.