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.

This invention relates to off-road work machines and to controlling the brakes of an off-road work machine and particularly to an arrangement and a method for controlling the working brakes of a hydraulic or electric work machine. It is characteristic of a method according to the invention for controlling the brakes, preferably the working brakes, of a hydraulic or electric work machine (10), (50), in which the hydraulic or electric work machine (10), (50) comprises one or more frame parts (11), (12), (51), (52) and a moving means (13), (53) that the method comprises the steps of: detecting (31), (41) a driver's control action for starting the motion of the hydraulic or electric work machine (10), (50), keeping (32), (42) the brakes of the hydraulic or electric work machine (10), (50) applied and releasing (35), (45) the brakes of the hydraulic or electric work machine (10), (50) when said measured (33), (43) torque value exceeds a predetermined calculatory torque value.

A vehicle control device, a vehicle control method, and a vehicle control system according to one embodiment of the present invention are configured to acquire a physical quantity relating to a speed of a vehicle and a physical quantity relating to a requested braking force required to decelerate the vehicle and to generate a driving force by a driving device under a state in which a friction braking force is being generated when the vehicle is to be decelerated based on the physical quantity relating to the requested braking force.

A method for operating a motor vehicle including an actuating element which is, in particular steplessly, displaceable between a first end position and a second end position. An instantaneous position of the actuating element is monitored. A deceleration torque being predefined for the motor vehicle when the instantaneous position is in a deceleration range situated between the first end position and a predefinable change position, and an acceleration torque being predefined for the motor vehicle when the instantaneous position is in an acceleration range situated between the second end position and the change position. A monitoring is carried out for the occurrence of at least one disturbance variable which influences an actual deceleration of the motor vehicle effectuated by the deceleration torque, the deceleration torque being changed as a function of a detected disturbance variable.

A vehicle hill descent control system and method for controlling a vehicle during a hill descent receives inputs from an accelerator pedal position sensor and a brake pedal sensor. The method controls the engine drivetrain system to engine idling and controls the braking control system to maintain vehicle speed by increasing braking torque to minimize or offset a vehicle speed increase due to gravity. In vehicle hill descent mode, when a vehicle user actuates the accelerator pedal, the engine idling does not change. Instead, the electronic control unit operates to decrease braking torque so the vehicle speed is increased.

A method of operating a vehicle feeding material to a road finishing machine. The vehicle includes a vehicle retarding system controllable to retard the vehicle, and processing circuitry coupled to the vehicle retarding system. The method includes determining, by the processing circuitry, a slope inclination of a downward sloping road surface to be paved by the road finishing machine; determining, by the processing circuitry, a deceleration level of the vehicle for operating the vehicle at the downward sloping road surface while obtaining a mechanical connection between the vehicle and the road finishing machine when the road finishing machine paves the downward sloping road surface; determining, by the processing circuitry, a retardation power level of the vehicle retarding system based on the slope inclination of the downward sloping road surface for obtaining the deceleration level; and controlling, by the processing circuitry, the vehicle retarding system to apply the retardation power level for obtaining the deceleration level.

Disclosed are a control method for a hydraulic retarder, and a control system. The method includes: acquiring a slope of a downhill road segment ahead of a vehicle; determining whether an absolute value of the slope is greater than an absolute value of a slope for which a braking force is not required; if so, predicting a required braking force and oil amount for the vehicle at a steady speed; predicting, according to the oil amount, oil filling time and a distance between the vehicle and an origin of the above road segment at the start time of oil filling of the hydraulic retarder; in the case that the actual distance of the vehicle is equal to a predicted distance, starting oil filling; and upon the vehicle reaching the origin of the road segment, starting braking. The present disclosure can lower wear of brake pads and reduce vehicle running costs.

A method of vehicle operation includes, using one or more processors, receiving one or more inputs, from one or more sensors of a first vehicle and/or one or more sources communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, while the vehicle is traveling on a vehicle route. In implementations the one or more inputs are used to determine a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle and this distance is used as an input to a power management system to increase an energy efficiency of the first vehicle while traveling on the vehicle route. In implementations the one or more inputs and data regarding regenerative braking of the first vehicle are used to calculate one or more speeds and a power management system applies the one or more calculated speeds to the first vehicle. In implementations a reliability estimate is calculated for the one or more calculated speeds.

An adjusting apparatus for an electrically operated utility vehicle, which has a front axle; at least two rear axles; at least one electric motor for driving the rear axles; and a battery to supply the electric motor with electrical power; including: an adjusting device to adjust a level of at least one of the rear axles from the roadway; in which the adjusting device is configured to identify a recovery mode in which the electric motor functions as a generator and is driven by the two rear axles in order to charge the battery; and in which the adjusting device is configured, when a recovery mode has been identified, to adjust the level and a load of the at least one adjustable rear axle so that the recovery is optimized. Also described is a related method and an electrically operated utility vehicle.

The invention provides a method for controlling braking of a vehicle (1) driving along a downhill portion of a road, the vehicle comprising a propulsion arrangement (2, 3), for the propulsion of the vehicle, the method comprising dividing the road portion into a plurality of sections (RS0-RS2), the sections comprising a first section (RS1), and a second section (RS2) following, in the direction of travel of the vehicle, immediately upon the first section (RS1), determining, for the road portion, a road portion control strategy, with a condition that braking on the road portion is done at least partly by means of the propulsion arrangement (2, 3), wherein determining the road portion control strategy comprises determining a speed (SD21), on the second section (RS2), with an aim to minimize the time travelled on the second section, and/or, where the propulsion arrangement comprises an internal combustion engine (2), and a gearbox (3), determining a gear selection (GS2) on the second section (RS2), with an aim to minimize the time travelled on in the second section, and wherein determining the road portion control strategy comprises determining, for the first section (RS1), a first section control strategy, with an aim to minimize the time travelled on the first section, and with an aim to provide a vehicle speed at the end of the first section (RS1) which is the same as said determined speed (SD21) on the second section (RS2), and/or to provide a gear selection at the end of the first section which is the same as said determined gear selection (GS2) on the second section (RS2), the method further comprising controlling the vehicle (1) according to the determined road portion control strategy.