The invention concerns a method for operating a brake back-up system (8) of a motor vehicle (2), with the steps: (S100) Reading in operating data (BD) of the motor vehicle (2), (S200) Evaluating the read-in operating data (BD) to identify malfunctions of a braking system of the motor vehicle (2), and (S300) Providing at least one actuation signal (AS, AS) to influence components of a drive train of the motor vehicle (2).

A trailer mode determination device and method using a gradient is provided that a trailer mode determination method includes: calculating longitudinal acceleration-based gradient of a vehicle and determining whether a calculated value is valid; calculating clutch torque-based gradient and determining whether the calculated value is valid; determining whether the longitudinal acceleration-based gradient is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference gradient; determining whether vehicle speed and vehicle speed change amount are greater than or equal to predetermined values; calculating a difference between the longitudinal acceleration-based gradient (d1) and the clutch torque-based gradient (d2) when the vehicle speed and vehicle speed change amount are greater than or equal to a predetermined value; determining whether gradient difference (d1d2) exceeds a predetermined normal range; and determining a trailer is mounted and a trailer mode is switch on when the gradient difference (d1d2) exceeds the normal range.

A method of controlling a vehicle during a braking operation includes providing a first and a second brake actuator, a brake input device, a steer input device, and a cross-drive transmission having two outputs and a controller. The method includes detecting a first output speed at the first output and a second output speed at the second output, and receiving a brake input request and a steer input request. The method also includes determining a differential output speed based on the first output speed and the second output speed, and comparing the differential output speed to a first threshold, the brake input request to a second threshold, and the steer input request to a third threshold. The method includes determining the first or the second output is locked during the braking operation, and controlling the first or the second brake actuator based on which output is determined to be locked.

A vehicle includes front suspension assemblies; rear suspension assemblies; a left driven wheel and a right driven wheel with first left and right brake assemblies; a left wheel and a right wheel with second left and right brake assemblies; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) module; a drive mode coupler connected between the transmission and the left and right wheels for changing between a 24 and a 44 drive configuration; and a drive mode switch for controlling the drive mode coupler, the ABS module selectively performing brake traction control of at least one wheel based on the position of the drive mode switch. A method for controlling traction of the vehicle includes sensing the drive mode switch position and when the drive mode changes from a 24 position to a 44 position, causing the ABS module to perform brake traction control on at least one wheel.

A drive train of a vehicle and a method for controlling a drive train is provided. The drive train includes a brake control unit configured to control vehicle brakes via, for example, hydraulic lines, and a transmission control unit coupled to the brake control unit via a data bus and configured to control a vehicle transmission. The transmission control unit is configured to command the brake control unit to activate the vehicle brakes in response to a detected defect in the vehicle transmission.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller (10) for controlling movement of a vehicle (100), and a corresponding method. The controller (10) comprises processing means configured to: receive (501) a first signal indicative of the vehicle being in a remote control drive mode; receive (502) a second signal indicative of operation of a main input device (124S, 161, 163, 171, 174) within the vehicle (100); and provide (520) an output signal for applying a braking force to slow the vehicle (100) to a stop in dependence on said first and second signals.

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 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.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.

A control device of a four-wheel drive vehicle that includes a central axle disposed between paired left and right control couplings and coupled to the paired control couplings and that is switched between a two-wheel drive state and a four-wheel drive state selects between provision and stop of a slip prevention control in which when at least one of the main drive wheel slips during running of the vehicle, a brake is automatically operated to the at least one slipping main drive wheel, and when the stop of the slip prevention control is selected and it is detected that the at least one main drive wheel has slipped in the four-wheel drive state, a rotation speed of the central axle is made lower than that at the time of detection of the slip of the at least one main drive wheel.