The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1998
Alex N. Peck, Commack, NY (US);
Edward V. Sullivan, Huntington, NY (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for automatically controlling operation of a self-propelled vehicle comprises a plurality of operating systems for performing specific functions relating to the operation of the vehicle, each of the operation systems including controller devices for automatically performing a specific function and selectively operable manual components for directly overriding the controller devices and manually performing the specific function. A central processor coordinates operation of the operating systems. The operating systems include: (1) a steering wheel and a steering controller having an active mode for automatically operating the steerable wheel under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the steering wheel; (2) an accelerator pedal and a throttle controller having an active mode for automatically controlling fuel delivery to a fuel injector under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the accelerator pedal; (3) a brake pedal and a braking controller having an active mode for automatically operating the brakes under the direction of the central processor and an inactive operating the brakes under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the brake pedal; and (4) a gear ratio selector and a transmission controller having an active mode for automatically operating the multi-ratio transmission under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the gear ratio selector.