Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise obtaining and analyzing data from at least one discrete machine, automatically determining relationships related to the data, taking corrective action to improve machine operation and/or maintenance, automatically and heuristically predicting a failure associated with the machine and/or recommending preventative maintenance in advance of the failure, and/or automating and analyzing mining shovels, etc.

Abstract: A 6-axis road simulator test system is disclosed which allows for dynamic simulation of vehicles on road surfaces in a controlled environment for development or production testing conditions. The system turns the vehicle wheels, or provides resistance to turning of the wheels while subjecting each of the vehicle's wheel in up to 6-axis of displacement, based on road profile simulation.

Abstract: An easy and cost-effective method of generating high fidelity simulation service loads. This invention, however, provides a simple but theoretically sound approach to conducting an accelerated simulation test, while obtaining a reasonable acceleration rate for the test. The method includes the steps of developing a service load history database; combining multiple time series models; adjusting the change of each time series model creating an accelerated service load model; regenerating a random vibration load data; and feeding the load data to drive an actuator for a high fidelity random vibration simulation test.

Abstract: A simulation system (30) for simulating an operation of an automotive vehicle includes an input (34) providing vehicle information and path information and a controller (38) having a vehicle computer model therein. The controller (38) is programmed to determine a rear side slip angle of a vehicle computer model; when the rear side slip angle is greater than a threshold, determine a look ahead scale factor; when the rear side slip angle is greater than the threshold, increase a look ahead point as a function of the look ahead scale factor; determine a steering wheel angle input to the computer model by comparing the look ahead point and the intended path; operate the computer model with the steering wheel angle input; and generate an output in response to the vehicle model and the initial steering wheel input or the first steering wheel input.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, each bolt is modeled using a beam element in a FEA model. To apply desired pretension to one or more bolts, at least one pretension-versus-time curve is specified. Each pretension-versus-time curve includes ramp portion, desired pretension portion and optional unloading portion. Duration_of the pretension-versus-time curve generally covers first 0.5-1% of total simulation time of a car crashworthiness analysis. Ramp portion starts from zero to desired pretension in a substantially linear manner, and hence being configured for applying desired pretension to a bolt gradually with smaller increments. Desired pretension portion is configured for ensuring the desired pretension can actually be applied to the beam element during an initialization process—a series of quasi-static analyses. Since the method is independent of the deformation of the beam, the method completely avoids the need to iteratively determine an axial strain or displacement that gives the desired pretension.

Abstract: A computer implemented fuel management method and system for monitoring and minimizing a fuel consumption of an aircraft. The fuel management system and method determines, on the basis of model assumptions, a theoretical value relating to the quantity of fuel that is necessary for travelling along at least one sector of a flight route. Furthermore, the fuel management system and method determine a practical value relating to a quantity of fuel that is necessary for travelling along the same sector of the flight route, taking into account actual measured values. Moreover, the system and method compare the theoretical value with the practical value and to provide at least one measure in order to save fuel during a flight when the practical value differs from the theoretical value by a predeterminable amount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating motion controls for a mobile platform of a vehicle simulator. The method uses, as input, accelerations calculated by a process for simulating the behavior of the vehicle. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of: filtering the accelerations calculated accelerations by use of a filter constructed according to a mathematical model of human perception of a motion; calculating successive positions of the mobile platform as a function of the filtered acceleration controls; scaling the positions of the mobile platform as a function of physical limitations of the mobile platform, to produce scaled successive positions of the mobile platform; and calculating acceleration controls to be applied by the mobile platform, as a function of the scaled successive positions of the mobile platform, to produce calculated acceleration controls.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system is disclosed, which uses road parameters defining the road network and model parameters used as initial-value parameters, thereby performing traffic simulation by the microsimulation method. The system includes a traffic simulator and a display controller. The traffic simulator performs traffic simulation to predict a traffic condition on an object road of a road network. The display controller controls a display unit, displaying the result of the simulation. More precisely, the display controller displays a dynamic image showing the traffic condition of vehicles running on the road network, on the screen of the display unit, and changes the image in terms of pattern, in accordance with a display instruction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing claims data to a liability assesment program are provided. In one embodiment, data regarding a vehicle accident may be provided to a liability assessment program via a graphical user interface. The data may include information regarding one or more vehicles in the accident and an assessment of the vehicle accident. The data may be stored in a memory associated with the liability assessment program.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for simulating the driving behavior of vehicles on a test stand in which the engine of the vehicle is coupled on the test stand to an electronically controllable braking apparatus and a simulation model calculates simulation values of variables which are representative of the driving state of the vehicle in that the reaction of the vehicle to the behavior of the engine and the values of the variables as determined immediately prior thereto are calculated, with at least the vehicle speed and the slip occurring in the driving wheels being calculated as variables. An improved calculation can be achieved in such a way that for controlling the braking apparatus a virtual vehicle speed is used which is changed by a corrective value which depends on the slip.

Abstract: A method of creating a simplified computer implement for engine model comprises obtaining a complete computer implement for engine model (110) and selecting, from the complete engine model (110), elements defining the simplified engine model (110). The method further comprises obtaining from a library of rules at least one computer implementable model creation rule corresponding to the selected elements and using that at one rule to create the simplified computer implementable engine model (110).

Abstract: A spot weld fracture analysis method for a spot weld portion of three or more mutually superimposed plates that are spot-welded at a common welding point comprises an analysis step of executing an analysis by using a finite element model in which each plate is modeled by shell elements, and the shell elements corresponding to a spot weld point position of each plate are individually interconnected via beam elements, and a prediction step of finding an element force of a beam element that acts on a shell element relevant to a middle plate from a difference between the element forces of two beam elements connected to the shell element on a basis of the analysis result, and predicting a possibility of fracture of a spot weld between the middle plate and an adjacent plate by using the difference element force found from the difference.

Abstract: A method aiding in relative positioning of 3D objects, in a complex environment involving several techniques, according to a set of geometrical and/or mathematical constraints. A parametric model is selected for each of the objects, parametric models including models of the constraints are also selected. A representation of one of the objects is displayed, permitting positioning of another object and the display of a representation of the positioning. A piece of data relating to the position of one of the objects is accessed for each parametric model including a constraint modeling and a piece of data relating to the position of one of the objects is accessed to permit an evaluation of the corresponding constraint. When an object is added or displaced the relative positions of the objects and the constraints are reevaluated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for simulating the driving behavior of vehicles on a test stand in which the engine of the vehicle is coupled on the test stand to an electronically controllable braking apparatus and a first simulation model calculates simulation values of variables which are representative of the driving state of the vehicle in that the reaction of the vehicle to the behavior of the engine and the values of the variables as determined immediately prior thereto are calculated, with at least one evaluation variable w being calculated on the basis of the values measured on the test stand for measurable variables and engine torque M and the values calculated therefrom with the simulation model for non-measurable variables.

Abstract: A collision determination area set for a dog as an object in a virtual three-dimensional space is, for example, a sphere having the center at the chest of the dog and having a radius of 30 in the “on all fours” state, a sphere having the center at the hip of the dog and having a radius of 10 in the “standing” state, and a sphere having the center at the head of the dog and having a radius of 10 in the state of the dog “trying to fawn with another dog” in the virtual three-dimensional space. Using the collision determination area set in this manner, it is determined whether or not the dog has collided against another object. Therefore, a collision determination suitable to individual situations can be realized while suppressing an increase in the amount of calculations required for the collision determination.

Abstract: Techniques for providing synthetic air traffic management in a fast-time environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing a closed-loop air traffic management simulation gateway between a decision support tool (DST) and an airspace modeler includes receiving airspace simulation data from an airspace modeler. The airspace simulation may be converted to emulated radar signals at an update interval. The emulated radar signals may be transmitted to a decision support tool for analysis. A recommendation may be received from the decision support tool based on the emulated radar signals, which may be used to generate a synthetic actor response based on the recommendation. The synthetic actor may provide the response to the airspace modeler to enable updating the airspace simulation data. In this manner the design of more efficient airspace routes, arrival and departure routes and procedures may be more quickly achieved.

Abstract: A Driveline Angle Analyzer (DAA) for determining a torsional acceleration and inertias of a vehicle driveline by entering measurements of a vehicle driveline configuration into a graphical user interface program. The user selects the driveline configuration of interest from a plurality of driveline configurations. Then, the user enters information, such as driveline measurements relating to the selected driveline configuration. To aide in gathering the correct information, the user can print out a worksheet for the selected driveline configuration. After the user inputs the information for the selected driveline configuration, the user can select a corrective mode that allows the user to improve the selected driveline configuration. For example, the user can change the angle of a component with the surrounding components by changing their angles and/or length while enabling the components to stay connected to each other, thus maintaining the vehicle's driveline geometry.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for automatically reconstructing a traffic accident. The accident reconstructing system includes a data collecting unit, a geographical data providing unit, and an accident analyzing unit. The data collecting unit collects/transmits accident-related data according to the occurrence of a traffic accident. The geographical data providing unit transmits the geographical data of the neighborhood of the accident site. The accident analyzing unit reconstructs the traffic accident virtually on the basis of the data outputted from the data collecting unit and the geographical data providing unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a traffic simulator which can simulate traffic conditions with high accuracy. Cautionary object searching portion searches for cautionary objects which a driver should heed when driving a vehicle model; recognized cautionary object selection portion and driver-recognized cautionary object selection portion, based on driver ability information set by data creation portion, select cautionary objects recognized by a driver from the found cautionary objects; and movement determination portion determines the movement of a vehicle model based on the selected cautionary objects.

Abstract: To provide a method of and an apparatus for displaying a structure optimizing result which are capable of displaying rigidity values calculated on the basis of an initial wall thickness value, an optimum wall thickness value, and a standard wall thickness value in such a manner that a change between two of these rigidity values is clearly indicated. The structure optimizing result is displayed wherein an actual rigidity value of a structure is calculated on the basis of an inputted initial value of a wall thickness of each component of the structure. An optimum value of the wall thickness of each of the components is calculated on the basis of a sensitivity analysis result in order to make the calculated actual rigidity value close to a required rigidity value of the structure and the calculated result is displayed.

Abstract: A method and system of planning hydrocarbon extraction from a hydrocarbon formation. The various methods and systems take a holistic approach to producer well placement and completion, injector well placement and completion, and borehole trajectories to reach the various producer wells and injector wells, the placement and completion selections based on parameters such as initial and expected time-varying stress in the formation, stress in overburden formations, and proximity to faults.

Abstract: A method of developing maintenance optimization model includes finding relevant criteria to drive the design towards operational performances at minimal cost for the end user, selecting inputs necessary to assess criteria selected, defining mathematical models to jointly drive the equipment/sub-system/system design and its support towards better supportability, and presenting the maintenance optimization model results to enable the exploration of the cause and effect relationships between design decisions and their operational and support impacts. The selected inputs may cover all the potential factors influencing the criteria values. The mathematical modeling can facilitate leveraging the intuitive “cause and effect” relationship between design and support, and affordability.

Abstract: A method for predicting object movements in a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, in which the movements of objects located periodically by a locating device (12) are precalculated by dynamic modeling of the objects, characterized in that a plurality of dynamic models (16) are held in readiness which are based on different hypotheses about the object, and that the models are selected and/or weighted as a function of the situation in accordance with the correctness probability (P1, P2) of the hypotheses for the prediction.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.