Abstract: A method and a system of determining a driving direction of a vehicle traveling at a low speed. The method includes determining whether the vehicle is in one of three states: (1) an uphill state in which the vehicle is located on an upward sloping surface, (2) a downhill state in which the vehicle is located on a downward sloping surface, and (3) a flat surface state in which the vehicle is located on a flat surface. The method also includes obtaining information from a plurality of vehicle sensors and determining a direction of movement of the vehicle based upon the determined state of the vehicle and information from the plurality of vehicle sensors.

Abstract: A method and a system of determining a driving direction of a vehicle traveling at a low speed. The method includes determining whether the vehicle is in one of three states: (1) an uphill state in which the vehicle is located on an upward sloping surface, (2) a downhill state in which the vehicle is located on a downward sloping surface, and (3) a flat surface state in which the vehicle is located on a flat surface. The method also includes obtaining information from a plurality of vehicle sensors and determining a direction of movement of the vehicle based upon the determined state of the vehicle and information from the plurality of vehicle sensors.

Abstract: A portable tire prep detector is used to detect prep on a tire, when the tire is on a racing vehicle, and when the racing vehicle is on a race track. In one example, the detection of prep using the portable tire prep detector involves a test that takes less than two minutes. Multiple tires can be reliably tested in this way in rapid succession, even if some of the tires tested cause large amounts of prep to be drawn into the portable tire prep detector. In one example, the portable tire prep detector is a portable gas detector involving a catalytic combustion sensor. The portable gas detector is able to detect very low concentrations of hydrocarbons in a sample gas drawn into the detector from the tire surface. If the detector reads above a predetermined threshold value, then the tire is determined to have been prepped.

Abstract: A portable tire prep detector is used to detect prep on a tire, when the tire is on a racing vehicle, and when the racing vehicle is on a race track. In one example, the detection of prep using the portable tire prep detector involves a test that takes less than two minutes. Multiple tires can be reliably tested in this way in rapid succession, even if some of the tires tested cause large amounts of prep to be drawn into the portable tire prep detector. In one example, the portable tire prep detector is a portable gas detector involving a catalytic combustion sensor. The portable gas detector is able to detect very low concentrations of hydrocarbons in a sample gas drawn into the detector from the tire surface. If the detector reads above a predetermined threshold value, then the tire is determined to have been prepped.