A vehicle control system including a spatial monitoring system includes on-vehicle cameras that capture images, from which are recovered a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) points. A left ground plane normal vector is determined for a left image, a center ground plane normal vector is determined for a front image, and a right ground plane normal vector is determined for a right image. A first angle difference between the left ground plane normal vector and the center ground plane normal vector is determined, and a second angle difference between the right ground plane normal vector and the center ground plane normal vector is determined. An uneven ground surface is determined based upon one of the first angle difference or the second angle difference, and an alignment compensation factor for the left camera or the right camera is determined. A bird's eye view image is determined based upon the alignment compensation factor.

A vehicle control system including a spatial monitoring system includes on-vehicle cameras that capture images, from which are recovered a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) points. A left ground plane normal vector is determined for a left image, a center ground plane normal vector is determined for a front image, and a right ground plane normal vector is determined for a right image. A first angle difference between the left ground plane normal vector and the center ground plane normal vector is determined, and a second angle difference between the right ground plane normal vector and the center ground plane normal vector is determined. An uneven ground surface is determined based upon one of the first angle difference or the second angle difference, and an alignment compensation factor for the left camera or the right camera is determined. A bird's eye view image is determined based upon the alignment compensation factor.

A vehicle traveling control apparatus includes a detector that detects an accelerator operation amount by a driver, a determiner that determines, based on a driving condition, whether a driving mode is currently a first mode in which a vehicle is caused to travel autonomously along a target travel path or a second mode in which the driver performs driving operation, a calculator that calculates a continuation time of the first mode when the driving mode is the first mode, a first setting unit that variably sets a characteristic of a target acceleration for the detected accelerator operation amount based on the calculated continuation time, and a second setting unit that, when the driving mode has transitioned from the first mode to the second mode, sets the target acceleration for the detected accelerator operation amount by referring to the set characteristic of the target acceleration for the accelerator operation amount.

A vehicle traveling control apparatus includes a detector that detects an accelerator operation amount by a driver, a determiner that determines, based on a driving condition, whether a driving mode is currently a first mode in which a vehicle is caused to travel autonomously along a target travel path or a second mode in which the driver performs driving operation, a calculator that calculates a continuation time of the first mode when the driving mode is the first mode, a first setting unit that variably sets a characteristic of a target acceleration for the detected accelerator operation amount based on the calculated continuation time, and a second setting unit that, when the driving mode has transitioned from the first mode to the second mode, sets the target acceleration for the detected accelerator operation amount by referring to the set characteristic of the target acceleration for the accelerator operation amount.

A parking assist system includes: a control device configured to execute a driving process for autonomously moving a vehicle to a target position; a steering operation member configured to receive a steering operation performed by an occupant; a vehicle state detecting device; and a notification device configured to make a notification to the occupant. In the driving process, the control device executes vehicle speed control and steering control. When, during execution of the driving process, the control device determines that the vehicle is a suspension state in which the driving process should be temporarily suspended, the control device causes the notification device to output a prescribed notification and executes a suspension process. In the suspension process, the control device executes the vehicle speed control to stop the vehicle and stops the steering control.

A parking assist system includes: a control device configured to execute a driving process for autonomously moving a vehicle to a target position; a steering operation member configured to receive a steering operation performed by an occupant; a vehicle state detecting device; and a notification device configured to make a notification to the occupant. In the driving process, the control device executes vehicle speed control and steering control. When, during execution of the driving process, the control device determines that the vehicle is a suspension state in which the driving process should be temporarily suspended, the control device causes the notification device to output a prescribed notification and executes a suspension process. In the suspension process, the control device executes the vehicle speed control to stop the vehicle and stops the steering control.

An autonomous dock system for a vehicle, comprises a control system with instructions comprising steps for receiving a request to implement an autonomous dock routine. A vehicle speed and clutch position are calculated. A clutch position controller is commanded to maintain the calculated clutch position. An actual torque amount is iteratively detected as transferred across the clutch. A vehicle speed-control mechanism is commanded to maintain the calculated vehicle speed, and the actual vehicle speed is iteratively detected. When comparing the commanded vehicle speed to the detected actual vehicle speed indicates that the detected actual vehicle speed is below a speed threshold, and when the actual torque amount transferred across the clutch exceeds a torque threshold, the control system commands an increase in vehicle speed.

An autonomous dock system for a vehicle, comprises a control system with instructions comprising steps for receiving a request to implement an autonomous dock routine. A vehicle speed and clutch position are calculated. A clutch position controller is commanded to maintain the calculated clutch position. An actual torque amount is iteratively detected as transferred across the clutch. A vehicle speed-control mechanism is commanded to maintain the calculated vehicle speed, and the actual vehicle speed is iteratively detected. When comparing the commanded vehicle speed to the detected actual vehicle speed indicates that the detected actual vehicle speed is below a speed threshold, and when the actual torque amount transferred across the clutch exceeds a torque threshold, the control system commands an increase in vehicle speed.

A method for controlling a power steering system utilizes a vehicle having a motor, a controller coupled to the motor, and a steering assembly. The method includes detecting a steering rate using the controller. A base level steering damping is computed using the steering rate. At least one approximate vehicle acceleration is determined. A steering torque of the steering assembly is sensed through a torque sensor configured to sense the steering torque of the steering assembly. Moreover, a user torque is determined using the torque sensor. A damping boost is computed using the user torque and the at least one approximate vehicle acceleration. A final steering damping gain is determined using the base level steering damping and the damping boost. The final steering damping gain is applied to the steering assembly to minimize unwanted feedback to the steering assembly.

A method for controlling a power steering system utilizes a vehicle having a motor, a controller coupled to the motor, and a steering assembly. The method includes detecting a steering rate using the controller. A base level steering damping is computed using the steering rate. At least one approximate vehicle acceleration is determined. A steering torque of the steering assembly is sensed through a torque sensor configured to sense the steering torque of the steering assembly. Moreover, a user torque is determined using the torque sensor. A damping boost is computed using the user torque and the at least one approximate vehicle acceleration. A final steering damping gain is determined using the base level steering damping and the damping boost. The final steering damping gain is applied to the steering assembly to minimize unwanted feedback to the steering assembly.