A speed control system (12) for a vehicle (100), the speed control system (12) being configured to: automatically cause application of positive and negative torque, as required, to one or more wheels of a vehicle (100) to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value, the target speed value being stored in a memory of the control system (12); and detect a crest of a slope ahead of the vehicle (100); wherein the speed control system (12) is configured automatically to attempt to adjust a speed of the vehicle (100) to cause the vehicle (100) to travel at a predetermined crest speed value when a crest of a slope is detected ahead of the vehicle (100), the predetermined crest speed value being determined in dependence at least in part on terrain gradient information respect of terrain prior to the crest.

A driver assist system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor disposed at a vehicle. An ECU includes a processor for processing sensor data generated by the vehicle speed sensor. The ECU, responsive to processing at the ECU of sensor data generated by the vehicle speed sensor, determines speed of the vehicle. The ECU, responsive to determining that the speed of the vehicle reaches a vehicle soft lock speed, automatically enables a vehicle speed soft lock. The ECU, responsive to the vehicle reducing speed to the vehicle soft lock speed by coasting, maintains the current vehicle speed at the vehicle soft lock speed. The ECU, responsive to the speed of the vehicle increasing a multiple of a vehicle speed increment above the vehicle soft lock speed, automatically sets an increased vehicle soft lock speed that is the multiple of the vehicle speed increment above the vehicle soft lock speed.

An autonomous vehicle (AV) includes features that allows the AV to comply with applicable regulations and statues for performing safe driving operation. An example method for operating an AV includes receiving, from a sensor located on the AV, sensor data that captures a road sign located at a distance from the AV that is operating on a roadway; obtaining, from the sensor data, roadway information indicated by the road sign that corresponds to a segment of the roadway associated with the road sign that is ahead of a current position of the AV on the roadway; determining trajectory-related information for the AV for the distance that is based on the roadway information obtained from the sensor data; and causing the AV to travel in accordance with the trajectory-related information until a determination that the AV has arrived within the segment of the roadway associated with the road sign.

A vehicle control device includes a memory configured to store a first target speed applied under a specific traveling situation and a second target speed that is equal to or less than the first target speed and applied to a traveling situation other than the specific traveling situation, and a processor configured to determine whether or not a traveling situation of the vehicle corresponds to the specific traveling situation, control a traveling speed of the vehicle in accordance with the first target speed when a traveling situation of the vehicle corresponds to the specific traveling situation, and control a traveling speed of the vehicle in accordance with the second target speed when a traveling situation of the vehicle differs from the specific traveling situation.

A vehicular driver assist system includes a forward-viewing camera disposed at and viewing through a windshield of a vehicle. The vehicular driver assist system sets an initial vehicle soft lock speed when speed of the vehicle reaches an initial threshold speed of travel. With the initial vehicle soft lock speed set and with the vehicle speed exceeding the initial vehicle soft lock speed, the system maintains the vehicle speed at the initial vehicle soft lock speed when the vehicle speed reduces to the initial vehicle soft lock speed by coasting. When speed of the vehicle increases by a multiple of a vehicle speed increment above the initial vehicle soft lock speed, the system sets an increased vehicle soft lock speed and maintains the vehicle speed at the increased vehicle soft lock speed when the vehicle speed reduces to the increased vehicle soft lock speed by coasting.

A system managing vehicle operations based on thermal data. The system includes a thermal camera arranged in the vehicle to sense intra-vehicle thermal conditions. The system also includes a hardware-based storage device including a thermal-data analysis module that, when executed by a hardware-based processing unit, determines, based on the intra-vehicle thermal data, an activity or state of one or more vehicle occupants. The storage device may also include: an action module that, when executed, determines an output action based on the activity or state; and an output-interface module that, when executed, initiates performing the output action. The storage device may also include In various embodiments, the hardware-based storage device includes a database module that, when executed, obtains pre-stored occupant data corresponding to an occupant, and determining the output action is based on the pre-stored occupant data and occupant activity or state determined.

A cruise control system for a vehicle includes a controller configured to maintain a speed of the vehicle about a setpoint, and in response to predicted brake capacity falling below a threshold based on predicted brake fade, reduce the setpoint and downshift a transmission of the vehicle to increase negative torque to reduce brake fade. Also, a powertrain of a vehicle includes an engine, an automatic transmission coupled with the engine, and a controller. The controller is configured to maintain a speed of the vehicle about a setpoint, and in response to a predicted brake capacity falling below a threshold based on predicted brake fade, reduce the setpoint and downshift the transmission to increase a negative torque.

A method and a system for controlling a cruise control and a transmission in a vehicle over the course of a road section, wherein prior to the road section, the vehicle has applied coasting and utilizes the cruise control. A reference speed v.sub.ref utilized in the cruise control during the coasting is lowered to a lowest permitted speed v.sub.min defined for the road section if the lowering is deemed applicable. A comparison of a drive force F.sub.dd requested from an engine system in the vehicle with a threshold value F.sub.lim for the drive force is also carried out. The coasting is then suspended if the requested drive force F.sub.dd exceeds the threshold value F.sub.lim for the drive force.

A motor vehicle cruise control system having an input for entering a desired vehicle speed. A vehicle speed deviation having a range both above and below the desired vehicle speed is entered. A memory at least temporarily saves a highway topography data set for a highway currently being traversed by a motor vehicle. A controller distinguishes an approaching highway topography change from a current highway topography condition using data from the highway topography data set; and calculates a modified vehicle speed having increased fuel economy for traversing the highway topography change compared to a fuel economy at a selected vehicle speed for the current highway topography condition and to change the vehicle speed to the modified vehicle speed having the increased fuel economy prior to reaching the upcoming highway topography change.

A demand is identified based on input from a vehicle operator. Data is received providing a history of vehicle velocities. An estimated reference velocity is generated based at least on the velocity data. A final demand is generated based at least in part on a reference velocity indicated by the velocity control signal and the estimated reference velocity.