Abstract: An automated parking control device includes: a surrounding environment recognition device that acquires surrounding environment information of a vehicle; a parking controller that searches for an available parking area, generate a target route to the available parking area, and control the vehicle to move along the target route; an image processor that estimate a distance to a three-dimensional object and a slippage level of a road surface; an image map generator that generate a road a slippage level map; a wheel selector that predicts routes of vehicle's wheels, superimposes the routes on the map, and selects a wheel expected to pass through a route where the wheel is most unlikely to slip; and a movement amount calculator that acquires a wheel speed pulse of the selected wheel and calculates a movement amount of a reference position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pressure tank unit may include: a tank including a container space which contains compressed gas; and a plurality of protectors bonded to a surface of the tank, wherein the tank may include: a body part having a cylindrical shape; and a dome part provided at an end of the body part and having a hemispherical shape, the plurality of protectors may be arranged along a boundary between the body part and the dome part in a circumferential direction of the tank, each of the plurality of protectors may have a first portion covering the dome part and a second portion covering the body part, and an inner surface of the second portion facing the body part may include at least one bonding area bonded to the body part via a bonding material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a seismic response control method for a structure, comprising the steps of installing a seismic response control device in a structural component of stiffness K.sub.f ; and controlling a characteristic of story restitutive force based of story restitutive force Q (=Q.sub.s +F) given as the sum of restitutive force Q.sub.s of the structural component installed with the seismic response control device and force F generated from the seismic response control device so as to maintain or vary the characteristic of story restitutive force, which is shown on a coordinate plane as the relation between amplitude D(t) and story restitutive force Q(t) of the structural component portion, in the specific form, in response to the kaleidoscopic state of vibration. The seismic response control device is controlled efficiently with a sensor for measuring a state value of a device part and a simple configuration on microprocessor level.

Abstract: A high damping device combined with the frame of a building to protect the building from seismic shock. For seismic vibration up to a predetermined level corresponding to the permissible strength of the high damping device, a damping coefficient c of the high damping device is set so as to be c.sub.3 =c=c.sub.1 with respect to a damping coefficient c.sub.3 for giving the maximum value of a damping factor h.sub.3 corresponding to a tertiary mode of vibration of the structure and a damping coefficient c.sub.1 for giving the maximum value of a damping factor h.sub.1 corresponding to a primary mode of vibration. The maximum load on the high damping device is predetermined and means are provided to prevent the high damping device from being damaged in the event that the predetermined maximum load is exceeded. The inventive combination permits the stiffness factor of the building to be reduced from a factor of 1.0 down to a factor as low as 0.3, with a proportionate reduction in steel frame mass.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder type high damping device in which a cylinder member or a piston rod member is connected to the frame of a structure and the other member is connected to an earthquake-resisting element integrally secured to the frame. A plurality of passages through the piston connect hydraulic chambers on opposite sides of the piston. The passages are provided with pressure-governing valves which control the flow of oil between the hydraulic chambers. In addition, an accumulator system provides a bypass for oil to flow between the hydraulic cylinders in order to modulate the oil pressure in the damping device. Relief valves are provided in parallel with the pressure governing valves to provide a variable damping coefficient which protects the damping device from overloads caused by excessive seismic shock.

Abstract: A hydraulic variable damping device for installation in the frame of a structure to control vibrations while evaluating the damping property of the structure during seismic disturbances. Control means for this device include a command value judging circuit for comparing the plus or minus sign of a differential pressure value between hydraulic chambers within the device with that of a generated damping force command value to output a valve opening command value for fully opening a flow regulating valve when the signs of the command value and the differential pressure value are different from each other. A pressure controller is provided for making a correction based on the feedback of the pressure valve when the signs of the damping force command value and the differential pressure value are the same to generate a valve opening command value.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated piston device installed between the frame of a structure and a vibration-resisting element provided separately from the frame varies the rigidity of the frame by changing the condition of connection between the frame and the vibration-resisting element. A valve controls the operation of the piston device and can be adjusted to change the coefficient of damping of the piston device. To obtain maximum rigidity of the frame, the piston is hydraulically locked in place. For maximum flexiblity of the frame, the piston can be hydraulically released from a locked position to move freely. Hydraulic resistance to movement of the piston can be graduated by metering the flow of oil into and out of the piston device. The coefficient of damping is a function of the metered flow of hydraulic fluid in the piston device.

Abstract: An active seismic response control system includes a variable damping device provided between posts, beams and braces of a structure, wherein the response of the frame is reduced by controlling the variable damping device when an earthquake or strong wind occurs to give a damping force to the frame. The response of the structure is determined by the steps of judging with a computer the optimal damping force or control force to be applied to the structure on the basis of information obtained from sensors in response to the disturbance, and then controlling the coefficient of damping of the variable damping device.

Abstract: A variable damping and stiffness structure is disclosed, which includes a variable damping device provided between posts, beams and braces of a structure or braces serving as variable stiffness elements and interconnecting a frame body and the variable stiffness element or the variable stiffness elements themselves. Not only the unreasonance property, but also the damping property of the structure are compositely judged by a computer on the basis of information obtained from sensors with respect to disturbances such as earthquake and wind to control the connecting condition of the variable damping device, whereby both the unresonance property and the damping property are controlled to reduce the response amount of the structure. Otherwise, the variable damping device is controlled by the judgement of only the damping property.