Abstract: A client unit (102) has a client GPS receiver (104) integrated with a two-way-radio transceiver (108) and a client manager (116) for performing server-assisted global position fixes. A server unit (120) is associated with a second two-way-radio transceiver (126) and a server manager (130). The client and server managers (116 and 130) function as communication managers, and each has modules for detecting RF channel traffic, enabling transmitter portions of the transceivers (108 and 126) to transmit satellite data and position information only when there is no traffic on the RF channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for establishing an operating variable to be determined of a motor vehicle in dependence on a first known operating variable and a second known operating variable, using a characteristics map for executing functions of the motor vehicle. Said characteristics map is stored in the Cartesian coordinate system in an electronic control device with the help of interpolating points. If a mathematically invertible characteristics map by which means an operating variable to be determined for a first motor vehicle function is entered on the Z-axis is provided, then by reverse interpolation using the same characteristics map, an operating variable allocated to the Y- or X-axis can also be an operating variable to be determined for a second motor vehicle function, the operating variable allocated to the Z-axis being the known operating variable for the second motor vehicle.

Abstract: In a steering mechanism of steer-by-wire type which includes a first steering unit that is handled by a driver and a second steering unit that steers steered road wheels with the aid of a steering motor, there is employed a control system which input and output detecting sections that detect input and output of the steering motor, a road surface disturbance estimating section that estimates a disturbance of road surface based on both the detected input and output of the steering motor, and a steering reaction force calculating section that, based on the estimated disturbance of road surface, calculates a steering reaction force that is to be applied to a steering wheel of the first steering unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurate estimation of forward path geometry of a vehicle based on a two-clothoid road model are presented. Road data provided by a camera or a radar system is collected 200 and a full measurement transfer function of the two-clothoid model is computed 202. The near-range and the far-range clothoid coefficients are estimated simultaneously 204; and the forward path of the vehicle is estimated using the data provided by the two-clothoid model 206.

Abstract: A fuel efficient technique for changing the inclination, with respect to the Earth's equator, for a satellite includes first maneuvering the satellite to the moon on a BCT (Ballistic Capture Transfer). At the moon, the satellite is in the so-called fuzzy boundary or weak stability boundary. A negligibly small maneuver can then bring it back to the Earth on a reverse BCT to the desired Earth inclination. Another maneuver puts it into the new ellipse at the earth. In the case of satellites launched from Vandenberg AFB into LEO in a circular orbit of an altitude of 700 km with an inclination of 34°, approximately 6 km/s is required to change the inclination to 90°. The previous flight time associated with this method was approximately 170 days. A modification of this method also achieves a significant savings and unexpected benefits in energy as measured by Delta-V, where the flight time is also substantially reduced to 88 or even 6 days.

Abstract: A method for controlling a damper of a vehicle is provided, wherein the vehicle includes a front damper and a rear damper and a damping force of the dampers is controlled by respective data detected by a steering angle sensor, a vehicle speed sensor and a yaw rate sensor. First, steering angle data, vehicle speed data and yaw rate data are inputted in step (a) and a desired yaw rate is calculated in step (b) by using the steering angle data, the vehicle speed data and a specification of the vehicle. Then, the desired yaw rate is compared in step (c) with the yaw rate data provided from the yaw rate sensor. Thereafter, it is determined in step (d) whether the vehicle is over-steered or under-steered depending on the comparison result obtained in the step (C). Finally, the damping force of the damper is controlled in step (e) in response to the determination result in the step (d).

Abstract: A feedback system 10 for use with a hybrid electric vehicle 12 having a propulsion system 14 which includes a motor/generator 16 and an internal combustion engine 20. The system 10 provides a driver of vehicle 12 with tactile, audible, visual and/or other perceivable feedback, effective to notify the driver that the powertrain 14 of the vehicle is active when the internal combustion engine 20 is stopped.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing earthwork design templates in an on-board system on a work machine. The machine operator may select one or more of the templates and place and orient the template on a topographic map displayed on a screen. The operator may adjust the position and heading in the x-y plane and adjust the elevation, slope, and cross slope of the template relative to the map.

Abstract: In corrective control system and method for a liquid pressure control apparatus for a control valve unit, fundamental maps are preset on the basis of a hysterisis characteristic, the hysterisis characteristic being exhibited in such a manner that an output liquid pressure actually measured value which takes along a first hysterisis loop when the current value is increased toward a larger value is different from that which takes along a second hysterisis loop when the current value is, in turn, decreased toward a smaller value from the larger value and each fundamental map is a map representing a relationship between the output liquid pressure actually measured value and a current average value, the current average value being an average between the current value in the first hysterisis loop and that in the second hysterisis loop with respect to each of the same output pressure actually measured values.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for determining the transmission ratio of a continuously variable transmission having a drive end and an output end. A signal, which represents the transmission ratio, is computed in dependence upon a primary rpm of the drive end and a secondary rpm of the output end which are transmitted to the arrangement. A fault signal is generated which is dependent upon the instantaneous primary rpm and/or the instantaneous secondary rpm and indicates whether a value for the transmission ratio is to be outputted as the signal representing the transmission ratio. This value is computed from the detected instantaneous values for the primary rpm and the secondary rpm.

Abstract: In order to reduce the risk of damage on external objects, material articles or persons during the operation of a robot, particularly a miniature robot, the invention provides a method for limiting the force action of a robot part, such as a robot arm, on such an external object during a collision in such a way that as a result of a maximum permitted force, maximum force Fmax, acting on the object in the case of a collision, a corresponding, maximum permitted kinetic energy, maximum energy Ekin,max of the robot part is determined, continuously and at adequately short time intervals the actual kinetic energy, actual energy Ekin, of the robot part is determined and on exceeding the maximum permitted energy Ekin,max, the actual operating speed V of the robot is reduced.

Abstract: In an electric brake system with at least an electric wheel brake mechanism having a pair of brake friction pads to produce a braking force based on a brake manipulated variable, and a brake friction pad thrust sensor detecting a pressure of either one of the brake friction pad pair against a disk rotor, an electric brake control unit causing a temporary movement of the brake friction pad pair into contact with the disk rotor when a predetermined time period has expired from a time when a brake pedal has been recovered to an inoperative state. In the system, a position of the brake friction pad pair, at which the pressure becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value during the temporary movement of the brake friction pad pair into contact with the disk rotor, is detected or determined as a braking initiation position.

Abstract: An advance notification system notifies users of the impending arrival of a vehicle, for example, an overnight package delivery vehicle, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) for each vehicle and a base station control unit (BSCU) for sending messages to user computers in order to inform the users when the vehicle resides at a certain predefined time period, distance, prior stop, and/or location point from the vehicle stop. Moreover, vehicle tracking, the BSCU, a computer network (e.g., the Internet), and software located on a user computer may be combined in a plurality of configurations for launching and communicating a message of the impending arrival of a particular vehicle before it arrives. Significantly, the computer message is to advise of the impending arrival and preferably will exhibit a distinctive display and/or sound on the recipient computer so that the recipient is informed of the message.

Abstract: A robot cleaner system capable of accurately docking with an external charging apparatus and a method for docking with an external charging apparatus comprising a power supply terminal connected to a supply of utility power, an external charging apparatus including a terminal stand for supporting the power supply terminal and fixing the external charging apparatus at a predetermined location, a driving unit for moving a cleaner body, an upper camera disposed on the cleaner body, for photographing a ceiling, a charging battery disposed in the cleaner body, for being charged by power supplied from the power supply terminal, a bumper disposed along an outer circumference of the cleaner body and outputting a collision signal when a collision with an obstacle is detected, and a robot cleaner disposed at the bumper to be connected with the power supply terminal and including a charging terminal connected to the charging battery, wherein, prior to starting on operation, the robot cleaner photographs an upward-lookin

Abstract: The precision of the estimations of the vehicle body sideslip angle and the values related to the vehicle body sideslip angle can be improved by a simple and inexpensive method. The improved method of estimating quantities that represent the vehicle state of a vehicle comprises the steps of detecting a yaw rate and vehicle speed and calculating a vehicle body sideslip angle using three equations, which comprises an equation of equilibrium for the force in the lateral direction of the vehicle and an equation of equilibrium for the moment around a vertical axis of the vehicle, and an equation for the physical relationships of the quantities that represent the state of the vehicle movement, and which include a vehicle sideslip angle, a front wheel cornering power, and a rear wheel cornering power as unknown values.

Abstract: A system for presenting information to passengers in a conveyance, has a computer which stores operation diagram information; a storage medium which stores a plurality of advertisement data items to be presented to the passengers; and an information presenting device. The computer obtains an operation time in each operation section on the basis of the operation diagram information and identification data for identifying the conveyance, and selects and arranges some of the advertisement data items to generate presentation data for continuously presenting information to the passengers throughout a time period corresponding to the operation time. The information presenting device reproduces the presentation data corresponding to each operation section to present the information to the passengers in each operation section of the conveyance.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that provide traffic information to end users. The traffic information is contained in traffic data messages that use location reference codes to identify locations along roads. A data structure is formed that relates a set of location reference codes assigned to locations along roads by a first data supplier to another set of location reference codes assigned locations along roads by a second data supplier. The data structure is used to form traffic data messages containing location reference codes assigned by the first data supplier based on traffic data messages containing location reference codes assigned by the second data supplier.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for controlling a remote robot responsive to the integrated sensory perceptions, natural body movements, inertia and gravitation of an operator/user who is himself responding to a three dimensional virtual world of visual and sensory conditions responsive to the environment at the remote site where the robot is operating. The user requires no training, special commands or devices to direct the robot because the user has the perception of actually being at the remote location, handling remote objects he sees and feels in his hands, walking, climbing, viewing and feeling the remote world.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes integrated software and hardware apparatus to identify, track and report tax-deductible vehicle travel routes including actual mileage, stops and routes driven. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) equipment is used in conjunction with mapping and/or reporting software to display and/or report mileage and vehicle use for tax or reimbursement purposes. Vehicle owners can select mobile units, batch processing, wireless or hard wire mobile unit data downloading.

Abstract: A flexible tool for handling small objects, as well as a method for handling small objects using the flexible tool. The flexible tool comprises one or more mini robots, such as a free arm robot and one or more hexapod(s) working in an internal workspace when performing operations on small objects. Furthermore, an external space can be used for storing the objects during non-operation. The hexapods are to engage with a small object and to move a small object between the internal workspace and the external space, and the free arm robot is to move one or more hexapod(s). Fast measurements of robot positions are included, the measurements being feed back to a computer system controlling the mini robots. The computer system further comprises vision and motion planning.