A child safety system for inhibiting a child from being left unattended in a vehicle includes a vehicle that has an electrical system and an alarm system. The alarm system selectively emits an audible alarm. A car seat is provided and the car seat is selectively positioned in the vehicle to have a child seated therein. A weight sensor is positioned in the car seat to detect a weight of the child. The weight sensor is electrically coupled to the electrical system in the vehicle. Moreover, the alarm system selectively emits an audible alarm when the child is left unattended in the vehicle. In this way, a caregiver may be notified that the child is left unattended.

A wheel support having a transducer body includes a first support member having a spindle configured to support a wheel assembly for rotation about an axis of the spindle and a second support member. A plurality of transducer elements connects the first support member and the second support member. One of the first support member and the second support member are configured to be mounted to a vehicle and support the vehicle in part on the spindle.

In order to improve a device for pulling a trailer and/or retaining a load carrying unit that is mountable at the rear end of a motor vehicle body and which comprises a supporting arm that is connected by a first end region to the motor vehicle body and is provided at a second end region with an element for attaching the trailer and/or for fixing the load carrying unit and furthermore which comprises sensors for capturing reversible deformations of the supporting arm caused by loads on the supporting arm in such a manner as to provided a device with which an allocation of captured elongations to individual applications of force is possible in as simple a way as possible, it is proposed that strain sensors which are affected by reversible deformations thereof be assigned to a supporting arm section of the supporting arm, and that, for capturing at least one selected bending strain, at least one strain sensor be arranged on one side and at least one strain sensor on an opposite side of a surface region of a neutral reference surface assigned to the selected bending load and that each of the strain sensors be arranged at a distance from this surface region.

Disclosed are self-calibrating load sensor systems for active aerodynamics devices, methods for making or using such load sensor systems, and motor vehicles equipped with a self-calibrating load sensor system to govern operation of the vehicle's active aero device(s). An active aero sensing system includes a load sensor that mounts to the vehicle body, and detects downforces on the vehicle. A memory device stores mapped vehicle downforce data calibrated to the motor vehicle. A vehicle controller receives downforce signals generated by the load sensor, and calculates an average downforce value from these signals. The controller determines if the average downforce differs from a calibrated downforce value retrieved from the memory device. If so, the controller responsively applies an offset value to subsequent downforce signals received from the load sensor, and dynamically controls operation of the active aero device based, at least in part, on these signals modified by the offset value.

A method of determining the state of a pedal actuator system within a vehicle includes receiving a position sensor signal indicative of a position of an actuator pedal within the pedal actuator system, receiving a force sensor signal indicative of a compressive force applied to the actuator pedal, and determining, with a processor, a state of the actuator pedal based on the position sensor signal and the force sensor signal. The state of the actuator pedal is one of a normal operating state and a fault state

A two-wheeled vehicle that can be used for personal transportation is described. In some embodiments, the vehicle includes first and second wheels that define a common longitudinal axis of rotation, a rigid platform extending along the common longitudinal axis between the first and second wheels that defines a left foot portion and a right foot portion, a first strain sensor affixed to the rigid platform, and a control system configured to output a steering control signal based on a sensor signal received from the first strain sensor.

A device for capturing an electric current for a rail vehicle includes a pad intended to come into contact with an electric power rail, a frame and an electrically conductive arm which mechanically and electrically connects the frame to the pad. The capture device includes a device for measuring the mechanical forces exerted on the arm. The device includes strain sensors which are in contact with the arm and integrated on the inside of an electrical isolation structure, such that the strain sensors may be electrically isolated from the arm. The isolation structure includes a glue layer and a ceramic layer covering the glue layer. The strain sensors are arranged on the ceramic layer.

A system for a vehicle comprises a load sensor configured to sense a load on the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a load indicator where the load indicator is disposed proximate the vehicle such that the load indicator generates an output in response to the load sensed by the load sensor.

A system and method automatically adjusts a driver's steering experience based upon driving conditions, including turns and terrain. In accordance with one embodiment, the steering wheel essentially bends into the turn and advances towards the driver, thereby providing a more natural and enjoyable driving experience. The system comprises one or more sensors disposed within the vehicle to measure g-forces. A processor in the vehicle, receiving the signals from the sensors, sends control signals to the steering wheel in response to the signals received. An electromechanical system physically moves the steering wheel relative to a driver of the vehicle in response to the control signals received from the processor. Other embodiments cause one or more seats in the vehicle to moves in response to turns, acceleration and/or deceleration (braking).

An input device is described which comprises a touch-sensitive surface and a force sensor, wherein the force sensor is adapted to detect a force applied to the touch-sensitive surface. The input device further comprises a vibration sensor and a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled with the force sensor, the touch-sensitive surface and the vibration sensor. The control unit is adapted to validate a force detected by the force sensor as an input in dependence on a touch of the touch-sensitive surface and in dependence on a vibration detected by the vibration sensor. There is further described a motor vehicle which comprises such an input device. A method of detecting an input at an input device is further described.