Abstract: System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also identifies terrain map information associated with the vehicle's determined location and determines a terrain based on the terrain map information. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined terrain.

Abstract: A system and method for stability control of a vehicle using GPS data. The system and method can receive GPS data and optionally vehicle operating data or signals and define one of a brake-based stability control subsystem and a torque management-based stability control subsystem as the dominant stability control system. Based on the stability control subsystem defined as the dominant stability control system, the system and method provide stability control for the vehicle. The system and method also defines the dominant stability control system based on weather data.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling torque and/or speed of wheels of a vehicle. The system and method receive one or more vehicle operating signals. Based on the received vehicle operating signals, the system and method determine whether one or more of a vehicle's wheels require torque or speed modification. If it is determined that one or more of the vehicle's wheels requires torque or speed modification, the system and method modifies the torque to drive, or speed of, a wheel or wheels based on the received vehicle operating signals. The modification is automatic and/or independent for each wheel. Some or all wheels can be coupled to respective wheel hubs having incorporated therewith an engagement/disengagement mechanism. The system and method can control the engagement/disengagement mechanism to modify the torque at, or speed of, the associated wheel based on the received vehicle operating signal or signals.

Abstract: A system and method for stability control of a vehicle and a trailer. The system and method can receive vehicle and trailer operating data or signals and define one of a brake-based stability control subsystem and a torque management-based stability control subsystem as the dominant stability control system. Based on the stability control subsystem defined as the dominant stability control system, the system and method provide stability control for the vehicle and the trailer.

Abstract: A system and method for stability control of a vehicle. The system and method can receive current vehicle operating data or signals as well as data or a signal from a traction control subsystem. Based on the received current vehicle operating data or signals data or a signal from a traction control subsystem, the system and method define one of a brake-based stability control subsystem and a torque management-based stability control subsystem as the dominant stability control system. Based on the stability control subsystem defined as the dominant stability control system, the system and method provide stability control for the vehicle.

Abstract: System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also receives data from another vehicle. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined location and on data received from another vehicle, the characteristics including a suspension dampening characteristic, a spring rate characteristic, ABS braking characteristics, stability control system characteristics, a seat shock absorber characteristic, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for stability control of a vehicle using GPS data. The system and method can receive GPS data and optionally vehicle operating data or signals and define one of a brake-based stability control subsystem and a torque management-based stability control subsystem as the dominant stability control system. Based on the stability control subsystem defined as the dominant stability control system, the system and method provide stability control for the vehicle. The system and method also defines the dominant stability control system based on weather data.

Abstract: A system and method for stability control of a vehicle and a trailer. The system and method can receive vehicle and trailer operating data or signals and define one of a brake-based stability control subsystem and a torque management-based stability control subsystem as the dominant stabiliy control system. Based on the stability control subsystem defined as the dominant stability control system, the system and method provide stability control for the vehicle and the trailer.

Abstract: A system and method for stability control of a vehicle. The system and method can receive current vehicle operating data or signals as well as data or a signal from a traction control subsystem. Based on the received current vehicle operating data or signals data or a signal from a traction control subsystem, the system and method define one of a brake-based stability control subsystem and a torque management-based stability control subsystem as the dominant stability control system. Based on the stability control subsystem defined as the dominant stability control system, the system and method provide stability control for the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle and a method for mechanical decoupling of front and rear wheels and left and right wheels of a vehicle by mechanically decoupling the left and right wheels, while controlling the braking to maintain proper wheel speed during vehicle maneuvers.

Abstract: System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also receives data from another vehicle. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined location and on data received from another vehicle, the characteristics including a suspension dampening characteristic, a spring rate characteristic, ABS braking characteristics, stability control system characteristics, a seat shock absorber characteristic, etc.

Abstract: System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined weather characteristics associated with the determined location. The characteristics may include a suspension dampening characteristic, a spring rate characteristic, ABS braking characteristics, stability control system characteristics, a seat shock absorber characteristic, etc.

Abstract: System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also identifies terrain map information associated with the vehicle's determined location and determines a terrain based on the terrain map information. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined terrain.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling torque and/or speed of wheels of a vehicle. The system and method receive one or more vehicle operating signals. Based on the received vehicle operating signals, the system and method determine whether one or more of a vehicle's wheels require torque or speed modification. If it is determined that one or more of the vehicle's wheels requires torque or speed modification, the system and method modifies the torque to drive, or speed of, a wheel or wheels based on the received vehicle operating signals. The modification is automatic and/or independent for each wheel. Some or all wheels can be coupled to respective wheel hubs having incorporated therewith an engagement/disengagement mechanism. The system and method can control the engagement/disengagement mechanism to modify the torque at, or speed of, the associated wheel based on the received vehicle operating signal or signals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a redundant braking system for a vehicle. A controller may monitor a status of a hydraulic braking system, and during vehicle travel, automatically switch to a modulated electric braking system which is separate from the hydraulic braking system when the hydraulic braking system fails. The modulated electric braking system may utilize a brake acting on a drive shaft of the vehicle, and an operator-actuated switch may set a mode of the modulated electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a redundant braking system for a vehicle. A controller may monitor a status of a hydraulic braking system, and during vehicle travel, automatically switch to a modulated electric braking system which is separate from the hydraulic braking system when the hydraulic braking system fails. The modulated electric braking system may utilize a brake acting on a drive shaft of the vehicle, and an operator-actuated switch may set a mode of the modulated electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a redundant braking system for a vehicle. A controller may monitor a status of a hydraulic braking system, and during vehicle travel, automatically switch to a modulated electric braking system which is separate from the hydraulic braking system when the hydraulic braking system fails. The modulated electric braking system may utilize a brake acting on a drive shaft of the vehicle, and an operator-actuated switch may set a mode of the modulated electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliably detecting bio-warfare agents in the mail stream that may be released from posted items. The agents are detected as the mail pieces are being processed using typical postal automation machines equipped with image scanning capabilities, and two technologies are combined. One is an aerosol trigger that can be based on a variety of different existing approaches which detects particulates of a specific size range and examines the spectral characteristics of the particles when illuminated with an ultra violet (UV) or other light source. Other approaches may include: mass spectrometry, ion mobility, IR spectrometry and the like. The second technology involves scanning and analyzing images of suspect mail, pieces and correlating aerosol trigger events with mail piece image risk factors. The second technology provides for obtaining images which provide information indicative of mail which is more likely to be from suspicious sources and provide increased risk factors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling potential biohazard particles in an air flow tests for biological particles in the air flow; collects a sample of particulate matter from a specific portion of the air flow in response to an indication in the step of sensing of the presence of biological particles in the specific portion of the air flow, and delays particle movement between the steps of sensing and collecting to coordinate the steps of sensing and collecting to the specific portion of the air flow.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting and identifying hazardous material in a mail stream in which hazardous particulates or material in or on mail pieces in a mail stream are detected and the mail piece bearing the hazardous material is identified. A bar code applicator applies a unique bar code to the wrapper of each mail piece identified as potentially containing hazardous material. The bar code applicator is an ink jet which applies the bar code on-the-fly. The bar code applied is encoded with specific information about the detection parameters at the time of the event in addition to specific information about the date, time of day, machine identification, temperature and humidity conditions, etc. present at the time of the event.