The autonomous LC control is started in response to receiving a start instruction of autonomous lane change. When the driver performs a steering intervention in a same direction as a direction of steering requested by the autonomous LC control, and establishment of a stop condition of lane change is not recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, the autonomous driving control is continued. When the steering intervention in the same direction is performed, and establishment of the stop condition is recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, termination of the autonomous driving control is announced.

A steering control device is configured to control a motor, the motor being a generation source of a driving force that is given to a steering mechanism of a vehicle. The steering control device includes a controller configured to compute a controlled variable depending on a steering state, the controlled variable being used in the control of the motor. The controller is configured to alter a control parameter for the controller, based on a command that is generated by a host control device depending on a purpose of an intervention in a steering control, the host control device being mounted on the vehicle.

The driving support ECU performs a steering control for changing a steering angle in such a manner that an own vehicle travels along a target path. When a state in which holding state information does not satisfy a first condition continues for a first time threshold or more, the ECU starts a first alert and continues the steering control. The holding state information includes information indicative of a steering torque and represents a holding state of a steering handle by a driver. When a state in which the holding state information does not satisfy a second condition for a second time threshold or more after the first alert is started, the ECU starts a deceleration control. The second condition is a condition satisfied when the holding state information indicates that the driver holds the steering handle more firmly than when the holding state information satisfies the first condition.

A steer by wire steering system includes a steering wheel selectively coupled to a steering shaft, the steering wheel and steering shaft axially movable between a deployed position and a retracted position; an advanced driver assist system configured to steer the steerable wheels of a vehicle that is in communication with the steering wheel and steering shaft, the ADAS configured to selectively control the steering of the steerable wheels in an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode; and a steering system controller in communication with the ADAS, the steering system controller programmed to, while the steering wheel is in the retracted position, move the steering wheel to the deployed position and operatively couple the steering wheel to the steering shaft, in response to a vehicle operator request to deactivate a portion of the ADAS and transition from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.

A method is described for operating a steering system (2) of a motor vehicle. A steering means (8) is connected to a steering gear (14) by means of an active steering system (4). During autonomous operation of the motor vehicle, a driver's intervention (40) in the steering means (8) is determined. The active steering system (4) is operated in such a way that a coupling (30) between an angle (26) of the steering means and an angle (28) input into the steering gear (14) is adjusted depending on the thus determined driver's intervention (40).

A method for operating a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle is proposed. The steer-by-wire steering system includes a steering wheel, a force feedback actuator coupled to the steering wheel, a steering actuator coupled to a steerable wheel, and a control system. The method includes a) the determination of steering information while taking into account a steering wheel angle and/or a driver's steering torque applied to the steering wheel by the driver; b) controlling the steering actuator while taking into account the steering information to adjust a desired wheel steering angle of the steerable wheel; c) controlling the force feedback actuator for setting a steering wheel torque; and d) providing a threshold value associated with steering wheel torque and/or the wheel steering torque; e) generating a torque value representing or reproducing the steering wheel torque and/or the wheel steering torque; and f) outputting an overshoot signal if the torque value reaches the threshold value. A corresponding steer-by-wire steering system is also proposed.

A passenger in an automated vehicle may relinquish control of the vehicle to a control computer when the control computer has determined that it may maneuver the vehicle safely to a destination. The passenger may relinquish or regain control of the vehicle by applying different degrees of pressure, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The control computer may convey status information to a passenger in a variety of ways including by illuminating elements of the vehicle. The color and location of the illumination may indicate the status of the control computer, for example, whether the control computer has been armed, is ready to take control of the vehicle, or is currently controlling the vehicle.

A method for deactivating an automated driving function of a vehicle, in particular a highly automated or autonomous driving function, is provided. The driving function is deactivated when a driver of the vehicle carries out a steering intervention or pedal intervention with a strength exceeding a predeterminable deactivation threshold. The deactivation threshold is predetermined depending on an operation length of the driving function and/or depending on a responsiveness of the driver. In particular, the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that it is higher directly after an activation of the driving function than some time afterwards and/or it is higher with a low responsiveness of the driver than with a high responsiveness of the driver.

A method for operating a steering system includes the steps of: (1) acquiring a variable at least during the partially automated driving; (2) determining whether or not the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually using a variable; (3) ending the partially automated driving and converting steering movements applied by the driver into steering movements of the motor vehicle via a front-axle actuator unit irrespective of the current rotational angle of the steering wheel, if the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually. The variable acquired during partially automated driving may be any of the following: a driver gripping force applied to the steering wheel, a driver torque applied to the steering wheel, deflection of the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver gripping force to the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver torque applied to the steering wheel, and deflection gradient of the steering wheel.

A vehicle control system includes a steering input member rotatably supported by a vehicle body of a vehicle, a primary capacitive sensor provided along an outer edge of a steering input member and configured to detect a position on the steering input member at which a contact is made by a vehicle operator, a rotational angle sensor configured to detect a rotational angle of the steering input member, and a control unit configured to control a steering unit of the vehicle according to a signal from the rotational angle sensor and a signal from the primary capacitive sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to operate in a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the steering unit being controlled according to the signal from the rotational angle sensor in the first operation mode, and according to the signal from the primary capacitive sensor in the second operation mode.