Abstract: The Canine Handler Operations Positioning System (the Inventors) taught by the present invention consists of one or more dog-worn sensor, one or more handler's shoe-worn sensor, and algorithms for maintaining localization of units of canines and handlers traveling in GPS and GPS-denied areas. The present invention adapts the localization algorithms from the human-based system to dogs, increase performance, reduce SWAP, and further refine the system based on user feedback. The human worn system is modified for the human handler for maximum operational practicality in regard to batteries, size, and interoperability to a radio. The Canine Handler Operations Positioning System (the Inventors) focuses on developing the dog-worn positioning system, modifying the handler's positioning sensor if needed, and integrating the system with an OCU. The complete the Inventors system would provide a positioning solution for both the dog(s) and handler(s).

Abstract: A regenerative braking apparatus of a vehicle includes: an engine that supplies power to front wheels of the vehicle; a hybrid starting generator (HSG) that starts the engine; an engine clutch that is disposed between the engine and a transmission and selectively transmits power from the engine to the front wheels; a motor that supplies power to the rear wheels of the vehicle; a battery that stores electrical energy generated by the HSG and the motor; and a controller that generates friction braking torque on the front wheels when necessary braking torque of the front wheels is larger than regenerative braking torque of the front wheels, and that generates friction braking torque on the rear wheels when necessary braking torque of the rear wheels is larger than regenerative braking torque of the rear wheels, in braking of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of tires and a suspension system as subcomponents. The suspension system includes at least one suspension sensor configured to provide suspension data (S). A controller is operatively connected to the suspension sensor. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (Fzi(t), i=1 . . . 4) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S). The tire normal force (Fz) is the net force acting on each tire (or wheel) in the vertical direction. The tire normal force acting on each tire may be determined without using the specific model of the tire, road information, wheel or tire sensors.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a setpoint value of at least one parameter that has an influence on thrust of a gas turbine engine propelling an aircraft during a stage of flight of the aircraft, the method including: obtaining a current value of at least one operating variable of the engine; extracting from a pre-established table a decrement value for the at least one parameter associated with the current value of the at least one operating variable of the engine; and adjusting the setpoint value of the at least one parameter by applying thereto the decrement value extracted from the table.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a drive motor, a battery, a front seat, a rear seat, a passenger-compartment air conditioning unit, an inlet port, a blower, a temperature sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to control the passenger-compartment air conditioning unit so as to selectively perform a first air conditioning mode, a second air conditioning mode, and a third air conditioning mode. The controller is configured to control the passenger-compartment air conditioning unit so as to perform the third air conditioning mode when the temperature of the battery is higher than a first temperature threshold.

Abstract: An accelerator-pedal-counterforce control device for a vehicle, wherein a counterforce control means sets a value obtained by multiplying a prescribed quantity by a constant-speed position as a counterforce-increase position. The counterforce-increase position is a position of the accelerator pedal at which the counterforce on the accelerator pedal is increased from the base counterforce. The constant-speed position is a position of the accelerator pedal at which constant travel at the current vehicle speed is possible. The prescribed quantity is set as a value for achieving forward-rear acceleration according to each vehicle speed.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the start of a vehicle are provided. The method includes determining whether a high voltage battery of a vehicle is submerged and outputting a warning regarding the submersion when the high voltage battery is submerged. In addition, power is cut off and the vehicle ignition or the start of the vehicle is turned off after the warning signal is output.

Abstract: An approach is provided for calculating a final estimated time of arrival to at least one destination location based, at least in part, on multiple estimated time of arrival provided by one or more devices and/or services for one or more routing segments. The approach involves determining at least one route, wherein the at least one route includes a plurality of segments navigated using a plurality of devices or services. The approach also involves receiving at least one individual estimated time of arrival from at least one of the plurality of devices or services, wherein the at least one individual estimated time of arrival is for at least one of the plurality of segments associated with the at least one of the plurality of devices or services, and wherein the at least one individual estimated time of arrival is calculated independently by the at least one of the plurality of devices or services.

Abstract: A method for determining a switch-over vertical point from which an aircraft, having a current position, and flying a current vertical trajectory according to a manual piloting mode having an altitude setpoint, denoted target altitude, loaded by the pilot, switches to a piloting mode guided by a flight management system, in order to rejoin a predefined flight plan having a set of initial altitude constraints, comprising: calculating a first predicted vertical trajectory, determining a first point of intersection between the first predicted trajectory and the target altitude, determining a second predicted trajectory, determining the switch-over vertical point belonging to the first predicted vertical trajectory, based on any incompatible constraints, and as the intersection between the first predicted vertical trajectory and a predicted vertical trajectory calculated by integration of the dynamic flight equations by applying calculation hypotheses for a piloting mode guided by a flight management system.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for dynamically presenting desired vehicular-reference information for a motor vehicle under evaluation is provided. In one aspect, an example method includes: (a) a computing system receiving, via a user interface, (i) vehicular-reference data indicating at least one vehicle parameter, and (ii) first information-presentation data indicating at least one information-presentation preference; (b) the computing system selecting at least one first piece of vehicular-reference information based on at least one of the received vehicular-reference data and the received first information-presentation data; (c) the computing system selecting a presentation window based on at least one of the received vehicular-reference data and the received first information-presentation data; and (d) the computing system causing a visual depiction of (i) the selected vehicular-reference information and (ii) the selected presentation window to be displayed on a graphical display.

Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting comprehensible representation of traffic flow information for various travel segments based on class levels. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a classification of one or more travel segments into one or more class levels. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a designation of one or more representations of traffic flow information for the one or more travel segments based, at least in part, on the one or more class levels, wherein the one or more representations include, at least in part, a link-based traffic flow representation, a heat-map representation, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a presentation of at least one user interface depicting the one or more representations of the traffic flow information for the one or more travel segments based, at least in part, on the designation.

Abstract: In response to detecting the entry condition, a determination is made as to when multiple mobile computing devices are present within the vehicle. An occupancy zone is determined for each multiple mobile computing device that is determined as being present within the vehicle. Profile information is determined for each mobile computing device. At least one of an operational or usage facet of the vehicle can be configured at each occupancy zone in which one of the mobile computing devices is determined to be present. The operational or usage facet of the vehicle at a location of each occupancy zone can be based at least in part on the profile information determined from the mobile computing device that is deemed to be present at that occupancy zone.

Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module. The processor is further configured to receive identifying information for a driver associated with the vehicle from at least one external device and process the at least one operating parameter and a set of thresholds associated with the driver to detect a driving event. The transceiver is configured to transmit the driving event to at least one external device.

Abstract: A safety arrangement and method are described for controlling automatic travel of a fully automated vehicle. One or more forward-looking detection systems are provided for detecting objects in a future path of the vehicle. A control unit is configured to determine a detection confidence for the detected objects. The control unit is further operable to, upon low confidence for existence of a detected object, control a brake system of the vehicle to apply a predetermined limited amount of braking until high confidence is obtained for existence or non-existence of the previously detected object. Thereafter the control unit is further operable to apply full braking if high confidence is obtained for existence of the previously detected object and to discontinue braking if high confidence is obtained for non-existence of the previously detected object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving launching of a stopped hybrid vehicle are presented. The systems and methods adjust speed of a motor to reduce lag between an increase in driver demand torque and torque being produced at vehicle wheels. In one example, motor torque is adjusted to a maximum motor torque to improve vehicle launch during select conditions where driver demand torque is not a maximum level.

Abstract: A system and method for determining orientation of a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a vehicle having a hinge joint such that sections of the chassis are capable of rotation with respect to each other. A first and second wheel is mounted to one and the other of the chassis sections, respectively. Vehicle geometric data defining a distance between the hinge joint and the centers of the first and second wheels, respectively, and the diameter of the wheels is provided. Surface geometric data defining the curvature of the surface can be provided. The angle of rotation about the hinge joint is measured. An orientation of the vehicle relative to the surface based on the vehicle geometric date, the surface geometric data, and the measured angle of rotation can be determined. A system and method for determining the orientation of an object is also provided.

Abstract: A system for setting an end location of a path of operation of a machine at a work site includes a position sensor configured to determine a position of a path at the work site and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a position of a first path and a position of a second path, the first path and the second path defining a pair of paths on opposite sides of the path of operation and determine a physical characteristic of the pair of paths based upon the position of the first path and the position of the second path. The controller is further configured to determine whether the physical characteristic of the pair of paths is less than a threshold characteristic and set the end location of the path of operation if the physical characteristic of the pair of paths is less than the threshold characteristic.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine, and friction brakes configured to resist rotation of a vehicle wheel. The further includes at least one controller programmed to (i) issue a command for the electric machine to apply a regenerative torque to decelerate the vehicle in response to driver braking demand, and (ii) cause both a decay in the regenerative torque and a countervailing increase in the resistance of the friction brakes when vehicle speed is reduced to less than a first threshold such that braking demand is substantially satisfied by only the friction brakes when the vehicle speed is less than a second threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a rotary electric machine, an inverter and an electronic control unit. The inverter is configured to supply current to the rotary electric machine. The electronic control unit is configured to set a control mode of the inverter to a first mode on a condition that the electronic control unit determines that there is no possibility of occurrence of the electrolytic corrosion. The electronic control unit configured to set the control mode of the inverter to a second mode and maintain output of the rotary electric machine at user request output on a condition that the electronic control unit determines that there is a possibility of occurrence of the electrolytic corrosion. The second mode is a mode in which occurrence of the electrolytic corrosion is further suppressed compared to the first mode.

Abstract: Methods for differentiating high quality probe reports in a plurality of probe reports include: (a) receiving, by a processor, a probe report from a probe source, wherein the probe report includes data indicative of a travel condition; (b) determining, by the processor, whether the probe report satisfies a criterion indicative of high quality data; and (c) identifying, by the processor, the probe report as being (i) suitable for use in modeling the travel condition if the probe report satisfies the criterion, or (ii) unsuitable for use in modeling the travel condition if the probe report does not satisfy the criterion. Systems for differentiating high quality probe reports in a plurality of probe reports are described.