A method of monitoring usage to determine accumulated component fatigue damage includes evaluating available data for calculating an accumulated component fatigue damage for a component over a pre-determined time frame. The method includes determining at least one available method for calculating the accumulated component fatigue damage based on the available data. The method includes determining the accumulated component fatigue damage for the component using the at least one available method.

A method of monitoring usage to determine accumulated component fatigue damage includes evaluating available data for calculating an accumulated component fatigue damage for a component over a pre-determined time frame. The method includes determining at least one available method for calculating the accumulated component fatigue damage based on the available data. The method includes determining the accumulated component fatigue damage for the component using the at least one available method.

A digital surface representation of a vehicle serves as an objective basis for identifying impaired physical conditions such as hail damage or other surface defects. This objective information can be integrated with other information and used as a reliable benchmark for vehicle value or condition in vehicle transactions.

A vehicle damage report is constructed from a scan of vehicle surfaces. Objective information derived from the surface scan is augmented with other information from other sources, such as vehicle identification information or repair cost estimates that can be used to facilitate and administer a multi-party downstream repair process.

A scanning system captures a digital surface representation of an article that can be used to estimate repair costs and administer downstream repair functions such as securing necessary approvals for repair or reimbursement and ensuring that the repairs are adequately completed.

A scanning system captures a digital surface representation of an automotive vehicle that can be used to objectively assess hail damage and estimate repair costs. The system may also be used to administer downstream repair functions such as securing approvals from entities participating in the damage assessment and repair process and evaluating the adequacy of any physical repairs that have been performed.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a system and methods for inducing a skid in a vehicle. The system includes a mobile controller corresponding to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to a brake system of the vehicle, and a remote controller in wireless communication with the mobile controller. The remote controller is configured to receive a selection of the mobile controller for issuance of a braking command including a braking setting. In response to receipt of the braking command, the selected mobile controller is configured to operate the brake system of the vehicle to induce a skid in the vehicle according to the braking setting.

A variable that represents at least the alertness of the driver in a current vehicle operating cycle is ascertained as a function of at least one of (i) the variable representing the alertness of the driver determined in a preceding vehicle operating cycle, and (ii) at least one value used for ascertaining the variable representing the alertness of the driver determined in a preceding vehicle operating cycle.

The present disclosure provides a hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle and a method for the detection of a fault condition of the hydraulic brake system. An electronic control device determines at least one pressure value of the brake fluid of the brake system and at least one volume value of the brake master cylinder associated with the pressure value during an operation of a brake master cylinder. The electronic control device compares the determined pressure value and volume value with at least one pair of pressure-volume reference values for the detection of a fault condition of the brake system, wherein at least two different fault conditions of the brake system can be differentiated based on the comparison. The electronic control device is configured to automatically correct the detected fault condition.

There is provided a heat flux sensor with first and second interlayer connection members composed of different metals from each other of which metal atoms maintain a predetermined crystal structure embedded in first and second via holes of a thermoplastic resin made insulating substrate, the first and the second interlayer connection members are connected in series alternately, and a control unit that performs abnormality determination of a heating element disposed in a vehicle. The heat flux sensor is provided to the heating element and outputs a sensor signal corresponding to heat flux between the heating element and an outside air, and the control unit determines based on the sensor signal that there is abnormality in the heating element when the heat flux between the heating element and the outside air is out of a predetermined range.