570 results about "Vehicle orientation" patented technology

This invention is a vehicle data recorder with the capability to continuously record and store selected data on both driver and vehicle performance that will include but not be limited to, miles driven, speed, acceleration / deceleration, brake activation, seatbelt usage, vehicle direction, steering anomalies, global position, impact forces and direction, transmission status, and alcohol usage. Specifically, this recorder will have extended data storage capacity, a drunk driver prevention smart ignition, real-time GPS data, low-power cell phone jamming, and internal wireless communication capabilities. It uses microprocessor controlled electronics to record, store, and transmit both driver and vehicle performance data in a date and time stamped file which can be utilized to establish personalized insurance rates, assess road tax and use fees, locate “Amber alert” victims or stolen vehicles, and with it's on scene access, provide critical mechanism of injury information to emergency responders.

In some embodiments, information for determining fault may be entered into a computer system for determining fault in a vehicle accident. In some embodiments, a screen or multiple screens may be used to prompt a user for information. A display of certain aspects of the accident (e.g., vehicle representations, roadway configurations, and accident types) may also be used to graphically input information to help determine fault. In some embodiments, vehicle orientation and position may be entered along with information about the roadway configuration and conditions at the time of the accident. In some embodiments, graphical vehicles may be moved and rotated on a display and impact points may be entered for each vehicle. In some embodiments, multiple vehicles may be considered.

The invention discloses a trajectory tracking control method used for an automatic driving robot of a vehicle, which relates to electronic control technologies of vehicles. The desired trajectory of a vehicle is described in a data point mode to obtain the current position information of the vehicle; humanoid driving is carried out according to the current driving direction at the current vehicle position to preview a distance ahead; the position obtained by previewing is compared with the desired trajectory to determine the lateral position deviation, the angle deviation and the vehicle speed deviation of the coordinate position obtained by previewing relative to the desired trajectory; then, the vehicle direction is jointly controlled by a trajectory tracking and speed controller according to position deviation and direction deviation; and according to vehicle speed deviation, the control quantities of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are determined with a fuzzy control method. The trajectory tracking control method is suitable for controlling the trajectory tracking of any trajectory, various vehicle types and various working conditions, and an automatic driving robot performs the control. The trajectory tracking control method has high precision and good repeatability and has an important meaning for guaranteeing the quality of vehicle reliability experiments and improving experiment safety.

The present invention, when used to backed-up a trailer, indicates which direction and how much to steer to steer. The present invention is a method for rapidly determining the predicted direction where the vehicle and trailer become generally in-line. Servomechanisms can be incorporated to enable the vehicle to steer itself while the driver indicates the direction travel desired for the trailer, otherwise a pointer would indicate, for the current position of the vehicle's steering wheel, the predicted direction of the trailer. To back-up the trailer, the driver would turn the vehicle's wheel such that the pointer is kept pointing in the direction of the intended trailer destination. Furthermore, the present invention will indicated the projected directions of the left and right limits to control the direction of the trailer, particularly when maneuvering complex paths.

The status of a driver is monitored by facial images captured by a camera mounted on the steering wheel of a vehicle. The captured image is tilt corrected by a steering angle. The status of the driver can be monitored efficiently.

The present invention provides a system which integrates motor vehicle component operation into actuators located in the rim of a motor vehicle steering wheel. The two actuators of the system of the present invention are located in an arc segment of the steering wheel defined by the three o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the right-hand actuator and the nine o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the left-hand actuator. The actuators may operate in parallel with a conventional stalk switch or controls associated with an on board computer and only operate a motor vehicle component when activated and subsequently depressed. The integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention further provides for vehicle component operation which does not require a driver to remove his or her hands from the steering wheel. Furthermore, the integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention when integrated with steering wheel and vehicle position detection systems provides a means to disengage an activated turn signal depending on the position of the steering wheel and / or the vehicle.

A system for localizing an autonomous vehicle to a target area can include a position indicator adapted for association with the vehicle in a three dimensional configuration, a detection device configured to detect the position indicator, a computation device configured to compute a position of the vehicle based on the detected position indicator and the relationship of the configuration to the vehicle orientation, a transmitter configured to receive information from the computation device and produce a signal carrying the information, a receiver configured to receive the signal from the transmitter and filter the information therefrom, and a control system configured for association with and control of one or more directional control components of the vehicle, the control being based on the information received from the receiver relating to localizing the vehicle to the target area. A method of for localizing a vehicle to a target area is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a truck combination hinge angle measuring and controlling system, which mainly consists of a truck combination hinge angle measuring portion and a hinge angle controlling portion and particularly comprises a GPS (global positioning system) tester, input equipment, a microprocessor, a steering wheel rotation angle sensor, a driving front-wheel steering controller, an executing mechanism and power supply equipment. The GPS tester, the input equipment and the steering wheel rotation angle sensor are respectively connected with the microprocessor, the steering wheel rotation angle sensor is connected with a steering wheel of the truck combination, the microprocessor is connected with the driving front-wheel steering controller which is connected with the executing mechanism, the executing mechanism is connected with a truck combination steering mechanism, and the power supply equipment supplies power for the integral system. By the truck combination hinge angle measuring and controlling system, truck combination hinge angle can be measured accurately, steering harmony and running stability of the truck combination during insufficient steering and over-steeringcan be effectively controlled by the truck combination hinge angle measuring and controlling system utilizing the hinge angle as control variable.

The alcohol ignition interlock system and method has a transdermal blood alcohol concentration blood alcohol concentration reader in combination with a vehicle ignition interlock circuit that prevents an intoxicated person from operating a vehicle. The blood alcohol concentration reader utilizes a sensor that continuously measures very low levels of transdermal alcohol mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle beneath a porous cover. The readings are communicated to a microprocessor-controlled control unit and ignition interlock circuitry that either enables or disables start-up of the vehicle, as well as continued operation thereof. Not only does the system prevent an intoxicated person from starting the vehicle, but should the system detect the driver's subsequent intoxicated state while in operation of the vehicle, the driver is given a period of time and distance in which to pull off the road prior to the ignition system being disabled.

In a method for detecting contact between a driver's hands and the steering wheel (12) of a vehicle, an actuator (14) for selectively applying a steering force and sensors (22) for measuring the instantaneous steering force and / or the steering angle being associated with the steering wheel (12), the actuator (14) impresses (32) a test force pulse pattern on the steering wheel (12). The steering force sensor and / or the steering angle sensor (22) measure(s) the reaction of the steering wheel movement to the test pulse pattern, and the reaction of the steering wheel movement is used to decide whether or not at least one of the driver's hands is in contact with the steering wheel (12).

The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling the steering of a vehicle during a parking maneuver. To this end first the parking spot selected for parking the vehicle is surveyed. Based on said survey, an orientation field is prepared, which defines a target orientation for a plurality of positioning points inside the selected parking spot and in the surroundings of the parking spot, the vehicle being guided along these points from any arbitrary point inside the orientation field to the target point of the parking maneuver. The control of the vehicle occurs by comparing the respective current orientation thereof to the target orientation specified for the respective position in the orientation field and by an appropriate adjustment of the steering angle by the vehicle orientation to said target orientation.

Systems and associated methods for planning and control of a fleet of unmanned vehicles in missions that are coordinated temporally and spatially by geo-location, direction, vehicle orientation, altitude above sea level, and depth below sea level. The unmanned vehicles' transit routes may be fully autonomous, semi-autonomous, or under direct operator control using off board control systems. Means are provided for intervention and transit changes during mission execution. Means are provided to collect, centralize and analyze mission data collected on the set of participating unmanned vehicles.

A wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication includes a vehicle positioning module that uses sensors and detects a current position and a direction of the vehicle. In a map matching, pre-calculated route information and road network information based on the current position are retrieved from map data and a current link of the vehicle is identified and a potential signal pattern is determined regarding a position of next intersection and the road network information based on the current position, the direction of the vehicle and the current link. Based on the potential signal pattern, radio characteristics including a level of intensity, a frequency, and a direction are assigned. A transmitter produces a radio signal of the radio characteristics carrying the current position, the speed and the direction of the vehicle. An antenna module converts the radio signal from the transmitter into radio waves and radiates the radio waves.

The invention relates to an automatic parking method based on hierarchical planning. Sensing modules arranged around a vehicle obtain information about obstacles in an ambient environment; a parking space size and a parking space type as well as obstacle existence in the parking space are deduced; when the parking space size meets the need and no object exists in the parking space, initial planning based on numerical optimization is carried out; when the initial planning does not meet the parking need, A* search planning and secondary value optimization planning are carried out based on current vehicle pose and parking space information and environmental obstacle information; and after successful planning, a trajectory control point is sent to a vehicle-mounted controller and the vehicle-mounted controller controls a vehicle steering wheel, an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, so that the vehicle is parked in the target parking space. In addition, the invention also relates to an auxiliary automatic parking system comprising a sensing module, an HMI display module, a path planning module, and a vehicle path tracking module. Compared with the prior art, the automatic parking method and the auxiliary system have advantages of strong environmental adaptability and accurate trajectory calculation.

This invention relates to accessories for audio players used for downloading, storing and playing of audio files, i.e. music or spoken word content. More specifically the invention relates to an audio player remote control system, in particular a power supply and charging unit for a digital audio player, which is coupled with a remote control receiver. The invention further relates to a remote control transmitter for controlling the digital audio player, which may be mounted on the vehicle's steering wheel. The remote control of the audio player prevents the driver from reaching to the often unfavorable located audio player for operating it which enhances safety during driving the vehicle. The power supply and charging unit, which has a built-in or external remote control receiver, can be attached to the digital audio player for providing power to the player and charging the player's battery. The remote control transmitter has an enclosure which is specifically designed to be attached to a steering-wheel. This design allows for a close and tight fitting of remote control transmitter and steering-wheel which results in a safe operation of the audio player by a driver of the vehicle. The remote control transmitter is designed so that the driver's fingers can easily reach control buttons without leaving the steering-wheel.

A driving support apparatus has a display mounted in a vehicle, a driving information receiving unit receiving a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle, and a control unit. The control unit produces a vehicle figure imitating a shape of the vehicle and a tire figure imitating a shape of a tire of the vehicle in a bird's-eye view, calculates a predicted running locus of the vehicle, detects positions of portions of an obstacle facing the vehicle one after another, and controls the display to display a driving support image including the vehicle figure, the tire figure, the running locus and obstacle detecting marks indicating the positions of the obstacle while changing a direction of the tire figure with respect to the vehicle figure according to the steering angle. A driver recognizes a turning rate of the vehicle from the direction of the tire figure.

The alcohol ignition interlock system and method has a transdermal blood alcohol concentration blood alcohol concentration reader in combination with a vehicle ignition interlock circuit that prevents an intoxicated person from operating a vehicle. The blood alcohol concentration reader utilizes a sensor that continuously measures very low levels of transdermal alcohol mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle beneath a porous cover. The readings are communicated to a microprocessor-controlled control unit and ignition interlock circuitry that either enables or disables start-up of the vehicle, as well as continued operation thereof. Not only does the system prevent an intoxicated person from starting the vehicle, but should the system detect the driver's subsequent intoxicated state while in operation of the vehicle, the driver is given a period of time and distance in which to pull off the road prior to the ignition system being disabled.

In a method and a device for visualizing the movement of a vehicle, the vehicle includes at least one display unit coupled with a control and evaluation unit, and the control and evaluation unit is coupled with at least one track-following system for guiding the vehicle along driving routes, and the control and evaluation unit detects at least one characteristic orientation parameter that describes the orientation of the vehicle, and the control and evaluation unit—with consideration for the at least one characteristic orientation parameter of the vehicle—determines a virtual future driving track of the vehicle and this virtual future driving track is visualized in the display unit. In this manner, the operator of the vehicle obtains information about, at the least, which future driving track his vehicle will move on if the current vehicle orientation is maintained, and with consideration for characteristic parameters of the vehicle.

The present invention provides a system which integrates motor vehicle component operation into actuators located in the rim of a motor vehicle steering wheel. The two actuators of the system of the present invention are located in an arc segment of the steering wheel defined by the three o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the right-hand actuator and the nine o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the left-hand actuator. The actuators may operate in parallel with a conventional stalk switch or controls associated with an on board computer and only operate a motor vehicle component when activated and subsequently depressed. The integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention further provides for vehicle component operation which does not require a driver to remove his or her hands from the steering wheel.

An apparatus for adjusting a direction of a light axis of a swingable auxiliary headlight of a vehicle includes a steered angle sensor detecting a steered angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle, a turning radius calculating device calculating a turning radius of the vehicle on the basis of the detected steered angle and the detected vehicle speed, and a control unit performing a swivel control by which the directions of the light axes of auxiliary headlights of the vehicle are adjusted to target directions determined depending on the detected steered angle and the detected vehicle speed. The control unit is configured to control the auxiliary headlights to be in an off state while the calculated turning radius shows a value equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold.

A low-profile antenna system to be mounted to a moving vehicle for receiving signals, such as from a Digital Broadcast Satellite, includes a base for mounting to the surface of the vehicle, a platen mounted to the base for rotation, an azimuth drive motor for rotating the platen, an array of half-cylinder antenna elements mounted to the platen, an elevation drive motor for pivoting the antenna elements individually about their axes to change the elevation at which the antenna elements are pointing, and a cover. The azimuth drive motor and the elevation drive motor together allow the array of antenna elements to be pointed at a satellite over a wide range of vehicle orientations.

The present invention generally relates to control mechanisms and more specifically to a control mechanism which is adaptable to a steering wheel of a vehicle. Most control mechanisms of auto-piloting systems which must be installed on existing vehicles usually require more specific parts and more expensive installations. The control mechanism according to embodiments of the present invention includes components readily installable into the cabin of an existing vehicle and involves elements sandwiching the steering wheel of the vehicle which are operatively mounted to a motoring assembly actuatable by the user of the vehicle.

A system and method for determining whether a vehicle driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle while the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode. The vehicle will include an electric power steering (EPS) system and may include an active front steering (AFS) system, both of which include a motor that can apply a high frequency and low amplitude perturbation signal to the steering wheel of the vehicle that is not felt by the vehicle driver and does not cause the vehicle to turn, but is able to be detected by a steering angle sensor. The method subtracts a steering angle command signal from the steering angle signal and removes road disturbances, and then determines whether the induced perturbation signal is present in the steering angle sensor signal. If the perturbation signal is present, then the system knows that the vehicle driver is not holding the steering wheel.

A system and method for determining whether a vehicle driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle will include an electric power steering (EPS) system and may include an active front steering (AFS) system. The vehicle may further include autonomous or semi-autonomous driving features or safety features, such as Lane Centering Control (LCC) or Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). The system monitors steering torque and steering angle signals, determines a resonant frequency of oscillation of the steering system from the measured data, and compares the resonant frequency to a known natural frequency of the steering system. If the resonant frequency is lower than the known natural frequency, then the system knows that the vehicle driver is holding the steering wheel. A measured steering torque greater than a threshold value is also taken as an immediate indication of the driver holding the steering wheel.

An apparatus and method to automatically and individually, simultaneously, and / or sequentially operate a horn system a light system and / or a braking system of a vehicle. A threat detection system secured in the vehicle detects threats and sends one or more signals, directly or indirectly, to the braking, horn and / or light systems to activate those systems to improve delivery time of safety and / or emergency warning signals to third party vehicles and pedestrians. The systems can be connected directly via relay, or may incorporate an intermediary electronic control unit or controller to coordinate operation of the systems. A deactivation device enables a driver to disconnect the threat detection system from the horn, light and braking systems to permit manual control of those systems. A second deactivation device permits the driver to disconnect coordinated control of the brake, horn and / or light systems from the threat detection system. The apparatus permits automated post-crash operation of the horn and / or light systems to provide audible and visual warning signals to third party vehicles and pedestrians and includes an optional backup battery to operate the horn and light systems should the main battery post-crash. A GPS-controlled turn-signal system permits automated activation of vehicle directional arrow lights.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces is provided. The vehicle is comprised of a chassis supporting a magnetic drive wheel for driving and steering the vehicle and a stabilization mechanism. The magnetic wheel comprises two flux concentrator yokes and an axially magnetized hub extending therebetween. The hub includes a central housing configured to house a sensor probe and enhance the magnetic pull force of the wheel by providing a continuous pathway of high magnetic permeability material for magnetic flux to flow axially through the drive wheel. The stabilization mechanism comprises a front and rear facing support element moveably coupled to the chassis and configured to contact the surface and move symmetrically relative to the chassis thereby maintaining the vehicle and probe normal to the surface and providing stability to the vehicle while traversing surfaces regardless of surface curvature and vehicle orientation.

An app designed to prevent using distracting phone functionality, including texting, on a mobile phone while driving a vehicle is disclosed. The app detects and measure attributes including the phone's orientation and change of orientation and expresses them in a coordinate system relative to the direction of motion of the vehicle. If the phone orientation is found to be consistent with a change in direction of the vehicle, or the axis of rotation of the phone is found to be consistent with itself over time, the distracting phone functionality is disabled.

A brake-by-wire vehicle braking system is augmented with “squeeze” sensors placed in the steering wheel of the vehicle enabling a vehicle operator to stop the vehicle more quickly in an emergency situation by eliminating the significant times that it takes to move a driver's foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal and then depress the brake pedal. An important objective is to achieve a faster vehicle stop by allowing the driver to optionally eliminate foot movement from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal and also the depression of the brake pedal. This invention also potentially allows a driver to squeeze a steering wheel to slow a vehicle, perhaps to comply with a lower speed limit, or accomplish the fastest possible “hard-stop” in an emergency situation.