An illustrative method of data gathering includes determining that a vehicle traveling characteristic has changed beyond an expected parameter. The method further includes recording the GPS coordinates of the vehicle and ceasing recording the GPS coordinates of the vehicle when the vehicle traveling characteristic resumes the expected parameter. Finally, the method includes determining and storing a traffic control feature associated with at least one set of the GPS coordinates, if the recorded GPS coordinates of the vehicle correspond to previously recorded GPS coordinates.

A steering control device suppresses response delay to stabilize a behavior of a vehicle during turning braking. The steering control device includes a steer-by-wire system that controls an actuator that detects displacement of a steering angle when a steering wheel is steered and operates a turning mechanism that turns a turning wheel separated from the steering wheel based on a detection result; a vehicle yaw angle detector; a steering angle detector; a turning state detector that detects a turning state of the vehicle based on the yaw angle; a braking state detector that detects a braking state of the vehicle; and a yaw angle controller that controls the actuator to suppress a yaw angle deviation before and after braking when the turning state of the vehicle is detected by the turning state detector and when the braking state of the vehicle is detected by the braking state detector.

A submersible glider with a ring wing is provided. The glider can operate in an aqueous medium. The glider can include a fuselage in a shape of a body of revolution. The glider can include a ring wing lifting surface coupled to a stern of the fuselage. The glider can include a buoyancy engine disposed within the fuselage, the buoyancy engine configured to adjust a buoyancy and a center-of-gravity of the glider in the aqueous medium, to propel the glider through the aqueous medium by leveraging lift from the ring wing lifting surface.

A submersible glider with a ring wing is provided. The glider can operate in an aqueous medium. The glider can include a fuselage in a shape of a body of revolution. The glider can include a ring wing lifting surface coupled to a stern of the fuselage. The glider can include a buoyancy engine disposed within the fuselage, the buoyancy engine configured to adjust a buoyancy and a center-of-gravity of the glider in the aqueous medium, to propel the glider through the aqueous medium by leveraging lift from the ring wing lifting surface.

A collision avoidance system for use in a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera and a rearward-viewing camera. Responsive to image processing of captured image data, the system detects the presence of vehicles present ahead of the equipped vehicle and in the traffic lane the equipped vehicle is driving in and in an adjacent traffic lane that is adjacent to the traffic lane the equipped vehicle is driving in. Responsive to image processing of image data captured by the rearward-viewing camera, the system determines imminence of a rear impact with the equipped vehicle by another vehicle and the system controls a steering system to move the equipped vehicle to the adjacent traffic lane provided the portion of that adjacent lane the equipped vehicle is to move to is unoccupied by a vehicle ahead of, adjacent to or behind the equipped vehicle.

A vehicle steering control device includes a turning angle varying device serving as a first turn response change device for changing a gain of yaw rate of a vehicle with respect to steering operation, and a rear wheel steering device serving as a second turn response change device for changing a gain of lateral acceleration of the vehicle with respect to the steering operation. Under a state in which magnitude of curvature of a travel path is equal to or less than a first reference value, at least one of the turning angle varying and rear wheel steering devices is controlled so that a ratio of the gain of the lateral acceleration to the gain of the yaw rate increases when a width of the travel path is small compared with when the width of the travel path is large.

Submersible box-winged vehicle systems generate hydroelectric energy using naturally occurring tidal flows and/or water currents in a body of water. The vehicle systems include a submersible hull, an upright dorsal fin extending from an aft portion of the submersible hull, port and starboard wing assemblies each having respective proximal ends joined to a forward region of the hull an and an upper region of the dorsal fin so as to establish a box wing configuration, and electrical power generation units attached to the port and starboard wings, wherein each of the electrical power generation units include a generator and a marine propeller operatively connected to the generator so as to cause the generator to generate electrical energy in response to the marine propeller turning. The vehicle system when submerged in a body of water thereby allows tidal flows and/or currents associated with the body of water to responsively turn the marine propeller of each of the electrical power units thereby generating electricity by the generator operably associated therewith

Submersible box-winged vehicle systems generate hydroelectric energy using naturally occurring tidal flows and/or water currents in a body of water. The vehicle systems include a submersible hull, an upright dorsal fin extending from an aft portion of the submersible hull, port and starboard wing assemblies each having respective proximal ends joined to a forward region of the hull an and an upper region of the dorsal fin so as to establish a box wing configuration, and electrical power generation units attached to the port and starboard wings, wherein each of the electrical power generation units include a generator and a marine propeller operatively connected to the generator so as to cause the generator to generate electrical energy in response to the marine propeller turning. The vehicle system when submerged in a body of water thereby allows tidal flows and/or currents associated with the body of water to responsively turn the marine propeller of each of the electrical power units thereby generating electricity by the generator operably associated therewith

An underwater robotic device includes a housing unit, a control unit and a propelling unit. The housing unit includes a base seat and an upper cover in liquid-tight engagement with the base seat. The control unit is disposed within the housing unit and includes a circuit module and a center-of-gravity transferring module which is electronically connected with the circuit module. The center-of-gravity transferring module has a movable weight member and a transfer driving mechanism which drives movement of the weight member so as to vary a position of a center of gravity of the underwater robotic device and to control downward and upward moving directions of the underwater robotic device in the water. The propelling unit is connected with the housing unit and is electronically connected with the control unit to produce a propelling force to move the underwater robotic device forward in the water.

An underwater robotic device includes a housing unit, a control unit and a propelling unit. The housing unit includes a base seat and an upper cover in liquid-tight engagement with the base seat. The control unit is disposed within the housing unit and includes a circuit module and a center-of-gravity transferring module which is electronically connected with the circuit module. The center-of-gravity transferring module has a movable weight member and a transfer driving mechanism which drives movement of the weight member so as to vary a position of a center of gravity of the underwater robotic device and to control downward and upward moving directions of the underwater robotic device in the water. The propelling unit is connected with the housing unit and is electronically connected with the control unit to produce a propelling force to move the underwater robotic device forward in the water.