Abstract: A system for enabling secure access to an in-vehicle gateway module includes a mobile wireless transceiver on the vehicle in communication with the gateway module, and at least one stationary wireless transceiver in communication with a home computer system, for example, as part of the vehicle owner's home network, or via an internet connection to the home network. The home computer system authenticates all data transfer to and from the vehicle gateway module while preferably also providing a “server” or information consolidation function.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for finding a parked vehicle again. According to the invention, a portable unit is provided with a pressure sensor whose signals can be evaluated by an evaluation and control unit in order to determine the current air pressure, with the evaluation and control unit evaluating the determined air pressure in order to determine altitude, and storing a first air pressure value as a reference value at a predeterminable first time, which reference value represents an instantaneous altitude of a geographic position of the parked vehicle, with the evaluation and control unit estimating a height difference between a current geographic position of the portable unit and the geographic position of the parked vehicle at a second time, and/or continuously from a pressure difference between the determined current air pressure value and the reference value.

Abstract: Method for finding a vehicle (2), wherein a direction information item relating to the position of a mobile terminal (P2) with respect to the position (P1) of the vehicle is derived by comparing satellite supported position coordinates (P1, P2), and the respective direction information item is output by means of a display unit which is integrated into the mobile terminal (4), the geographic position (P1) of the vehicle (2) is stored in the mobile terminal (4) in the form of position coordinates when the vehicle (2) is deactivated, wherein if the mobile terminal (4) is in a second zone (Z2) surrounding a first zone (Z1), the current coordinates of the geographic position (P2) of the mobile terminal (4) are compared with the stored position (P1) of the vehicle, and if the mobile terminal (4) is in the first zone (Z1), the coordinates of the position (P1) of the vehicle are interrogated from the vehicle on an updated basis by means of a satellite supported position determining system, and this position (P1) of t

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for finding a parked vehicle again. According to the invention, a portable unit is provided with a pressure sensor whose signals can be evaluated by an evaluation and control unit in order to determine the current air pressure, with the evaluation and control unit evaluating the determined air pressure in order to determine altitude, and storing a first air pressure value as a reference value at a predeterminable first time, which reference value represents an instantaneous altitude of a geographic position of the parked vehicle, with the evaluation and control unit estimating a height difference between a current geographic position of the portable unit and the geographic position of the parked vehicle at a second time, and/or continuously from a pressure difference between the determined current air pressure value and the reference value.

Abstract: A deep-ocean relocation system includes a transport vehicle (glider) and a quad riser assembly for transporting waste for disposal at abyssal depths. The transport vehicle is either self-powered or towed by a host vehicle, and travels at the water surface or underwater to the disposal site. At the disposal site, the transport vehicle, which is primarily constructed of a space-frame matrix that is positively buoyant in sea water, descends to abyssal depths along a helical glide path, discharges its waste cargo, and thereafter ascends. The quad riser assembly includes a floating platform and at least two riser lines extending from the platform down to abyssal depths. Waste is discharged through at least one of the riser lines to the abyssal depths, while at least one other riser line is used to draw water from the abyssal depths to generate a slurry with the waste material. The waste is thus thermally habituated prior to disposal.

Abstract: A magnetic transient detection technique which alerts a microcomputer of an auto-calibrating compass when electrical transients which produce magnetic transients have occurred. The technique employs an electronic compass control circuit having a sampling rate high enough to isolate electrical transients from transients produced by normal motion of the vehicle. Accelerations in data values defined as the difference between two changes in the coordinates for the center of the earth's magnetic field circle, are calculated and compared to predetermined threshold accelerations. Previous acceleration values and their associated vehicle magnetic field vectors can be stored in the microcomputer. After a magnetic transient is detected, its associated vehicle magnetic field vector is subtracted from the resultant magnetic field to yield vehicle heading. Once detected, magnetic transients are also used to initiate auto-calibration.