Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.

A switchback control apparatus for an industrial vehicle, includes a forward and reverse operating part, a forward and reverse position detector detecting a position of the forward and reverse operating part, a vehicle speed detector; and a shift control section shifting the transmission forcibly to a first speed stage and then, releasing the first speed stage of the transmission that is set forcibly when the forward and reverse operating part is shifted from the forward position to the reverse position or from the reverse position to the forward position by the forward and reverse position detector and a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detector greater is than or equal to a threshold value that is smaller than a shift-up vehicle speed for shifting the transmission from the first speed stage to a second speed stage.

A map, including potential obstacles, can be generated by a computing device in a vehicle. An estimated coefficient of friction between the vehicle wheels and a roadway surrounding a stuck vehicle can be generated based on sensor data. A path can be determined based on the map, and the stuck vehicle can be operated based on the path and a determined slip ratio based on the vehicle wheels to unstick the stuck vehicle.

The invention relates to a method for digging out a motor vehicle at a standstill, in which the driver predefines a startup direction for the motor vehicle with the aid of an operating element; in which a reciprocating motion of the motor vehicle is generated with the aid of chronologically consecutive drive force pulses which are independent of the driver and have a first intensity; in which the spatial amplitude of the reciprocating motion is ascertained and compared to a predefined threshold value; and when the spatial amplitude of the reciprocating motion of the motor vehicle exceeds the threshold value, a startup movement of the motor vehicle is subsequently generated in the predefined startup direction using at least one drive force pulse which is directed in the predefined startup direction and which has a second intensity, which is greater than the first intensity.

Methods and systems for autonomously closing an open door of a vehicle are disclosed. A door closing system for a vehicle includes a sensor system and an autonomous driving system. The sensor system determines if a door of the vehicle is open and determines if a surrounding of the vehicle is free of obstacles in a predetermined range. The autonomous driving system instructs the vehicle to move if a door of the vehicle is open and if the predetermined range of the surrounding of the vehicle is free of obstacles, such that the door is closed as a result of the movement of the vehicle.

A determination unit in an ECU of a rough terrain vehicle determines a reverse running state in a case that an engine rotational speed of an engine decreases when a traveling drive force is generated in the rough terrain vehicle. Further, if the determination unit determines occurrence of the reverse running state, the ECU refers to a clutch hydraulic pressure map, and sets a target hydraulic pressure so as to decrease gradually over time.

A control apparatus of an automatic transmission, which includes a mechanical engaging mechanism functioning as a brake, includes a determination unit determining, when a selected gear is a lowest forward speed gear, and the mechanism is in a second state, whether to switch the mechanism to the first state, and a switching processing unit switching the mechanism to the first state based on a determination result. In the first state, only rotation of a predetermined rotational element provided in planetary gear mechanisms in a first direction is restricted. In the second state, rotation of the predetermined rotational element in both the first and second direction is restricted. The determination unit determines to switch the mechanism to the first state at least on condition that a driving force is larger than a predetermined driving force.

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operation may be adjusted in response to operating the hybrid vehicle in a four wheel drivel low gear range. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle speed control system operable to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, the system being operable automatically to perform a direction change operation wherein the system causes a transmission of the vehicle to adopt a configuration corresponding to travel in an opposite direction to the instant configuration when the vehicle speed does not exceed a prescribed transmission direction change speed.

An agricultural, construction, or industrial vehicle or machine has a driveline including an engine, a power-shuttle transmission connected to the engine, and at least one drive axle driven by an output shaft of the power-shuttle transmission. The power-shuttle transmission has an input shaft, a forward shuttle gear train, and a reverse shuttle gear train. Each shuttle gear train has a shuttle clutch selectively coupling it with the input shaft. The forward shuttle gear train drives the output shaft when the forward shuttle clutch is engaged, and the reverse shuttle gear train drives the output shaft when the reverse shuttle clutch is engaged. The at least one drive axle has at least one service brake. A hydraulic energy recapture system is coupled to the output shaft of the power-shuttle transmission and works in cooperation with the shuttle clutches and with the service brakes.