Driving support ECU transmits a communication connection request to a help net center HNC when a driver of a vehicle has been determined to be in an abnormal state where the driver loses an ability to drive the vehicle, and when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has been established, the driving support ECU transmits the help signal (the positional information of the vehicle) and decelerates the vehicle at a constant deceleration to make the vehicle stop. On the other hand, when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has not been established, the driving support ECU makes the vehicle travel at a constant speed. Accordingly, it is possible to make the vehicle stop under a situation where the help net center HNC recognizes the vehicle position inside which the driver who has been determined to be in the abnormal state is.

A control unit for at least one vehicle deceleration device of a vehicle. The control unit includes an electronics unit including a memory unit in which a characteristic curve is stored which specifies a relation between a first input variable specified by an operation of a brake actuation element of the vehicle, and a setpoint variable regarding a setpoint vehicle deceleration exerted on the vehicle using the at least one vehicle deceleration device. The electronics device newly specifies at least one characteristic curve value of the characteristic curve under consideration of a second input variable specified by the driver by an operation of an accelerator of the vehicle, a current traffic and/or environment situation, and/or an ascertained position of the vehicle and a position-specific item of traffic and/or environment information, and the correspondingly modified characteristic curve is stored in the memory unit.

An apparatus for controlling an autonomous vehicle brake, including a first brake controller configured to control a brake module of an autonomous vehicle by receiving a deceleration command from an autonomous controller for controlling autonomous driving of the autonomous vehicle, and a second brake controller configured to control the brake module of the autonomous vehicle by receiving a deceleration command from the autonomous controller. The first and second brake controllers exchange monitoring information with each other in a predetermined communication manner to monitor an operation state, so that control of the brake module is transferred according to the result of monitoring.

The invention elates to a method for operating a transversal guidance system of a motor vehicle through two independent channels to perform automatic transversal guidance interventions. Through the first channel, transversal interventions are performed via a first transversal guidance actuator controlled by means of a driver-operated steering handle. Through the second channel, a vehicle system sets a target, roll angle, and a second transversal guidance actuator is controlled by a transversal guidance system that performs a transversal guidance intervention based on the roll angle. The vehicle system displays the roll angle as a notification to the driver of the transversal guidance intervention. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle configured to perform the method.

Methods of assessing driver behavior include monitoring vehicle systems and driver monitoring systems to accommodate for a slow reaction time, attention lapse and/or alertness of a driver. When it is determined that a driver is drowsy, for example, the response system may modify the operation of one or more vehicle systems. The response system can modify the control of two or more systems simultaneously in response to driver behavior.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to identifying and displaying traffic lanes that are available for autonomous driving. This information may be displayed to a driver of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode, in order to inform the driver of where he or she can use the autonomous driving mode. In one example, the display may visually distinguishing between lanes that are available for auto-drive from those that are not. The display may also include an indicator of the position of a lane (autodrive or not) currently occupied by the vehicle. In addition, if that lane is an autodrive lane the display may include information indicating how much further the vehicle may continue in the autonomous driving mode in that particular lane. The display may also display information indicating the remaining autodrive distance in other lanes as well as the lane with the greatest remaining autodrive distance.

A system includes a first object having a coupler to couple the first object to a second object; a first switch disposed on a first portion of the first object; a second switch disposed on a second portion on an exterior of the first object, and electrically and commutatively connected to the first switch to form an electric circuit, the second switch being arranged at a predetermined distance from the coupler; the second object disposed away from the first object and within a distance in relation to the second switch, the second object include a mating portion to couple with the coupler to connect the first object with the second object; and a third object disposed between the first object and the second object, and arranged at a corresponding predetermined distance from the mating portion to contact and close the second switch when the coupler and the mating portion are aligned for coupling the first object and the second object, and when the first object and the second object are moved together.

Methods and systems for detection of a construction zone sign are described. A computing device, configured to control the vehicle, may be configured to receive, from an image-capture device coupled to the computing device, images of a vicinity of the road on which the vehicle is travelling. Also, the computing device may be configured to determine image portions in the images that may depict sides of the road at a predetermined height range. Further, the computing device may be configured to detect a construction zone sign in the image portions, and determine a type of the construction zone sign. Accordingly, the computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle; and control the vehicle based on the modified control strategy.

Driving support ECU transmits a communication connection request to a help net center HNC when a driver of a vehicle has been determined to be in an abnormal state where the driver loses an ability to drive the vehicle, and when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has been established, the driving support ECU transmits the help signal (the positional information of the vehicle) and decelerates the vehicle at a constant deceleration to make the vehicle stop. On the other hand, when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has not been established, the driving support ECU makes the vehicle travel at a constant speed. Accordingly, it is possible to make the vehicle stop under a situation where the help net center HNC recognizes the vehicle position inside which the driver who has been determined to be in the abnormal state is.

A method for operating a parking brake system includes establishing a parking brake request for a first automated parking brake constructed on a first wheel located on a first side of an axle of a motor vehicle, producing a braking force at the first wheel by activating, in response to the establishing of the parking brake request, the first automated parking brake, and activating a compensation device connecting the first wheel and a second wheel located on a second side of the axle to apply a braking force to the second wheel via the first wheel.