Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture for providing a plurality of locations having minimal travel time from a user's location is provided. A user enters a search category into a wireless communication device. The user is then provided with a list of locations having minimal traveling time from the present user's location. Search categories may include, for example, restaurants, theaters, grocery stores, or dry cleaning.

Abstract: A fail-safe torque transducer, and automotive power steering system, utilizing a two-stage series coupled torsion bar system. A first stage torsion bar provides tuning of the steering system, and by reducing its diameter relative to the second stage, provides a lower torsional spring rate and higher operational stress level than that of the second stage. The second stage torsion bar provides the stress/strain indicia referenced by a torque-measuring device, and is stressed at a lower level than the first stage and therefore has a higher cycle life than that of the first stage bar. Hence, if stress related failure ever occurs, it will only occur in the first stage torsion bar, thereby preventing any torque from reaching the second stage, thereby causing a zero strain signal and thus rendering the system fail-safe and not subject to instability of vehicle steering if the torsion bar breaks.

Abstract: An automatic steering device applies a steering torque in an automatic steering mode to a steering shaft of a steering mechanism that turns a wheel of a vehicle in accordance with rotation of the steering shaft connected to a steering wheel. The automatic steering device includes a controller that calculates an automatic steering torque value and a target assist torque value, and an actuator that is controlled by the controller so as to apply torque corresponding to a sum of the automatic steering torque value and the target assist torque value to the steering shaft. The controller calculates the target assist torque value by multiplying an assist torque gain by a steering torque applied by an operator of the vehicle from the steering wheel to the steering shaft, and sets the assist torque gain in the automatic steering mode so as to be smaller than an assist torque gain in a non-automatic steering mode.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are suggested for limiting the speed of a vehicle to a limit speed with the arrangement not needing an integral component and nonetheless being precise at steady state. A maximum permissible acceleration proportional to the difference between an actual speed and the limit speed is determined. From the maximum permissible acceleration, a limit value for an output quantity of a drive unit of the vehicle is determined by means of a vehicular dynamic operation equation in dependence upon the running resistance. The magnitude of the limit value for limiting the speed of the vehicle to the limit speed may not be exceeded.

Abstract: A function changing system of construction machinery includes a hydraulic excavator and a base station. The hydraulic excavator is deployed at a construction site and is provided with a rewritable memory storing control programs and/or data required for control of the machinery, a CPU for reading out the control programs from the memory and executing them, and a communications device The base station is provided with a communications device, a center server for identifying the serial number of the hydraulic excavator and transferring information with the control unit, and a database managed by the center server and storing control programs corresponding to the hydraulic excavator. When changing or switching an attachment of the hydraulic excavator, information is transferred with the center server of the base station and the control programs or data stored in the storage unit are rewritten to enable work suited to the changed part.

Abstract: Automatic control of the thrust of an aircraft engine may include: (1) calculating a first difference between a measured speed and a reference speed of an aircraft to determine an intermediate term and (2) calculating a second difference between the intermediate term and a previously selected corrector term. If the second difference is greater than a threshold value, then the intermediate term is selected as a current corrector term. Otherwise, the previously selected corrector term is selected. The selected corrector term and an equilibrium term, which produces an equilibrium rating of the engine in the absence of disturbances, are summed to produce a control value, and the control value is applied to the engine.

Abstract: A method and a device for protecting a torque converter of an automatic transmission from overheating during standing-start of a motor vehicle, a slipping wheel being decelerated by a traction control system by a braking intervention. To improve the protective function of the traction control system, the energy loss converted in the torque converter or a value proportional to it is calculated and the engine torque is reduced if a specified threshold value is exceeded.

Abstract: A vehicle driving apparatus that operates a motor generator efficiently for improving driving comfort. The apparatus includes a motor generator and a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects the motor generator to an auxiliary device and selectively connects the motor generator to the engine. When the engine is maintained in an automatically stopped state, the motor generator is disconnected from the engine and drives the auxiliary device. When the engine stopping condition is satisfied, the motor generator rotates an engine drive shaft, thus suppressing vibration otherwise caused by stopping of the engine. When the engine starting condition is satisfied, the motor generator rotates the engine drive shaft to generate force to move the vehicle. In this state, the engine is started. When the vehicle is moving, the motor generator generates power through the engine.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an electric power steering system is provided, which has a microcomputer for determining a signal for target current, the other microcomputer for determining a signal for motor control, a motor drive circuit for driving a brushless motor. The apparatus has a feature that the microcomputers can back up each other in controlling an electric power steering system even if failure occurs in one of the microcomputers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sending notification of an activation status of a telematics system. The mobile vehicle receives at least one activation status for the mobile vehicle. The mobile vehicle monitors for an activation status request signal and sends a notification of the activation status in response to the request.

Abstract: A distance-measuring device is used for measuring a distance between a vehicle and an obstacle. In so doing, dimensions of additional parts that are to be mounted on the vehicle and that project into a space between a detecting device for the distance measurement and the obstacle are taken into account.

Abstract: A method of communicating an uncertainty of a location of an object near an aircraft is disclosed. According to the method, a plurality of signals are received from positioning sources. Each of the positioning sources provide information regarding the location of the object. A positional uncertainty of the object is obtained for each of the plurality of signals. Each positional uncertainty is related to an accuracy of the signal to which the respective positional uncertainty relates. The obtained positional uncertainties are combined to derive a combined positional uncertainty of the object having first and second mutually orthogonal directional components. The combined positional uncertainty is expressed as a geometric shape. On a display associated with the aircraft upon which the aircraft and the object are graphically represented, the geometric shape is superimposed on the graphical representation of the object, to thereby apprise a viewer of the positional uncertainty of the object.

Abstract: A method of and system for searching for position determination signals using a plurality of progressively more sensitive search modes comprising a first level mode, a second mode, and at least one higher level mode. If any of the search window parameters exceed prescribed limits, a first level search is performed, and the search window parameters are refined responsive to the ensuing search results so they are within the prescribed limits. Then, the second level search is performed, and measurements derived from the ensuing search results. If the measurements satisfy selected measurement sufficiency criteria, additional searching within the position fix attempt is avoided. If the measurements do not satisfy the selected measurement sufficiency criteria, a higher level, more sensitive search is performed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a preferred method for operating a adaptive clutch system of the type used in a motor vehicle power transfer assembly by employing a dithered control signal. One aspect of the present invention superimposes a dithering signal onto a control signal by nulling consecutive blocks of control signal pulses. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for generating a dithered control signal by providing a wave function with which to systematically vary a duty cycle of the dithered control signal. A method for varying the output force of a clutch actuator assembly in response to the dithered control signal is also provided.

Abstract: A device for controlling a steer-by-wire steering system in a vehicle, in which redundantly generated sensor signals for regulating a steering motor and for a feedback actuator that transfers the restoring torques from the road to the driver via the steering wheel are received by a control device and plausibility checks of the sensor signals are performed therein and in an operatively associated monitoring module. Microcomputer module and monitoring module monitor each other reciprocally. An auxiliary level for the SbW steering system is monitored by the control device which, in the case of error, switches to this auxiliary level or a mechanical auxiliary level. To further increase safety, the steering wheel motor is triggered via control signals for its phase currents and by a steering wheel motor enable signal, and the steering motor is triggered via control signals for its phase currents and via a steering motor enable signal.

Abstract: An aircraft FMS/guidance system which provides for automated and immediate calculation of a preferred flight path and full heading, pitch-and-roll guidance along that path for paths of random origins, such as during late-occurring missed approaches and circling-to-land maneuvers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for retrieving data from remote difficult to reach terrain, such as wilderness areas, etc. and in particular to a system comprised of one or more surface based data collectors in communication with one or more wireless transceivers adapted to transmit the collected data to an unmanned aerial vehicle adapted to fly within a predetermined distance from the data collector and receive data collected therefrom. The present invention further relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle adapted to fly a flight pattern relative to a moveable surface object or for controlling the position of a moveable surface object relative to the flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Finally, the present invention relates to an improved unmanned aerial vehicle having airframe structural elements with electrical circuits adhered to the surfaces of the structural elements.

Abstract: Methods and devices for detecting cornering and in particular over-steered cornering, as well as a method and a device for stabilizing a vehicle in case of an over-steered cornering maneuver are described. The detection can be carried out with reference to wheel slip values and/or transverse acceleration values. The stabilization is carried out upon detection of the over-steered cornering maneuver by means of suitable interventions in the brake system.

Abstract: A system and method for magnetic anomaly guidance is provided. Triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors are positioned at the vertices of an arrangement with an axis of the arrangement, being defined between each pair of the vertices. The arrangement is positioned on a support such that one of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes for all of the sensors defines a forward direction of movement. The sensed magnetic field's X,Y,Z components of the TM sensors are processed to generate a partial gradient contraction associated with each axis of the sensor arrangement. Relationships between the partial gradient contractions are used to generate steering control commands for use by a steering system that is coupled to the support.