A condition of at least one structural part (11) of a working machine (10) is determined by determining a computational position of the first structural part (11) on the basis of the computational model of the working machine (10) and determining an actual position of the first structural part (11) by detecting means (22). The condition of the at least one structural part (11) is determined on the basis of the difference between the computational position of the first structural part (11) and the actual position of the first structural part (11).

A brake test device and method for testing the braking system of a vehicle, to ensure compliance with safety regulations and ensure the braking system is functional, said brake test system including: i. at least one on/off switch; ii. at least one display; iii. at least one on/off status indicator; iv. at least one controller; v. at least one brake sensor; vi. at least one brake status indicator; vii. at least one throttle (or accelerator) sensor; viii. at least one throttle (or accelerator) status indicator; ix. at least one motor torque sensor; x. at least one motor torque status indicator; xi. at least one gear sensor; xii. at least one gear status indicator; xiii. at least one brake test status indicator; xiv. at least one data logging component to log data from a brake test; and xv. at least one communication component to communicate the data from the brake test.

Systems, methods and apparatus of predictive maintenance of automotive lights. For example, a vehicle has: a vehicle light assembly; sensors configured on the vehicle to measure operating parameters of the vehicle light assembly; an artificial neural network configured to analyze the operating parameters of the vehicle light assembly as a function of time to generate a result; and at least one processor configured to generate a suggestion for a maintenance service of the vehicle light assembly based on the result from the artificial neural network analyzing the operating parameters of the vehicle light assembly. For example, the sensors can be configured to measure ambient light intensity, light intensity reflected by a surface illuminated by the light, current and/or voltage in the light, and/or light intensity at a location illuminated by both environment and the light.

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle, in particular to a firefighting vehicle, including an aerial apparatus (i.e. a turnable ladder and/or an aerial rescue platform) and lateral ground supports movable between retracted positions and extracted operating positions in which the ends of the supports rest on the ground. The vehicle includes a monitoring system for monitoring the position of the vehicle. The system includes surveillance cameras at the sides of the vehicle, each camera being allocated to one support to monitor the ground area on which the end of this support rests in its operating position and to take a real-time image of the respective ground area. The system also includes a visual display presenting the images of all cameras at the same time in different screen areas, superposed by visual markings representing expected operating positions of the supports.

A tire deformation sensing and tire inflation system for a steel belted tires which makes use of magnetic coils embedded in the wheel assembly to detect the position of the tire's steel belting and uses the information obtained to adjust the tire pressure through a central tire inflation system.

A power supply current monitoring apparatus is used for a load drive apparatus with two systems to drive a load. Each system includes a drive circuit connected in parallel with a battery and a relay connected between the drive circuit and a point at which power of the battery is divided between the systems. When overcurrent is detected once in one system, a repetitive monitoring process is performed. The monitoring process determines whether the overcurrent occurs by repeating a monitoring cycle. The monitoring cycle turns OFF the relay of one system and then monitors currents by turning ON the relay of one system when a predetermined cycle time elapses since the overcurrent detection. The monitoring process includes a mask procedure to stop monitoring the current in the other system. The mask procedure is performed after the relay of one system is turned OFF in each monitoring cycle.

Rigging methods to calibrate control surfaces, and related systems are disclosed. A rotatable control body may steer a vehicle. Deviations of the control body shape may distort a relationship between vehicle controls and the control body. Calibration restores the relationship by establishing an alignment surface as part of the control body which may be aligned to a rigging point on the vehicle associated with a known control setting. A metrology device and/or computer software may be used for calibration. The metrology device may define a positional relationship between a reference surface, a rotational axis, and a target location of the alignment surface. By manipulating a surface of the control body to a target relationship relative to the reference surface, the location of the alignment surface may be achieved relative to the control body. In this manner, a rigging feature with the alignment surface may be formed to improve vehicle performance.

Rigging methods to calibrate control surfaces, and related systems are disclosed. A rotatable control body may steer a vehicle. Deviations of the control body shape may distort a relationship between vehicle controls and the control body. Calibration restores the relationship by establishing an alignment surface as part of the control body which may be aligned to a rigging point on the vehicle associated with a known control setting. A metrology device and/or computer software may be used for calibration. The metrology device may define a positional relationship between a reference surface, a rotational axis, and a target location of the alignment surface. By manipulating a surface of the control body to a target relationship relative to the reference surface, the location of the alignment surface may be achieved relative to the control body. In this manner, a rigging feature with the alignment surface may be formed to improve vehicle performance.

The invention relates to a system for assessing and/or optimising the operating behaviour of a vehicle that has at least one apparatus for processing fuel, in particular an internal combustion engine and/or a fuel cell, wherein the system has: a plurality of first sensors designed to measure parameters that are suitable for characterising a vehicle operating state; at least one second sensor designed to measure at least one parameter that is suitable for characterising an emission of the apparatus for processing fuel; a control device designed to measure repeatedly over a predefined time period and to determine a vehicle operating state on the basis of a first data set with measured values from the plurality of first sensors and on the basis of predefined parameter ranges that describe at least one predefined vehicle operating state; an allocation device designed to allocate a second data set comprising measured values from the at least one second sensor to the at least one predefined vehicle operating state; and an evaluation device designed to determine at least one characteristic value for assessing and/or optimising the operating behaviour of the vehicle on the basis of the at least one vehicle operating state and the second data set, wherein the characteristic value is suitable for characterising an energy efficiency of the vehicle and/or an emission behaviour of the apparatus for processing fuel.

A climate vehicle for testing a vehicle component under defined climate conditions includes a cabin that is separated by a cabin shell from a climate vehicle environment surrounding the climate vehicle. A climate control unit is arranged in the cabin and configured to control the climate of the air that is present in the cabin. A fan is configured to accelerate the climate-controlled air in a defined direction. A tunnel with an inlet opening is configured to receive the accelerated climate-controlled air. The tunnel has a tubular tunnel part configured to convey the accelerated climate-controlled air. The tubular tunnel part has a section that accommodates the vehicle component to be tested. The tunnel has an outlet opening configured to release the conveyed accelerated climate-controlled air into the cabin.