Vehicle Patents (Class 703/8)
  • Patent number: 8725474
    Abstract: A method and system for using Bezier curves in vehicle positioning and electronic horizon applications for providing data to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications are disclosed. The Bezier curves are obtained from B-splines. The obtained Bezier curves are subdivided in a manner that allows the vehicle positioning application to derive a polyline representation in real time. Using the Bezier and polyline geometry, the vehicle positioning application provides a vehicle position approximation to the ADAS applications. Using the Bezier curves, the electronic horizon application provides curvature, slope, and heading profiles to the ADAS applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventors: Ole Henry Dorum, Marianna Gnedin
  • Patent number: 8725490
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for providing a virtual universal translator (VUT) for a mobile device so that a user of such mobile device can use the camera and display of the mobile device to translate text from one language to another language. As the user points the mobile device's camera at a particular text string, such text string is automatically translated by the VUT into a different language that was selected by the user and this translated text is then transposed over the currently viewed image or video in the display of the mobile device. The user can utilize the VUT to continuously pass the camera over additional text strings so that the translated text displayed over the viewed image or video is continuously updated for each new text string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Athellina R. Ahmad Athsani, Chris T. Kalaboukis
  • Publication number: 20140122046
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for emulating proximity operations of a spacecraft. In one embodiment, a method includes: projecting an image of a first spacecraft on a surface and initiating a proximity operation between the first spacecraft and a second spacecraft. The method further includes evaluating sensor feedback from the second spacecraft based on the proximity operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Brian Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8706460
    Abstract: The present invention models dynamic behavior of flight vehicles for simulation, analysis, and design. The present invention allows a user to define the complexity of a flight vehicle model, and such models may be simple rigid body models, models of medium complexity, or very complex models including high order dynamics comprising hundreds of structural flexibility modes and variables related to aero-elasticity, fuel sloshing, various types of effectors, tail-wags-dog dynamics, complex actuator models, load-torque feedback, wind gusts, and other parameters impacting flight vehicles. The present invention accommodates and analyzes multiple vehicle and actuator concepts and configurations as defined in flight vehicle input data, which specifies flight vehicle parameters at a steady-state condition for modeling flight vehicle response to dynamic forces and flight control commands with respect to steady state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventor: Eric T. Falangas
  • Patent number: 8706459
    Abstract: A method for selecting a subset of at least one traffic sensor includes modeling multiple sensor types to generate at least one sensor model, creating a sample space of at least one sensor combination of multiple sensors, modeling traffic movement of a region, running a traffic simulation based on the at least one sensor model, the sample space of at least one sensor combination and traffic movement of the region, wherein the traffic simulation generates multiple candidate sets of sensors, and selecting a subset of the multiple sensors based on the multiple candidate sets of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raj Gupta, Biplav Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8706458
    Abstract: An apparatus and an article of manufacture for selecting a subset of at least one traffic sensor include modeling multiple sensor types to generate at least one sensor model, creating a sample space of at least one sensor combination of multiple sensors, modeling traffic movement of a region, running a traffic simulation based on the at least one sensor model, the sample space of at least one sensor combination and traffic movement of the region, wherein the traffic simulation generates multiple candidate sets of sensors, and selecting a subset of the multiple sensors based on the multiple candidate sets of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raj Gupta, Biplav Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8700185
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for automatically generating an optimal configuration of a product, using logic implemented on a digital computer processing system. A general configuration will be broken down into a hierarchy of subdesigns by a designer of an artifact type. A particular instance of the type must satisfy user-specified external parametric constraints. Constraints may take the form of a range of values for some performance characteristic or to satisfy laws or business requirements. Hierarchical decomposition facilitates solution of complex problems. Criteria for a best solution may be specified for a given subdesign, a collection of subdesigns, or globally. Tentative selection of a particular subdesign may impose internally generated constraints upon a subsequent subdesign. If no acceptable solution is found for a subdesign, the candidate overall configuration rolls back to the most complete viable partial collection of subdesigns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Sermet Yucel, M. Germana Paterlini, Samuel E. Martin, William D. Headrick
  • Publication number: 20140095135
    Abstract: Portable simulation system is a computer-based driving simulator, which uses an actual vehicle as an input device, and a portable display to present a Virtual Driving Environment (VDE) to the driver. Vehicle's steered wheels are placed atop of the turntables permitting free operation of the steering wheel. The vehicle remains immobile while its engine and power steering can be turned off during the simulation. External non-invasive sensors can be placed under the gas and brake pedals, permitting any vehicle to be used in the simulator, including the driver's own vehicle. A digital interface to the vehicle's systems, like OBD II, can be used to increase the fidelity of the simulation. A portable computer used for driving simulation and VDE presentation provides a low cost simulation option. A simple configuration of the portable simulator does not require an external power source and can be set-up and operated at any parking space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Konstantin Sizov
  • Patent number: 8688422
    Abstract: An automated three-dimensional and related data access system, said system comprising manipulating means for virtually manipulating, testing, and controlling the three-dimensional and related data. A system for controlling and adjusting three-dimensional and related data, said system comprising manipulating means for virtually manipulating, testing, and controlling the threedimensional and related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Kimberley Hanke
  • Patent number: 8688255
    Abstract: In a material determining step, the material constituting an actuator and the material constituting a link are determined such that at least one of the materials contains fiber reinforced plastic. In a computing step, a computation model that defines the relationship between a control surface, the actuator, and the link is used to compute the change in gain margin with the change in a rigidity ratio, which is the ratio of the rigidity of the link to the rigidity of the actuator. The rigidities of the actuator and the link are determined in a rigidity determining step based on a result of the above-described computation, the shapes of the actuator and the link are determined in a shape determining step, and the actuator and the link are formed in a formation step, and are assembled in an assembly step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Ogawa, Koji Itoh, Makoto Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8676500
    Abstract: A method of providing intersection assistance with a portable electronic device to remind a user of traffic rules when the user approaches traffic intersections includes receiving an input from the user indicating a destination location for generating navigation instructions to the destination location, determining a current location of the portable electronic device according to received position signals, providing navigation instructions to the destination location according to the current location of the portable electronic device, and reminding the user of traffic rules related to intersections for a geographical location in which the portable electronic device is currently located when the portable electronic device detects that the portable electronic device is approaching an intersection, where reminding the user of traffic rules related to intersections comprises indicating a side of a second road the user should turn onto when making a turn from a first road onto the second road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitac International Corp.
    Inventor: Geoff Walsh
  • Patent number: 8666715
    Abstract: A computer-aided method suitable for assisting in the design of an aircraft by providing relevant dimensioning values corresponding to an aircraft component in transonic conditions inside a predefined parameter space by means of a reconstruction of the CFD computations for an initial group of points in the parameter space using a POD reduced-order model, comprising the following steps: a) Decomposing for each flow variable the complete flow field into a smooth field and a shock wave field in each of said computations; b) Obtaining the POD modes associated with the smooth field and the shock wave field considering all said computations; c) Obtaining the POD coefficients using a genetic algorithm (GA) that minimizes a fitness function; d) Calculating said dimensioning values for whatever combination of values of said parameters using the reduced-order model. The invention also refers to a system able to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Airbus Operations S.L., Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
    Inventors: Angel Gerardo Velázquez López, Diego Alonso Fernández, José Manuel Vega de Prada, Luis Santiago Lorente Manzanares, Valentin De Pablo Fouce
  • Patent number: 8666716
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yonekawa, Kazuya Sasaki, Masaaki Uechi, Masumi Kobana, Hironobu Kitaoka, Hiroko Mori, Tatsuya Iwase, Tetsuo Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 8650015
    Abstract: A device for acquiring and recording data captured in an aircraft including a plurality of sources of data streams to be recorded, at least one source of dated values of recording parameters, and a recording mechanism recording data from the data streams and parameter values, on at least one non-volatile information medium. The recording mechanism is adapted to store, in separate files, the data of the various streams of data associated with the dated values of recording parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Vialatte, Sophie Calvet
  • Patent number: 8646257
    Abstract: A method for estimating soot loading of a diesel particulate filter includes establishing a soot loading model for estimating soot loading of a nominal diesel particulate filter, adjusting the soot loading model for a subject filter to account for differences between the nominal filter and the subject filter, and estimating soot loading of the subject filter using the adjusted soot loading model. An engine with a diesel particulate filter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenth I. Svensson, Chun Tai
  • Patent number: 8645112
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Falash, Eytan Pollak, Yushan Chen, Jon Williams
  • Patent number: 8645113
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Gregory J. Sweers
  • Patent number: 8645019
    Abstract: A method and system for comparing and merging fault models which are derived from different data sources. Two or more fault models are first represented as bipartite weighted graphs, which define correlations between failure modes and symptoms. The nodes of the graphs are compared to find failure modes and symptoms which are the same even though the specific terminology may be different. A graph matching method is then used to compare the graphs and determine which failure mode and symptom correlations are common between them. Finally, smoothing techniques and domain expert knowledge are used to merge and update the fault models, producing an integrated fault model which can be used by onboard vehicle systems, service facilities, and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Satnam Singh, Steven W. Holland, Pulak Bandyopadhyay
  • Publication number: 20140012555
    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: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James O. Halvorson, William H. Syblon
  • Patent number: 8619080
    Abstract: A system and method for viewing objects within a virtual environment are disclosed. A virtual camera and an object exist within the virtual environment. The camera is focused on the object such that the user of the virtual environment sees the object from the perspective of the camera. The virtual camera and the object being view are subject to the physics based rules of the simulation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Avent, Jonathan Gibson, Alkan Hassan, Richard Coles, Iain Gilfeather
  • Publication number: 20130346047
    Abstract: A performance predicting apparatus includes an approximate model storage unit configured to store approximate models each of which is associated with one of categories, and which are used to calculate functional performance based on feature values, a feature value extracting unit configured to extract the feature values from shape data representing a shape of an object, a selection unit configured to select one of the approximate models to be used from the approximate models stored in the approximate model storage unit depending on the feature values extracted by the feature value extracting unit, and a performance calculating unit configured to calculate functional performance based on the feature values extracted by the feature value extracting unit using the approximate model selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Fukushige, Yusuke Uda, Tokitomo Ariyoshi, Yuki Okuma, Tatsuya Okabe
  • Patent number: 8615384
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for simulating mobile platforms. In one advantageous embodiment, a method is used to performing operations with a virtual aircraft network. A data processing system with the virtual aircraft network is connected to a ground network. The operations are performed with the virtual aircraft network connected to the ground network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ian Gareth Angus, Terry Lee Davis, Timothy M. Mitchell, Leigh Wong Momii, Vincent D. Skahan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130338982
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a simulated aircraft engine accelerometer apparatus, system and method that that generates aircraft engine simulator outputs. An accelerometer signal simulator receives aircraft engine simulator outputs and generates accelerometer signal simulator outputs, and an accelerometer waveform generator receives the accelerometer signal simulator outputs and synchronizes at least one accelerometer signal simulator outputs to a reference timing signal from one of the aircraft engine simulator outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Robert B. Schwab, Jan Donald Klingman, Giang Pham
  • Patent number: 8612191
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for performing a collision simulation on a two-wheeled vehicle using a virtual model of a dummy developed for use on four-wheeled vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Namiki, Toyokazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8612066
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a control system for a machine with traction devices. The control system may have a sensor configured to sense an ambient temperature. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a load limit of a machine based on an expected speed of the machine and the ambient temperature. The controller may further be configured to enforce the load limit of the machine during loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Wayne O'Neal
  • Patent number: 8612091
    Abstract: An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle's power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running. In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g, Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
  • Patent number: 8612192
    Abstract: A vehicle simulation system includes a first simulation model that when executed simulates a software ring along with other software of a vehicle module. The vehicle simulation system further includes a second simulation model of the software ring. A bypass switch that has a first state and a second state. A bypass switching module switches the bypass switch between the first simulation model and the second simulation model based on a bypass signal and a ring enabling signal. A simulation control module executes code of a vehicle simulation model including software in-the-loop (SIL) testing of a selected one of the first simulation model and the second simulation model based on state of the bypass switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: Johan Larsson, Tobias Berndtson, Kenneth K. Lang, Xuefeng Tim Tao, Colin Hultengren, Michael A. Kropinski, Manmeet Mavi, Sriram Venkataramanan, David W. Wright
  • Patent number: 8598977
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling driver performance in a controlled driving environment. A portable information device is provided to a driver who registers with a server computer for controlling vehicle operation in the driving environment. A record for the driver is stored in a database associated with the server computer. A vehicle is activated using the portable information device for at least an amount of time exceeding a preset threshold value. A speed level and a safety level for the vehicle are dynamically set based on the driver's performance in the driving environment. The driver's performance is monitored in the controlled driving environment and each driving violation that occurs is determined. Violation points are assigned to the driver based on each driving violation and the violation points are added to the driver record stored in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Tiny Towne International LLC
    Inventors: Pierre Maalouf, Georges Moussa
  • Patent number: 8600706
    Abstract: Systems and methods that automatically identify causes of errors during one or more CAD processes, such as while binding external reference drawings to a host drawing and/or batch comparing sets of multiple drawings. In certain examples, a first session of a CAD program can be used to track potential crash occurrences during a second CAD program's processing of a set of drawings and dynamically replace corrupt drawings and/or broken references with blank (proxy) drawings so that the desired process can complete. Whenever the first CAD session detects a potential error event, such as when the second CAD session is interrupted for a particular length of time, the first CAD session can log the error, close the second session, and/or continue the desired process with a new CAD session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Auto Prep, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. Reghetti, Phillip M. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 8589133
    Abstract: Interdependencies between pairs/groups of individual systems are evaluated in determining the composition of a universal system of interdependent systems. Data tables reflecting the interdependencies are contained in a central database resident in a server's memory. Plural/multiple computers are connected to the server, each computer having running thereon at least one simulation program, each simulation program being associated with at least one individual system and being characterized by individual time steps. In each individual time step, the simulation program updates (reads data from and writes data to) the central database, and displays updated information. In each universal time step (characterizing the simulation of the universal system), all simulation programs are temporally coordinated so that each simulation program's individual time step takes place once; no universal time step is perfected until every individual time step has completed its updating of pertinent data in the central database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Donald D. Dalessandro, Donald R. Longo, Kevin J. Brown, Michael G. Zink, Frank T. Ferrese
  • Patent number: 8589121
    Abstract: When discretizing an analysis target part into plural elements and performing analysis, sheet thickness reduction rate or maximum principal strain at an equivalent position including a same element is compared by either a manner of combining two adjacent elements after the analysis or a manner of changing an element discretization size with two types and performing the analysis, and the element where the difference is large is extracted as a fracture risk portion. With this structure, a fracture risk portion can be extracted reliably when a fracture is predicted by a finite element method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Uenishi, Takashi Ariga, Shigeru Yonemura, Jun Nitta, Tohru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8589131
    Abstract: This procedure proposes the appropriate equations that determine the rotor movement in order to obtain the aerodynamic actions for each blade in each iteration (the forces that are transmitted to the helicopter and the moments with respect to the articulations), and they are resolved by discretizations made in the rotor disc, such that that the blade elements of the partition are connected to the disc, which does not rotate, instead of to each blade. The blades pass through an azimuth range in each iteration, making a division of each blade longitudinally into ne elements, and the rotor disc into na sectors, corresponding to divisions of the range of azimuth angles. Therefore, partitions are made on ne·na blade elements, identifying each blade element by means of its distance to the rotor axis and its azimuth angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Indra Sistemas, S.A.
    Inventor: Miguel Gonzalez Cuadrado
  • Publication number: 20130304443
    Abstract: Provided is a method for designing a current supply device for wirelessly supplying power to a vehicle having a current collection device. In the design method, the gap between the two adjacent magnetic poles of the current supply device is received as input and then the gap between the current supply device and the current collection device is determined based on the gap between the two magnetic poles. Next, the magnitude of the power to be supplied to the current supply device is determined based on the value required with respect to the magnitude of the magnetic field and the gap between the current supply device and the current collection device. According to the design method, current supply device can easily be designed since various functional requirements are decoupled from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Nam Pyo Suh, Dong Ho Cho, Chun Taek Rim, Seong Jeub Jeon, Jung-Ho Kim, Seung-Young Ahn
  • Publication number: 20130297271
    Abstract: System and methods for improving vehicle survivability. In some embodiments, Mission information may be obtained regarding a mission of at least one vehicle. The mission may comprise a plurality of mission stages, and the mission information may comprise at least one model associated with the at least one vehicle and at least one threat to the at least one vehicle. A potential action of the at least one vehicle may be selected by calculating a numerical measure for the potential action based at least in part on a mission stage of the plurality of mission stages during which the potential action is to be taken and the at least one model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Carl R. Herman, David Howe
  • Patent number: 8577657
    Abstract: A method of designing an aircraft component formed by a number of elements that includes a phase to estimate the effect of a variation of a design variable on the component weight which method includes the following steps: a) providing the main primary structure basic data of the aircraft component and the Reserve Factors associated to its design criteria; b) obtaining a breakdown of the component weight by such design criteria using a fictitious weight calculated taking into account the relative importance of their critical design criteria; c) obtaining the weight effect of a design variable variation, recalculating firstly the new Reserve Factors using suitable functions for the variation of the Reserve Factors vs. the variation of the design variable and, secondly, recalculating the component weight using suitable functions for the variation of the element dimensions vs. the variation of the Reserve Factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.L.
    Inventors: Esteban Martino González, Jorge Antonio Bes Torres
  • Patent number: 8577487
    Abstract: A tool is provided to allow a user to customize the components of a vehicle instrument panel from an Internet-enabled Web site. A user can navigate to a Web site and select a vehicle for configuration. From the Web site, input may be obtained regarding the components and appearance of an instrument panel such as selecting particular types of components (e.g., display panels, gauges, etc.) and arranging where the selected components are to be located. The input generated by a user is translated into a build specification for assembling the instrument panel at the manufacturer. Accordingly, the system and method serve as an interface between the Web site that obtains user configuration data and a manufacturer's system that manages assembly of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Christopher Tarte, Paul Stephen Crowe
  • Publication number: 20130282347
    Abstract: A system and method for generating fluid flow parameter data for use in aerodynamic heating analysis. Computational fluid dynamics data is generated for a number of points in an area on a surface to be analyzed. Sub-areas corresponding to areas of the surface for which an aerodynamic heating analysis is to be performed are identified. A computer system automatically determines a sub-set of the number of points corresponding to each of the number of sub-areas and determines a value for each of the number of sub-areas using the data for the sub-set of points corresponding to each of the number of sub-areas. The value is determined as an average of the data for the sub-set of points corresponding to each of the number of sub-areas. The resulting parameter values then may be used to perform an aerodynamic heating analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: David Norman, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130282346
    Abstract: Systems and methods for, inter alia, geographically based analyses of traffic being carried over a wide scale traffic network. The systems integrate geographical information systems (GIS) with traffic simulation processes to allow a user to analyze traffic patterns and loads at specific geographic locations of regions. Additionally, these systems allow for traffic analysis over a wide scale traffic network that may encompass the traffic network that exists within an geographic region and can include, as examples, the traffic networks that span across a city, that interconnect cities, that interconnect states and that run across multiple states. To this end, the systems include traffic simulators that can adaptively or controllably select between multiple traffic simulation models for simulating traffic across different segments of the traffic network. The different models provide varying levels of granularity for measurements of geographical location of a vehicle traveling over the traffic network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Qi Yang, Howard Slavin, Kjartan Stefansson, Andres Rabinowicz, Simon Olsberg, Mary LaClair, Jonathan Brandon
  • Patent number: 8565954
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided pertaining to the determination of a temperature of a vehicle motor having an ignition when the ignition is turned on following a period of time in which the ignition had been turned off. A memory stores a function having a boundary condition that comprises a prior temperature from when the ignition was turned off. A processor is coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to determine an amount of time for which the ignition has been turned on and determine the temperature of the motor using the function if the amount of time for which the ignition has been turned on is less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chia-Chou Yeh, Daniel J. Berry, Paul F. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 8566071
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus to train autopilots to fly a simulated aeronautical vehicle includes a three-degree of freedom gimbaled platform comprising a pitch, roll, and yaw axis; an autopilot comprising an inertial measurement unit mounted to the platform; motors that rotate the platform along the pitch, roll, and yaw axes; shaft encoders connected to the motors to calculate an angular position of the platform; motor drivers connected to the motors to power the motors; a microcontroller connected to the motor drivers; a quadrature encoder connected to the shaft encoders and the microcontroller; sensors that generate and sense environmental conditions affecting the platform and the autopilot; a flight simulator connected to the microcontroller; and a computer that executes the flight simulator causing actuation of the platform, causing the sensors to generate environmental conditions, and causing the autopilot to react to the environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Justin Lee Shumaker, Kamal Sharaf Ali
  • Patent number: 8560290
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the design and execution of an aerospace or aeronautic system are provided. The aerospace or aeronautic system may incorporate planetary environment models and models of equations of motion. The planetary environment models mathematically represent planetary environment specifications, such as atmosphere and wind. Atmosphere models include standard day atmosphere models and non-standard day atmosphere models, and wind models include continuous wind turbulence models and discrete wind turbulence models. The models of equations of motion include models of three-degree-of-freedom equations of motion with variable mass and models for six-degree-of-freedom equations of motion with variable mass. As a result, the present invention can design and execute a target system more accurately than the conventional system that provides only standard day planetary environment models, continuous wind turbulence models, or fixed mass equations of motion models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Stacey M. Gage
  • Patent number: 8560289
    Abstract: A method for simulating the behavior of a tire mounted on a vehicle in running conditions on the ground, wherein a mechanical model is provided for essentially computing the longitudinal (Fx) and transverse (Fy) stresses transmitted by the tire between the ground and the vehicle in accordance with dynamic parameters related to the physical conditions of the tire running and use and in accordance with physical tire-specific parameters. The mechanical model is set and solved in an iterative manner, under the assumption that the tire in contact with the surface of the ground has an adherence contact area and a sliding contact area and under the assumption that there is a unique x-coordinate point b that is indicative of the transition between the two contact areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fevrier, Hervé Martin
  • Publication number: 20130268256
    Abstract: A system for determining the pose of an articulated model of a virtual subject in carrying out a task within a vehicle occupant packaging design is described. The system uses an initial posture of the articulated model prior to the virtual subject carrying out the task as a starting point. The system determines pose throughout the carrying out of the task by the virtual subject. The pose is determined based on the parameters of the virtual subject, the design, the task to be completed, and a set of constraints restricting the motion of the virtual subject. The pose can be analyzed to determine the feasibility of a design for a human subject, without the need for live subject testing. The method is analytically derived and results in a kinematically and dynamically consistent posture in real-time without requiring iterative optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Behzad Dariush
  • Patent number: 8554587
    Abstract: A rich-media system allows a user to illustrate damage and request payment in accordance with an insurance policy or another arrangement. The rich-media system includes network servers that may operate and appear to remote client applications and remote computers as if the network servers were a single computer. A damage indicator tool resident to one of the network servers enables a remote user to visually illustrate damage to an item through a rich-media application. The damage indicator may support a relative pointing device and an absolute pointing device. An incident animator tool linked to the damage indicator tool in some rich media systems enables the remote user to visually recreate an event in a second rich media application. An optional scheduler linked to the incident animator tool and the damage indicator tool may enable the remote user to schedule an appointment to have the damage inspected or repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
    Inventors: Vikki Nowak, Brian Brylinski
  • Publication number: 20130262067
    Abstract: A method includes collecting vehicle health data from a plurality of vehicles. A peer group is identified among the plurality of vehicles. The collected vehicle health data from the peer group into a collaborative vehicle health model, the collaborative vehicle health model being applicable to a current vehicle to predict a state of at least a component of the current vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yilu ZHANG, Mark N. Howell, Xidong Tang, Fan Bai, Xinyu Du, Satnam Singh
  • Patent number: 8548781
    Abstract: A method and system of determining a volume of a vehicle component. The system includes a computing device having a host application and analytical tool. The host application is configured to present an interface to a user and allow the user to modify a component model. The component model includes a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of a vehicle component and has a virtual housing at least partially defining an internal cavity. The analytical tool is configured to generate a solid body representing the internal cavity and calculate a volume of the solid body. The analytical tool is configured to determine whether the internal cavity is bounded by the virtual housing, counting a number of external and internal faces traversed by the fluid during the simulated fluid flow, and determining a shortest path between the selected external and internal faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Pashnik, David Wilkinson, Gregory Chessky
  • Patent number: 8548774
    Abstract: A simulation environment for simulating a physical system or sub-system. The environment includes a plurality of elements that can be arranged to form any of a number of component objects or sub-component objects. The component or sub-component objects are assembled to form at least one assembly object that forms at least part of the system or sub-system. Each element is provided with mesh data, and rules of connectivity. The rules of connectivity govern the interconnection of the elements to form the component or sub-component objects. The mesh data for a particular element is automatically incorporated into each completed component or sub-component object that includes that particular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Integrated Engineering Solutions Ltd
    Inventor: Ian Reginald Walter McLuckie
  • Patent number: 8548780
    Abstract: A method for predicting dynamic behavior of an aircraft structure, the aircraft including at least one rotary device including at least one rotor guided in rotation by at least one fixed-bracket bearing containing a shock-absorbing fluid film. The method includes using a global digital model of the aircraft structure including a basic digital model of each rotary device, generating a non-linear digital model of each shock-absorbing film (for example by developing a cavitation-free model and a model with cavitation), integrating the model of each shock-absorbing film with the global model, applying interference to at least one rotor of a rotary device, and calculating the vibration frequency of at least one rotor of each rotary device and the corresponding frequency of the vibrations generated in a critical portion of the aircraft structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: John Skelly, Thien Phu Vo Hoang
  • Publication number: 20130253782
    Abstract: A mobile computing apparatus simulates the performance of a virtual vehicle using the route, driving behavior and loading experience of a baseline vehicle. The baseline vehicle is instrumented and operational data is collected, forming a data set. The apparatus includes simulator logic configured to construct a duty cycle from the data set representative of the operation of the baseline vehicle during travel along the route (e.g., a loading duty cycle). The data set includes route data with distance and vehicle speed information, engine data associated with the engine, and operational element data. The logic defines a virtual vehicle that is the same as the baseline vehicle but that includes a virtual operational element, such as a transmission, that is different than that in the baseline vehicle. The logic determines a performance characteristic, such as fuel economy, of the virtual vehicle using the constructed duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Saltsman, Xubin Song, Benjamin J. Morris, Chia-Hsiang Liu, Zhijun Tang
  • Publication number: 20130238511
    Abstract: A method to develop a plan to dismantle an airframe including: enhancing a digital mock-up model (DMU) of the airframe with data identifying hazardous materials in parts of the airframe; positioning at least one cut through the DMU of the airframe; based on the position of the cut, identifying intersections between the cut and fluid conduits identified in the DMU of the airframe; analyzing the identified intersections of the fluid conduits and data regarding hazardous waste fluids in the conduits of the airframe to identify the conduits having the hazardous waste which would be ruptured by the positioned cut, and generating a report of the identified conduits that would be ruptured and have the hazardous waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventor: Sjoerd VAN DER VEEN