An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

A moving mechanism configured to be assembled to an object to adjust a movement of the object is provided. The moving mechanism includes a bracket, a first wheel, a brake module, a control module, and a sensing module. The bracket is assembled to the object. The first wheel and the brake module are assembled to the bracket. The control module communicates with and drives the brake module. The sensing module communicates with the brake module, and the sensing module is configured to sense an orientation of the object. The control module adjusts a brake force of the brake module on the first wheel based on the orientation of the object.

A method for operating a speed control system of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels is provided. The method comprises receiving one or more electrical signals representative of vehicle-related information. The method further comprises determining, based on the one or more electrical signals representative of vehicle-related information, that one or more of the wheels of the vehicle have overcome an obstacle or are about to overcome an obstacle and that therefore a reduction in an applied drive torque to one or more of the wheels of the vehicle by a powertrain subsystem (applied drive torque) will be required to maintain the speed of the vehicle at a target set-speed of the speed control system. The method still further comprises automatically commanding the application of a retarding torque to one or more of the wheels of the vehicle to counteract the effect of an overrun condition in the powertrain subsystem from increasing the speed of the vehicle. A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising an electronic control unit configured to perform the above-described methodology is also provided.

A method of increasing engine braking of an engine for a vehicle, the method including: determining the change in kinetic energy of the vehicle over a period; determining the energy output from a drivetrain of the vehicle over the period; comparing the change in kinetic energy to the energy output; and increasing the engine braking of the vehicle when the change in kinetic energy is greater than the energy output over the period.

A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake system and a throttle sensor module outputting a throttle application signal. The system further includes a control module estimating a road grade beneath the trailer and outputting a brake torque request to the brake system based on the estimated road grade and the throttle application signal.

A method of controlling the braking of a vehicle descending a slope. The method includes receiving one or more electrical signals each indicative of a value of a respective vehicle-related parameter. The method further includes detecting that the vehicle is descending a slope based on the value(s) of one or more of the vehicle-related parameters. The method still further includes automatically modifying an amount of brake torque being applied to at least certain of the wheels of the vehicle in response to the detection of the vehicle descending a slope by increasing the amount of brake torque being applied to one or more trailing wheels of the vehicle, and decreasing the amount of brake torque being applied to one or more leading wheels of the vehicle.

Systems and methods for dynamic control of a configuration of electrical circuits are provided. An example system includes a plurality of electric power sources and a plurality of switches configured to connect and disconnect some of the electric power sources. The system may include a controller coupled to the switches. The controller may be configured to enable and disable the switches to cause a change in a configuration of the connections between the electric power sources. The electric power sources can include at least one generator and at least two batteries. The controller can be further configured to cause a change in the configuration to connect the two batteries in series to a load for discharging and connect the two batteries in parallel to the generator for recharging.

A travel resistance arithmetic device includes: a controller configured to estimate travel resistance which a vehicle receives from a travel road; and a memory configured to store the travel resistance in association with positional information. The controller is configured to: correct, based on difference between a stored value of the travel resistance stored in the memory in association with a predetermined area on the travel road through which the vehicle has already passed and an estimated value of the travel resistance estimated by the controller in the predetermined area, the stored value stored in the memory in association with a correction target area on the travel road and; output the corrected stored value as the travel resistance in the correction target area while the vehicle travels the travel road.

An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

A slope-descending speed control device 10 for a vehicle configured to control a vehicle deceleration so that an actual vehicle speed conforms to a target vehicle speed in accordance with a target deceleration Gxbt of a PID feedback control executed in accordance with a difference between a target vehicle speed Vxt and an actual vehicle speed Vx. In a situation where an actual vehicle speed is higher than a target vehicle speed, with a component in a hill-descending direction of gravitational acceleration of the vehicle at a time point when a condition for starting a slope-descending speed control is satisfied being a reference gravitational acceleration Gxd0, when a difference between a component Gxd in a hill-descending direction of gravitational acceleration and the reference gravitational acceleration Gxd0 is between upper and lower reference values, a target deceleration Gxbti of the integral term is not integrated to restrain its increase.