A vehicle inspection device includes a storing part and a diagnosing part. The storing part is configured to store operation information in response to operations of vehicles to transport and load/unload an article along a transfer path. The diagnosing part is configured to compare the operation information stored in the storing part with a reference operation information of a vehicle to diagnose symptom of abnormality in the vehicles.

Electric vehicle supercapacitor thermal management systems and methods are disclosed. Supercapacitor thermal sensors may be read, and thermal effects of the supercapacitor batteries are evaluated in view of associated conditions and parameters. Thermal predictions are likewise made and evaluated. Notifications regarding recommended actions may be generated and sent to designated recipients regarding the thermal predictions and evaluations.

Electric vehicle supercapacitor thermal management systems and methods are disclosed. Supercapacitor thermal sensors may be read, and thermal effects of the supercapacitor batteries are evaluated in view of associated conditions and parameters. Thermal predictions are likewise made and evaluated. Notifications regarding recommended actions may be generated and sent to designated recipients regarding the thermal predictions and evaluations.

An abnormality detection device determines abnormality in an exhaust gas sensor, disposed in an exhaust passage of an engine to detect a component in exhaust gas. The abnormality detection device includes: a responsiveness determination unit configured to calculate responsiveness of the exhaust gas sensor on the basis of a timewise change of output values of the exhaust gas sensor; and an abnormality determination unit configured to determine that the exhaust gas sensor has abnormality when the responsiveness calculated by the responsiveness determination unit is lower than a predetermined responsiveness threshold. The abnormality determination unit determines if the exhaust gas sensor has abnormality, excluding an excluded period during which a slope of the output values becomes zero or is inversed with respect to a preceding trend of the timewise change while the output values of the exhaust gas sensor timewisely change between a predetermined first and second determination values.

An abnormality detection device determines abnormality in an exhaust gas sensor, disposed in an exhaust passage of an engine to detect a component in exhaust gas. The abnormality detection device includes: a responsiveness determination unit configured to calculate responsiveness of the exhaust gas sensor on the basis of a timewise change of output values of the exhaust gas sensor; and an abnormality determination unit configured to determine that the exhaust gas sensor has abnormality when the responsiveness calculated by the responsiveness determination unit is lower than a predetermined responsiveness threshold. The abnormality determination unit determines if the exhaust gas sensor has abnormality, excluding an excluded period during which a slope of the output values becomes zero or is inversed with respect to a preceding trend of the timewise change while the output values of the exhaust gas sensor timewisely change between a predetermined first and second determination values.

A vehicle has one or more accelerometers for detecting acceleration of a chassis component. One or more separate sensors are also provided in the vehicle. A controller is programmed to receive a signal indicating acceleration from the one or more accelerometers, wherein the acceleration is between a lower threshold that indicates normal vehicle operation and an upper threshold which would otherwise set off restraint devices, such as airbags for example. When the acceleration is between the thresholds, a potential-chassis-damage signal can be locally created or sent. The controller then validates the potential-chassis-damage signal based on the signals received from the separate sensors. Upon validation, the controller outputs a message to a display, such as a display screen inside the vehicle or an OBD diagnostic tool, warning a user of potential-chassis damage.

A vehicle has one or more accelerometers for detecting acceleration of a chassis component. One or more separate sensors are also provided in the vehicle. A controller is programmed to receive a signal indicating acceleration from the one or more accelerometers, wherein the acceleration is between a lower threshold that indicates normal vehicle operation and an upper threshold which would otherwise set off restraint devices, such as airbags for example. When the acceleration is between the thresholds, a potential-chassis-damage signal can be locally created or sent. The controller then validates the potential-chassis-damage signal based on the signals received from the separate sensors. Upon validation, the controller outputs a message to a display, such as a display screen inside the vehicle or an OBD diagnostic tool, warning a user of potential-chassis damage.

Vehicle monitoring systems and methods are described. According to one aspect, a vehicle monitoring system includes a plurality of vehicle monitoring devices individually configured to communicate with circuitry of a respective one of a plurality of vehicles being monitored by the vehicle monitoring system, to receive vehicle information regarding the one vehicle from the circuitry of the one vehicle at a plurality of moments in time, and to output a plurality of messages externally of the vehicle monitoring device at a plurality of moments in time, wherein the messages from the vehicle monitoring devices include the vehicle information being monitored by the vehicle monitoring system, and a management device configured to receive the messages and the vehicle information included within the messages, to store the vehicle information, to process the vehicle information, and to generate and output a communication regarding the vehicles to a recipient party.

Vehicle monitoring systems and methods are described. According to one aspect, a vehicle monitoring system includes a plurality of vehicle monitoring devices individually configured to communicate with circuitry of a respective one of a plurality of vehicles being monitored by the vehicle monitoring system, to receive vehicle information regarding the one vehicle from the circuitry of the one vehicle at a plurality of moments in time, and to output a plurality of messages externally of the vehicle monitoring device at a plurality of moments in time, wherein the messages from the vehicle monitoring devices include the vehicle information being monitored by the vehicle monitoring system, and a management device configured to receive the messages and the vehicle information included within the messages, to store the vehicle information, to process the vehicle information, and to generate and output a communication regarding the vehicles to a recipient party.

A wireless communication device for collecting vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) data is disclosed, together with associated methods of handling OBD data in such wireless communication devices. The device comprises a connector for connecting the device to an OBD port of a vehicle to receive OBD data; a processor configured to continually aggregate the OBD data and/or acceleration data from an acceleration sensor into risk profile data during a journey made by the vehicle; a memory for storing the latest risk profile data for the journey; and a wireless transceiver for transmitting the stored risk profile data to an external mobile device during the journey. The processor is further configured to determine an engine state of the vehicle and to detect when the vehicle begins and ends a journey based on said determined engine state and OBD data relating to vehicle speed and/or engine revolutions, and to cause the stored risk profile data to be deleted from the memory upon detection that the vehicle has begun a new journey.