An awakening degree detecting device outputs awakening degree information corresponding to an awakening degree of a driver of a vehicle. A stimulus providing device provides the driver with a stimulus including at least one of a visual stimulus, an audible stimulus, an electrical stimulus, a warm stimulus, a cold stimulus, and an action-inducing stimulus prompting an action of the occupant with respect to an appliance installed in the vehicle. A control device outputs, based on the awakening degree information, a first control signal causing the stimulus providing device to provide the stimulus in a case where the awakening degree is less than a first threshold, and to output a second control signal causing the stimulus providing device to provide the stimulus after the first control signal is outputted.

An awakening degree detecting device outputs awakening degree information corresponding to an awakening degree of a driver of a vehicle. A stimulus providing device provides the driver with a stimulus including at least one of a visual stimulus, an audible stimulus, an electrical stimulus, a warm stimulus, a cold stimulus, and an action-inducing stimulus prompting an action of the occupant with respect to an appliance installed in the vehicle. A control device outputs, based on the awakening degree information, a first control signal causing the stimulus providing device to provide the stimulus in a case where the awakening degree is less than a first threshold, and to output a second control signal causing the stimulus providing device to provide the stimulus after the first control signal is outputted.

A method for operating an assistance system for automated driving operation of a vehicle involves continuously determining an emergency trajectory along which the vehicle is brought to a standstill in a longitudinally and transversely controlled manner after activation of an emergency operation of the vehicle. In the event of an imminent or already initiated lane change of the vehicle from a starting lane to a target lane according to a determined standard trajectory, a decision is made as to whether the vehicle should be brought to a standstill in the starting lane or in the target lane when emergency operation is activated. This decision depends on the position of the vehicle on the standard trajectory. The vehicle is then brought to a standstill in the starting lane if an emergency trajectory is planned by means of which the vehicle is brought to a standstill in the starting lane within a predefined path length and/or within a predefined time period, and if in the process a predefined comfort value of a transverse acceleration acting on the vehicle is not exceeded and a predefined penetration depth of the vehicle into the target lane is not exceeded.

A method is disclosed for driving an emergency reaction system within a moving motor vehicle carrying at least one vehicle occupant. The method includes monitoring health conditions of the vehicle occupant. The method also includes determining whether the health conditions are below a critical threshold and, if so, continuing to monitor the health conditions of the vehicle occupant. If the health conditions exceed the critical threshold, an emergency alert is issued without waiting for the motor vehicle to stop, and an autonomous safe stop maneuver is performed if the motor vehicle is moving autonomously or includes an autonomous driving system and is allowed to operate automatically.

A device for controlling emotional lighting of a vehicle allows a driver and a passenger of the vehicle to emotionally view an external landscape through a door glass. Such a device includes: a camera for recording a video of a surrounding region of the vehicle; an emotional lighting device for irradiating light toward the door glass of the vehicle; and a controller for controlling the emotional lighting device to detect a representative color within the video of the surrounding region and irradiate light of a color corresponding to the representative color.

Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH.sub.3 or ceasing generation of NH.sub.3.

Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH.sub.3 or ceasing generation of NH.sub.3.

A vehicular control system includes a forward viewing camera disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle. Road curvature of a road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined responsive at least in part to processing of image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data, speed of the vehicle is controlled by an adaptive cruise control system of the vehicle. Upon approach of the vehicle to a curve in the road along which the vehicle is traveling, speed of the vehicle is reduced by the adaptive cruise control system to a reduced speed for traveling around the curve in the road. Speed of the vehicle is increased by the adaptive cruise control system when the vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

A vehicle control system controls a steer-by-wire type vehicle. The vehicle control system executes: reaction force control that applies a steering reaction force to a steering wheel; and driving assist control that assists driving of the vehicle. The reaction force control includes road information transmission control that applies a steering reaction force component corresponding to an oscillation caused by road surface unevenness to the steering wheel. The vehicle control system deactivates the road information transmission control when a deactivation condition is satisfied. The deactivation condition is that the driving assist control is in operation and a steering parameter reflecting a driver's steering intention is less than a threshold. As another example, the deactivation condition is that the driving assist control that vibrates the steering wheel for notifying the driver of a possibility of a lane departure is in operation.

A vehicle control system controls a steer-by-wire type vehicle. The vehicle control system executes: reaction force control that applies a steering reaction force to a steering wheel; and driving assist control that assists driving of the vehicle. The reaction force control includes road information transmission control that applies a steering reaction force component corresponding to an oscillation caused by road surface unevenness to the steering wheel. The vehicle control system deactivates the road information transmission control when a deactivation condition is satisfied. The deactivation condition is that the driving assist control is in operation and a steering parameter reflecting a driver's steering intention is less than a threshold. As another example, the deactivation condition is that the driving assist control that vibrates the steering wheel for notifying the driver of a possibility of a lane departure is in operation.