A brake system and a method of monitoring and control. The method may include obtaining data indicative of temperature of a plurality of brake assemblies and determining at least one correlation value based on the temperature data. A mean temperature comparison may be conducted when a correlation value is less than a threshold correlation value.

An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever that performs an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted by the lock mechanism. A controller includes a locking operation determination unit that determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, an actuator control unit that controls a driving operation of the actuator, and an information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle speed information. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode and when a vehicle speed is equal to or more than an activation-determination lower limit value.

A distracted driver can be informed of his or her distraction by a visual notification. It can be detected whether a driver of a vehicle is focused on a non-critical object located within the vehicle. In response to detecting that the driver of the vehicle is focused on a non-critical object located within the vehicle, an amount of time the driver is focused on the non-critical object can be determined. When the amount of time exceeds a threshold amount of time, a visual notification of distracted driving can be caused to be presented on or visually adjacent to the non-critical object.

A distracted driver can be informed of his or her distraction by a visual notification. It can be detected whether a driver of a vehicle is focused on a non-critical object located within the vehicle. In response to detecting that the driver of the vehicle is focused on a non-critical object located within the vehicle, an amount of time the driver is focused on the non-critical object can be determined. When the amount of time exceeds a threshold amount of time, a visual notification of distracted driving can be caused to be presented on or visually adjacent to the non-critical object.

A system for a vehicle includes a human-machine interface, a microphone that detects sound, a sound source device that emits sound, and a controller that prompts pairing of the sound source device and the microphone, such that the sound source device emits sound corresponding to the sound detected by the microphone. The controller prompts pairing of the sound source device and the microphone in response to at least one of (i) the vehicle entering a reverse mode, and (ii) receiving a user input entered into the human-machine interface via selection of an input option by a user, wherein the input option is made accessible for selection by the user in response to the vehicle entering the reverse mode.

A road surface state detection apparatus includes a light emitter, an optical sensor, and an electronic control unit. The light emitter is configured to project an image with visible light on a road surface below a side of a vehicle. The optical sensor is provided on the side of the vehicle and configured to receive reflected light from the projected image. The electronic control unit is configured to determine a state of the road surface based on the reflected light received by the optical sensor.

A road surface state detection apparatus includes a light emitter, an optical sensor, and an electronic control unit. The light emitter is configured to project an image with visible light on a road surface below a side of a vehicle. The optical sensor is provided on the side of the vehicle and configured to receive reflected light from the projected image. The electronic control unit is configured to determine a state of the road surface based on the reflected light received by the optical sensor.

A vehicle theft deterrent apparatus includes a driver verifier, a steering torque detector, an actuator, and a steering controller. The steering torque detector is configured to detect steering torque input by a driver to a steering system. The actuator is configured to generate drive torque to be given to the steering system. The driver verifier is configured to verify whether driver information obtained from the driver matches registered information registered in advance. The steering controller is configured to control the drive torque generated by the actuator based on the steering torque. In a case where the driver verifier determines that the driver information does not match the registered information, the steering controller is configured to permit the driver to steer until a vehicle drives a set distance, and then to cause the actuator to generate the drive torque prohibiting the driver from steering.

A vehicle theft deterrent apparatus includes a driver verifier, a steering torque detector, an actuator, and a steering controller. The steering torque detector is configured to detect steering torque input by a driver to a steering system. The actuator is configured to generate drive torque to be given to the steering system. The driver verifier is configured to verify whether driver information obtained from the driver matches registered information registered in advance. The steering controller is configured to control the drive torque generated by the actuator based on the steering torque. In a case where the driver verifier determines that the driver information does not match the registered information, the steering controller is configured to permit the driver to steer until a vehicle drives a set distance, and then to cause the actuator to generate the drive torque prohibiting the driver from steering.

A driving support device includes: a front camera configured to acquire image data; and a controller configured to execute driving support control for supporting driving by a driver of a vehicle when the controller determines that a specific display object exists in front of the vehicle based on the image data. The driving support control is control executed depending on the specific display object. The controller is configured to determine whether a conforming operation is being executed by the driver. The controller is also configured to execute, as the driving support control, control having a higher support level indicating a degree of influence on the driver when the controller determines that the conforming operation is not being executed, as compared with a case where the controller determines that the conforming operation is executed.