An automotive vehicle includes a steering system and a steering wheel configured to control the steering system. The vehicle additionally includes a dynamic vehicle balance control system configured to modify a yaw rate of the vehicle during a drive cycle to modify understeer behavior. The vehicle also includes a sensor configured to detect an operator force applied to the steering wheel. The vehicle further includes a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a detected operator force applied to the steering wheel, command the dynamic vehicle balance control system to modify the yaw rate of the vehicle.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system configured to control a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations, the system being configured to receive a signal indicative of a location of the vehicle, the system being configured to cause the driveline to operate in a configuration selected in dependence at least in part on the signal indicative of the location of the vehicle.

Based on a determination result by a nitrogen concentration determination section, an electronic control unit changes a switching line used to switch between a differential state and a non-differential state of a differential mechanism and a gear shift line used to switch a gear stage of an automatic transmission mechanism. In conjunction with a change of an engine operation point to a high-speed side in a nitrogen-enriched state of intake air, a first motor rotational speed in the differential state of the differential mechanism becomes higher than that in a non-enriched state of the intake air. Thus, corresponding to the above, the differential mechanism is appropriately switched between the differential state and the non-differential state, and the gear stage of the automatic transmission mechanism is appropriately switched.

A slip control system for an off-road vehicle includes a control system configured to output a signal indicative of a first action if a magnitude of slippage of the off-road vehicle relative to a soil surface is greater than a first threshold value and less than or equal to a second threshold value. Furthermore, the control system is configured to output a signal indicative of a second action, different than the first action, if the magnitude of slippage is greater than the second threshold value.

A slip control system for an off-road vehicle includes a control system configured to output a signal indicative of a first action if a magnitude of slippage of the off-road vehicle relative to a soil surface is greater than a first threshold value and less than or equal to a second threshold value. Furthermore, the control system is configured to output a signal indicative of a second action, different than the first action, if the magnitude of slippage is greater than the second threshold value.

A method for operating a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has at least one torque transmission device which when rotating splashes in a fluid, at least two axles each having at least two wheels and at least one controllable coupling device adapted for selectively coupling or decoupling the torque transmission device with at least one of the wheels. The method includes the steps of: in an operating state in which no torque is requested by a driver of the vehicle, decoupling with the control device the torque transmission device and the at least one wheel when a driving speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold value and coupling with the control device the torque transmission device and the at least one wheel for torque transmission when the driving speed is smaller than the predetermined speed threshold value.

A method for operating a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has at least one torque transmission device which when rotating splashes in a fluid, at least two axles each having at least two wheels and at least one controllable coupling device adapted for selectively coupling or decoupling the torque transmission device with at least one of the wheels. The method includes the steps of: in an operating state in which no torque is requested by a driver of the vehicle, decoupling with the control device the torque transmission device and the at least one wheel when a driving speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold value and coupling with the control device the torque transmission device and the at least one wheel for torque transmission when the driving speed is smaller than the predetermined speed threshold value.

A vehicle system includes a processor with access to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether an autonomous host vehicle can traverse an environmental obstacle, and if the autonomous host vehicle can traverse the environmental obstacle, controlling an active suspension system in accordance with the environmental obstacle and controlling the autonomous host vehicle to traverse the environmental obstacle.

A clutch control device is provided for a four-wheel drive vehicle for transmitting drive force to the rear wheels. The clutch control device includes a dog clutch and a friction clutch, and a controller that controls the engagement and disengagement of the dog clutch and the friction clutch. In this clutch control device, the four-wheel drive hybrid vehicle includes a disconnected, two-wheel drive mode and a connected, four-wheel drive mode. When a driver's foot is lifted off an accelerator in a low-speed region when the connected, four-wheel drive mode is selected, the 4WD control unit maintains the connected, four-wheel drive mode while the brakes are not depressed, and shifts the mode to the disconnected, two-wheel drive mode when the brakes are depressed.

A vehicle, system and method of operating the vehicle. A sensor measures a dynamic parameter of the vehicle. A processor determines a lateral force on a first tire based on the dynamic parameter of the vehicle, determines a longitudinal force on the first tire that achieves a maximal grip of the first tire for the lateral force, and adjusts a first torque on the first tire in order to achieve the determined longitudinal force at the first tire.