Vehicle Patents (Class 703/8)
  • Patent number: 7650268
    Abstract: A method and a computer software program for predicting and modeling ion flux colliding with an ion-propelled vehicle traversing a magnetic field predicts a colliding ion path based upon an ion exhaust velocity, an ion charge-to-mass ratio, and a localized magnetic field vector. An ion-propelled vehicle path is predicted based upon a selected trajectory and a vehicle velocity vector. An ion plume is transformed based upon the predicted colliding ion path. The ion-propelled vehicle is projected into the transformed ion plume. The flux is calculated at a silhouette of the projected vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Brian J. Tillotson
  • Publication number: 20100010795
    Abstract: A process for simulating the physical behavior of a vehicle tire rolling on the ground with which the tire tread has an area of contact including at least one adherent contact zone and at least one sliding contact zone, which process includes at least modeling operations, numeric value assignment operations, and solving operations, wherein the modeling operations comprise establishing, by applying physical laws that are known and/or developed by specific experimentation, and as a first model, a model of the longitudinal forces (Fx), the transverse forces (Fy), and a self-alignment torque (Mz), transmitted by the tire between the ground and the vehicle, on the basis of specific physical parameters, including an adherence coefficient and a shear modulus of the rubber of the tire, and on the basis of dynamic parameters associated with the physical conditions of rolling and use of the tire, in which the self-alignment torque is associated with the intensity of the longitudinal and transverse forces and their dist
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fevrier, Herve Martin, Gerard Fandard
  • Publication number: 20100010793
    Abstract: A computer system and method for determining a survivability aspect control signal for an aircraft is disclosed. The computer system can include a processor and a memory including software instructions adapted to cause the computer system to perform a series of steps. The steps can include providing a plurality of signature exposure models, each signature exposure model corresponding to a threat sensor and including a threat sensor characteristic and a threat operational characteristic. A portion of a mission can be selected along with one or more of the models based on the selected mission portion. The steps can include calculating a signature exposure index based on the one or more selected models and the selected mission portion and providing a survivability aspect control signal based on the signature exposure index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Carl R. Herman
  • Publication number: 20100010794
    Abstract: A method for evaluating a lightning/HIRF protection effectiveness of a vehicle design is provided. The method is performed using a computer system coupled to a database. The method includes storing in the database design service life goals and critical characteristics for at least one lightning/HIRF protection component. The method also includes storing in the database a potential for degradation of the at least one component. The potential for degradation is based at least partially on a position where the component is to be installed. The method also includes determining continued functionality of the at least one component using the computer system to compare the vehicle design to the stored design service life goals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Gregory J. Sweers
  • Patent number: 7647141
    Abstract: A method of processing and displaying train performance including analyzing train data received from the train or train simulator real time or from a data storage and preparing display data of the results of the analysis. Computer graphic images are created from the display data; and the computer graphic images are provided for display. A display may be a drive with the display data and displayed portions of the display data may be selected to be created into computer graphic images. The computer graphic images may be transmitted over the internet or stored on a portable store and ultimately displayed on a video player. The computer graphic images may be viewed and edited or enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation
    Inventors: C. Mackay Foster, Michael J. Hawthorne
  • Patent number: 7647210
    Abstract: An electronic method for parametric modeling of a conceptual vehicle design. The method includes (a) receiving dimensional input including one or more vehicle level parameters and one or more component level parameters; (b) receiving geometrical input including one or more non-dimensional design inputs; and (c) generating a parametric concept model based on dimensional input and the geometrical input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nanxin Wang, Jian Wan, Gianna Gomez-levi
  • Publication number: 20090326893
    Abstract: An expert system and method for aircraft mission modeling using a matrix application, a preferred embodiment of which is incorporated into Mission Modeler software used in conjunction with Satellite Toolkit (STK) software. More generally, the invention is an expert system that draws on an extensive set of basic building blocks that represent standard aircraft maneuvers and concepts, and assembles those building blocks into complex and realistic sequences that represent aircraft motion with very high fidelity. One benefit of this invention is that it provides a simple system and method for users with no piloting experience to generate highly realistic flight paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas Neely
  • Patent number: 7640148
    Abstract: A method of modeling a cycle of a vehicle parameter includes generating a plurality of training sets and partially classifying elements of each training set based on a present value of the vehicle parameter and a subsequent change in the vehicle parameter. The method further includes reducing the plurality of training sets to a corresponding plurality of parameter sets based on the elements and defining a plurality of statistical groups of the parameter sets based on a value and a history of that value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward D. Tate, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090306880
    Abstract: There is provided an evaluation method for evaluating a vehicle driving assist system through simulation of vehicle driving. The method including: simulating assist information which the driving assist system generates concerning traffic circumstances of roads in response to a driving operation which a driver performs; simulating detection of an object on the road on the basis of the generated assist information; simulating a situation of communication of information concerning the detection-simulated object to a vehicle-mounted apparatus; simulating displays of the detection-simulated object in accordance with the simulated communication situation on a display device; and evaluating an effect by the vehicle driving assist system for safety of driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Toshiaki Gomi, Takushi Fujita
  • Patent number: 7630871
    Abstract: A method of determining the impact resistance of a structure including a crushable material comprises the steps of determining for one or more layers of a finite element of said material during an impact whether said element or layer thereof is to be treated as failing by crushing. If the element or layer is determined to fail by crushing, a load-bearing portion of the structure is defined and the load-bearing portion is treated for the purpose of subsequent calculations as exhibiting an ongoing resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Engenuity Limited
    Inventors: Ian Cole, Graham Barnes, Richard Roberts, James Anderson
  • Publication number: 20090299713
    Abstract: A method of modelling the effect of a fault on the behaviour of a system. The method comprises modifying a functional model of a system to specify a fault in the system; running the model in accordance with a test, the test having an input and an expected output, the input defining the value of a least one input variable over a period of time and the expected output defining the expected value of at least one output variable over the period of time; the functional model calculating, in dependence on the value of the input variable defined by the input, a modelled output comprising the modelled value of the output variable over the period of time; and comparing the modelled output with the expected output to determine a severity score for the fault based on the difference between the modelled output and the expected output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: RICARDO UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter John Miller, Benjamin John Sewell, Alejandro D. Dominguez-Garcia
  • Patent number: 7625456
    Abstract: A vehicle tire includes a tread provided with a tread pattern, which is made up of circumferentially arranged design units having a plurality of pitch lengths Pi (i=l to j) including a minimum pitch length Pl and a maximum pitch length Pj. Each of the design units has at least one groove with side walls each having an inclination angle ?i in a cross section parallel to the tire equator, and the inclination angle ?1 in the design unit having the minimum pitch length P1 is less than the inclination angle ?j in the design unit having the maximum pitch length Pj, whereby the rigidity difference between the design units having different pitch lengths is decreased. Preferably, the angle ?i in a design unit having a pitch length Pi is not more than the angle ?i+1 in a design unit having the next longer pitch length Pi+1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hanya
  • Publication number: 20090281779
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable article of manufacture for simulating a mechanism system controlled by a plurality of electronic control units operating at different clock rates. The simulation system includes a mechanism system simulator; a plurality of electronic control unit emulators for electronically emulating the respective plurality of electronic control units, each thereby receiving an input signal with a time and giving an output signal with a time; and a scheduler for receiving and storing the output signals with the times from the plurality of electronic control unit emulators, and for providing, in response to a change in the output signal coming from the electronic control unit emulator and having a relatively late time, the output signal with a time preceding the relatively late time to the mechanism system simulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Koichi Kajitani, Hideaki Komatsu, Shuichi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20090281780
    Abstract: A bill of material and a design layout are aligned to generate a configuration for a virtual vehicle. The bill of material includes a part number and usage associated with a part. The design layout includes a CAD model of the part. CAD models in vehicle position are generated from the design layout. Logical positions are identified based on the usage and the CAD models in vehicle position are associated with the logical positions. Feature conditions are applied to the CAD models in vehicle position representing content and position configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicants: FORD MOTOR COMPANY, VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Michael Knapp, Gary Stuart Wallace, Lars Thure Johansson
  • Patent number: 7613596
    Abstract: A tire profile (12) includes a tread (16), a shoulder (18), a flat portion (20), an upper sidewall (22) and a lower sidewall (24). The shoulder (18) is provided in contact with a tread (16) at a point (Pa). The flat portion (20) is provided in contact with the shoulder (18) at a point (Pb). The upper sidewall (22) is provided in contact with the flat portion (20) at a point (Pc). A system including an input portion and a calculating portion is used for designing the profile (12). When the numeric values of a radius of curvature (R1) of the shoulder (18) and an inclination angle (?) of the flat portion (20) are input by the input portion, the calculating portion calculates a length (L) of the flat portion (20) and a radius of curvature (R2) of the upper sidewall (22). Based on the input numeric values and the calculated numeric values, the profile (12) is drawn by CAD software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamoto, Masatoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7606690
    Abstract: A method for modeling a coil spring on a suspension system in terms of derived torque and force characteristics of the spring comprising the steps of providing a force field generator for simulating the spring, securing the force field generator to the suspension system, activating the force field generator to produce forces for characterizing the spring, measuring the forces; and deriving a spring design based upon the measured forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: NHK International Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishizawa, Akihiko Kumagai
  • Patent number: 7593838
    Abstract: A method as well as a device for the lane allocation of consecutive vehicles, the lane allocation being carried out in a model-based manner via a frequency distribution of the lateral displacements of detected radar objects. The method is additionally used for detecting the misalignment of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Winter, Jens Lueder, Werner Kederer, Juergen Detlefsen
  • Publication number: 20090228160
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to not only predict an impending fault, but also to avoid the occurrence of the fault such that continued operations are permitted with a reduced likelihood of the occurrence of the fault. In this regard, a plurality of features are provided to at least one model, such as a random forest classification model. The plurality of features include features representative of at least one prior operational sequence as well as features representative of at least one upcoming operational sequence. The plurality of features are then processed with at least one model to determine a likelihood of a fault during the upcoming operational sequence. The method also alters the characteristics of the upcoming operational sequence without requiring maintenance of the equipment to thereby permit the upcoming operational sequence to be conducted with a reduced likelihood of the fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Neil H. Eklund, Xiao Hu
  • Publication number: 20090228409
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to predict faults. Initially, a plurality of features are provided to a plurality of models. A subset of features is selected for each model. The plurality of features selected by a respective model is dependent upon a time scale associated with a respective model. As a result of their dependence upon different time scales, the plurality of selected features provided to a first model will differ from those provided to a second model. The plurality of models process the respective plurality of selected features. The outputs from the plurality of models are fused to generate a measure indicative of an impending fault. By providing different selected features to the models that are dependent upon the associated time scales and by then combining the outputs of the plurality of models, the resulting measure of an impending fault may accurately predict a fault well in advance of its occurrence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Neil H. Eklund, Xiao Hu
  • Publication number: 20090228257
    Abstract: This description provides tools for lazy evaluation of geometric definitions of objects within procedural programming environments. Computer-based methods provided by these tools may parse input program code that includes statements that are syntactically consistent with a procedural programming language. These statements may also include defined functions that are not syntactically consistent with the procedural programming language. The defined functions may be associated with a given function that is defined according to the procedural programming language. The given function may relate to a geometric design of an object. The methods may identify inputs and outputs to this given function, and may build a dependency graph that relates this given function to other functions, based on the inputs and/or outputs of the given function. The methods may delay evaluating the given function until a triggering event occurs, at which time the methods may evaluate the given function to produce the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Zack Thunemann, Thomas A. Grandine, Jan H. Vandenbrande, Gregory Mikel Anderson
  • Patent number: 7584038
    Abstract: A method for determining virtual visibility is disclosed. The method includes modeling at least one object in a virtual space and plotting at least one surface from a first predetermined location relative to the at least one object within the virtual space. The method further includes identifying at least one interference between the at least one object and the at least one surface. The method still further includes determining a first characteristic of the at least one interference and determining if the first characteristic is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Neil Britten-Austin, John Sanderson
  • Patent number: 7584085
    Abstract: A spacecraft emulation system for emulating the operation of a spacecraft and the operation of a plurality of ground stations is coupled to spacecraft status and control clients that request connections to one of the plurality of simulated ground station ranging and tracking servers. The connection requests are made to a common address with a port address that is unique to a specific ground station. Separate range servers and tracking servers are instantiated for each ground station and return data specific to the ground station. The spacecraft emulation system determines ranging and tracking data for the plurality of simulated ground stations but supplies the data on a ground station by ground station basis. The status and control system transparently determines which ground station is simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Gold, John D. Haskell
  • Patent number: 7581697
    Abstract: Methods for configuring aircraft that may be implemented to integrate aircraft sonic boom constraint requirements with the design process for a supersonic aircraft, for example, to reconcile a target sonic boom constraint with the internal layout and balance of the aircraft during the design phase. The disclosed methods may advantageously be employed in one embodiment to allow a sonic boom-constrained aircraft design configuration solution to be reached that incorporates a desired sonic boom signature with the requirements of an internal configuration layout. Resulting aircraft configurations may be usefully employed for achieving sonic boom suppression on any type of supersonic-capable aircraft, for example, a civil supersonic business aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hawker Beechcraft Corporation
    Inventors: Corey Hagemeister, David C. Aronstein, Kurt L. Schueler
  • Patent number: 7580904
    Abstract: A chromosome using each of a plurality of parameters of a physical model of a semiconductor element as a gene is defined and the parameters are optimized using a genetic algorithm based on the characteristics measurement data of the semiconductor element fabricated by way of trial. In the selection processing of the genetic algorithm, a sum of a first evaluation value based on linear scale data and a second evaluation value based on logarithmic scale data is employed as the evaluation value of the chromosome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Evolvable Systems Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Murakawa, Keiichi Ito, Tetsunori Wada
  • Patent number: 7580820
    Abstract: A control information conveyance structure comprises: a cognition-system control platform which recognizes the circumstances of the surroundings of a vehicle and generates a control space; an operation-system control platform which recognizes the circumstances related to the movement of the vehicle body and generates a control space; and a determination-system control platform which generates a determination control space based on information from the cognition-system and operation-system control platforms. The conveyance structure is constituted so that sensors and individual control devices belong to either or both of the control platforms. This control information conveyance structure is adopted. Thus, control platforms of such a control structure that the individual control devices are managed at a higher level can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Mamoru Sawada
  • Patent number: 7571085
    Abstract: Systems and methods to select a vehicle component are provided. In at least one embodiment, a system receives first configuration data defining a first vehicle assembly configuration, category data defining a component category, and component data defining a vehicle component. The system stores the configuration data and the category data in memory. The system automatically determines whether the component data satisfies a selected vehicle assembly configuration definition and whether the component data satisfies a selected component category definition. The system outputs a representation of the vehicle component if the component data satisfies the selected vehicle assembly configuration definition and the selected component category definition thereby automatically selecting the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Alan Baumgartner, David Knapp
  • Patent number: 7571084
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for designing geometric shapes for automobiles or any other manufactured objects. The method of a vehicle design system is for analyzing constraints on parameters of a vehicle model, the vehicle design system including a catalog of exemplars from which a user may select exemplar input and at least one engineering criteria having a plurality of criteria values from which a user may select criteria values. The method includes providing a morphable vehicle model generated from exemplar input, selecting a first criteria, evaluating the morphable model with respect to the first criteria to determine the value, selecting a new target criteria value from the plurality of criteria values, and updating the morphable model shape to achieve this value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall C. Smith, David R. Warn, Richard R. Pawlicki
  • Patent number: 7559194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device (10) for controlling the injection of reducing agent upstream from a catalyst (4) in an exhaust line (2) from a combustion engine. According to the invention, the injection of reducing agent in the exhaust line is controlled on the basis of result of comparison between a calculated accumulation actual value (A1) and a calculated accumulation setpoint value (A2). The invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code for implementing said method, a computer program product comprising a medium which is readable by an electronic control unit and has stored on it a computer program intended to cause an electronic control unit to implement said method, and an electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Scania CV AB (publ)
    Inventor: Björn Westerberg
  • Patent number: 7561996
    Abstract: A dimensioning apparatus for generating a dimensional drawing from a model includes an element database with predetermined element names. A plurality of model elements can be associated with corresponding element names. The apparatus also includes a model sectioning tool operable to section the model to thereby generate at least a portion of the model elements. The apparatus further includes a dimensioning tool with a plurality of predetermined dimension names and a plurality of dimensioning algorithms associated with corresponding dimension names. At least two of the model elements are utilized by each of the dimensioning algorithms to thereby automatically detect dimension values of the model. The dimensioning tool is further operable to associate the detected dimension values with corresponding ones of the dimension names. In addition, the dimensioning apparatus includes a plotting tool operable to output the dimensional drawing showing the dimension values of the model detected by the dimensioning tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Yun Lu, David M Goecke, Stephen E Landrum, Hugh W Cumming, Bruce P Mattarella
  • Publication number: 20090171626
    Abstract: An integrated engineering analysis system comprises: a) a first integrated computational process, the first process being comprised of a plurality of computational solvers adapted to compute characteristics of a first component; b) a second integrated computational process, the second process being comprised of a plurality of computational solvers adapted to compute characteristics of a second component; and c) communication paths between corresponding computational solvers of the first and second computational processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Zaineddin S. Dweik, James Carlton Dudley, Robert N. Pittman, Amid Ansari
  • Publication number: 20090165542
    Abstract: A system designed to simulate an internal combustion engine having improper valve timing is provided. The purpose of the simulation system is to calibrate and/or validate a proprietary cam-crank correlation diagnostic algorithm. The simulation system includes a simulator module that communicates with crankshaft and camshaft position sensors and an engine control module. The simulator module includes: a first selector that selects a shift value for shifting a periodic signal; and a modification module that receives a camshaft position signal from the camshaft position sensor and that generates a modified camshaft position signal based on the crankshaft position signal and the shift value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael David Gray, Steven Fredrick Haller
  • Publication number: 20090171631
    Abstract: A method for performing analytical engineering analyses on a plurality of components comprises the steps of: a) performing a first integrated computational process, the first process being comprised of a plurality of computational solvers adapted to compute characteristics of a first component; b) performing a second integrated computational process, the second process being comprised of a plurality of computational solvers adapted to compute characteristics of a second component; and c) communicating results back and forth between corresponding computational solvers of the first and second computational processes; and d) repeating the first and second computational processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Zaineddin S. Dweik, James Carlton Dudley, Robert N. Pittman, Amid Ansari
  • Publication number: 20090157365
    Abstract: Provided is a simulation device including: a simple model computing portion for generating simulation information by correcting measured information sampled on a real vehicle on the basis of control information input from an electronic control unit; and an outputting portion for outputting the simulation information generated by the simple model computing portion to the electronic control unit. The simulation device generates the simulation information generated by the simple model computing portion as new measured information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Higuchi, Toshio Nakai, Takeshi Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20090157364
    Abstract: A computer-aided method suitable for assisting in the design of an aircraft by providing the dimensioning aerodynamic forces and other relevant values comprising the following steps: a) Selecting a set of parameters of the aircraft, being said aerodynamic forces and other relevant values dependant of said parameters; b) Performing flow field CFD RANS computations for a number N1 of different combination of values of said parameters; c) Obtaining said aerodynamic forces and other relevant values for whatever combination of values of said parameters through a reduced-order model, generated by computing the POD modes of the flow variables, expanding the flow variables using said POD modes and obtaining the POD coefficients of said expanded flow variables using a genetic algorithm that minimizes the error associated to the expansion of the Navier-Stokes equations. The invention also refers to a system for carrying out said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Angel Gerardo Velazquez Lopez, Jose Manuel Vega De Prada, Luis Santiago Lorente Manzanares, Diego Alonso Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20090157363
    Abstract: Illustrative computer-executable methods, systems, and computer software program products predict cruise orientation of an as-built airplane. In illustrative embodiments, nominal orientation of an as-built airplane is input. Deviation from the nominal orientation of the as-built airplane is automatically computed, and the computed deviation from the nominal orientation of the as-built airplane is applied to the nominal orientation of the as-built airplane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: John G. Barnes, Douglas L. Wilson, Timothy W. Purcell, Stephen A. Walls, Dean A. Hawkinson
  • Publication number: 20090150132
    Abstract: A spacecraft emulation system for emulating the operation of a spacecraft and the operation of a plurality of ground stations is coupled to spacecraft status and control clients that request connections to one of the plurality of simulated ground station ranging and tracking servers. The connection requests are made to a common address with a port address that is unique to a specific ground station. Separate range servers and tracking servers are instantiated for each ground station and return data specific to the ground station. The spacecraft emulation system determines ranging and tracking data for the plurality of simulated ground stations but supplies said data on a ground station by ground station basis. The status and control system transparently determines which ground station is simulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Gold, John D. Haskell
  • Publication number: 20090138188
    Abstract: There is provided a method, device and system for modeling a road network graph, comprising the steps of receiving information data from a plurality of vehicles, said information data comprising at least positional data, and modeling said road network graph in accordance with said received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Andrej Kores, Bogdan Pavlic, Martin Pecar, Tajet Novak
  • Patent number: 7533524
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling soot regeneration in a catalyst soot filter (“CSF”) of an exhaust system for a diesel engine by measuring the inlet temperature of a diesel oxidation catalyst (“DOC”) coupled to the CSF, determining a target light off temperature for the DOC, injecting a first fuel amount into a cylinder of the engine to cause the DOC inlet temperature to approach the target light off temperature, measuring the CSF inlet temperature and pressure across the CSF, determining a target CSF inlet temperature for regeneration, injecting a second fuel amount for combustion in the DOC to cause the CSF inlet temperature to approach the target CSF inlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Yun Wang, Wole C. Akinyemi
  • Publication number: 20090125287
    Abstract: A train simulator, including a microprocessor, a display and an input device for the microprocessor. A program drives the display with the track data during simulation, determines if an exception has occurred during the simulation; and provides a multimedia message if an exception has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: NEW YORK AIR BRAKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael J Hawthorne
  • Patent number: 7533010
    Abstract: A method and system providing for tire tread design with improved noise characteristics is disclosed. The volume of air created by the lateral grooves that separate each tread block, referred to as a void, is computed at various sampling areas around a tire to generate a void function. The void function is measured at the boundaries of the tire footprint. The footprint of the tire is the portion of the tire that is in contact with the road surface. There is a correlation between the void function, and tire noise. Depending on the tread design, the void function changes as the tire rotates. By minimizing fluctuation in the void function over the course of a complete tire rotation, the tire noise can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Karl Eric Sundkvist, Robert John Danforth, III, Rajender R. Manthani
  • Publication number: 20090119080
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium including instructions for predicting a characteristic of an object is described. The system includes an object model comprising a thin crack geometry representation of at least a portion of the object; a boundary condition model of a predetermined process applicable to the object (FIG. 8, Input Data); and a simulator module (FIG. 8, Run the EPD Simulator) for simulating the application of the output (FIG. 8, Output Results) a predicted value of a predetermined characteristic of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Leonard J. Gray, Patrick Gaffney
  • Patent number: 7529649
    Abstract: A system and method for knowledge based development of interior models for configurable spaces, including passenger vehicles includes a database containing rules and parameters, a computer-aided design system, a user interface, and programmatic logic allowing aspects of the vehicle to be automatically changed upon a change initiated by a user, to maximize space and maintain compliance with the rules and parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David J. Lee, Gregory J. Oakes, Gina C. Pischke
  • Publication number: 20090112539
    Abstract: A method for illustrating potential benefits resulting from revised navigation procedures to a customer is described. The method includes preparing a model for a revised navigation procedure, determining a landing probability for both an existing minimum separation procedure and a minimum separation determined utilizing the revised navigation procedure, calculating a benefit associated with a difference in the landing probabilities, and validating the revised navigation procedures through demonstration and use of the revised navigation procedure model on a computer-based flight simulation program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: James O. Halvorson, William H. Syblon
  • Publication number: 20090112540
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a section cut in a model of a part. A location on the part is identified. An axis system is created at the location in the model of the part, wherein the axis system has an axis that is normal to a surface at the location in the model of the part. Section cuts intersecting the surface and plies below the surface are created. A plurality of sampling points on the surface is identified based on the section cuts. Core sampling is preformed using the plurality of sampling points to generate sampled data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Jamie A. Kessel, Phillip J. Fisher, Paul J. Shirron, Donald M. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20090106006
    Abstract: A finite element analysis (FEA) based coil spring design method that utilizes a reverse engineering based concept. The method involves first designing a desired jounce profile, which is typically an output in the conventional FEA based design, and then reversely determining the corresponding free profile necessary for manufacturing a spring having desired performance specifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishizawa, Tadashi Sakai
  • Publication number: 20090099824
    Abstract: A distributed simulation system is composed of simulator stations linked over a network that each renders real-time video imagery for its user from scene data stored in its data storage. The simulation stations are each connected with a physics farm that manages the virtual objects in the shared virtual environment based on their physical attribute data using physics engines, including an engine at each simulation station. The physics engines of the physics farm are assigned virtual objects so as to reduce the effects of latency, to ensure fair fight requirements of the system, and, where the simulation is of a vehicle, to accurately model the ownship of the user at the station. A synchronizer system is also provided that allows for action of simulated entities relying on localized closed loop controls to cause the entities to meet specific goal points at specified system time points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Falash, Eytan Pollak, Yushan Chen, Jon Williams
  • Publication number: 20090099825
    Abstract: A system and method of planning the movement of plural trains over a network of track by simulating the movement of the trains over the network of track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srinivas Bollapragada, Marc Anthony Garbiras, Mitchell Scott Wills, Randall Bruce Markley, Heath Jeffrey Morgan, Joel Victor Kickbusch, Mahir Erdem Telatar
  • Patent number: 7519522
    Abstract: A system, method, apparatus and product for designing, on a display device, a geometric shape is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of displaying an initial set of similarly structured model exemplars on a display device, selecting a chosen set of models from the initial set of similarly structured model exemplars to apply to a model mix, mixing the set of models consisting of a first portion and a second portion to form a currently displayed shape, providing on the display device at least one selectable feature for manipulating the currently displayed shape, and applying a constraint of the selectable feature to the displayed shape to update both the first portion and the second portion of the currently displayed shape into a new geometric shape design. In a particular implementation, the first portion of the geometric shape is an automobile and the second portion is a standardized human occupant representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall C. Smith, Richard R. Pawlicki, David Robert Warn
  • Publication number: 20090094011
    Abstract: A method of modelling a flight of an aircraft using at least one computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes: sourcing flight details from at least one data source using at least one data acquisition system, the flight details representative of the activity of the aircraft within a flight information region, and compiling a flight model from the flight details using a processing system, the flight model indicating the activity of the aircraft over the duration of the flight in two or more FIRs or for an entire flight undertaken in a single FIR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: AIRWAYS CORPORATION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Raymond Griffin, Mervyn Lloyd Robertson
  • Publication number: 20090089020
    Abstract: A method of inspecting an internal feature of a gas turbine component includes removing a portion of the turbine component to expose the internal feature, treating the surfaces of the internal feature to provide the surfaces with a substantially uniform coloration, generating an electronic model of the internal feature, analyzing the electronic model generated with reference to a nominal electronic model, and providing an output based on the analysis of the electronic model generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse R. Boyer, Benjamin W. Meissner, Stephen D. Doll, Randall W. Joyner