Abstract: Methods and systems for predictive reasoning for controlling speed of a vehicle are described. A computing device may be configured to identify a first and second vehicle travelling ahead of an autonomous vehicle and in a same lane as the autonomous vehicle. The computing device may also be configured to determine a first buffer distance behind the first vehicle at which the autonomous vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the first vehicle and a second buffer distance behind the second vehicle at which the first vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the second vehicle. The computing device may further be configured to determine a distance at which to adjust a speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the first and second buffer distances and the speed of the autonomous vehicle, and then provide instructions to adjust the speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing a vessel from a start point to an end point. Routes are generated from the start point to the end point based on a number of objectives. A group of waypoints is added between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest in response to a segment between two waypoints in a route in the routes crossing a region of interest.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting and receiving a data while charging a vehicle includes first module configured to calculate an expected charging time based on an instantaneous SOC value obtained through a CAN communication when charging the electrical vehicle is started and a second module that is configured to determine a size of transmittable or receivable data considering a transmission speed and based on information obtained through the expected charging time analysis module. Communication equipment enables data to be transmitted and received between the vehicle and a data center via power line communication. A first storage unit within the vehicle and a second data storage unit provided within the data center are configured to store telematics related data, and an output unit is configured to output information related to data determined by the second module.

Abstract: A traffic congestion detection apparatus includes a traveling information acquisition unit for acquiring traveling information relating to a traveling state of a vehicle, and a traveling zone determination unit for determining which one of at least three zones including a central zone of a congestion area the vehicle is traveling in, based on current traveling information acquired by the traveling information acquisition unit.

Abstract: Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle capable of attaining an assist torque generated by a clutch mechanism at an appropriate timing, upon starting the engine. Since an electronic control device outputs an engagement command for engaging a clutch (clutch mechanism) at a time preceding an (ignition) start command time for igniting an engine by a preceding-sending time, the clutch becomes engaged when the engine speed starts to increase, and the assist torque generated by the clutch mechanism can thus be obtained at an appropriate timing. Because the engine speed that was once increased upon starting the engine is not decreased, the energy that was consumed for starting the engine can be effectively used.

Abstract: A flight control system can achieve a relatively steep descent (using drag devices such as flight spoilers) at relatively low speeds while retaining good airplane handling qualities from the pilot's point of view. The system and method optimize the drag device's positioning used to perform steep approach to improve performance.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a system for forming and managing a caravan of vehicles. The system may include computing devices in a plurality of vehicles belonging to a caravan. The computing devices participating in the caravan may communicate various information to each other. This information may be used to generate and manage a route for the caravan. The system may also be used to select a leader and/or order of the caravan for a particular trip. During the trip, the system may monitor the caravan and analyze inputs from participants and vehicles. Further, the system may modify the route based on such inputs and distribute the modified route to participating computing devices so that the caravan may be maintained.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a vehicle brake hydraulic pressure controller capable of carrying out a brake hydraulic pressure control in a plurality of control modes depending on a situation of a vehicle. The vehicle brake hydraulic pressure controller includes: proportional solenoid valves provided in passages connecting a master cylinder and wheel brakes of the vehicle, and configured to be controlled at preset drive frequencies; a control mode selecting section configured to select, in the case that two or more control modes are requested simultaneously, one of the two or more requested control modes; and a frequency selecting section configured to select one of the drive frequencies correspondingly with the one of the two or more requested control modes selected by the control mode selecting section.

Abstract: A control system for a marine vessel having one or more engines and a transmission associated with each engine is disclosed. The control system includes one or more control stations, each having a control arm and arm position means coupled to the control arm for providing an electrical signal that represents a position of the control arm within its operating range. The system includes one or more electronic control units, each of which is electro-mechanically coupled to an engine and a transmission. A first electronic control unit (ECU) includes input means for receiving the electrical signal, control means for controlling a throttle of a first engine and shift position of a first transmission based on the electrical signal, and output means for providing a control signal that represents a current position of the control arm to a second ECU.

Abstract: An electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshift and method for electronically shifting the gears of a bicycle involves the steps of: receiving a signal requesting a displacement of a chain of a bicycle gearshift from a first sprocket to a second adjacent sprocket of a gearshift group comprising at least two sprockets; if the first sprocket has a smaller diameter than the second sprocket, obtaining an upwards gear-shifting position for the second sprocket, if the first sprocket has a larger diameter than the second sprocket, obtaining a downwards gear-shifting position for the second sprocket; and driving an actuator of the gearshift group to displace a guide element of the chain in an axial direction with respect to the gearshift group from the first sprocket to the upwards gear-shifting position for the second sprocket or to the downwards gear-shifting position for the second sprocket, respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying a position of a head of a vehicle occupant from a plurality of images of a vehicle interior. Image data is translated from the plurality of images to produce a virtual side view image of the vehicle interior (162). A largest grouping of pixels in the side view image having values within a desired range is identified (164). The grouping includes a plurality of pixel columns. A contour including uppermost pixels of each pixel column is produced and peaks are located within the contour (166). The contour peaks are analyzed according to a heuristic voting algorithm to identify a peak location associated with the head of the vehicle occupant (172).

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for compensating for an acceleration error in an inertial navigation system (INS). The apparatus includes a motion detector that detects the motion of the INS and outputs information on stationary time intervals during which the INS is stationary and a moving time interval during which the INS is moving; a sensor portion that measures accelerations of the INS for the stationary time intervals and moving time interval, respectively; an error model determiner that determines an acceleration error corresponding to the moving time interval using accelerations measured during the stationary time intervals and outputs an acceleration subjected to correction of the acceleration error for the moving time interval; and a position calculator that integrates the corrected acceleration for the moving time interval and outputs the position of the INS.

Abstract: A motor vehicle navigation device includes an automatic notification operating mode in which the processor automatically initiates the reproduction of a notification text via the loudspeaker at predetermined intervals of time or after predetermined distances of the journey have been traveled.

Abstract: A method and system for location-determination of a mobile comprising of a receiver with a variable processor gain of up to 45.15 dB for detecting signals transmitted from transmitters that at a farther distance as well as from transmitters that are situated in sparsely populated areas. The system also includes a plurality of terrestrially deployed transmitters known as “pseudolites” that broadcast GPS-like signals, and in addition implementing the use of existing, available information from modulated signals, such as phase, amplitude and convolution with pseudorandom codes.

Abstract: An image-based navigation method and system are provided. In response to a user request submitted to a navigation system, the image-based navigation system provides directions to the user, wherein the directions include one or more route segments, and at least one digital image of a view along at least one of the route segments. In a further aspect, the directions are provided to the user by displaying a map of the route along with the route segments, wherein when each of the route segments is displayed, any images associated with the corresponding route segment are also displayed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for collecting images of objects at geographic locations for publication in an online directory, such as online Yellow Pages. A camera and a GPS receiver, both receiving time information from a synchronized clock, are mounted on a vehicle. Time-stamped images captured by the camera and time-stamped geographic locations (e.g., longitude and latitude coordinates) determined by the GPS receiver are recorded. Each image is then associated with a geographic location based on corresponding respective time-stamps. Thereafter, each image is correlated with a street addresses based on each image's associated geographic location, for example by referring to a lookup table that correlates addresses with geographic coordinates. The address-correlated images may then be used in an online directory, where each listing (e.g., business) can be displayed with an image of an object (e.g., store front) taken at the address in the listing.

Abstract: The image playback device includes: an image database storing, in association with one another, specific places in a predetermined region, photographed images relating to the specific places, position information of photographed places of the photographed images, and photographing time period information of the photographed images; a display section displaying the specific places; a selecting section for selecting a specific place; an operation section for instructing display, in the order of the eras, of the photographed images relating to the specific place selected by the selecting section; and a display control section which, in accordance with operation of the operation section, reads-out the photographed images relating to the specific place from the image database in the order of the eras, and displays the photographed images at the display section.

Abstract: An engine management system for a vehicle includes engine and transmission control modules that are connected to a serial vehicle data bus. A dedicated serial data bus is connected to the transmission control module and the engine control module. The engine and the transmission control modules perform processor validity and integrity checks over the dedicated data bus. In an alternate powertrain management system, engine and transmission control modules are connected to a serial vehicle data bus.

Abstract: An electronic compass system includes a magnetic sensor circuit having at least two sensing elements for sensing perpendicular components of the Earth's magnetic field vector. A processing circuit is coupled to the sensor circuit to filter, process, and compute a heading. The processing circuit may determine whether too much noise is present in the output signals received from said magnetic sensor circuit as a function of the relative strength of the Earth's magnetic field vector. The magnetic sensor circuit may include three magnetic field sensing elements contained in a common integrated package having a plurality of leads extending therefrom for mounting to a circuit board. The sensing elements need not be perpendicular to each other or parallel or perpendicular with the circuit board. The electronic compass system is particularly well suited for implementation in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.

Abstract: All terrain vehicles and all terrain vehicle cautionary light assemblies are described according to some aspects. In one aspect, an all terrain vehicle (ATV) includes a frame, a seat coupled with the frame and configured to support an operator, a plurality of wheels coupled with the frame, and a cautionary light assembly configured to couple a cautionary light with the all terrain vehicle, wherein the cautionary light assembly is configured to provide the cautionary light in a position wherein the cautionary light is elevationally above a directional control of the all terrain vehicle and substantially out of a direct line of sight of the operator during operation of the all terrain vehicle by the operator wherein the operator is seated upon the seat and looking in a forward direction with respect to the all terrain vehicle.