An electronic parking brake system including: an electronic parking brake provided to generate a clamping force on a wheel of a vehicle; and a controller configured to estimate a weight of the vehicle based on a wheel pressure and a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle at a time of service braking during driving, determine a clamping force required for parking based on the estimated weight of the vehicle during a parking operation, and operate the electronic parking brake to generate the determined clamping force.

An electronic parking brake system including: an electronic parking brake provided to generate a clamping force on a wheel of a vehicle; and a controller configured to estimate a weight of the vehicle based on a wheel pressure and a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle at a time of service braking during driving, determine a clamping force required for parking based on the estimated weight of the vehicle during a parking operation, and operate the electronic parking brake to generate the determined clamping force.

A vehicle sets a first determination region of a first obstacle and a second determination region, on the basis of a position of the first obstacle. The second determination region is located at a position farther than the first determination region. A reliability of the second obstacle is set to a first reliability in a case where a position of a second obstacle falls outside the first determination region and falls outside the second determination region. The reliability of the second obstacle is set to a second reliability higher than the first reliability in a case where the position of the second obstacle falls within the first determination region or falls within the second determination region. Braking is applied to the vehicle body and/or acceleration of the vehicle body is suppressed, on the basis of the reliability of the second obstacle and the position of the second obstacle.

A vehicle sets a first determination region of a first obstacle and a second determination region, on the basis of a position of the first obstacle. The second determination region is located at a position farther than the first determination region. A reliability of the second obstacle is set to a first reliability in a case where a position of a second obstacle falls outside the first determination region and falls outside the second determination region. The reliability of the second obstacle is set to a second reliability higher than the first reliability in a case where the position of the second obstacle falls within the first determination region or falls within the second determination region. Braking is applied to the vehicle body and/or acceleration of the vehicle body is suppressed, on the basis of the reliability of the second obstacle and the position of the second obstacle.

An adaptive cruise control system includes an information acquisition unit having a main detector and a secondary detector, a control unit, and an execution unit. The main detector detects an object located ahead of the vehicle. The control unit determines whether control of the vehicle is required depending on an actual value determined by the main detector and the threshold value of a system property characterizing the driving environment. The execution unit controls the vehicle. The secondary detector is arranged such that its field of view for detecting an object located at an angle ahead of the vehicle covers the boundary of the main detector's field of view, and which is oriented outwards in relation to the forward direction of the vehicle. The secondary detector sends an indication signal to adjust the threshold value of the system property when an object is detected.

An adaptive cruise control system includes an information acquisition unit having a main detector and a secondary detector, a control unit, and an execution unit. The main detector detects an object located ahead of the vehicle. The control unit determines whether control of the vehicle is required depending on an actual value determined by the main detector and the threshold value of a system property characterizing the driving environment. The execution unit controls the vehicle. The secondary detector is arranged such that its field of view for detecting an object located at an angle ahead of the vehicle covers the boundary of the main detector's field of view, and which is oriented outwards in relation to the forward direction of the vehicle. The secondary detector sends an indication signal to adjust the threshold value of the system property when an object is detected.

A system and method for slowing a vehicle. Road conditions around the vehicle are monitored, and determined if those road conditions are hazardous. An engine control unit is informed of the hazardous road conditions and alters the operation of the engine control unit in response to the hazardous road conditions. When an operator of the vehicle desires to slow the vehicle down, an indication is received indicating the intent to slow the vehicle down. The vehicle is then slowed based upon the altered operation of the engine control unit by applying a vacuum to increase a manifold vacuum of the engine.

A system and method for slowing a vehicle. Road conditions around the vehicle are monitored, and determined if those road conditions are hazardous. An engine control unit is informed of the hazardous road conditions and alters the operation of the engine control unit in response to the hazardous road conditions. When an operator of the vehicle desires to slow the vehicle down, an indication is received indicating the intent to slow the vehicle down. The vehicle is then slowed based upon the altered operation of the engine control unit by applying a vacuum to increase a manifold vacuum of the engine.

A method for acquiring the surrounding environment of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound sensor includes an ultrasound transducer for sending, the ultrasound sensor receiving acoustic environmental signals, in particular audible environmental signals, in that the ultrasound sensor is controlled in its evaluation in such a way that sound waves having frequencies below a resonant frequency of the ultrasound transducer, in particular audible sound waves, of an environmental signal are acquired and evaluated. Environmental signals are understood as acoustic signals that are not produced by the ultrasound transducer itself, but rather by an external sound source that in particular differs from the motor vehicle. This can be for example the siren of a rescue vehicle or emergency vehicle, or the horn of some other motor vehicle.

A method for acquiring the surrounding environment of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound sensor includes an ultrasound transducer for sending, the ultrasound sensor receiving acoustic environmental signals, in particular audible environmental signals, in that the ultrasound sensor is controlled in its evaluation in such a way that sound waves having frequencies below a resonant frequency of the ultrasound transducer, in particular audible sound waves, of an environmental signal are acquired and evaluated. Environmental signals are understood as acoustic signals that are not produced by the ultrasound transducer itself, but rather by an external sound source that in particular differs from the motor vehicle. This can be for example the siren of a rescue vehicle or emergency vehicle, or the horn of some other motor vehicle.