Among other things, we describe techniques for an interface board for harmonizing performance of different autonomous vehicles in a fleet. In an embodiment, the interface system includes a printed circuit board installed in a host vehicle that includes an interface controller and interface circuitry coupled to the interface controller. The interface circuitry includes a plurality of relays configured by the interface controller to route/pass sensor signals received from actuators of the host vehicle to the interface controller, and route/pass control signals from the interface controller to actuator controllers of the host vehicle that control the actuators in accordance with an operating mode. Signal conditioning circuitry in the interface controller conditions the sensor signals and control signals to ensure that the electrical characteristics of the sensor signals are compatible with the interface controller, and that the electrical characteristics of the control signals are compatible with the actuator controllers.

A vehicle control device includes a first inputter, a second inputter, a mode controller configured to, when the first inputter is operated by a user, determine a driving mode of a vehicle as a first mode, and when the second inputter is operated by the user in the first mode, switch the driving mode from the first mode to a second mode, and a driving controller configured to control at least one of a steering and speed of the vehicle, and the driving controller is configured to control a steering and speed of the vehicle and prohibit change of a path of the vehicle when the driving mode is the first mode, and control a steering and speed of the vehicle and change of the path of the vehicle is allowed when the driving mode is the second mode.

A vehicle includes a drive source that supplies a driving force to a drive wheel, a switch, and a controller that puts a first limitation on the driving force or puts a second limitation on the driving force when the switch is operated, the second limitation being smaller than the first limitation.

This application discloses an intelligent vehicle control method. An intelligent vehicle control system obtains a driving mode, a driving style model, and a target speed of an intelligent vehicle at a current moment, then determines a speed control instruction based on the driving mode and the driving style model, and sends the speed control instruction to an execution system of the intelligent vehicle. This provides an intelligent vehicle control method with high comfort and good experience.

A vehicle control system comprises an automated driving controler for executing any of a plurality of driving modes which include an automated driving mode for automatically performing at least one of speed control and steering control of a vehicle and a manual driving mode for performing both of the speed control and the steering control based on operation of an occupant of the vehicle, and a visual field condition controller for controlling a front visual field condition of the vehicle based on the driving mode executed by the automated driving controller so as to be either a visible condition or a visual difficulty condition.

A computing system for a vehicle includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to determine when the vehicle is currently in a user-selected predefined driving situation and, responsive to the determination, control operation of the vehicle to implement a vehicle response mode associated with the user-selected predefined driving situation. The vehicle response mode may include an initial control mode specifying one or more initial indicators of the vehicle response mode, and a conditional secondary control mode specifying one or more secondary indicators of the vehicle response mode. The one or more initial indicators and the one or more secondary indicators are configured to be perceivable by a person exterior of the vehicle.

A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having an electrical energy store, an electric drive and an internal combustion engine, includes activating, by a driver of the hybrid vehicle, a battery control mode by actuating a defined operator control element. A special drive operating strategy for the internal combustion engine is triggered in the battery control mode with the electric drive switched off. An increased charging gradient is then obtained by the special drive operating strategy if a current state of charge of the electrical energy store is below one of a desired state of charge or a lower tolerance threshold with respect to the desired state of charge.

A vehicle control device includes a first inputter, a second inputter, a mode controller configured to, when the first inputter is operated by a user, determine a driving mode of a vehicle as a first mode, and when the second inputter is operated by the user in the first mode, switch the driving mode from the first mode to a second mode, and a driving controller configured to control at least one of a steering and speed of the vehicle, and the driving controller is configured to control a steering and speed of the vehicle and prohibit change of a path of the vehicle when the driving mode is the first mode, and control a steering and speed of the vehicle and change of the path of the vehicle is allowed when the driving mode is the second mode.

An embodiment autonomous driving control apparatus includes a set speed control panel configured to be manipulated to adjust a set speed that is followed by a vehicle during autonomous driving and a processor configured to control an increase or a decrease in the set speed to set an adjusted set speed based on a manipulation duration of the set speed control panel and to control the vehicle to follow the adjusted set speed.

A vehicle, system and method for improving driving efficiency for a first host vehicle with at least one propulsion unit and at least one energy storage unit are provided. The method comprises; determining a first set of parameters which affects driving efficiency before a driving session with the first host vehicle is initiated and providing input indicative thereof to a user interface or an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving system of the first host vehicle, monitoring a second set of parameters which affects driving efficiency during the driving session of the first host vehicle, comparing parameters of the first and second set of parameters with corresponding parameters received from at least one second host vehicle, and in response to identified differences between parameters of the first and second host vehicle, and providing input indicative thereof to the user interface or the autonomous or semi-autonomous driving system of the first host vehicle.