The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device and method for controlling vehicle motion and a vehicle equipped with the device, such that driving force and/or braking force is properly distributed between front wheels and rear wheels so that steering characteristics are made suitable and controllability and stability improve. This device comprises a means for controlling braking and/or driving force distribution between the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle such that when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle increases, the distribution to the front wheels is made smaller, and when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle decreases, the distribution to the front wheels is made larger.

Method of collision avoidance which includes: sensing parameters by a first vehicle with respect to its movement in a first direction; sensing a second vehicle having a movement in the first direction and separated from the first vehicle by a spaced distance; sensing parameters with respect to the movement of the second vehicle; responsive to sensing by the first vehicle of an imminent need to stop the first vehicle to avoid a collision with the second vehicle, calculating a braking distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; determining that the braking distance is greater than the spaced distance; communicating by the first vehicle with the second vehicle; querying the second vehicle as to if the second vehicle can take a corrective action to avoid a collision with the first vehicle; and braking the first vehicle independent of any corrective action taken by the second vehicle.

An apparatus and a method for estimating a road surface friction coefficient relate to an apparatus of estimating a road surface friction coefficient including an additional power control module that arbitrarily adds a braking force, which causes a wheel speed difference, to an axle of the vehicle to which the braking force is applied, and together adds a driving force that cancels the braking force to an axle of the vehicle to which the driving force is applied, when it is determined that a driving state of the vehicle is an inertial driving state, and a road surface friction coefficient estimation module that estimates the road surface friction coefficient by the wheel speed difference caused by a newly added braking force.

A method of controlling the operation of a foldable accelerator pedal device in manual driving mode of an autonomous driving vehicle includes: when an autonomous driving vehicle provided with a foldable accelerator pedal device is driven in manual driving mode and the speed of the autonomous driving vehicle exceeds the driving speed limit of a road, a safety mode, which includes a haptic mode and a pedal pad protrusion reducing mode, and a pedal pad hiding mode, is activated using an actuator provided for a folding function of a pedal pad.

The present invention relates to a method for decelerating a vehicle comprising an electrical machine being arranged to provide a controllable torque to at least one drive wheel, said vehicle including driver controllable means for actively requesting a torque for propelling the vehicle. The method includes, when a driver request for a propelling torque is reduced at least to a first extent: applying a first brake torque by means of said electrical machine, by means of said first brake torque, decelerate said vehicle to a stationary state, and by means of said electrical machine, when said vehicle has been decelerated to said stationary state, continue applying a torque by means of said electrical machine to keep said vehicle in said stationary state.

The intent to exit a vehicle when a driver attempts to exit a vehicle is detected by an exit intent detection unit, and regardless of whether or not the shift range other than the parking range is detected by a shift range detection unit, a securing control unit controls a vehicle securing unit and secures the vehicle when an intent to secure is detected by a securing intent detection unit. Thus, unintended vehicle movement after exiting is suppressed by securing the vehicle in a stopped state during exiting.

A controller for a motor vehicle powertrain, the controller being configured to control the amount of torque generated by each of a plurality of drive torque sources, each drive torque source being coupled via a respective torque transfer arrangement to a respective group of one or more wheels, the controller being configured to cause a first of the drive torque sources, during acceleration, deceleration and substantially constant speed operation, substantially continually to apply a drive torque to a first group of one or more wheels to which the first drive torque source is coupled acting in a first direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and causes a second of the drive torque sources, during acceleration, deceleration and substantially constant speed operation, substantially continually to apply a drive torque to a second group of one or more wheels to which the second drive torque source is coupled, the direction of drive torque applied to the second group being in a second direction opposite the first such that a net drive torque applied to the first and second group in combination corresponds substantially to a predetermined drive torque demand value, the predetermined torque demand value being determined at least in part by reference to a torque demand signal received by the controller.

A method for stopping of a motor vehicle including providing a creep torque via a drive train of the motor vehicle and then increasing, independently of the driver, engine speed of a drive engine of the drive train to increase a drive torque of the drive engine and simultaneously increasing, independently of the driver, a braking torque of a brake system of the motor vehicle to balance the drive torque and the braking torque of the motor wherein the maximum braking torque is as great as the creep torque during a standstill of the motor vehicle. The method then maintains the braking torque and simultaneously reduces the engine speed of the drive engine to point at which the motor vehicle comes to a standstill. In an alternative embodiment the method includes applying, independently of the driver, a braking torque by a brake system of the motor vehicle, wherein the applied braking torque is as great as the creep torque present when the motor vehicle is at a standstill and then maintaining the braking torque and simultaneously reducing the creep torque of the drive train up to a point at which the motor vehicle comes to a standstill.

A system for operating a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle is operated in a first driving state corresponding to a first set of logic for operating the vehicle, the first set of logic including logic for performing a first action at the vehicle in response to a determination that a first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle. That state change criteria for transitioning from the first driving state to a second driving state are satisfied is determined. In response to the determination, the vehicle is operated in the second driving state corresponding to a second set of logic, different from the first set of logic, for operating the vehicle, the second set of logic including logic for performing a second action, different from the first action, at the vehicle in response to a determination that the first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle.

A brake/drive force controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine for applying drive forces to driving wheels of the vehicles, a control diff for distributing the drive forces to the left and right driving wheels independently, and an electronic control system brake device for applying brake forces to the left and right driving wheels independently. An ECU is configured so as to be able to control the engine, the control diff, and the electronic control system brake device according to an operating state of the vehicle. When the electronic control system brake device is operated, this ECU stops the operation of the control diff, thereby avoiding a sudden input of load on the drive force distribution mechanism, regardless of the running state of the vehicle. This makes the apparatus simpler and more lightweight.