Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode whereby the system assumes operation in said system operating mode, the system being further configured to allow activation of an automatic progress control function in which a speed of the vehicle over terrain is controlled automatically by the system, wherein when the automatic progress control function is active the system is configured automatically to suspend changes in the selected system operating mode.

Disclosed is a drive assist device including: a driver state detection unit that outputs a control start signal; a consent confirmation unit that inquires of a driver, whether the driver consents to execution of an emergency evacuation control, and receives a reply to the inquiry from the driver; a control section that executes the emergency evacuation control when receiving a consent reply of the execution of the emergency evacuation control from the driver; and an erroneous operation determination unit that determines whether the driving operation of the driver is an erroneous operation, in which the control section limits the driving operation of the driver when it is determined that the driving operation of the driver is an erroneous operation in a period from the time when the control start signal is received to the time when the consent reply of execution of the control is received.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle control system for at least one vehicle subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising: a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each-of the vehicle subsystems in a selected one of a plurality of subsystem control modes, each of which corresponds to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle, automatic control means configured to select automatically the most appropriate one of the subsystem control modes, the system being operable in a manual mode in which a user may select a required subsystem control mode or an automatic response mode in which the automatic control means selects the most appropriate control mode, wherein when the system is operating in the manual mode and not when the system is operating in the automatic response mode, the subsystem controller is configured automatically to impose a first set of one or more prescribed constraints on an amount of torque applied to one or more wheels of a vehicle when commanded to operate in a prescribed one or more of the control modes.

A driver assistance system and an operating method thereof are configured and adapted to perform autonomous longitudinal and/or lateral control of a vehicle. At least one control task for longitudinal and/or lateral control of the vehicle can be transferred from the driver to the driver assistance system. This involves informing the driver that a control task can be transferred to the system, and then transferring the control task from the driver to the system in response to the driver ceasing a manual control of this control task.

A vehicle control system executing a voice control system for facilitating voice-based dialog with a driver to enable the driver or autonomous vehicle to control certain operational aspects of an autonomous vehicle is provided. Using environmental and sensor input, the vehicle control system can select optimal routes for operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode or choose a preferred operational mode. Occupants of the autonomous vehicle can change a destination, route or driving mode by engaging with the vehicle control system in a dialog enabled by the voice control system.

An autonomy controller for a vehicle. The autonomy controller detects a user input to enable an autonomous driving mode for the vehicle. In response to the user input, the autonomy controller determines a condition of one or more control interfaces configured to control respective vehicle operations. The autonomy controller may then selectively enable the autonomous driving mode based at least in part on the condition of each of the one or more control interfaces. For example, the autonomy controller may enable the autonomous driving mode only if each of the one or more control interfaces is in a ready condition.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle control system for selecting and/or determining a driving surface and for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem control modes in dependence on the selected/determined driving surface, the system being operable in a manual control mode selection condition in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic control mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select said driving surface automatically, wherein the vehicle control system is provided with a memory arranged to memorize a last selected control mode that was selected prior to vehicle de-activation or key-off when operating in the automatic control mode selection condition, and upon the next subsequent vehicle activation or key-on, the system is configured to continue operating in the memorized control mode and to automatically obtain new data in respect of a driving surface over which the vehicle is moving before allowing a change in control mode to take place.