Systems and methods for general driving behavior of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. In one aspect, an autonomous vehicle includes a trailer, at least one perception sensor, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a processor. The processor is configured to estimate a grade of the roadway based on the perception data, provide a first control input to the autonomous vehicle based on the grade of the roadway, determine a response of the autonomous vehicle to the first control input based on the perception data, estimate a trailer load of the trailer based on the response of the autonomous vehicle to the first control input, and provide a second control input to the autonomous vehicle based on the grade of the roadway and the trailer load.

A high precision digital map is pre-developed and stored in a memory of an in-vehicle control computer on an autonomous vehicle. The digital map is updated by the in-vehicle control computer with detected roadway data that is a fusion of roadway perception data from at least one perception sensor on the autonomous vehicle and real time GPS signal from at least one GPS receiving devices on the autonomous vehicle. The updated digital map is transferred to a remote oversight system via a network communication subsystem, and the oversight system distributes the updated digital map to other autonomous vehicles connected over the network communication subsystem.

Systems and methods for detecting physical infrastructure related to navigation of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. In one aspect, the autonomous vehicle includes a perception sensor configured to generate perception data, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a minimal risk condition (MRC) maneuver for the autonomous vehicle to execute, identify a safe zone in which the autonomous vehicle is able to execute the MRC maneuver by coming to a stop based on the perception data, identify one or more exclusion zones within the safe zone based on the perception data, and control the autonomous vehicle to execute the MRC maneuver including stopping outside of the exclusion zone.

Provided is a vehicle travel control apparatus configured to set an operation mode of automatic start control to any one of a first mode, in which the automatic start control is executed, and a second mode, in which the automatic start control is not executed, the vehicle travel control apparatus being further configured to: issue to a driver a notification for inquiring whether the driver desires the automatic start control to be executed when the current travel state of an own vehicle is a specific state; and set the operation mode of the automatic start control to the first mode when the driver has performed a predetermined response operation in response to the notification.

Provided is a vehicle travel control apparatus configured to set an operation mode of automatic start control to any one of a first mode, in which the automatic start control is executed, and a second mode, in which the automatic start control is not executed, the vehicle travel control apparatus being further configured to: issue to a driver a notification for inquiring whether the driver desires the automatic start control to be executed when the current travel state of an own vehicle is a specific state; and set the operation mode of the automatic start control to the first mode when the driver has performed a predetermined response operation in response to the notification.

An electrified vehicle may include an electric motor coupled to a battery to propel and brake the vehicle, a pedal generating a pedal position signal including a released position signal, friction brakes configured to provide a stopping force to vehicle wheels, and a controller programmed to control the motor and the brakes in response to the pedal being released to decelerate the vehicle to a stop, and to control the motor and an engine (in hybrid vehicles) to inhibit propulsive torque to the wheels after stopping due to the pedal released position until receiving driver input indicative of a request for moving the vehicle, such as depressing the brake or accelerator pedal, or activating an automated vehicle maneuver, such as a parking maneuver, cruise control, or stop-and-go control. Inhibiting torque may include inhibiting creep torque and/or operating the electric machine to charge the battery when the engine is running.

An autonomous driving control method for stopping a host vehicle such that an inter-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle is a predetermined at-stopping inter-vehicle distance includes: executing first stop control of setting the at-stopping inter-vehicle distance to a first at-stopping inter-vehicle distance shorter than a predetermined basic at-stopping inter-vehicle distance when a stop position of the host vehicle is within a forward stop limit area set in front of a crossing lane, and/or executing second stop control of setting the at-stopping inter-vehicle distance to a second at-stopping inter-vehicle distance longer than the basic at-stopping inter-vehicle distance when the stop position of the host vehicle is within a rearward stop limit area set behind the crossing lane.

A vehicle including a vehicle control device is disclosed. The vehicle control device determines whether an object is a preceding vehicle and whether a brake light of the preceding vehicle is on or off. When the object is a preceding vehicle and its brake light is on, the vehicle control device transmits a braking request that instructs a braking control device to stop the vehicle at a position at which an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the vehicle is equal to or larger than a first distance. When the object is a preceding vehicle and its brake light is off, the vehicle control device transmits a braking request that instructs the braking control device to stop the vehicle at a position at which the inter-vehicle distance is equal to or larger than a second distance being smaller than the first distance.

A vehicle including a vehicle control device is disclosed. The vehicle control device determines whether an object is a preceding vehicle and whether a brake light of the preceding vehicle is on or off. When the object is a preceding vehicle and its brake light is on, the vehicle control device transmits a braking request that instructs a braking control device to stop the vehicle at a position at which an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the vehicle is equal to or larger than a first distance. When the object is a preceding vehicle and its brake light is off, the vehicle control device transmits a braking request that instructs the braking control device to stop the vehicle at a position at which the inter-vehicle distance is equal to or larger than a second distance being smaller than the first distance.

Systems and methods for managing environmental conditions for an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. In one aspect, an autonomous vehicle includes a perception sensor configured to generate perception data indicative of a condition of the environment, a network communication transceiver configured to communicate with an oversight system and an external weather condition source, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a processor. The processor is configured to: receive the perception data from the at least one perception sensor, receive an indication of current weather conditions from the external weather condition source, determine a current environmental condition severity level from a plurality of severity levels based on the perception data and the indication of current weather conditions, modify one or more driving parameters that that govern a range of actions that can be autonomously executed by the autonomous vehicle, and navigate the autonomous vehicle based on the modified driving parameters.