Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to generating and utilizing three-dimensional terrain maps for vehicular control. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

The invention relates to a method for the position determination of an object (6, 6a . . . 6d), which is conveyed on a conveying device (1a . . . 1c). In this process, a deviation (ΔP) between a position (P.sub.sig) of the object (6, 6a . . . 6d), which is calculated with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) for conveyor elements (2, 2.sub.M, 2.sub.L) of the conveying device (1a . . . 1c), and a position (P.sub.1 . . . P.sub.5) of a detection area (E.sub.1,E.sub.2) of a sensor (L.sub.1 . . . L.sub.5) fixedly installed on the conveying device (6, 6a . . . 6d) is determined and used for calculating a corrected position (P.sub.korr) of the object (6, 6a . . . 6d) during a movement of the object (6, 6a . . . 6d) away from this detection area (E.sub.1,E.sub.2). Furthermore, a conveying device (1a . . . 1c) for performing the presented method is indicated.

A method includes identifying mass distribution data of an autonomous vehicle (AV). The mass distribution data is associated with a first load proximate a first distal end of a first axle of the AV and a second load proximate a second distal end of the first axle of the AV. The method further includes determining, based on the mass distribution data, one or more handling maneuver limits for the AV. The method further includes causing the AV to travel a route based on the one or more handling maneuver limits.

An embodiment device for controlling autonomous driving includes a roll angle estimated value calculation device configured to calculate a roll angle estimated value of a vehicle based on a height of a center of gravity of the vehicle, a sprung mass, a spring constant of a suspension, a target speed, and a target turning radius, and a controller configured to compare a roll angle of the vehicle with a preset reference roll angle to adjust the target speed or the target turning radius of the vehicle.

A vehicular pedal device includes a stroke characteristic control unit that controls a stroke characteristic of the vehicular pedal with respect to a pedaling force of a driver. the stroke characteristic control unit changes the stroke characteristic of the vehicular pedal to a stepped stroke characteristic when the vehicle is under automatic speed control, and the stepped stroke characteristic has a stepping force step corresponding to an override stroke position at which override of automatic speed control is started by operation of the vehicular pedal by the driver.

An autonomous vehicle can obtain sensor data. Upon determining that the autonomous vehicle is in a lane adjacent a shoulder, and there is an object in the shoulder, the autonomous vehicle can determine if performing a lane change maneuver out of the lane prior to the autonomous vehicle being positioned adjacent to the object is feasible. If it is, the lane change maneuver can be performed. If it is not, a nudge maneuver and/or a deceleration can be performed.

A forklift truck includes a main controller, a driving motor, a drive controller, and an object detector. The drive controller controls the driving motor. The object detector detects the position of an object being present in the backward direction of the forklift truck. The main controller derives an expected trajectory of the forklift truck. The main controller imposes a speed limit on the forklift truck by setting a vehicle speed upper limit when the object detected by the object detector is located within the expected trajectory and the forklift truck is traveling in the direction of approaching the object. The main controller gives commands to the drive controller to prevent the vehicle speed of the forklift truck from exceeding the vehicle speed upper limit.

A method for the performance-enhancing driver assistance of a road vehicle driven by a driver and provided with at least two drive wheels driven by at least one electric motor connected to a corresponding vehicular battery pack; the method comprises the steps of defining a dynamic model of the road vehicle; determining a route of a track travelled by the road vehicle; calculating, as a function of the dynamic model of the road vehicle and of the route, a convenience index relative to the use of energy of the vehicular battery pack by the electric motor; subdividing the route (R) into a plurality of sectors assigning to each a relative value of the calculated convenience index; delivering electrical power to the drive wheels according to the value of the convenience index assigned to each sector of the route.

Automated launch torque is provided. An automated virtual launch torque generation (AVL-TG) system may be included in a vehicle, such as a heavy duty truck, that may interoperate with an adaptive cruise control (CC) system to move the vehicle from a standstill or low speed to a CC handover speed. The AVL-TG system may determine a tip-in torque curve configured to mimic a torque curve generated by a human operator's acceleration pedal tip-in from a standstill or low speed. The tip-in torque curve may be represented by torque demand values corresponding to a dynamic pedal saturation level applied over a dynamic pedal rate. The torque demand values determined by the AVL-TG system may mimic an expected or human vehicle operator generated torque request, and may operate to successfully close the clutch and smoothly launch the vehicle from a standstill or low speed.

Systems for collision avoidance for a vehicle. One or more inputs are used to determine an impending collision. Once determined, corrective actions are taken to reduce the severity of the collision. The corrective actions can avoid the collision and/or reduce the damage caused by the collision. The systems and methods can be performed at the vehicle based on data available to a control unit in the vehicle. The systems and methods can also be performed at a system level that controls one or more vehicles and/or objects.