A vehicle collision avoidance assist system, including: a forward obstacle detecting device; and a controller including an automatic braking control executing portion to execute an automatic braking control for permitting a brake apparatus to automatically operate and an avoidance control executing portion to execute, in addition to the automatic braking control, an avoidance control for pen fitting a steering apparatus to automatically operate, wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured such that, when the forward obstacle detecting device detects, as a forward obstacle, a continuous obstacle that continuously extends diagonally forward so as to be inclined with respect to a forwardly extending centerline that forwardly extends from a center of the own vehicle, the avoidance control executing portion executes the avoidance control to enable the own vehicle to avoid the continuous obstacle such that the own vehicle travels along the continuous obstacle.

A method for monitoring an autonomous driving operation of a motor vehicle within a parking facility including the following: ascertaining data for an autonomous driving operation of the motor vehicle; checking the ascertained data for errors before the data are used for the autonomous driving operation of the motor vehicle; if the check revealed that the data have no errors, then using the data to autonomously drive the motor vehicle; and if the check revealed that the data have an error, then carrying out a safety action to reduce a risk of collision for the autonomously driving motor vehicle. Also described is a corresponding device, a motor vehicle, a parking facility, and a computer program.

A vehicle (100) comprises a docking port and a selectively demountable switch (10) having a body and a rotary knob (40) on the body, and an interface between the switch and the docking port to enable commands entered by operation of the rotary knob to be communicated to the vehicle (100). The vehicle (100) incorporates a tow-assist system to facilitate reversing of a trailer, the vehicle (100) being of the type having a positive power-assisted steering mechanism (350) for its steerable wheels (250). The system comprises computing means (310) and the demountable switch (10). The computing means (350) is arranged to interpret rotational movement of the knob (40) on the body as desired steering movements of the trailer when the vehicle (100) is being reversed and to effect steering commands for the positive power assisted steering mechanism (350) to achieve said desired steering movements of the trailer.

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 backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.

A driving support apparatus includes an other vehicle detector, an other vehicle information acquisition unit, a proximity detector, a proximity controller and a setting unit. The other vehicle detector detects an other vehicle travelling on the second lane. The other vehicle information acquisition unit acquires information containing the size of the other vehicle. The proximity detector outputs a proximity signal when it is detected that the other vehicle is located in the detection range of set on the second lane at a predetermined detection distance from the own vehicle. The proximity controller activates a proximity control unit when detecting that a turn signal lever is operated while the proximity signal is being output. The setting unit increases the detection distance according to the size of the other vehicle.

A system and method to control a vehicle, provides for directing light onto a region of a road surface on which the vehicle is moving. A variation in a characteristic of a reflection of the directed light is determined. Accumulated precipitation is detected on at least the region of the road based on the determined variation.

A method for operating a vehicle, including the following: detection of a vehicle environment; detection of a steering angle for a vehicle wheel that is defined by a steering device; ascertainment of a collision probability for the vehicle based on the detected vehicle environment and the detected steering angle in the case of an unchanged steering angle; correction of the steering angle if the ascertained collision probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability threshold in order to prevent a collision. Also described is a device for operating a vehicle and a computer program.

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 vehicle behavior control method is suitable for a vehicle behavior control device. The vehicle behavior control device includes: a lateral acceleration sensor, detecting lateral acceleration occurring in a vehicle body; a wheel speed sensor, detecting a wheel speed of a wheel; a steering angle sensor, detecting a steering angle of the wheel; a steering angle lateral acceleration calculation unit, calculating steering angle lateral acceleration from the wheel speed and the steering angle; and a yaw moment control unit, applying yaw moment to the vehicle body. In the vehicle behavior control method, when the lateral acceleration and the steering angle lateral acceleration meet a predetermined condition, a yaw moment directed inward in a turning direction of the vehicle body is applied by the yaw moment control unit.