A braking controller and method in a towing vehicle towing one or more towed vehicles as a combination vehicle provides brake control of the one or more towed vehicles based on a level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle. A non-enhanced braking mode applies a first level of braking force to the towed vehicles in a predetermined reduced proportion relative to the level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle, and an enhanced braking mode applies a second level of braking force to the towed vehicles greater than the first level of braking force. A controller deceleration command input receives a deceleration command signal which is compared against predetermined threshold deceleration rate value or against a current deceleration value being executed by the combination vehicle and, based on a result of the comparisons, either the enhanced or the non-enhanced braking modes are implemented by the controller.

A method of applying a brake force to all four wheels of a motor vehicle to stop the vehicle while torque continues to be applied to its driven wheels; and preventing wheel slippage of the driven wheels by reducing the applied torque when the vehicle is stopped or nearly stopped from moving in a forward direction. In this way, unintentional lateral movement of the vehicle due to creep torque applied to the driven wheels on slippery surfaces can be prevented or corrected.

A control device and a method for controlling traveling speed of a vehicle for the purpose of maintaining a vehicle speed equal to or lower than a pre-set downhill speed (v.sub.dh-set). The method comprises simulating a vehicle speed profile for an upcoming road section if braking at a pre-identified power level (P1, P2, P3) would currently be requested, thereby obtaining a predicted maximum vehicle speed (v.sub.P1,max, v.sub.P2,max, v.sub.P3,max) and a predicted time until a vehicle speed equal to or within a pre-selected interval (I.sub.dh) of the pre-set downhill speed is reached. The method further comprises, if the predicted maximum vehicle speed is equal to or below the pre-set downhill speed (v.sub.dh-set) and the predicted time is below a preselected threshold time limit, requesting braking at the pre-identified power level or at an adjusted power level.

A vehicle controller includes a first abrupt deceleration determining unit configured to determine an abrupt deceleration state of a vehicle in a first manner, and a second abrupt deceleration determining unit configured to determine the generation of the abrupt deceleration state of the vehicle in a second manner having a required time for the determination shorter in comparison with that of the first manner, wherein any one of the first manner and the second manner is selected according to a vehicle speed of the vehicle or a road surface friction coefficient and used for determining the abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, the second manner is used in a region where the vehicle speed or the road surface friction coefficient is lower, and the first manner is used in a region where the vehicle speed or the road surface friction coefficient is higher.

A vehicle and method is provided. The vehicle includes systems and method for limiting the slip of the wheels. In an embodiment, the system holds the brakes based on an acceleration characteristic measured by a sensor. In another embodiment, the system includes a transmission controller that applies an adjustment to limit an amount of clutch slip as the clutch temperature to change in clutch performance to reduce wheel slip. In another embodiment, the system monitors wheel slip signal from a sensor and compares the wheel slip to a target slip value and controls clutch slip of the transmission clutch based to maintain engine output torque during acceleration. In another embodiment, in response to an anticipated vehicle launch event, a drive motor applies a first torque to the input shaft to adjust a gear lash of the differential unit.

The invention relates to an electrical system for use in a vehicle. The electrical system comprises a controller and electrically operable vehicle brake means. The electrical system comprises at least one vehicle electric load including vehicle brake control means operable to selectively control the vehicle brake means to move between an engaged position in which the vehicle brake means acts to inhibit movement of the vehicle and a disengaged position in which the vehicle brake means does not act to inhibit movement of the vehicle. The electrical system also comprises first and second batteries for providing electric power to the vehicle brake means and the at least one vehicle electric load. In response to detection of a fault in the electrical system, the controller is operable to electrically isolate the second battery and the vehicle brake means from the first battery and the at least one vehicle electric load, and the vehicle brake means is configured to automatically assume the engaged position.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for a traction and stability control system. An example vehicle includes wheel speed sensors on wheels of the vehicle and a traction control module. The example traction control module determines, based on measurements of the wheel speed sensors or a transmission control module, whether the vehicle is likely stuck. Additionally, when the vehicle is likely stuck and an indication to disable the a traction control system has been received, the example traction control module disables the traction control system

A method of managing torque at a vehicle standstill includes outputting torque from a powertrain to satisfy a driver torque demand. The method also includes, in response to a nonzero torque demand resulting in vehicle standstill, applying a friction brake to maintain the vehicle standstill and substantially reducing output torque of the powertrain during friction brake application. The method further includes satisfying driver torque demand using the powertrain and releasing the friction brake in response to the driver torque demand deviating from the nonzero torque demand by more than a predetermined amount.

An autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is provided that is capable of braking itself without a driver depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle has a powertrain that includes an engine, a transmission, and a motor with a connected battery to provide regenerative braking capabilities. Friction brakes are provided to apply when necessary, such as when the battery has a high state of charge and further regenerative braking would overcharge the battery. The braking may be activated in response to a sensor detecting a distance to an object in front of the vehicle. A vehicle controller is programmed to automatically control amounts of regenerative braking and friction braking during a braking event based on a comparison between a regenerative torque limit of the powertrain and a desired brake torque over the brake event to safely brake the vehicle during the brake event.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for controlling a transmission and other vehicle systems and components based on operation of an auxiliary braking system for a vehicle are disclosed. A controller for a vehicle includes a processing circuit having at least one memory device coupled to at least one processor, the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processors, cause the at least one processor to: receive data regarding operation of an auxiliary brake system of the vehicle; determine an auxiliary brake fault condition based on the received data regarding operation of the auxiliary brake system; determine that the vehicle is on or is about to experience a negative road grade; determine a vehicle speed is greater than a requested vehicle speed for the negative road grade; and control a transmission to downshift at least two settings relative to a current transmission setting.