A method for controlling a power tailgate in a vehicle power tailgate system includes steps of controlling operation of a motor to attempt to lower or raise a tailgate operably connected to the motor, determining that a clutch interposed between the motor and the tailgate (and operably connected to the motor and the tailgate) slipped by at least a predetermined slip amount during operation of the motor to attempt to lower or raise the tailgate and, responsive to the determination that the clutch slipped by at least the predetermined slip amount, generating an alert indicating a need for manual reset of the tailgate.

An actuation system and method of operation for moving a closure panel in one of a normal drive state and a back drive state are provided. The actuation system includes a mechanical coupling for moving the closure panel. A motor with a shaft is directly and operably connected to the mechanical coupling to directly move the mechanical coupling. A sensor detects movement of the closure panel and couples to a controller connected to the motor. The controller moves the closure panel with the motor based on a detected motor movement command in the normal drive mode. The controller also detects movement of the closure panel using the at least one sensor and selectively brakes the movement of the closure panel based on the movement detected in the back drive state.

A door drive device for adjusting and/or locking a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body including an adjustment member, a drive element operatively coupled to the adjustment member such that the adjustment member is movable with respect to the drive element for moving the vehicle door, a sensor device for measuring a measuring quantity indicative of a movement of the vehicle door to provide a sensor signal, a brake device operatively connected to the drive element for braking a movement of the vehicle door, and a control device for controlling operation of the door drive device. The control device is configured to compute, from the sensor signal obtained from the sensor device, an acceleration value indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle door and evaluate the acceleration value to distinguish movement of the vehicle door caused by a gravity force from movement caused by a user action.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for variable fluid damping. The apparatus comprises a mount. The apparatus also comprises a damper coupled to the mount to apply a damping force in response to movement of the mount. The apparatus further comprises an electrical element positioned to correspond to the damper. The apparatus additionally comprises a rheological fluid disposed in the damper. The rheological fluid changes viscosity in response to a change in an output of the electrical element to change the damping force of the damper. The apparatus also comprises a controller to provide input to the electrical element in response to a normal operating condition or an emergency operating condition.

A system for avoiding pinching in vehicle doors includes capacitive proximity sensors for being mounted at each door along closing surfaces. The system also includes an accelerometer for being arranged in each door, a stopper bar, and a release mechanism for the stopper bar. The capacitive proximity sensors, the accelerometer, and the release mechanism are connected to a control unit arranged such that the stopper bar is moved to a blocking position when the capacitive proximity sensor for the same door senses an object and the door has stopped accelerating.

An arrangement (16) for controlling movements of an access member (12) relative to a frame (14), the arrangement (16) comprising abase section (18) for connection to either the access member (12) or the frame (14); a fixation part (20) for connection to the other of the access member (12) and the frame (14); a flexible elongated element (22) configured to be tensioned to thereby force the base section (18) and the fixation part (20) to move towards each other in a relative closing movement (86); and a braking device (82) arranged to brake a speed of the relative closing movement (86).

A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting a fluid flow response from fluid flow sensors to produce a piston position of a piston associated with a head unit device. The head unit device includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF). The method further includes determining a door position based on the piston position. The method further includes determining parameters for wireless signals based on the door position. The method further includes facilitating utilization of the parameters for the wireless signals to promote successful communication of status and/or control of the door via the wireless signals.

A drive device for adjusting a vehicle assembly including an electromotive adjustment drive for adjusting the vehicle assembly and a control device for controlling the adjustment drive, the control device is configured to actuate the adjustment drive in a holding mode for holding the vehicle assembly. It is provided that the control device includes a regulation module for regulating a characteristic variable of the adjustment drive and a control module, wherein the regulation module is configured to determine a correcting variable for regulating the characteristic variable of the adjustment drive in the holding mode with reference to a specified setpoint value, and the control module is configured to evaluate a change of the correcting variable to detect an adjustment request for adjusting the vehicle assembly.

An access control system for restricting access through a passageway includes a shaft rotatable about a central axis; a barrier fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith; and a brake assembly. The brake assembly includes a sun gear rotatable about the central axis, a carrier, and a ring gear, wherein one of the carrier or the ring gear is fixed against rotation and the other of the carrier or ring gear is connected to the shaft to rotate therewith. A plurality of planet gears are rotatably connected to the carrier, each planet gear being disposed between and engaging with each of the sun gear and the ring gear. The armature of an electromagnetic brake comprising an electromagnet and an armature is connected to or integral with the sun gear to rotate therewith. At least one of the electromagnet or the armature is moveable between an operative and an inoperative position.

Embodiments include methods, systems and computer readable storage medium for a method for operating one or more doors of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by at least one radar sensor on the vehicle, input data related to one or more objects. The method further includes filtering, by the at least one radar sensor, vehicle environment noise from the received input. The method further includes identifying, by the at least one radar sensor, an external environment for the vehicle based on the filtered input. The method further includes operating, by a processor, one or more doors of the vehicle based on the external environment for the vehicle.