A vehicle control system is provided, which includes a steering angle detector configured to detect a steering angle of a steering wheel by the operator, the steering wheel is mounted on the vehicle, a speed detector configured to detect a traveling speed of the vehicle, a reaction-force generator configured to generate a reaction force of the steering wheel, and a controller. The controller includes a processor configured to execute a lateral acceleration calculating module to calculate a lateral acceleration based on the traveling speed and the steering angle, a rigidity characteristic setting module to set the reaction force so that a rigidity value that is a ratio of the reaction force to the steering angle increases as the lateral acceleration increases, and a reaction-force control module to control the reaction-force generator so that the reaction force becomes the reaction-force value set by the rigidity characteristic setting module.

A vehicle control system is provided, which includes an operating amount detector configured to detect an operating amount by an operator, of an operation mechanism comprising at least one of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, a speed detector configured to detect a vehicle traveling speed, a reaction-force generator configured to generate a reaction force of the pedal, and a controller. The controller includes a processor to execute an acceleration calculating module to calculate an acceleration based on the traveling speed and the operating amount, a rigidity characteristic setting module to set the reaction force so that a rigidity value that is a ratio of the reaction force to the operating amount increases as the acceleration increases, and a reaction-force control module to control the reaction-force generator so that the reaction force generated by the reaction-force generator becomes the reaction-force value set by the rigidity characteristic setting module.

This accelerator pedal device includes a pedal arm having an accelerator pedal, a housing that supports the pedal arm so as to be capable of swinging about a prescribed axis line between a rest position and a maximum push position, a slider that slides over an inner wall of the housing, a contact part formed on the pedal arm in order to exert pressing force while separably coining into contact with the slider, and an urging spring disposed between the housing and the slider so that the urging force pressing the slider against the inner wall and the contact part increases in accordance with the pushing of the accelerator pedal.

A feedback system is provided for use with an electric vehicle's accelerator pedal, where the pedal is adjustable between a fully depressed position and a fully released position, and where a neutral pedal position is located between the fully depressed and fully released positions. When the pedal is located at the neutral position, the vehicle power train does not apply any torque; when the pedal is located between the neutral position and the fully depressed position, the vehicle power train applies a driving torque; and when the pedal is located between the neutral position and the fully released position, the vehicle power train applies a braking torque. The feedback system automatically sets the fully released position for the accelerator pedal based on the available regenerative braking torque.

A reaction force control system configured to alleviate traffic congestion without providing discomfort to a driver. The reaction force control system comprises a reaction force generating mechanism generating a reaction force against a pedal force, and a controller that controls the reaction force generating mechanism. The controller is configured to: obtain a current reaction force and calculate a target reaction force when the vehicle travels within a speed management zone; reduce the reaction force when the current reaction force is greater than the target reaction force; and increase the reaction force when the current reaction force is less than the target reaction force.

A vehicle control device includes a depression amount detection unit, a depression speed detection unit, a reaction force setting unit, and a reaction force generation unit. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force in a manner of separating characteristics into advancement characteristics and return characteristics. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force with respect to a depression amount in such a way that, in main advancement characteristics except for both ranges corresponding to start of depressing and end of depressing among advancement characteristics, a degree of increase of a value of a reaction force relatively decreases, as a depression amount increases until a predetermined ratio with respect to a maximum depression amount of an accelerator pedal reaches, and a degree of increase of a value of a reaction force relatively increases, as a depression amount increases after the predetermined ratio reaches; and sets a value of the reaction force in such a way that a value of the reaction force decreases, as a depression amount decreases.

The accelerator pedal device includes a first reaction force applying unit that applies a normal reaction force to the accelerator pedal in a direction opposite to the step-on direction during manual driving, and a second reaction force applying unit that applies an additional reaction force to the accelerator pedal in the direction opposite to the step-on direction during automatic driving. Upon starting of automatic driving, the accelerator pedal is swung and moved by the additional reaction force of the second reaction force applying unit in the direction opposite to the step-on direction beyond a reference position (P0), at which the accelerator pedal is not being stepped on, so as to reach a first or second swing position and kept at the position to serve as a footrest which cannot be further pressed downward unless a tread force equal to or greater than the additional reaction force is applied thereon.

A method for automatic user adaptation of a stimulus characteristic of an operator control element includes actuating the operator control element with a stimulus characteristic such that upon actuation by the operator, the operator control element transmits to the operator a tactually perceptible opposing force of predefined intensity which opposes the actuation force and/or a tactually perceptible oscillation of predefined intensity. Following the actuation of the active operator control element it is checked whether the reaction of the operator to the opposing force and/or oscillation occurs within a predefined time period. When the predefined time period is undershot, the intensity of the stimulus characteristic is reduced and stored, and when the time period is exceeded the intensity of the stimulus characteristic is increased and stored. The stored modified stimulus characteristic is used for the next actuation of the active operator control element by the vehicle control device.

A vehicle includes a vehicle pedal, a vehicle engine and an electronic control unit. The vehicle engine generates a torque output of the vehicle in accordance with an operation of the vehicle pedal. The electronic control unit controls the vehicle pedal between a normal state, an increased resistance state and a decreased resistance state. The vehicle pedal is less sensitive to driver pressure in the increased resistance state. The vehicle pedal is more sensitive to driver pressure in the decreased resistance state.

Provided is a vehicular accelerator pedal device equipped with an accelerator pedal that serves as a footrest during automatic driving, to enable switching to manual driving without causing a feeling of strangeness for a driver upon releasing of the automatic driving. The accelerator pedal device includes an accelerator pedal actuator that moves the accelerator pedal to a desired operation position, and an accelerator pedal operation amount sensor that detects an operation amount of the accelerator pedal. Upon releasing the automatic driving with step-on operation of the accelerator pedal, an accelerator pedal control unit obtains a step-on position of the accelerator pedal from the accelerator pedal operation amount sensor, calculates an operation position of the accelerator pedal corresponding to a throttle opening just before switching to the manual driving, and causes the accelerator pedal to be moved to the operation position by the accelerator pedal actuator.