Abstract: A hierarchical system for controlling an automated vehicle. The system includes: a first hardware-based layer designed to receive a first control signal and to carry out a conversion in terms of control technology of the first received control signal, or another base layer, and: a second reflex-based layer, hierarchically superordinate to the first hardware layer; and/or a third motion-based layer hierarchically superordinate to the second reflex-based layer; and/or a fourth intent-based layer; and/or a fifth context-based layer.

Abstract: A method for planning an optimal driving behavior for an at least partially autonomously driving vehicle. The method includes: obtaining sensor data of the vehicle; ascertaining a first evaluation function which assigns a quality to each possible state of the vehicle at discrete points in time within a planning horizon of the vehicle based on the sensor data; ascertaining a local optimum of the first evaluation function at each discrete point in time; ascertaining a candidate trajectory which includes a temporal sequence of the local optima; evaluating the candidate trajectory using a second evaluation function which evaluates state transitions between successive states of the at least one candidate trajectory; selecting an optimal candidate trajectory from the candidate trajectories based on the first and second evaluation functions; and transmitting the selected at least one optimal candidate trajectory to a control unit of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a closed loop, self-learning system that automatically optimizes what experiences should be presented to each customer. Instead of relying on rules and external targeting, it observes customer reactions to continuously improve performance and adapt to environment changes.

Abstract: A computer-implemented training method for a planning model is proposed to provide a future behavior of a participant of a given traffic scene based on scene-specific information. As part of the training method, the following steps are performed for at least one training scene and at least one training scene participant in successive simulation steps. With the aid of the planning model to be trained, a future behavior of the participant is predicted. With the aid of a given simulation model and taking into account the predicted behavior of the participant, a future development of the training scene is simulated. The predicted behavior of the participant is compared to the actual behavior of the participant in the temporal development of the training scene. At least one set of latent features is generated in each simulation step, which represents the state of the training scene simulated in that simulation step.

Abstract: A method is for generating at least one training travel trajectory for training a driving mode of a self driving vehicle. The method includes reading in a possible travel trajectory of a vehicle and a safety time parameter representing a time period within which a safety distance to an assumed vehicle in front is to be maintained again after a deviation of a position and/or speed of the vehicle on the travel trajectory, and determining position deviation data and/or speed deviation data to change an assumed position and/or speed of the vehicle on the travel trajectory at a specific and/or predefined time. The method further includes determining the training travel trajectory using the travel trajectory, the safety time parameter, the position deviation data and/or the speed deviation data.

Abstract: A method for controlling a driving assistance system or a system for at least partially automated driving. The method includes: providing measurement data characterizing a traffic situation; ascertaining several candidate responses to the traffic situation, wherein these responses each include controlling the driving assistance system, or the system for at least partially automated driving, or suppressing such a control; ascertaining, for each of these candidate responses, a score using a distribution of response times of a driver of the vehicle, the score indicating how dangerously the traffic situation develops after performing the respective candidate response; selecting, using these scores, one of the candidate responses as the response to be carried out; controlling the driving assistance system, or the system for at least partially automated driving, to carry out the selected response.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is for planning the behavior of an ego vehicle as part of a traffic scene. The ego vehicle is equipped with an in-vehicle sensor system whose visual range is influenced by a respective current traffic scene. The method includes generating a scene representation of the current traffic scene using scene-specific sensor data captured by the in-vehicle sensor system, and predicting a future development of the traffic scene based on the generated scene representation. The method further includes planning driving maneuvers taking into account the prediction of the future development of the traffic scene. The method predicts the effects of the future development of the traffic scene on the visual range of the in-vehicle sensor system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for behavior planning of an at least partially automated ego vehicle having a specified navigation destination. The method includes: generating a graph-based scene representation of the current traffic scene, wherein the graph of the scene representation is defined by a set of nodes and directed edges, each directed edge connecting exactly two nodes, wherein the nodes and/or the edges are associated with map information, and wherein each directed edge is associated with a transition probability for a correspondingly directed transition of the ego vehicle between the connected nodes; planning driving maneuvers, taking into account a future development of the traffic scene. At least a portion of the generated transition probabilities of the scene representation is modified with respect to the specified navigation destination, and that the scene representation having the modified transition probabilities is used for the planning.

Abstract: A method for selecting a driving maneuver to be carried out by an at least semi-autonomously driving vehicle is disclosed. The method includes (i) using measurement data of at least one sensor carried by the vehicle, creating a representation of the situation the vehicle is in, (ii) mapping the representation of the situation to a probability distribution by way of a trained machine learning model, which probability distribution specifies a probability for every driving maneuver from a predefined catalog of available driving maneuvers, with which said driving maneuver is carried out, (iii) selecting a driving maneuver from the probability distribution as the driving maneuver to be carried out, (iv) in addition to using at least one aspect of the situation the vehicle is in, a subset of driving maneuvers which are disallowed in this situation is determined, and (v) this disallowed driving maneuver is prevented from being carried out.

Abstract: A method for training a behavior planner for an at least partially self-driving target vehicle on the basis of observation data regarding kinematics and/or dynamics that have been recorded during at least one test drive in a test vehicle includes identifying a driving maneuver that moves the test vehicle from an initial state to an end state using the observation data, ascertaining the maneuver end time, retrieving a maneuver duration required by the target vehicle to perform the identified driving maneuver from a dynamics model of the target vehicle, labeling observation data from a time interval, defined by the maneuver duration, with the identified driving maneuver, and training the behavior planner, using the labeled observation data, to map observation data that indicate a state of the target vehicle to at least one driving maneuver to be performed.

Abstract: A cylinder of a combustion engine for a vehicle includes at least one intake duct and a spark plug which in turn includes a ground electrode. The spark plug is mounted in the cylinder such that during an operation of the combustion engine the ground electrode is cooled in as optimum a manner as possible by an airflow generated by the at least one intake duct. A spark plug and a method for manufacturing a cylinder of a combustion engine are also provided.

Abstract: A cylinder of a combustion engine for a vehicle includes at least one intake duct and a spark plug which in turn includes a ground electrode. The spark plug is mounted in the cylinder such that during an operation of the combustion engine the ground electrode is cooled in as optimum a manner as possible by an airflow generated by the at least one intake duct. A spark plug and a method for manufacturing a cylinder of a combustion engine are also provided.

Abstract: A halogen free contact arranged a between an insulation body of a spark plug and a resilient protective cap of a spark plug connector.

Abstract: A method for producing oil and/or gas from an underground formation comprising locating a suitable reservoir in a subsurface formation; creating a model of the reservoir; populating the model with laboratory data; modeling the reservoir to determine fluid displacements based on fluids injected and fluids produced; determining an optimum fluid mixture for the fluids to be injected based on a series of sensitivity analyses performed with the model; drilling a first well in the formation; injecting the optimum fluid mixture into the first well; drilling a second well in the formation; and producing oil and/or gas from the second well.

Abstract: A method includes: obtaining, at time intervals, subsets of data from a database using code of a query language; performing a pre-aggregation on the subsets of data to produce pre-aggregated data; storing the pre-aggregated data in the database; obtaining, in response to a query, at least some of the pre-aggregated data from the database, where the at least some of the pre-aggregated data is obtained using code from the query language used to obtain the subsets of data; and performing a re-aggregation on the pre-aggregated data to produce re-aggregated data

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide travelers with the ability to get travel advice and travel related information from other users by using the collective intelligence of a web-based social network as well as using the social network for creating marketing and advertising opportunities for travel suppliers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide travelers with the ability to get travel advice and travel related information from other users by using the collective intelligence of a web-based social network as well as using the social network for creating marketing and advertising opportunities for travel suppliers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle auxiliary heater annular combustion air blower is disclosed having a housing defining a suction side of the blower and a delivery side of the blower. The housing also defines a mounting bore which extends substantially perpendicular to the bypass channel. A rotary slide valve is provided in the form of a cylindrical pin member which is rotatable within said mounting bore and includes a surface before variable throttling of said bypass channel independence upon the rotational position of said rotary slide valve.

Abstract: An arrangement for space heaters for motor vehicles, which are fired with liquid fuel including, (depending on the type of burner used), a glow plug for either igniting a fuel/air mixture and/or vaporizing fuel. Only one type of glow plug, i.e., a glow plug designed for a 12-V electrical system, is normally employed. If the motor vehicle has a 24-V battery, a compensating resistor, which has the same electrical resistance as the glow plug, is connected in series with the glow plug. The amount of electrical energy converted into heat in the compensating resistor is practically equal to that transformed in the glow plug. The compensating resistor is integrated within the burner housing, in which case it is located in the flow path of the combustion air and is properly cooled by the air flowing past it, to provide a safe trouble free and space-saving arrangement.

Abstract: A cutting segment for stone and the like, the segment having a porous center section. A conventional mixture of cement and diamonds is made, and a quantity of filler is added to the mixture. The filler will withstand the sintering process, but subsequently falls out so pores are provided. A segment is made with only the center porous, while the side sections are as dense as is conventional. The result is that the porous section can receive coolant and/or the resulting slurry for efficient cutting, and the center section wears faster to yield a concave cutting edge.