Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Stephan Strahl

Arnulf Sponheimer

Rolf Lorenz Loeffler

Georg Neugebauer

Philipp Carlhoff

Urs Christen

Nicholas Dashwood Crisp

Guenter Hans Grosch

Rainer Lach

Erik Alpman

Julio Orozco Santos Coy

Andreas Ortseifen

Thomas Werner Steinkopf

Kai Skolik

Meghashree Kowshika Ramachandra

George Neugebauer

Nick Crisp

Rolf Lorenz Löffler

A charging method () for an electrically operated motor vehicle () designed for autonomous driving is provided, in which, in a first exercise, the motor vehicle () is charged in a charging procedure () within a time window at a charging station (). According to the invention, the motor vehicle () is commanded in an approach command delivery () to approach () the charging station () or in a departure command delivery () to depart () from the charging station (). Moreover, a motor vehicle () is claimed.

Method for charging a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

A fuel cell stack includes multiple stacked individual cells each having an anode and a cathode, a common fuel inlet duct, a common fuel outlet duct, a common oxidizing agent inlet duct, a common oxidizing agent outlet duct, and at least one microwave source configured to selectively generate microwave radiation into the common fuel outlet duct and/or into the common oxidizing agent outlet duct to manage water contained therein to melt ice and/or expedite evaporation.

Fuel cell stack and method for operating a fuel cell stack

A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle system and method inhibit formation of black ice on road surfaces at low temperatures as a result of exhaust water by treating the exhaust water prior to discharge with a deicing or antifreeze substance to lower the freezing point of the water. A metering device may meter a deicing or antifreeze substance, such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, urea, or the like to be dissolved in the exhaust water that is produced during the production of energy. The vehicle may include a bypass valve that selectively bypasses the water treatment system when ambient conditions are not conducive to ice formation. The bypass valve is operated to direct exhaust flow to a condenser and water treatment system when ambient conditions are favorable to ice formation, with the deicing or antifreeze substance metered based on current or predicted ambient or road surface conditions.

Preventing the formation of black ice as a result of exhaust water from motor vehicles

A method for braking a vehicle to a stop on a sloping section of a roadway wherein a slope inclination of the roadway section, a vehicle speed, an acceleration, and a vehicle brake operation status of the vehicle are continuously ascertained. The slope inclination of the roadway section and the vehicle brake operation status are compared with predetermined threshold values. The method includes activating a braking torque, continuously determined based on the slope inclination, the driving speed, and the acceleration when the instantaneous slope inclination of the roadway section reaches or exceeds the predetermined threshold value for a sloping section and the vehicle brake operation status lies within a predetermined range or value. The braking torque being independent of the vehicle brake operation status.

Method for braking a vehicle on a slope

A method to assist with control of a vehicle in road traffic is provided. Parameters including a distance, direction and speed of other road users are detected. The parameters are used to determine a strategy for the driver to start an intended control action. A time window is determined that enables the driver to start the intended control action and is displayed in a graphical representation to scale to the driver through a driver-vehicle interface.

Method to assist control of a vehicle assistance system

A method of operating a self-driving (autonomous) motor vehicle to transport a passenger who requires supervision. An authorization of a sender to operate the vehicle is checked and, if authorized, the sender provides instructions to a vehicle control unit to designate a destination and one or more authorization criterion that must be met by a recipient in order to unlock the vehicle and take custody of the passenger at the destination. The vehicle travels to the destination autonomously, during which travel the status of the passenger is monitored and transmitted wirelessly to a device in the possession of the sender. At the destination, unlocking of the vehicle is permitted upon confirmation of the authorization criterion by the recipient.

Method for secure transfer of an unaccompanied person by autonomous vehicle

A method of controlling the operating mode of a motor vehicle includes transitioning between driving and coasting modes and vice-versa automatically in response to a driver trigger. The method controls an engine of the motor vehicle to bring a driveline driven by the engine via an electronically controlled clutch into a lash state before engaging or disengaging the electronically controlled clutch thereby preventing driveline disturbances from being produced by the transition.

Growing community of inventors

Bodenwoehr, Germany

Stephan Strahl