An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, (b) determining a risk-cost framework that indicates risk costs across a range of degrees to which an active-sensing action can be performed, wherein the active-sensing action comprises an action that is performable by the autonomous vehicle to potentially improve the information upon which at least one of the control processes for the autonomous vehicle is based, (c) determining an information-improvement expectation framework across the range of degrees to which the active-sensing action can be performed, and (d) applying the risk-cost framework and the information-improvement expectation framework to determine a degree to which the active-sensing action should be performed.

A method for mitigating powertrain abuse on a grade can include determining the grade a machine is on, the machine including an impeller clutch located between an engine and a powertrain so as to connect and disconnect engine power from the powertrain; and if the grade is over a threshold, a controller ignores any operator input to the impeller clutch such that machine speed retarding is utilized to keep the machine at a proper speed.

A vehicle includes a detection system configured to acquire data regarding operation of the vehicle, and a robotic driving device configured to provide robotic control of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a control system configured to determine whether the robotic driving device is activated, such that the vehicle is in robotic driving mode; receive a request by a prospective operator of the vehicle to deactivate the robotic driving device to initiate a manual driving mode; determine whether the prospective operator is impaired based on the data; and selectively grant or refuse the request based on the determination.

In a vehicle having a manual transmission coupled to an internal combustion engine via a first clutch, the first clutch is operable responsive to movement of a clutch pedal. In an engine mode of vehicle operation, the engine propels the vehicle responsive to movement of an accelerator pedal. An electric motor is coupled to the manual transmission for propelling the vehicle in an electric traction motor mode of vehicle operation. Controls are configured for generating a motor demand signal responsive to accelerator pedal position and configured for modifying the demand signal generation responsive to the clutch pedal position.

A launch control technique for a vehicle having a torque generating system comprises displaying, via a user interface, information relating to a set of launch torque curves, each launch torque curve defining how the torque generating system is to generate drive torque during a period, receiving, via the user interface, a driver-selection of one of the set of launch torque curves to obtain a driver-selected launch torque curve, detecting a set of launch conditions comprising one or more vehicle operating conditions indicative of a launch of the vehicle, detecting a launch request in response to an accelerator pedal of the vehicle being depressed to an accelerator pedal position threshold, and finally controlling the launch of the vehicle by performing open-loop control of the drive torque generated by the torque generating system according to the driver-selected launch torque curve and irrespective of wheel slip of the vehicle.

A driving assistance apparatus includes a clutch provided between a drive source and a transmission, a clutch operator with which a driver who drives a vehicle disengages the clutch, a clutch operation detector that detects that the clutch is disengaged, a shift operator with which the driver sets the transmission at least to a neutral position, a shift position detector that detects that the transmission is in the neutral position, a low-speed motor, and a controller that controls a drive force of the low-speed motor. The controller includes a driving mode setter that sets a driving mode of the vehicle to a motor driving mode when the clutch is detected to be disengaged or the transmission is detected to be in the neutral position. The controller stops the drive source and starts the low-speed motor when the driving mode is set to the motor driving mode.

A method of curve speed adjustment for a road vehicle includes obtaining data on: current ego velocity; distance and curvature of an upcoming road segment, represented by a set of control points to be negotiated; road property of a road comprising the road segment; environmental properties; and driver properties. The obtained data is continuously streamed to a data processing arrangement arranged to perform a translation to target velocities for the respective control points and, for each respective control point, a translation from target velocity for that control point and distance to that control point and obtained current ego velocity, to a target acceleration to reach that control point at its target velocity. The resulting target accelerations are continuously streamed to a control unit of the road vehicle to adjust the road vehicle acceleration to reach each respective control point at its target velocity.

A method of controlling an engine and a transmission of a hybrid vehicle includes steps of: determining whether the vehicle starts, determining an engine RPM and a gear stage of a transmission if the vehicle has started, determining whether the engine RPM has reached an engine speed control point, determining an engine target RPM and an engine target RPM slope of the vehicle when it is determined that the engine RPM has reached the engine speed control point, controlling the engine RPM of the vehicle to follow the engine target RPM and the engine target RPM slope, determining whether the engine RPM has slipped compared to the target engine RPM, and performing PID control to follow the engine target RPM if the engine RPM slips compared to the engine target RPM.

A system for controlling actuators based on pedal positions in a vehicle is described. The system comprises a control unit and a camera. The camera is configured to capture an image containing two or more pedals in a vehicle and to provide the image to the control unit. The control unit is configured to determine for each pedal, based on the provided image, the current position of the pedal relative to a fixed structure in the vehicle or relative to a reference position of the pedal, and control, based on the determined position, an actuator associated with the pedal.

A mild hybrid vehicle and a method of controlling the same are provided. The mild hybrid vehicle includes a sensor that detects shift intention of a driver to provide the shift intention as sensing information, a controller that determines a target rotation speed of an MHSG based on the sensing information and controls the MHSG based on the target rotation speed, and the MHSG that controls the rotation speed of the engine under control of the controller when the shift intention is detected.