Abstract: An automated method of controlling a speed of a vehicle includes identifying parameters of a driving instance of the vehicle; identifying a predetermined profile that is applicable to the driving instance based on the identified parameters; identifying a predetermined speed policy applicable to the driving instance based on the identified profile; and implementing the identified speed policy during the driving instance. The method may be repeated during the driving instance, whereby the speed policy that is implemented is automatically updated when one or more changes in the identified parameters cause a different predetermined speed policy to be identified. Parameter may include driver parameters (e.g., driver age and driver experience); vehicle parameters (e.g., vehicle age, mileage, and tire wear) tire maintenance information); behavior parameters (e.g., speed, acceleration, hard braking of the vehicle, following distance, swerving, and cornering); and circumstance parameters (e.g.

Abstract: A strut member to be secured to the floor structure includes a top skirt-contacting portion for the aerodynamic skirt panel to be secured thereto, a lower skirt-contacting portion for the aerodynamic skirt panel to be secured thereto distant from the top skirt-contact portion, and a strut portion connecting the top skirt-contact portion to the lower skirt-contacting portion. The strut member provides a clearance in which the skirt panel is free of contact with the strut member between the top skirt-contact portion and the lower skirt-contacting portion. The strut portion is configured to resiliently buckle between a buckled position upon the skirt panel undergoing a force exceeding a threshold value toward the strut member and an original position when no force is applied and when the skirt panel is undergoing a force that is less than the threshold value.

Abstract: An automated method of controlling a speed of a vehicle includes identifying parameters of a driving instance of the vehicle; identifying a predetermined profile that is applicable to the driving instance based on the identified parameters; identifying a predetermined speed policy applicable to the driving instance based on the identified profile; and implementing the identified speed policy during the driving instance. The method may be repeated during the driving instance, whereby the speed policy that is implemented is automatically updated when one or more changes in the identified parameters cause a different predetermined speed policy to be identified. Parameter may include driver parameters (e.g., driver age and driver experience); vehicle parameters (e.g., vehicle age, mileage, and tire wear) tire maintenance information); behavior parameters (e.g., speed, acceleration, hard braking of the vehicle, following distance, swerving, and cornering); and circumstance parameters (e.g.

Abstract: A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer is provided, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer, a lower attachment portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing an inertia moment of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt.

Abstract: A method of decelerating a vehicle upon entering a halt zone includes determining a location of a vehicle at routine intervals while the vehicle is traveling along a road; determining when the vehicle enters a halt zone; and upon determining that the vehicle has entered a halt zone, limiting a speed of the vehicle to a nominal speed. The method preferably is performed by an intelligent speed adaptor (ISA) system of a vehicle. The vehicle preferably is part of a fleet of commercial vehicles, and a fleet manager preferably is notified when a vehicle has entered a halt zone.

Abstract: An automated method of controlling a speed of a vehicle includes identifying parameters of a driving instance of the vehicle; identifying a predetermined profile that is applicable to the driving instance based on the identified parameters; identifying a predetermined speed policy applicable to the driving instance based on the identified profile; and implementing the identified speed policy during the driving instance. The method may be repeated during the driving instance, whereby the speed policy that is implemented is automatically updated when one or more changes in the identified parameters cause a different predetermined speed policy to be identified. Parameter may include driver parameters (e.g., driver age and driver experience); vehicle parameters (e.g., vehicle age, mileage, and tire wear) tire maintenance information); behavior parameters (e.g., speed, acceleration, hard braking of the vehicle, following distance, swerving, and cornering); and circumstance parameters (e.g.

Abstract: A method of decelerating a vehicle upon entering a halt zone includes determining a location of a vehicle at routine intervals while the vehicle is traveling along a road; determining when the vehicle enters a halt zone; and upon determining that the vehicle has entered a halt zone, limiting a speed of the vehicle to a nominal speed. The method preferably is performed by an intelligent speed adaptor (ISA) system of a vehicle. The vehicle preferably is part of a fleet of commercial vehicles, and a fleet manager preferably is notified when a vehicle has entered a halt zone.

Abstract: A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer is provided, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer, a lower attachment portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing an inertia moment of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt.

Abstract: A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer is provided, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer, a lower attachment portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing an inertia moment of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt.

Abstract: An automated method of controlling a speed of a vehicle includes identifying parameters of a driving instance of the vehicle; identifying a predetermined profile that is applicable to the driving instance based on the identified parameters; identifying a predetermined speed policy applicable to the driving instance based on the identified profile; and implementing the identified speed policy during the driving instance. The method may be repeated during the driving instance, whereby the speed policy that is implemented is automatically updated when one or more changes in the identified parameters cause a different predetermined speed policy to be identified. Parameter may include driver parameters (e.g., driver age and driver experience); vehicle parameters (e.g., vehicle age, mileage, and tire wear) tire maintenance information); behavior parameters (e.g., speed, acceleration, hard braking of the vehicle, following distance, swerving, and cornering); and circumstance parameters (e.g.

Abstract: A method of decelerating a vehicle upon entering a halt zone includes determining a location of a vehicle at routine intervals while the vehicle is traveling along a road; determining when the vehicle enters a halt zone; and upon determining that the vehicle has entered a halt zone, limiting a speed of the vehicle to a nominal speed. The method preferably is performed by an intelligent speed adaptor (ISA) system of a vehicle. The vehicle preferably is part of a fleet of commercial vehicles, and a fleet manager preferably is notified when a vehicle has entered a halt zone.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises an intelligent speed adaptor (ISA) system. The ISA system is configurable to limit the allowed speed of the vehicle to a speed determined based at least in part on a currently allowed speed for a speed zone applicable to a current location of the vehicle; and to limit the allowed speed of the vehicle to a nominal speed. The nominal speed results in the effective disengagement and nonoperation of the accelerator of the vehicle. The nominal speed may be 1 kilometer per hour, 1 mile per hour. The nominal speed also may correspond to a speed that results from idling of the engine.

Abstract: A controller causes a signal to be received by a main control module (MCM) in a controller area network of a vehicle when the vehicle is determined to be speeding or when a set speed of a cruise control would result in speeding. The signal indicates to the MCM that a driver of the vehicle is braking. The signal is caused to be received by the MCM when the vehicle is determined to be speeding regardless of whether the driver of the vehicle is actually braking, whereby cruise control that is engaged is disengaged by the MCM. Such controller is utilized in conjunction with ADA systems, especially ISA systems, for enabling such systems to properly function without specific regard to the particular manufacturer and model of the cruise control module that may be used in a given vehicle.

Abstract: A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer is provided, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer, a lower attachment portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing an inertia moment of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt.

Abstract: There is provided a method of securing a strut portion to an I-beam of a vehicle, the securing mechanism comprising a pair of opposed clamps, each including a gripping portion, a securing portion, an abutting portion and a fastener adapted to apply tension on the clamps toward each other for moving the clamps toward each other and compress the strut portion to the I-beam.

Abstract: A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer is provided, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer, a lower attachment portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing an inertia moment of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt.

Abstract: This invention relates to a retractable aerodynamic air drag reducing apparatus for reducing the air drag of a vehicle, the retractable aerodynamic air drag reducing apparatus being adapted to move between an expanded configuration and a retracted configuration on a basis of a signal from the vehicle.

Abstract: A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer is provided, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer, a lower attachment portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing an inertia moment of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt.

Abstract: There is provided a method of securing a strut portion to an I-beam of a vehicle, the securing mechanism comprising a pair of opposed clamps, each including a gripping portion, a securing portion, an abutting portion and a fastener adapted to apply tension on the clamps toward each other for moving the clamps toward each other and compress the strut portion to the I-beam.

Abstract: Aerodynamic skirt systems are used to reduce air drag of a vehicle. The present aerodynamic skirt system comprises a skirt panel, a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an upper portion for securing an upper portion of the skirt panel to the trailer, a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the strut, a lower portion for securing a lower portion of the skirt panel, the lower portion being connected to the strut member at a second end thereof, the strut member including a concave portion adapted to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt in an aerodynamic configuration thereof, the strut member being adapted to buckle and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to move the aerodynamic skirt in an object avoidance configuration. A kit and a method of use thereof is also presented.