Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method for dialing a telephone number using a vehicle navigation system in the following manner. A destination is retrieved in response to selection of the destination by the user. A determination is then made if there is a phone number associated with the destination. Where there is a phone number associated with the destination, a phone number is transmitted to a wireless communications device for dialing.

Abstract: A locomotive monitoring system defines several mutually exclusive operating states for a locomotive. The amount of time the locomotive operates in each state is preferably determined and recorded. This recorded information can then be evaluated with a view towards improving locomotive operations. For example, a plurality of mutually exclusive idle states can be defined and monitored to determine how long a locomotive idles under certain conditions instead of automatically shutting down for the purpose of conserving fuel. In this manner, the sources of lost fuel savings can be readily identified, quantified and addressed. An event log is also provided for chronicling certain operating events of interest over time, such as those relating to the starting, stopping and/or idling of the locomotive's engine.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, an apparatus and method for aircraft navigation are provided that utilize a blended architecture consisting of a global positioning system (GPS) and micro-electromechanical sensors (MEMS) for the primary navigation system and a laser gyroscope system for the secondary navigation system. The blended architecture of the present invention provides a navigation system that is at least as accurate, redundant and fault-tolerant as conventional navigation systems. In addition, the navigation system components may be distributed throughout the aircraft and may share computing resources with other avionics systems to process signals and provide data to the avionics systems. Overall, the navigation system of the present invention is significantly less expensive and easier to maintain, but equally or more precise and redundant, relative to conventional navigation systems.

Abstract: In a multimedia system for a vehicle, a plurality of multimedia units are connected to one another by an optical bus laid as a ring line. An interface unit, situated at an arbitrary point in the ring line or integrated into one of the multimedia units establishes a radio connection between the multimedia system and an external unit, which for example transmits traffic information to the multimedia system.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the distance and/or the speed of a following vehicle running behind a leading vehicle, the distance between the following vehicle and leading vehicle is measured, and the speeds of the following vehicle and of the leading vehicle are measured, in the event of undershooting a minimum distance and/or in the event of overshooting a minimum speed difference a desired deceleration is determined for the following vehicle and automatic actuation of the vehicle brake on the following vehicle is initiated. The automatic actuation of the vehicle brake is triggered only for the case in which the absolute value of the desired deceleration overshoots a threshold value.

Abstract: A control system for a plurality of motor vehicle chassis subsystems comprises a reference model, a state estimator, a feedforward controller, and a feedback controller. The reference model computes desired states of the chassis subsystems. The state estimator estimates actual states of the vehicle. The feedforward controller computes a control value based on input from the reference model, and the feedback controller computes a control value by comparing the estimates of actual states with the desired states.

Abstract: A vehicle travelling position detecting system includes a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged on a vehicle for detecting magnetic fields generated by magnetic markers arranged on the road in the travelling direction of the vehicle to output detected magnetic field signal. A difference signal between the detected magnetic field signal and delayed magnetic field signal generated from the detected magnetic field signal allows reduction of the noise. The difference signal is used for calculating displacement of the vehicle with respect to the magnetic markers.

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed and spacing of a motor vehicle taking into account the spacing from any preceding vehicles, such that in the event that a relevant preceding vehicle is detected, a spacing control system is superimposed onto the speed control system, and such that the spacing control system automatically decelerates the controlled vehicle if the spacing from a preceding vehicle falls below a set reference spacing, such that the fact that the decrease in spacing below the reference spacing was brought about by the driver of the controlled vehicle is recognized on the basis of at least one further indicator; and/or such that the fact that the motor vehicle is traveling in the outermost left lane of the lanes provided for one direction of travel is recognized on the basis of at least one further indicator; and that in this case, automatic deceleration is attenuated or omitted.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for enabling an operator to dynamically manage maintenance of an aircraft. The system includes a program manager system, a tracking manager system and a production manager system. The program manager system is for extracting maintenance tasks from aircraft maintenance publications, and for guiding the formation of maintenance tasks groups. The tracking manager system is for monitoring accumulated usage data of the aircraft, and for identifying maintenance due tasks and maintenance due task groups from the respective maintenance tasks and maintenance task groups for which a difference between the control point and the accumulated usage data is less than a user-defined critical value. The production manager system is for generating and implementing a dynamic maintenance flow chart which details scheduling data for each individual task of the maintenance due tasks and maintenance due task groups.