A suspension characteristic is changed depending on a travel state by a simple structure. An ECU uses a vehicle speed-spring constant setting part to calculate a target spring constant depending on a vehicle speed, and uses a spring constant-frequency setting part to calculate a set frequency corresponding to the target spring constant. An oscillation input calculation part generates a signal representing an oscillation input oscillating at the set frequency. A superimposition part sets a value acquired by superimposing the oscillation input on a target driving force to a new target driving force. As a result, the wheel exhibits a minute oscillation in a longitudinal direction, resulting in an input of the minute oscillation to a suspension bush. The suspension bush changes in a spring constant and a damping coefficient depending on the frequency of the input minute oscillation. As a result, the suspension characteristic can be changed.

Sensor data is received at a processor of a vehicle including at least one sensor, a plurality of axles, and a plurality of tires coupled to the plurality of axles. A determination is made by the processor if at least one tire from the plurality of tires is faulty based on the sensor data. A determination is made by the processor of at least one side of the vehicle and at least one axle from the set of axles associated with the at least one tire in response to the determining that the at least one tire is faulty. A determination is made by the processor of at least one remedial action to be performed by the vehicle based on the sensor data, the at least one side, and the at least one axle.

Provided are a driver posture measurement device and a vehicle control device that can accurately measure the posture of a driver with a simple configuration without attaching a plurality of wireless communication units to a vehicle. The driver posture measurement device and the vehicle control device are configured such that, between one wireless communication unit provided on the vehicle side and one wireless communication unit provided on the driver side, radio waves are radiated from the wireless communication unit provided on the vehicle side, and on the basis of a radio wave arrival angle of the radio waves arriving at the wireless communication unit provided on the driver side, the driver posture is measured.

A vehicle includes a transmission, a powerplant, an inertial measurement unit, and a controller. The transmission has an input shaft and an output shaft. The powerplant is configured to generate and deliver torque to the input shaft. The inertial measurement unit is configured to measure inertial forces exerted onto the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to a demanded torque at the output shaft and a non-transient condition of the vehicle, control the torque at the output shaft based on a torque at the input shaft and a gear ratio of the step-ratio transmission. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the demanded torque at the output shaft and a transient condition of the vehicle, control the torque at the output shaft based on the inertial forces and a vehicle velocity.

Excess fuel consumption monitor and feedback systems for vehicles include sensor arrays of two primary types including those sensors deployed as part of a vehicle manufacturer established sensor suite and sensors deployed as after-market sensors. Together, these sensor suites include sensors coupled to vehicle subsystems and operating environments associated with the vehicle. Data from these sensors may be used as parametric inputs to drive algorithmic calculations which have outputs that express excess fuel consumption. Expressions of excess fuel consumption may be made instantaneously as real-time feedback to a vehicle operator/driver and/or a fleet manager as part of a summary report.

A lane-keeping system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a camera, an inertial-measurement-unit, and a controller. The camera is configured to detect a lane-marking of a roadway traveled by a vehicle. The inertial-measurement-unit is configured to determine relative-motion of the vehicle. The controller in communication with the camera and the inertial-measurement-unit. When the lane-marking is detected the controller is configured to steer the vehicle towards a centerline of the roadway based on a last-position, and determine an offset-vector indicative of motion of the vehicle relative to the centerline of the roadway. When the lane-marking is not detected the controller is configured to: determine an offset-position relative to the last-position based on information from the inertial-measurement-unit, determine a correction-vector used to steer the vehicle from the offset-position towards the centerline of the roadway based on the last-position and the offset-vector, and steer the vehicle according to the correction-vector.

A vehicle control system includes: an automated driving controller configured to execute one driving mode from out of a plurality of driving modes including an automated driving mode and a manual driving mode; a vehicle information collection section configured to collect information related to control history of one or both out of speed control and steering control performed based on operation by the occupant of the vehicle while the manual driving mode is being executed; and a driving characteristics derivation section configured to derive driving characteristics for each occupant of the vehicle based on information collected by the vehicle information collection section. The automated driving controller executes the automated driving mode by reflecting the driving characteristics for each occupant of the vehicle to the automated driving.

A tire (100) rolls on a surface (105). A method (600) for providing maximum traction coefficient between the tire (100) and the surface (105) include steps for detecting a momentary slip of the tire (100) on the surface (105); detecting a momentary traction coefficient; forming a tuple (410, 510) from the slip and the current traction coefficient; choosing a characteristic curve (205, 305) from a number of predetermined characteristic curves (205, 305) on the basis of the tuple (410, 510), whereby each characteristic curve (205, 305) describes a traction behavior of the tire (100) or a corresponding characteristic pitch; determining the maximum traction coefficient on the basis of the selected characteristic curves (205, 305); and thus providing the maximum traction coefficient.

An autonomous vehicle is provided that includes one or more sensors coupled to the autonomous vehicle, and a computing device configured to: (i) receive, from the one or more sensors, operational data related to an operation of the autonomous vehicle, (ii) receive geographical data related to an anticipated route of the autonomous vehicle, (iii) generate, for the anticipated route and based on the operational data and the geographical data, an operational response model representing respective operational constraints for one or more operational parameters of the autonomous vehicle, wherein values for the one or more operational parameters are represented along coordinate axes of a geometrical shape, and wherein the one or more operational parameters are mutually coupled to each other, and (iv) responsively execute, based on the operational response model, an autonomous control strategy comprising one or more adjustments to the operation of the vehicle within the respective operational constraints.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling a transmission. An engine stop-start event may be allowed or denied based on one or more characteristics of the vehicle including the transmission.