An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter. In one embodiment, the device is a tire tag mounted inside a tire that measures tire data and transmits that data to a remote source in response to an interrogation request, an alert condition, or automatically on a periodic basis.

Electronic tire management system

A vehicle control device includes a detecting unit that detects a towing state of a subject vehicle, a recognizing unit that recognizes surrounding situations of the subject vehicle, a control unit that performs automatic control in which at least one of acceleration-and-deceleration and steering of the subject vehicle is automatically controlled on the basis of the surrounding situations of the subject vehicle recognized by the recognizing unit, and a changing unit that changes, if the detecting unit has detected that the subject vehicle is in a state of towing an object, details of control performed by the control unit in such a manner that it is less likely to perform the automatic control than in the case where the detecting unit has not detected that the subject vehicle is in a state of towing an object

Vehicle control system, vehicle control method, and vehicle control program

System and method for providing feedback to drivers. The system monitors selected vehicle parameters while a vehicle is being driven, and detects one or more vehicle operation violations by comparing the selected vehicle parameters to predetermined thresholds. A mentoring message is provided to the driver if the threshold is exceeded. If a vehicle operation violation has not been corrected within a preselected time period, then a violation report may be sent to a third party or a central server and/or a different mentoring message may be provided to the driver. Vehicle parameter data may be monitored from an on-board vehicle diagnostic system. The mentoring message may be an audible warning, such as a spoken message, or a visual warning, such as a text message. The selected vehicle parameters may be a vehicle speed, a vehicle acceleration, or a vehicle seatbelt use.

System and method for monitoring and improving driver behavior

System and method for evaluating driver performance, comprising detecting operations of a vehicle using an on-board vehicle monitoring system, comparing the operations to predetermined criteria, identifying violations of the predetermined criteria, tracking violations that occur during an evaluation period, and, at the end of the evaluation period, calculating a grade associated with operation of the vehicle.

System and method for evaluating driver behavior

System and method for monitoring and mentoring driver behavior and vehicle operation and for categorizing or grading a driver's performance. The driver's classification or grade is used to determine or adjust insurance rates, premiums or coverages for the driver. The driver may receive discounted insurance rates for using monitoring and/or mentoring equipment in the vehicle. Insurance companies may use the driver classifications or grades to bid for coverage of groups of drivers having similar classifications or grades.

System and method for categorizing driving behavior using driver mentoring and/or monitoring equipment to determine an underwriting risk

A stability control system 24 for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors 28-37 sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle and a controller 26 that controls a distributed brake pressure to reduce a tire moment so the net moment of the vehicle is counter to the roll direction. The sensors include a speed sensor 30 , a lateral acceleration sensor 32 , a roll rate sensor 34, and a yaw rate sensor 20. The controller 26 is coupled to the speed sensor 30, the lateral acceleration sensor 32, the roll rate sensor 34, the yaw rate sensor 28. The controller 26 determines a roll angle estimate in response to lateral acceleration, roll rate, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. The controller 26 changes a tire force vector using brake pressure distribution in response to the relative roll angle estimate.

Roll over stability control for an automotive vehicle

A display system for a vehicle and trailer is disclosed The system comprises an interface configured to receive a directional input and a controller in communication with the interface and a screen The controller is operable to receive a hitch angle and determine a heading direction of the trailer The controller is further operable to determine a predicted heading of the vehicle aligned with the trailer based on the hitch angle The predicted heading of the trailer is then displayed by the controller on the screen

Display system utilizing vehicle and trailer dynamics

Data is collected during operation of a vehicle. A determination is made that a confidence assessment of at least one of the data indicates at least one fault condition. A first autonomous operation affected by the fault condition is discontinued, where a second autonomous operation that is unaffected by the fault condition is continued.

Fault handling in an autonomous vehicle

A vehicle operator is identified. Based at least in part on the operator's identity, one or more parameters are determined specifying a mode for autonomously operating the vehicle. The vehicle is autonomously operated at least in part according to the one or more parameters.

Autonomous vehicle modes

A vehicle has a trailer backup steering input apparatus, a trailer backup assist control module coupled to the a trailer backup steering input apparatus, and an electric power assist steering system coupled to the trailer backup assist control module and. The trailer backup steering input apparatus is configured for outputting a trailer path curvature signal approximating a desired curvature for a path of travel of a trailer towably coupled to the vehicle. The trailer backup assist control module is configured for determining vehicle steering information as a function of the trailer path curvature signa. The electric power assist steering system is configured for controlling steering of steered wheels of the vehicle as a function of the vehicle steering information.

Douglas Scott Rhode

Papers

Roll over stability control for an automotive vehicle

Display system utilizing vehicle and trailer dynamics

Fault handling in an autonomous vehicle

Autonomous vehicle modes

Trailer path curvature control for trailer backup assist