Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for vehicle turning in confined spaces are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein instructions, at least one memory, a processor to execute the instructions to operate a first brake of a first wheel of a vehicle, operate a second brake of a second wheel of the vehicle, determine a frictional coefficient of a driving surface of the vehicle by rotating a third wheel of the vehicle, determine based on the frictional coefficient, if a turn command can be conducted by the vehicle, and when the turn command can be conducted, conduct the turn command.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for vehicle turning in confined spaces are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein instructions, at least one memory, a processor to execute the instructions to operate a first brake of a first wheel of a vehicle, operate a second brake of a second wheel of the vehicle, determine a frictional coefficient of a driving surface of the vehicle by rotating a third wheel of the vehicle, determine based on the frictional coefficient, if a turn command can be conducted by the vehicle, and when the turn command can be conducted, conduct the turn command.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus for an electric vehicle capable of preventing the vehicle from being destabilized because a rear wheel is locked first or drivability from reducing because a front wheel is locked early. A control apparatus includes a regenerative braking force calculation portion configured to calculate a regenerative braking force to be generated on each of a front motor and a rear motor based on a request braking force requested to an electric vehicle, a power limit portion configured to reduce the regenerative braking force based on a power limit on a power source, and a frictional braking force output portion configured to output an instruction for generating a frictional braking force according to a regenerative braking force reduction amount, which is an amount of a reduction in the regenerative braking force by the power limit portion, to a brake apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus for an electric vehicle capable of preventing the vehicle from being destabilized because a rear wheel is locked first or drivability from reducing because a front wheel is locked early. A control apparatus includes a regenerative braking force calculation portion configured to calculate a regenerative braking force to be generated on each of a front motor and a rear motor based on a request braking force requested to an electric vehicle, a power limit portion configured to reduce the regenerative braking force based on a power limit on a power source, and a frictional braking force output portion configured to output an instruction for generating a frictional braking force according to a regenerative braking force reduction amount, which is an amount of a reduction in the regenerative braking force by the power limit portion, to a brake apparatus.

A method is provided for scheduling regenerative braking torque, including: sensing a position of an accelerator pedal; generating a torque request value in response to the sensed accelerator pedal position; determining a speed of operation of a motor/generator; determining a torque limit in response to the torque request value and the determined speed of the motor/generator; generating a regenerative braking command in response to the torque limit; and outputting the regenerative braking command to the motor/generator.

A braking control apparatus to be installed an electric vehicle includes an acceleration and deceleration operation member, a controller, and a recognizer. The acceleration and deceleration operation member receives an acceleration request in accordance with an operation amount in a first direction from a neutral position, and receive a deceleration request in accordance with an operation amount in a second direction from the neutral position. The controller controls an amount of power regenerated by a rotary electric machine driven by wheels in accordance with the operation amount in the second direction. The recognizer recognizes a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the electric vehicle. Upon detection of the preceding vehicle at a relative distance from the electric vehicle that is equal to or less than a threshold, the controller performs braking suppression control to decrease the amount of power regenerated in accordance with the operation amount in the second direction.

A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell, a gas supply unit, a friction brake system, a drive motor, an electric storage device, and a control unit configured to execute control of obtaining requested braking force with use of friction braking force and regenerative braking force and control of performing a scavenging process. When the fuel cell vehicle is in braking with the friction braking force and the regenerative braking force, the control unit is configured to determine whether or not a scavenging preparation condition is satisfied with use of the amount of stagnant water stagnating in the fuel cell, execute a responsiveness enhancement process when the scavenging preparation condition is executed, and execute a scavenging process when the responsiveness enhancement process is completed, and the amount of the stagnant water reaches a reference value.

A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell, a gas supply unit, a friction brake system, a drive motor, an electric storage device, and a control unit configured to execute control of obtaining requested braking force with use of friction braking force and regenerative braking force and control of performing a scavenging process. When the fuel cell vehicle is in braking with the friction braking force and the regenerative braking force, the control unit is configured to determine whether or not a scavenging preparation condition is satisfied with use of the amount of stagnant water stagnating in the fuel cell, execute a responsiveness enhancement process when the scavenging preparation condition is executed, and execute a scavenging process when the responsiveness enhancement process is completed, and the amount of the stagnant water reaches a reference value.

An electric vehicle braking system including a braking controller, a front braking system, and a rear braking system. The front braking system includes a front friction brake and a front regenerative braking system. The rear braking system includes a rear regenerative braking system and excludes a friction brake. The braking controller is configured to detect the front regenerative braking has reached a maximum force, detect additional deceleration is required, and, in response to detecting the front regenerative braking has reached the maximum force and detecting additional deceleration is required, apply the front friction brake.

An electric vehicle braking system including a braking controller, a front braking system, and a rear braking system. The front braking system includes a front friction brake and a front regenerative braking system. The rear braking system includes a rear regenerative braking system and excludes a friction brake. The braking controller is configured to detect the front regenerative braking has reached a maximum force, detect additional deceleration is required, and, in response to detecting the front regenerative braking has reached the maximum force and detecting additional deceleration is required, apply the front friction brake.