A driving support device for a vehicle includes: a detector that detects a driving condition of a driver; a memory that stores a proper driving condition of the driver; and a controller that compares a detected driving condition with the proper driving condition stored in the memory, calculates a difference between the detected driving condition and the proper driving condition, and executes a notification operation to the driver according to the difference when the controller recognizes the difference. The controller executes the notification operation to facilitate a recovery to the proper driving condition. Thus, the driving support device reduces uncomfortable feeling of the driver when the controller executes the notification operation.

An autonomous driving control apparatus that achieves autonomous driving by controlling a driving operation of a subject vehicle, based on a situation around the subject vehicle is provided. The autonomous driving control apparatus includes: a driving operation determination part that determines a detail of the driving operation of the subject vehicle, based on the situation; a driving operation control part that controls the driving operation in accordance with the detail; and a driving information output part that shifts a footrest portion of a footrest at a seat on a driver seat side of the subject vehicle by driving a driving part provided on the footrest, to output the detail as driving information. The driving information output part varies a frontward inclination angle in accordance with a level of acceleration or deceleration of the subject vehicle, to output the driving information.

A method and road assistance system for safe handling an autonomous vehicle during emergency failure situation is disclosed. The road assistance system establishes a network connection with autonomous vehicle, where request for the network connection is transmitted by the autonomous vehicle on detection of operation failures. Upon establishing the network connection with the autonomous vehicle, vehicle failure information is received from the autonomous vehicle. The road assistance system determines type of failure in the autonomous vehicle based on the vehicle failure information. Further, current surrounding environment information is obtained for the autonomous vehicle from one of autonomous vehicle and one or more sensing devices located in proximity to the autonomous vehicle. Thereafter, the road assistance system generates at least one control instruction based on the type of failure and the current surrounding environment information. The at least one control instruction is provided to the autonomous vehicle for execution during the emergency failure situation.

A motor vehicle control system operable in a steering assist mode in which the system is configured to: detect steering angle; and control a distribution of torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle in dependence on the detected steering angle thereby to induce a turning moment in the direction of turn indicated by the steering angle.

A system for a vehicle includes a sensor configured to sense information associated with the vehicle's surroundings, environment and/or condition and output a sensor signal based on the sensed information, a processor configured to receive the sensor signal, determine haptic feedback for the system to display based on the sensor signal, and output a haptic control signal, and a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic control signal from the processor and generate the haptic feedback to a driver of the vehicle based on the haptic control signal.

A vehicle information processing system includes a vehicle information processing device including one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to receive input information including information on a wheel velocity of a vehicle, and calculate a velocity of the vehicle traveling on an expressway as a feature by using the input information. The input information is information that is received during a period in which a predetermined condition is satisfied out of a period in which the one or more processors receive the input information. The predetermined condition indicates that the vehicle is traveling on the expressway.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine configured to provide torque to a first axle of the vehicle for generating first axle wheel torque, and an electric machine configured to provide torque to a second axle of the vehicle for generating second axle wheel torque, the method comprising: outputting a torque request for the engine and a torque request for the electric machine, the torque requests having a first ratio dependent on a required torque split between the first axle wheel torque and the second axle wheel torque, wherein received first axle wheel torque and received second axle wheel torque have a second variable ratio dependent on a difference between wheel torque response capabilities of the engine and of the electric machine; determining that a trigger condition is satisfied; and controlling, in dependence on satisfaction of the trigger condition, determination of the torque request for the electric machine such that deviation of the second ratio from the first ratio is inhibited.

Excess fuel consumption monitor and feedback systems for vehicles include sensor arrays of two primary types including those sensors deployed as part of a vehicle manufacturer established sensor suite and sensors deployed as after-market sensors. Together, these sensor suites include sensors coupled to vehicle subsystems and operating environments associated with the vehicle. Data from these sensors may be used as parametric inputs to drive algorithmic calculations which have outputs that express excess fuel consumption. Expressions of excess fuel consumption may be made instantaneously as real-time feedback to a vehicle operator/driver and/or a fleet manager as part of a summary report.

A plurality of virtual gear positions are established by an electric continuously variable transmission, and the number of speeds of the virtual gear positions is equal to or larger than the number of speeds of mechanical gear positions of a mechanical stepwise variable transmission. One virtual gear position or two or more virtual gear positions is/are assigned to each mechanical gear position, and the mechanical gear position is shifted in the same timing as shift timing of the virtual gear position. The virtual gear positions assigned to each mechanical gear position when the mechanical gear position is upshifted are different from the virtual gear positions assigned to each mechanical gear position when the mechanical gear position is downshifted. Thus, the amount of heat generated in frictional engagement elements of the mechanical stepwise variable transmission is prevented from being increased.

A method of determining an equivalence energy factor representing weighting applied between an infeed of energy of thermal origin and an infeed of energy of electrical origin, to minimize on an operating point overall energy consumption of a hybrid motor propulsion plant for an automotive vehicle including a heat engine and at least one electric motor powered by a battery. This factor is controlled in a discrete manner as a function of an instantaneous state of energy of the battery, and of an energy target, and as a function of the vehicle running conditions.