Abstract: A heat engine system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operable on a road surface, includes a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface. The heat engine system also includes a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to another form of energy. The air layer has a first temperature, and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. In addition, the heat engine system includes a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine. A vehicle includes a body defining an interior compartment and having an underside surface spaced opposite the road surface, and the heat engine system.

Abstract: A motor vehicle combination is provided. The motor vehicle combination includes a towing vehicle. The towing vehicle is embodied as passenger car. In addition, the motor vehicle combination includes at least one trailer. The at least one trailer can be mechanically connected to the towing vehicle. In addition, the motor vehicle combination comprises a bidirectional communication unit, which is designed for exchanging data between the towing vehicle and the at least one trailer.

Abstract: A system for controlling functions of a vehicle by speech is disclosed. The system includes a mobile terminal of a network, speech processor for converting recorded speech into digital characters, and a vehicle-based interface. The mobile network terminal includes a microphone for recording a user's speech, and a terminal interface for communication with the vehicle-based interface. The vehicle-based interface is connected to a subsystem of the vehicle for controlling it based on messages received from the mobile network terminal. The mobile network terminal is adapted to process a string of digital characters derived from the user's speech into a message and to transmit said message to the vehicle-based interface.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region and a second region having a temperature difference therebetween. A heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a first discrete element of a shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. The first discrete element of the shape memory alloy expands and contracts in response to the phase change to exert a linear force. A motion conversion mechanism is operatively connected to the first discrete element to be driven by the linear force and a component is driven by the motion conversion mechanism.

Abstract: An exhaust system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between an exhaust gas having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The exhaust system also includes a conduit configured for conveying the exhaust gas, a heat engine disposed in thermal relationship with the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy, and a member disposed in contact with the conduit and configured for conducting thermal energy from the conduit to the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first element formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the heat sink.

Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided with a steering wheel, in the spoke of which an operating device, in particular a modular multi-function operation device, for arrangement in a spoke of a motor vehicle steering wheel, that includes, but is not limited to an operating element that is rotatable about an axis of rotation, in particular a turn-push operating element for operation with turning and/or pushing, which is coupled to at least one sensor for generating a control signal. The axis of rotation is obliquely mounted with an angular contact bearing, so that the operating device is oriented projecting in radial direction and in axial direction and the axis of rotation is variable with respect to the inclined mounting with the angular contact bearing, so that a rocking function is realized. In addition, a method is provided for operating instruments of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.

Abstract: A method is provided for situationally adjusting a vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to acquiring data of at least a partial area of an environment of the vehicle with at least one sensor with the vehicle. In addition, the approach of at least one object toward the vehicle is detected using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Furthermore, dimensions of the at least one object are determined using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Moreover, at least a partial area of an interior of the vehicle is adjusted to the dimensions of the at least one object.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining and providing information for the transport of an object with a passenger car. A determining of the first parameter of the object to be transported takes place, where the at least one first parameter is selected from the group consisting of dimensions of the object and the mass of the object. In addition, a determining of a current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. Furthermore, a determining of a probable loading state of the passenger car based on the determined first parameter and the determined current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. In addition, an outputting of information regarding the determined probable loading state takes place.

Abstract: A heat engine system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operable on a road surface, includes a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface. The heat engine system also includes a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to another form of energy. The air layer has a first temperature, and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. In addition, the heat engine system includes a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine. A vehicle includes a body defining an interior compartment and having an underside surface spaced opposite the road surface, and the heat engine system.

Abstract: A heat transport system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to transfer heat from one of the first fluid region and the second fluid region to the other of the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy.

Abstract: A ventilation arrangement includes a console with a surface in which a receptacle is formed. An air outlet is moveably mounted on the console for movement between an opening and a closing position. In the opening position the air outlet protrudes from the receptacle and in the closing position is at least partially flush-mounted in the receptacle. Air guiding elements guide air flowing out of an airflow opening of the air outlet. The air guiding elements are at least partially displaceably mounted on a support structure of the air outlet between an opening and a closing position. The air guiding elements in the opening position are displaceable into working positions in which adjacent air guiding elements have a larger intermediate spacing, and in the closing position into rest positions wherein the elements have a smaller intermediate spacing than in the working positions or lie on one another.

Abstract: A power plant configured for converting thermal energy to electricity includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between a primary fluid having a first temperature and a secondary fluid having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The plant also includes a collector configured for enhancing the temperature difference between the primary and secondary fluids, and a heat engine configured for converting at least some thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a pseudoplastically pre-strained shape-memory alloy disposed in heat exchange relationship with each of the primary and secondary fluids. Further, the plant includes a generator driven by the heat engine and configured for converting mechanical energy to electricity.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining and providing information for the transport of an object with a passenger car. A determining of the first parameter of the object to be transported takes place, where the at least one first parameter is selected from the group consisting of dimensions of the object and the mass of the object. In addition, a determining of a current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. Furthermore, a determining of a probable loading state of the passenger car based on the determined first parameter and the determined current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. In addition, an outputting of information regarding the determined probable loading state takes place.

Abstract: Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.

Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided having a ventilation system. The ventilation system includes, but is not limited to at least one front ventilation opening for supplying air to a passenger on a front seat, a rear ventilation opening for supplying air to a passenger on a rear seat, an air duct for conducting air to the rear ventilation opening, the air duct being situated between the front seats in the area of a central console, the air duct being integrated in a removable central console part.

Abstract: A method is provided for situationally adjusting a vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to acquiring data of at least a partial area of an environment of the vehicle with at least one sensor with the vehicle. In addition, the approach of at least one object toward the vehicle is detected using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Furthermore, dimensions of the at least one object are determined using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Moreover, at least a partial area of an interior of the vehicle is adjusted to the dimensions of the at least one object.

Abstract: A sliding roof configuration is provided for a motor vehicle having a roof frame structure, on which a cover is guided so it is displaceable between a closed position and an open position using opposing lateral guide devices. The spacing of the opposing guide devices changes in this case viewed in the displacement direction of the cover and a guide device has multiple guide rails, which each extend in the displacement direction of the cover, and are situated offset to one another in the displacement direction and diagonally or perpendicularly thereto, and which are each implemented to guide one associated sliding element.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a digital projector for projecting a graphic or type facial information and a monitoring circuit, to which the projector is connected, in order to project as the graphic or type facial information an information determined by the monitoring circuit in real time.

Abstract: An operating element for actuation by a user includes, but is not limited to a movable element that can be actuated by a user and a sensor layer, which is situated below the movable element and implemented as a touchscreen, the sensor layer being implemented to establish an actuation of the movable element.