Systems and methods are provided for variable actuation and release of a vehicle's brake hold mechanism/function. A brake hold device may be implemented as a “tuner” or controller that can connect to and override, e.g., the default functionality of an existing brake hold mechanism of a vehicle. Delays in exiting a brake hold state, repetitive actuation of an accelerator to exit a brake hold state, and other shortcomings associated with the conventional operation of brake hold mechanisms may be avoided by taking into account relevant vehicle operating conditions or environmental/road/traffic conditions.

A vehicle control apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The vehicle control apparatus includes an inputter, a determiner, and a controller. The inputter receives an automatic vehicle hold (AVH) switch operation signal from an AVH device, and receives a current vehicle movement value sensed by a sensing device and a current vehicle brake force value of a brake device that generates brake force in response to activation of the AVH device. The determiner determines whether the received AVH switch operation signal transitions from an ON state to an AVH entry state, determines whether vehicle movement occurs on the basis of the received current vehicle movement value during an AVH retention time in the AVH entry state, and determines that the current vehicle brake force value is in an abnormal state when vehicle movement occurs. The controller receives the current vehicle movement value and the current vehicle brake force value, and transmits a command for judgment to the determiner.

A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.

A parking brake apparatus is provided for an autonomously drivable vehicle having components of a parking brake system for applying a parking brake. The parking brake apparatus comprises a first controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to a signal requesting the parking brake to be applied. The parking brake apparatus also comprises a second controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to other components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to unavailability of the first controller to cause the parking brake to be applied.

A brake control system has an electronic control unit such that, when the motor vehicle is at a standstill, an automatic parking brake function can be activated by the control unit. In the presence of an activation condition for the parking brake function, the brake pressure required for this purpose can be determined at least in a manner dependent on the longitudinal inclination and in a manner dependent on an estimated normal force distribution of all of the wheels and/or an estimated capability of all of the wheels to transmit braking and/or drive torque to the underlying surface. Here, the brake pressure can be predefined to be higher the more wheels have a reduced normal force.

A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.

Provided is a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system is provided in a vehicle.

The driver assistance system includes an image acquisition part configured to acquire image information about an obstacle; a yaw rate detector configured to detect a yaw rate of a vehicle body; and a controller configured to, when a shift lever is diagnosed as failure, recognize a rotation direction of the vehicle body based on the detected yaw rate of the vehicle body, recognize a position change of the obstacle in an image based on the acquired image information, and recognize whether a moving direction of the vehicle body is a backward direction or a forward direction based on the recognized rotation direction of the vehicle body and the recognized position change of the obstacle.

A parking brake fail safety control system and method for a vehicle having an electric-axle, may enable safe parking braking on a level ground, a slope, etc. By controlling the torque from a first motor configured for a rear wheel-first electric-axle and the torque from a second motor configured for a rear wheel-second electric-axle to have the same magnitude in opposite directions and by increasing/decreasing the torque from the first motor and the torque from the second motor, depending on a change of wheel speed when a parking brake fails.

A vehicle control device is mounted on a vehicle including a driving actuator configured to apply a driving force and a braking actuator configured to apply a braking force. The vehicle control device includes a processor. The processor is configured to correct, when a predetermined condition including at least that the vehicle is decelerating is satisfied, the required driving force and the required braking force so as to increase the required driving force and the required braking force such that a sum of a magnitude of the required driving force and a magnitude of the required braking force is equal to or larger than a magnitude of the component of the gravity acting on the vehicle in the movement direction of the vehicle.

A parking brake apparatus is provided for an autonomously drivable vehicle having components of a parking brake system for applying a parking brake. The parking brake apparatus comprises a first controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to a signal requesting the parking brake to be applied. The parking brake apparatus also comprises a second controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to other components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to unavailability of the first controller to cause the parking brake to be applied.