System and techniques for vehicle operation safety model (VOSM) compliance measurement are described herein. A subject vehicle is tested in a vehicle following scenario against VOSM parameter compliance. The test measures the subject vehicle activity during phases of the following scenario in which a lead vehicle slows and produces log data and calculations that form the basis of a VOSM compliance measurement.

A braking system for an automobile includes a controller adapted to independently control the brake pressure at each wheel of the automobile when an operator of the automobile applies the brakes, a first sensor adapted to measure an angular position of a steering wheel of the automobile and communicate the angular position of the steering wheel to the controller, and a second sensor adapted to measure a speed of the automobile and communicate the speed of the automobile to the controller, the controller further adapted to reduce the brake pressure at an inboard turning wheel when the speed of the vehicle is zero and the angular position of the steering wheel exceeds a pre-determined value.

An electrically controlled differential gear is disposed between a right front wheel and a left front wheel of a vehicle. The electrically controlled differential gear includes a clutch mechanism that limits a differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear. A second ECU (control portion) obtains information as to failure associated with actuation of a right front electric brake mechanism. The second ECU obtains a physical amount relating to a required braking force which is applied to the left front wheel and the right front wheel. The second ECU outputs a differential limiting control command for limiting the differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear to the clutch mechanism (or more specifically, a differential ECU that controls the clutch mechanism) based on the information as to the failure and the physical amount relating to the required braking force.

A system (e.g., a vehicle control system) includes a brake control unit that is configured to be operably deployed onboard a vehicle. The brake control unit has one or more sensor inputs and one or more control outputs. One of the sensor units is configured to receive a speed signal from a speed sensor of the vehicle; the speed signal is indicative of a vehicle speed detected by the speed sensor. One of the control outputs is configured for connection to a brake system of the vehicle. The brake control unit is configured to generate a vehicle control signal to initiate a vehicle brake operation responsive to the speed indicated by the speed signal going above a designated first speed threshold and the speed signal meeting one or more first designated criteria in addition to the first speed threshold.

A weight profile determination system may be provided that includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor may be disposed along a route and configured to generate a plurality of force measurements of a vehicle system moving on the route relative to the sensor. The force measurements may be obtained at different times and correspond to different locations along a length of the vehicle system. The controller may determine a weight profile for the vehicle system based on the force measurements generated by the sensor. The weight profile can represent a distribution of weight along the length of the vehicle system. The controller may communicate the weight profile to one or more of the vehicle system or an offboard device for controlling movement of the vehicle system based on the weight profile.

A fluid level indicator and method of determining a fluid level. In one example, a fluid level indicator is configured to be disposed in a brake fluid reservoir of a vehicle. A motor drives the fluid level indicator at a constant horsepower. A motor sensor monitors the speed of the motor. A controller receives the motor speed data from the motor sensor and receives vehicle movement data from other vehicle sensors. The controller determines the level of the brake fluid based on the motor speed and the vehicle movement data.

A brake device of the present invention includes: a wheel brake unit for braking a wheel; an electric motor for driving the wheel brake unit; a speed reducer for decelerating rotation of the electric motor; a rotation-linear motion converter for converting a rotational output of the speed reducer into a linear motion; and a braking force transmission member for transmitting the linear motion produced by the rotation-linear motion converter to the wheel brake unit.

A braking control device of a vehicle in which a braking force generator is connected to a differential mechanism to which a plurality of wheels is connected, and a friction brake is provided for each of the wheels includes a controller configured to control braking forces of the braking force generator and the friction brake. The controller is configured to: detect the wheel having a tendency of locking in which a slip ratio is larger than a predetermined determination value in a state where the braking force is transmitted to each of the wheels from the braking force generator via the differential mechanism; and reduce the tendency of locking by changing the braking force of the friction brake that is provided for the other wheel connected to the differential mechanism.

The invention is related to a laser diode based multiple beam laser spot imaging system for characterization of vehicle dynamics. A laser diode based, preferably VCSEL based laser imaging system is utilized to characterize the vehicle dynamics. One or more laser beams are directed to the road surface. A compact imaging system including an imaging matrix sensor such as a CCD or CMOS camera measures locations or separations of individual laser spots. Loading status of vehicles and vehicles' pitch and roll angle can be characterized by analyzing the change of laser spot locations or separations.

A parking brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a parking brake controller controlling a parking brake system and arranged to obtain one or more input signals indicative of one or more actions from one or more vehicle systems other than the parking braking system. The parking brake controller is also arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply parking brakes based upon an adaptive time delay to prevent a vehicle rollaway when the one or more input signals are indicative of the one or more actions meeting respective one or more predetermined conditions.