A motor drive device includes an inverter that drives a motor, a power source smoothing capacitor of the inverter, and a control unit that controls the inverter to drive the motor. The control unit precharges the capacitor with a power source voltage, and calculates a capacity value of the capacitor, based on a ratio of the power source voltage and a voltage with which the capacitor is charged, or an amount of time taken until the voltage with which the capacitor is charged, after the passage of a predetermined amount of time from the start of the precharge, reaches a voltage corresponding to the power source voltage. The control unit performs torque limitation of the motor when the capacity value of the capacitor has decreased.

A motor drive device includes an inverter that drives a motor, a power source smoothing capacitor of the inverter, and a control unit that controls the inverter to drive the motor. The control unit precharges the capacitor with a power source voltage, and calculates a capacity value of the capacitor, based on a ratio of the power source voltage and a voltage with which the capacitor is charged, or an amount of time taken until the voltage with which the capacitor is charged, after the passage of a predetermined amount of time from the start of the precharge, reaches a voltage corresponding to the power source voltage. The control unit performs torque limitation of the motor when the capacity value of the capacitor has decreased.

A vehicle control apparatus comprises an engine, a starter, an accessory battery, and a high-voltage battery. The vehicle control apparatus is equipped with a DC-DC converter that is connected between the accessory battery and the high-voltage battery, a capacitor that is connected to a circuit on a side of the high-voltage battery, a high-voltage battery determination portion, and a startup control portion. The startup control portion executes power boost-startup control, whereby an output voltage of the accessory battery is boosted by the DC-DC converter, the capacitor is charged with necessary electrical energy for starting the engine by using an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, and the starter is driven to start the engine by using the electrical energy charged in the capacitor.

A vehicle control apparatus comprises an engine, a starter, an accessory battery, and a high-voltage battery. The vehicle control apparatus is equipped with a DC-DC converter that is connected between the accessory battery and the high-voltage battery, a capacitor that is connected to a circuit on a side of the high-voltage battery, a high-voltage battery determination portion, and a startup control portion. The startup control portion executes power boost-startup control, whereby an output voltage of the accessory battery is boosted by the DC-DC converter, the capacitor is charged with necessary electrical energy for starting the engine by using an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, and the starter is driven to start the engine by using the electrical energy charged in the capacitor.

A method for controlling a convoy including a pilot vehicle and a driverless vehicle is presented. It includes electronically tethering the driverless vehicle to the pilot vehicle by establishing communication between a pilot vehicle control module and a driverless vehicle control module. It further includes receiving a longitudinal control user input in the pilot vehicle control module and communicating a longitudinal motion request from the pilot vehicle control module to the driverless vehicle control module, the longitudinal motion request being indicative of the longitudinal control user input. It finally includes controlling a propulsion and braking system of the driverless vehicle in response to the longitudinal motion request received from the pilot vehicle and controlling a propulsion and braking system of the pilot vehicle, while tethered to the driverless vehicle, to maintain a target longitudinal clearance from the driverless vehicle.

An automated guided vehicle control system includes a commodity database, a historical shopping information acquisition module, a purchase-item prediction module, an automated guided vehicle database, an automated guided vehicle dispatch demand assessment module and an automated guided vehicle dispatch module. The historical shopping information acquisition module is utilized to retrieve the historical shopping information related to the customer, further to locate the instant predicted commodity to be purchased, and thereby to dispatch the suitable automated guided vehicle to the waiting area of the customer. Further, the historical shopping information is evaluated to provide the commodity type options for the customer to select, to locate the commodity type to be purchased, and thereby to organize the automated navigation path for the automated guided vehicle to travel along to reach the assigned commodity display area.

A command calculation unit calculates a target speed at each point on a road ahead of the own vehicle, and calculates a drive command for driving the own vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the own vehicle, based on the target speed and a current speed of the own vehicle. When output of the drive command that has been stopped is restarted, the command calculation unit adjusts the drive command, using an acceleration limit limiting acceleration of the own vehicle, or a jerk limit that limits jerk of the own vehicle. An output control unit controls output of the drive command, based on an input from at least one of a driver's operation of the own vehicle, and from another control system of the own vehicle. The output control unit temporarily reduces the value of at least one of the acceleration limit, the jerk limit and the drive command when restarting output of the drive command that was previously stopped.

A braking control method for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle distributes and transmits a driving force of a vehicle driving source to front and rear wheels based on a power distribution rate. The method includes determining a total braking force based on a brake signal corresponding to brake pedal manipulation, calculating a front and rear wheel braking force satisfying the total braking force, and calculating a regenerative and frictional braking force satisfying the total braking force. The method further includes determining a power distribution rate range to the front and rear wheels during braking using the calculated front and rear wheel braking force and regenerative braking force, determining a power distribution rate to the front and rear wheels based on a vehicle driving condition, within the determined power distribution rate range; and adjusting distribution of the power to the front and rear wheels at the power distribution rate.

A braking control method for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle distributes and transmits a driving force of a vehicle driving source to front and rear wheels based on a power distribution rate. The method includes determining a total braking force based on a brake signal corresponding to brake pedal manipulation, calculating a front and rear wheel braking force satisfying the total braking force, and calculating a regenerative and frictional braking force satisfying the total braking force. The method further includes determining a power distribution rate range to the front and rear wheels during braking using the calculated front and rear wheel braking force and regenerative braking force, determining a power distribution rate to the front and rear wheels based on a vehicle driving condition, within the determined power distribution rate range; and adjusting distribution of the power to the front and rear wheels at the power distribution rate.

An auxiliary power system for a motor vehicle includes a power generator that generates electricity to charge one or more auxiliary power system batteries. The motor vehicle includes an engine and drive train that distributes power from the engine to the drive wheels. The drive train can include a transmission, a drive shaft and a differential that connects the engine to the drive wheels. The power generator can be connected to the drive train (e.g., the transmission, the drive shaft or the differential) to draw power to generate electricity as well as to apply braking loads on the drive wheels to increase the ability to stop the motor vehicle.