A vehicle steering wheel includes a hoop, a plurality of presence sensors and an outer sheath. The presence sensors are each arranged so as to detect a proximity and/or contact between a user's limb and the hoop. The outer sheath covers the plurality of presence sensors and is stitched with at least one seam that extends around at least part of the hoop. The plurality of presence sensors is mounted on the same support.

A method for estimating a braking force applicable between pad and brake disc by an electric parking-braking system of a vehicle is described. The method may include detecting, by one or more sensors of electric quantities of an electric motor, an electric current delivered to the electric motor and an instantaneous value of an electric voltage for electrically supplying the electric motor, during a parking-braking operation. The parking-braking operation may have a first non-contact stage between a first pair of pads of a first brake caliper and a first brake disc. The parking-braking operation may also have a second contact stage between the first pair of pads of the first brake caliper and the first brake disc.

Exemplary embodiments are generally directed to shopping carts and associated systems and methods. Exemplary embodiments of the shopping cart include a shopping cart body and a plurality of wheels supporting the shopping cart body. Exemplary embodiments of the shopping cart include a receiver configured to detect a position of the shopping cart relative to a range of a network or an area defined by a geo-fence. Exemplary embodiments of the shopping cart include an electromagnetic generator operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of wheels. A resistive load can be selectively connected between an input and an output of the electromagnetic generator to restrict rotation of the at least one of the plurality of wheels as the position of the shopping cart detected by the receiver varies between within or outside of the range of the network or the area defined by the geo-fence.

A vehicle steering wheel includes a hoop, a plurality of presence sensors and an outer sheath. The presence sensors are each arranged so as to detect a proximity and/or contact between a user's limb and the hoop. The outer sheath covers the plurality of presence sensors and is stitched with at least one seam that extends around at least part of the hoop. The plurality of presence sensors is mounted on the same support.

A method for estimating a braking force applicable between pad and brake disc by an electric parking-braking system of a vehicle is described. The method may include detecting, by one or more sensors of electric quantities of an electric motor, an electric current delivered to the electric motor and an instantaneous value of an electric voltage for electrically supplying the electric motor, during a parking-braking operation. The parking-braking operation may have a first non-contact stage between a first pair of pads of a first brake caliper and a first brake disc. The parking-braking operation may also have a second contact stage between the first pair of pads of the first brake caliper and the first brake disc.

A control device for an autonomous lawn mower is described which receives input signals from a first and/or second hand control and determines a control signal for controlling the autonomous lawn mower. The hand controls may provide for intuitive control of the mower by a user. The control signals may be used to operate the autonomous lawn mower to perform a task such that, when later detached or otherwise decoupled, the autonomous lawn mower may perform the same or similar tasks substantially autonomously based on data (e.g., sensor signals, control signals, etc.), generated during manual operation. In some examples, the control signals may be determined to aid a user in maintaining a straight mow, proximity to a desired pattern for mowing, and/or be otherwise altered based on the presence of a user.

A locking unit for the parking brake of an automatic transmission, for locking the movement of a piston which can be moved by a drive, wherein a guiding element presses catch elements radially outward and a magnetic element for sensing the position of the guiding element is connected to the guiding element. A locking device for the parking brake of an automatic transmission, wherein a piston is locked with catch elements which are guided by a guiding element which in two end positions presses different catch elements radially outwardly in each case for locking.

A vehicle steering wheel includes a hoop, a plurality of presence sensors and an outer sheath. Each of the presence sensors is arranged so as to detect a proximity and/or contact between a user's limb and the hoop. The outer sheath covers the plurality of presence sensors and is stitched with at least one seam that extends around at least part of the hoop. The plurality of presence sensors is mounted on the same support, and at least one of the presence sensors is arranged facing at least part of the seam of the outer sheath.

A vehicle battery safety sensor system providing liquid detection inside a battery pack includes a battery pack having a structure defining a battery cell bay receiving a battery. A first sensor is mounted to the structure proximate to a low point area of the battery cell bay for sensing an operating condition within the low point area of the battery cell bay. A second sensor is mounted to the structure elevated above the first sensor for sensing an operating condition above the low point area of the battery cell bay. A safety module processes signals received from the first sensor and the second sensor and identifies if the operating condition within the low point area of the battery cell bay defines a fluid present in the low point area of the battery cell bay.

A locking unit for the parking brake of an automatic transmission, for locking the movement of a piston which can be moved by a drive, wherein a guiding element presses catch elements radially outward and a magnetic element for sensing the position of the guiding element is connected to the guiding element. A locking device for the parking brake of an automatic transmission, wherein a piston is locked with catch elements which are guided by a guiding element which in two end positions presses different catch elements radially outwardly in each case for locking.