A vehicle, a vehicle parking assist system, and a parking method, is provided. A powertrain and a steering system may be operated to guide the vehicle into a parking location to complete a drive cycle based on a default tire radius, a tire angular velocity acquired during a drive cycle in response to a steering angle of the steering system exceeding a threshold value, and wheel and GPS vehicle speeds for the drive cycle.

A desired change of a time derivative of dynamic torque (Tq.sub.fw), provided to an output shaft from an engine in a vehicle, from a current value to a new desired value is determined. A current rotational speed difference (.sub.pres) is determined between a first end of the powertrain in a vehicle, which rotates with a first rotational speed (.sub.1), and a second end of the powertrain, which rotates with a second rotational speed. The first rotational speed (.sub.1) is then controlled on the basis of the desired value of the time derivative for the dynamic torque (Tq.sub.fw), a spring constant (k) related to a torsional compliance in the powertrain, and the determined current rotational speed difference {.sub.pres). Through control of the first rotational speed, the current value for the time derivative for the dynamic torque is also indirectly controlled towards the desired value.

A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system comprising: means for receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; and means for commanding application of torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle, wherein the system is configured such that when it is required to accelerate the vehicle to achieve the target speed and the system detects a wheel slip event, the system is operable temporarily to suspend an increase in net torque applied to one or more wheels.

A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system comprising: means for receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; and means for commanding application of torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle, wherein the system is configured such that when it is required to accelerate the vehicle to achieve the target speed and the system detects a wheel slip event, the system is operable temporarily to suspend further acceleration of the vehicle.

A processor for a vehicle includes a vehicle yaw moment instruction calculator, and a mode under which yaw moment of the vehicle is controlled. If the vehicle yaw moment instruction value generates the driving forces or the driving torques, the driving forces or driving torques are different between the left and right wheels. If the vehicle yaw moment instruction value generates the braking forces or the braking torques, the braking forces or the braking torques are different between the left and right wheels. The mode operates at least in transit region between daily region and limit region.

A control system for a drive unit configured to control driving force and braking force integrally is provided. The control system comprises: a sensor that detects vehicle conditions and an operation amount of an accelerator pedal etc.; a brake device that is contacted to an input element of a differential unit or a rotary member attached to the drive motor connected to the differential unit; and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate: a target travelling condition based on the vehicle condition and the operation amount detected by the sensor; target drive torques or target braking torques to be applied to the right wheel and left wheel based on the target travelling condition; output torques of a drive motor and a differential motor based on the target driving torques; and a braking force to be established by the brake device and an output torque of the differential motor based on the target braking torques.

A system and method for detecting failure of a steering angle sensor include: a steering angle sensor, an angular position encoder and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit reads an initial value of the steering wheel rotation angle signal and estimates a rotation angle of a steering wheel based on the motor rotation angle signal, the electronic control unit checks if a difference between an actual value of the steering wheel rotation angle signal and an estimated rotation angle of the steering wheel is smaller than a predetermined value or not, if the difference is bigger than the predetermined value, it means that the steering wheel rotation angle signal fails, and the estimated rotation angle of the steering wheel serves as a substitute signal and is sent to the electronic control unit.

A method for operating a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises detecting an occurrence of a slip event, of a step encounter event, or of both events at a leading wheel of the vehicle. The method also comprises predicting that the occurrence of the detected event(s) will occur at a following wheel of the vehicle. The method yet further comprises automatically controlling vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, or both vehicle speed and acceleration in response to the detection, the prediction, or both the detection and prediction. A speed control system comprising an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to perform the above-described methodology is also provided.

A system of one or more computers having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to identify a current state of a vehicle and determine a maximum acceleration capability of the vehicle. The system also determines a desired acceleration profile to follow based at least in part the maximum acceleration capability and controls an acceleration of the vehicle based at least in part the desired acceleration profile.

A method is for estimating coefficients of friction for a vehicle, in particular utility vehicle, which can be driven by an electric drive. The method includes the steps of: operating, with a torque, a wheel of the vehicle, in particular utility vehicle, that is arranged on an underlying surface; ascertaining the slip of the wheel; applying a temporally predetermined excitation torque to the wheel, wherein the excitation torque is applied to the wheel periodically with a frequency; ascertaining a change in slip depending on the excitation torque, wherein the change in slip is ascertained taking into account the frequency; and ascertaining a coefficient of friction on the basis of the change in slip.