An autonomous driving system for a vehicle (e.g. a racing car) is installed in the space normally allocated to a human driver and is attached to the pre-existing anchor points used for structures that are no longer needed once a human is no longer required, such as the crash protection anchor points. The autonomous driving system enables AI and robotics technology to be seamlessly integrated into existing high-performance race car designs without requiring significant design modifications to the vehicle. This invention enables a new era of motorsport, where for example human drivers in a Formula One car can compete against the same car controlled by an autonomous driving system, because the design integrity of all cars remain identical.

A standing pedal is provided for a vehicle, comprising a support, a pedal arm, a rocker, a return spring for forcing the pedal arm into a direction of an idle position of the pedal arm, and a power transmission element. The return spring is linked to the support and the rocker in a power transmitting manner. The power transmission element is linked to the pedal arm and the rocker in a power transmitting manner. In order to provide a standing pedal for a vehicle, which is robust and shows an enhanced durability, the pivot axis of the pedal arm and the power transmission element are located on a common first side of the rocker with respect to a basic part of the rocker.

A method for operating a clutch of a drive train of a vehicle wherein the clutch, a drive motor primary axis having first wheels that can be driven by the drive motor as first axis and a second axis having second wheels are driven by the drive motor via the clutch as second axis, with the clutch being adjusted between a closed position, wherein a first coupling torque of the clutch is set, and at least one second position differing from the closed position, wherein a second coupling torque of the clutch that is lower than the first coupling torque is set: determining at least one coefficient of friction of a roadway the vehicle is located on; and as a factor of the determined coefficient of friction: adjusting a basic torque of the clutch, with the clutch being prestressed in the second position by the basic torque.

A method for operating a clutch of a drive train of a vehicle wherein the clutch, a drive motor primary axis having first wheels that can be driven by the drive motor as first axis and a second axis having second wheels are driven by the drive motor via the clutch as second axis, with the clutch being adjusted between a closed position, wherein a first coupling torque of the clutch is set, and at least one second position differing from the closed position, wherein a second coupling torque of the clutch that is lower than the first coupling torque is set: determining at least one coefficient of friction of a roadway the vehicle is located on; and as a factor of the determined coefficient of friction: adjusting a basic torque of the clutch, with the clutch being prestressed in the second position by the basic torque.

An assembly for a vehicle comprising a mechanism for adjusting the angular position of a vehicle pedal includes a motor for generating and transmitting rotary motion to a rotating member, a first pedal assembly having a first support frame with a first slotted hole, rotatably supported on a first fulcrum and supporting a first pedal, a first motion conversion mechanism, having a first rotating member rotatable about a first rotation axis and a first translating member, receiving and converting rotational motion into translational motion, and a first pin, for joint translation with the first translating member and sliding inside the first slotted hole. Sliding of the first pin draws the first support frame in rotation about the first fulcrum between a first and a second angular position. The mechanism includes a second pedal assembly. The first rotating member is connected to the motor to receive rotary motion. A second rotating member of a second motion conversion mechanism is connected in rotation to the first rotating member through a flexible transmission.

Provided is a resin pedal arm of which strength is further improved. A resin pedal arm 10 includes a hollow arm body 20. The arm body 20 includes a front wall portion 30, a rear wall portion 32 facing the front wall portion 30, a left wall portion 34 formed between left edges 30A, 32A of the front wall portion 30 and the rear wall portion 32 and having multiple first flat plate portions 38 arranged to bridge between the left edges 30A, 32A, and a right wall portion 36 formed between right edges 30B, 32B of the front wall portion 30 and the rear wall portion 32, having multiple second flat plate portions 40 arranged to bridge between the right edges 30B, 32B, and facing the left wall portion 34. The multiple second flat plate portions 40 are each present in multiple left opening areas S1 each provided between adjacent ones of the multiple first flat plate portions 38, as viewed in a direction in which the left wall portion 34 and the right wall portion 36 face each other.

A utility vehicle includes: a power unit that outputs drive power; a drive shaft that receives the drive power transmitted from the power unit; a front axle that receives the drive power transmitted from the drive shaft; a right front wheel connected to the front axle; a left front wheel connected to the front axle; a right clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the right front wheel; a left clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the left front wheel; a clutch actuator that actuates the left clutch and the right clutch; and a controller that controls the clutch actuator.

A utility vehicle includes: a power unit that outputs drive power; a drive shaft that receives the drive power transmitted from the power unit; a front axle that receives the drive power transmitted from the drive shaft; a right front wheel connected to the front axle; a left front wheel connected to the front axle; a right clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the right front wheel; a left clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the left front wheel; a clutch actuator that actuates the left clutch and the right clutch; and a controller that controls the clutch actuator.

The disclosure provides an illumination control device and an illumination control method for a shifter of a vehicle, and the illumination control device includes a shifter disposed on a steering column and having a light source; a vehicle door open-and-closed detection part detecting an open-and-closed state of a door of the vehicle to generate a vehicle door open-and-closed signal; a control device controlling an illumination of the light source. After a driver driving the vehicle switches on an ignition switch, the control device performs a lighting control to turn on the light source, and when the ignition switch is in an OFF state and after a vehicle door open-and-closed signal indicating the door is switched from an open state to a closed state is detected, the control device performs the lighting control to turn on the light source.

The disclosure provides an illumination control device and an illumination control method for a shifter of a vehicle, and the illumination control device includes a shifter disposed on a steering column and having a light source; a vehicle door open-and-closed detection part detecting an open-and-closed state of a door of the vehicle to generate a vehicle door open-and-closed signal; a control device controlling an illumination of the light source. After a driver driving the vehicle switches on an ignition switch, the control device performs a lighting control to turn on the light source, and when the ignition switch is in an OFF state and after a vehicle door open-and-closed signal indicating the door is switched from an open state to a closed state is detected, the control device performs the lighting control to turn on the light source.