Ford Motor Company

About: Ford Motor Company is a company organization based out in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Internal combustion engine & Clutch. The organization has 36123 authors who have published 51450 publications receiving 855200 citations. The organization is also known as: Ford Motor & Ford Motor Corporation.

Proximity switch assembly and method having adaptive time delay

Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of the proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The control circuitry monitors the signal responsive to the activation field, determines a rate of change in signal amplitude for each signal, and generates an adaptive time delay based on the control circuitry. The control circuitry further detects a peak amplitude of the signal and determines activation of the switch after expiration of the time delay following the peak amplitude detection.

The GEISA spectroscopic database: Current and future archive for Earth and planetary atmosphere studies

Abstract: The development of Gestion et Etude des Informations Spectroscopiques Atmospheriques (GEISA: Management and Study of Spectroscopic Information) was started over three decades at Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique (LMD) in France. GEISA is a computer accessible spectroscopic database, designed to facilitate accurate forward radiative transfer calculations using a line-by-line and layer-by-layer approach. More than 350 users have been registered for on-line use of the GEISA facilities. The current 2003 edition of GEISA (GEISA-03) is a system comprising three independent sub-databases devoted respectively to: line transition parameters, infrared and ultraviolet/visible absorption cross-sections, microphysical and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols. Currently, GEISA is involved in activities related to the assessment of the capabilities of IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer on board of the METOP European satellite) through the GEISA/IASI database derived from GEISA. The GEISA-03 content is presented, placing emphasis on molecular species of interest for Earth and planetary atmosphere studies, with details on the updated 2008 archive underway. A critical assessment on the needs, in terms of molecular parameters archive, related with recent satellite astrophysical missions is made. Detailed information on free on-line GEISA and GEISA/IASI access is given at http://ara.lmd.polytechnique.fr and http://ether.ipsl.jussieu.fr.

Absorption of Infrared Radiant Energy by CO_2 and H_2O IV Shapes of Collision-Broadened CO_2 Lines*

Abstract: The shapes of the extreme wings of self-broadened CO2 lines have been investigated in three spectral regions near 7000, 3800, and 2400 cm−1. Absorption measurements have been made on the high-wavenumber sides of band heads where much of the absorption by samples at a few atm is due to the extreme wings of strong lines whose centers occur below the band heads. New information has been obtained about the shapes of self-broadened CO2 lines as well as CO2 lines broadened by N2, O2, Ar, He, and H2. Beyond a few cm−1 from the line centers, all of the lines absorb less than Lorentz-shaped lines having the same half-widths. The deviation from the Lorentz shape decreases with increasing wavenumber, from one of the three spectral regions to the next. The absorption by the wings of H2- and He-broadened lines is particularly low, and the absorption decreases with increasing temperature at a rate faster than predicted by existing theories.

The development of Model Predictive Control in automotive industry: A survey

Abstract: Model Predictive Control (MPC) is an established control technique in chemical process control, due to its capability of optimally controlling multivariable systems with constraints on plant and actuators. In recent years, the advances in MPC algorithms and design processes, the increased computational power of electronic control units, and the need for improved performance, safety and reduced emissions, have drawn considerable interest in MPC from the automotive industry. In this paper we survey the investigations of MPC in the automotive industry with particular focus on the developments at Ford Motor Company. First, we describe the basic MPC techniques used in the automotive industry, and the early exploratory investigations. Then we present three applications that have been recently prototyped in fully functional production-like vehicles, highlighting the features that make MPC a good candidate strategy for each case. We finally present our perspectives on the next challenges and future applications of MPC in the automotive industry.