A steer-by-wire system includes a turning device that turns a vehicle wheel; and a steering reaction force control unit that controls a steering reaction force applied to a steering wheel. The steering reaction force control unit is configured to calculate a plurality of kinds of axial forces, calculate a final axial force based on the axial forces, and generate the steering reaction force corresponding to the final axial force. The axial forces include a basic axial force, and an under axial force that becomes smaller than the basic axial force during understeer. The steering reaction force control unit is configured to calculate a degree of understeer reflecting a difference between the basic axial force and the under axial force during the understeer and to reduce the final axial force during the understeer to a value smaller than the basic axial force by an amount corresponding to the degree of understeer.

A vehicle behavior control device comprises: a steer-by-wire type steering apparatus (6) having a steering wheel-side mechanism and a road wheel-side mechanism which are mechanically separated from each other; and a controller (8) performs a driving force reduction control when a steering speed in the steering apparatus (6) becomes equal to or greater than a given threshold. The steering apparatus (6) comprises a first steering angle sensor (14) provided in the steering wheel-side mechanism and a second steering angle sensor (19) provided in the road wheel-side mechanism. The controller (8) performs the driving force reduction control using the first steering angle sensor (14) when a yaw rate or a steering speed is equal to or greater than a given value, and performs the driving force reduction control using the second steering angle sensor (19) when the yaw rate or the steering speed is less than the given value.

The vehicle behavior control device comprises: a steer-by-wire type steering apparatus (6) having a steering wheel-side mechanism and a road wheel-side mechanism which are mechanically separated from each other; and a controller (8) performs a driving force reduction control of reducing a driving force for a vehicle (1) when a steering speed in the steering apparatus (6) becomes equal to or greater than a given threshold. The steering apparatus (6) comprises a first steering angle sensor (14) provided in the steering wheel-side mechanism and a second steering angle sensor (19) provided in the road wheel-side mechanism. The controller (8) performs the driving force reduction control based on the steering speed in accordance with a sum of an output of the first steering angle sensor (14) and an output of the second steering angle sensor (19).

Magnetorheological-damper-based steering apparatus and methods for reducing steering wheel jerk resulting from off-road wheel impact are described. An example steering damper apparatus includes a magnetorheological (MR) rotary damper to be operatively coupled to a steering column shaft. The example steering damper apparatus further includes a sensor to detect an angular velocity associated with the steering column shaft. The example steering damper apparatus further includes a controller to energize the MR rotary damper in response to determining that the angular velocity exceeds an angular velocity threshold. The angular velocity threshold is associated with steering wheel jerk resulting from an off-road wheel impact.

In a steer by wire and idle stop vehicle, the idle stop is terminated if the steering wheel (11) is turned by more than a prescribed threshold value. For the purpose of preventing consumption of power by a steering actuator and preventing an unexpected steering action upon termination of the idle stop, the engine restart threshold value (th) is varied depending on the direction of the change of the steering angle from the start of the idle stop operation. In particular, if the change () of the steering angle is in the direction to increase the steering angle from the value (s) at the start of the idle stop operation, the engine restart threshold value is raised. If the change of the steering angle is in the direction to decrease the steering angle from the value at the start of the idle stop operation, the engine restart threshold value is lowered.

A steer-by-wire steering system for a road vehicle includes a road wheel actuator to act on steerable wheels and electronically controlled as a function of a driver's steering request, a feedback actuator to transmit reactions of a road to a steering wheel, and a single steering wheel angle sensor to measure a steering wheel angle. The steering wheel angle sensor is an external sensor able to communicate on a second vehicle communication channel or via a private communication with the road wheel actuator. The steer-by-wire steering system also includes an external road wheel actuator position sensor to measure a position of the road wheel actuator and to communicate on the second vehicle communication channel or via the private communication with the road wheel actuator.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis in a body plane and having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface. The vehicle also includes an active hybrid spoiler assembly mounted to the vehicle body and configured to control a movement of the ambient airflow along the longitudinal body axis. The spoiler assembly includes at least one stanchion mounted to the vehicle body, and first and second wing-shaped side-sections moveably connected to the stanchion(s). The spoiler assembly further includes a mechanism configured to selectively and individually shift each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section relative to the at least one stanchion to thereby adjust a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section on the vehicle body.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis in a body plane and having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface. The vehicle also includes an active hybrid spoiler assembly mounted to the vehicle body and configured to control a movement of the ambient airflow along the longitudinal body axis. The spoiler assembly includes at least one stanchion mounted to the vehicle body, and first and second wing-shaped side-sections moveably connected to the stanchion(s). The spoiler assembly further includes a mechanism configured to selectively and individually shift each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section relative to the at least one stanchion to thereby adjust a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section on the vehicle body.

An optical sensing device for a wheel set is provided. The optical sensing device comprises a first grating, a second grating, an elastic object and two optical sensors. The first grating is set in a first wheel of the wheel set. The second grating is set in a second wheel of the wheel set. The elastic object is connected between the first wheel and the second wheel, and is adapted to sustain a force applied when an angle difference is formed by a rotation of the second wheel with respect to the first wheel. The two optical sensors are set in a power module of the wheel set and provided respectively in correspondence to the first and the second gratings. The two optical sensors receive two optical signals reflected by the first and the second gratings, and the two optical sensors are used to calculate the angle difference.

A torque sensor unit may include a ring magnet that is connectable to a first partial shaft and is concentric with a longitudinal axis. Two first magnetic flux conductors are connectable to a second partial shaft, are arranged in a ring magnet magnetic field, and conduct magnetic fluxes. A spatially fixed sensor unit may have two second magnetic flux conductors and a magnetic sensor on a printed circuit board, all of which are receivable in a housing. The sensor unit can detect a change in a rotation angle between the partial shafts by measuring magnetic flux density between the first magnetic flux conductors. A second housing surrounds the ring magnet, the first magnetic flux conductors, and the sensor unit. A magnetic shield surrounds the sensor unit at least partially circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis and is arranged between a housing cover closing the second housing and the second housing.