Abstract: An adapter for coupling a vehicle communication interface device and a computer processing device to a signal source comprises a first port configured for communication with the communication interface device and a second port configured for communication with the computer processing device. The adapter can include a receptacle configured to receive signals having a data portion and a power portion. The adapter can further identify the received signals as being one of vehicle signals or computer signals. Moreover, the adapter can include a relay having a first state associated with the vehicle signals for relaying the vehicle signals between the first port and the signal source and a second state associated with the computer signals for relaying the computer signals between the second port and the signal source. The relay can be selectively placed in one of the first and the second states associated with the received signals as identified by the receptacle.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in an aircraft is disclosed. The method involves predicting at least one state of the aircraft and tuning at least one threshold value to tightly upper bound the size of a mismatch between the at least one predicted state and a corresponding actual state of the non-faulted aircraft. If the mismatch between the at least one predicted state and the corresponding actual state is greater than or equal to the at least one threshold value, the method indicates that at least one fault has been detected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed which allocates the execution of a commanded vehicle maneuver among the vehicle's control effectors capable of affecting such maneuver, with consideration given to the possible nonlinear and/or non-monotonic effects each control effector's displacement may have on the vehicle and on each other's performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a leveling control system for a forestry machine (10) employing position sensors that relay information about the orientation of the carriage (12) in relation to the swing-house assembly (14) in order to control roll and pitch in a manner that maximizes the operating envelop of the leveling mechanism (38). The angles of pitch and roll of the swing-house assembly (14) in relation to the carriage (12) are measured and/or calculated and a controller (24) limits operation of the leveling mechanism (38) to an operating envelop that may be described in terms of pitch and droll. The cylinders (54, 56) are decelerated gradually as the operating envelop is approached. The controller (24) can include an automatic leveling mode. The controller (24) can change the function of the fore, aft, left and right operator controls so that they are true from the operator's frame of reference regardless of the rotary position of the cab relative to the carriage (12).

Abstract: An assisted flight computer program and method which assist a non-pilot or partially incapacitated pilot to gain control of an aircraft, summon help, and then land the aircraft under the guidance of a tower controller. The assisted flight computer program is integrated into an avionics system and provides a guided, menu-driven user interface that is simple enough for non-pilots and partially incapacitated pilots to understand and follow in distress situations.

Abstract: A traffic state predicting apparatus, which predicts congestion states of parts of a link based on limited information (the travel time for the link), comprises storage means that stores link data including a link length of each link forming part of a road on a map and parameters including, for each link, a smooth traffic speed indicting being smooth, a congested traffic speed indicating being congested, and a congestion reference position which is a reference position for a congested section; means that acquires a predicted travel time for the link; and congestion degree classified section calculating means that obtains sections classified according to their level of congestion in the link with use of the predicted travel time and the parameters.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a drive system and/or a wheel braking system of a vehicle, in which a total braking power to be exerted on the wheels of a motor vehicle is composed of a drive braking power and/or a wheel braking power. The instantaneously set drive braking power is frozen when, starting from a steady state operating mode, the gradient of the required total braking power exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system for assisting an operator in driving a vehicle. The system calculates risk potential associated with the vehicle. Responsive to an acceleration command issued by the operator via an operator-controlled input device to perform an intended acceleration operation, the system conveys information related to the calculated risk potential by modifying a relationship of an amount of acceleration corresponding to an operation amount of the operator-controlled input device, based on the calculated risk potential.

Abstract: A vehicle safety arrangement having a sensor unit (7) comprising at least one sensor (8, 9) responsive to acceleration; an actuator (13) for activating a safety device, the actuator being located remotely from the sensor unit; and a control unit (2) located remotely from the sensor unit and from the actuator, the control unit having no sensors responsive to acceleration and being operable to receive information from the sensor unit and to transmit an actuating command to the actuator to activate the safety device.

Abstract: The invention is an intelligent advisory system, which may be based on fuzzy rule-based logic to guide a vehicle driver in selecting an optimal driving strategy to achieve best fuel economy. The advisory system includes separate controllers for providing advisory information regarding driver demand for power and advisory information regarding vehicle braking, which are conveyed to the driver.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described to automatically lock and unlock a front axle disconnect mechanism in an all-wheel drive (AWD) system responsive to driving conditions to reduce parasitic losses and increase fuel efficiency. A control algorithm is described which automatically determines whether the front axle disconnect mechanism should lock or unlock responsive to various sensor readings throughout the vehicle. The sensor readings relate to the driving conditions. Advantageously, the present disclosure automatically decides the best mode for optimum fuel economy while safely responding to driving conditions, and therefore removes the requirement for a driver to select the operating mode.

Abstract: A touch switch for controlling accessory equipment of a vehicle avoids a malfunction which is caused due to an environmental change such as a change in a state of air, arrival of unnecessary electromagnetic waves, or the like. Conductor plates 20-1 to 20-3 are disposed in an arrangement isolated from one another on a surface opposite to a sensor surface 16T of a touch plate 16 which is touched by a person's hand. The conductor plates 20-1 to 20-3 are each connected to a capacity measurement/control unit 34. The capacity measurement/control unit 34 determines as a judgment value D the absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting a minimum absolute value among changes ?C1 to ?C3 in electrostatic capacity from a maximum absolute value among the changes ?C1 to ?C3 in electrostatic capacity. The capacity measurement/control unit 34 controls a switch 28 according to the judgment value D.

Abstract: A system and method for global product management includes an onboard microserver located on a vehicle, a plurality of subsystem microservers, and a ground mirror database configured to be located remote of the vehicle. The onboard microserver includes a computer processor, memory storage, and a web-based server enabling local and remote communications to and from the onboard microserver using standard internet protocols. The plurality of subsystem microservers are configured to communicate with the onboard microserver and each other. The ground mirror database includes a replica of data contained on the onboard microserver and the subsystem microservers, and the database and the onboard microserver are configured for two-way communications and data transfers. The ground mirror database operates as a gatekeeper for all information sent to and from the onboard microserver by monitoring, authorizing and controlling a dissemination of data to and from the onboard microserver.

Abstract: A system controls a team of vehicles. The system includes a plan dependency identifier, a contingency monitor, and an alert formulator. The plan dependency identifier analyzes a mission plan and identifies mission constraints of the mission plan. The contingency monitor continuously reviews execution of the mission plan for violations of the mission constraints. The alert formulator determines whether a part of the mission plan is threatened by a violation of one of the mission constraints.

Abstract: In the case of a control system for an at least temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle having an electronic control unit, which determines at least the rotational speeds of all wheels and the vehicle speed, and by which the driving torque of a drive unit can be distributed in a variable manner by way of a controllable transfer clutch to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, can be connected with the drive unit as required, the control unit closes the transfer clutch when the slip of a rear wheel exceeds the slip of the front wheel of the same vehicle side by a value which is greater than a given first threshold and when, preferably, also the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a given second threshold or the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a given third threshold.

Abstract: The vehicle is kept at a standstill even when an operation for ending adaptive cruise control is performed while the adaptive cruise control is on and the vehicle stop-maintenance control is on. When a vehicle comes to a stop while the adaptive cruise control is on, vehicle stop-maintenance control, preferably using electronic brake control, is carried out. When an operation for ending the adaptive cruise control is performed by the driver during this state, only the adaptive cruise control ends while the vehicle stop-maintenance control remains active.

Abstract: An apparatus for vehicle door deflection and movement control. The apparatus includes a primary electromagnetic device disposed generally in a vehicle door frame or generally in an area of a vehicle body adjacent the vehicle door frame, and a controller for activating the primary electromagnetic device to push or pull the vehicle door frame. The apparatus may further include a sensor for measuring vehicle door deflection during vehicle movement. The controller may activate the primary electromagnetic device based on deflection measurements by the sensor to pull the vehicle door frame to generally cancel the vehicle door deflection.

Abstract: A distance from a stopped position of a vehicle to a target parking position is determined as a set distance. The vehicle is then moved by gradually lowering a requisite braking force that includes an oscillating braking force. It is thus possible to run the engine-powered vehicle at an extremely low speed, regardless of whether a motor is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that enable a higher-level software application to control a robot's motion through a generic motion interface. In one embodiment, a system includes a controller, an interface, and a set of robot driver modules. The interface receives a command from the controller and translates the command into another command to send to the driver modules. The interface includes a client, a server, and a network. The server includes two interfaces: a client interface to communicate with the client and a driver interface to communicate with the driver modules. The server also includes two buffers: a command queue and a reply queue. The command queue stores commands received from the controller (via the client). The reply queue stores replies received from the driver modules.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical system. The method includes obtaining a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in which magnetic resonance (MR) visible targets are located; registering a robotic arm to the MRI scan using a digitizing tool, the robotic arm including: multiple joints and multiple degrees of freedom; an MR-compatible structural material; multiple MR-compatible joint motors; multiple MR-compatible joint encoders; and an end effector holding an MR-compatible surgical tool having a tool tip; and displaying a location of the tool tip relative to an image from the MRI scan.