A vehicle control system executing a voice control system for facilitating voice-based dialog with a driver to enable the driver or autonomous vehicle to control certain operational aspects of an autonomous vehicle is provided. Using environmental and sensor input, the vehicle control system can select optimal routes for operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode or choose a preferred operational mode. Occupants of the autonomous vehicle can change a destination, route or driving mode by engaging with the vehicle control system in a dialog enabled by the voice control system.

An integrated control device provided on an autonomous vehicle may include an operating portion by which the acceleration, braking, steering, and shifting operations are input and a core controller coupled to the operating portion to control the acceleration, braking, steering, and shifting operations. A user selects a single operating portion from among a plurality of operating portions of various types according to his or her preference and couples the core controller to the selected operating portion for use.

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 control system executing a voice control system for facilitating voice-based dialog with a driver to enable the driver or autonomous vehicle to control certain operational aspects of an autonomous vehicle is provided. Using environmental and sensor input, the vehicle control system can select optimal routes for operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode or choose a preferred operational mode. Occupants of the autonomous vehicle can change a destination, route or driving mode by engaging with the vehicle control system in a dialog enabled by the voice control system.

A vehicle control method and device are disclosed. An embodiment of the method includes: receiving an assistance driving instruction associated with a vehicle; and sending an assistance control instruction to the vehicle, to cause the vehicle to execute the assistance control instruction to control the vehicle, the assistance control instruction being generated through a simulation driving operation performed by an assistance driving user based on travelling environment information of the vehicle presented to the assistance driving user.

Provided is a vehicle control device capable of switching a driving state of the vehicle, including a switch pedal configured to be provided on a left side of the vehicle rather than an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal of the vehicle; a stepped state detection unit configured to detect a stepped state of the switch pedal; and a driving state switching unit configured to switch the driving state of the vehicle to an automatic driving state, a cooperative driving state and a manual driving state, wherein the driving state switching unit is configured to switch the driving state to the cooperative driving state in a case where stepping of the switch pedal is detected by the stepped state detection unit when the driving state is the automatic driving state.

A method for automatically driving a predetermined route includes the steps of scanning route data and environmental data while the route is being driven manually, determining an automatic driving strategy based on the scanned data, comparing the automatic driving strategy to the manual driving strategy and enabling the automatic driving of the route if the automatic driving strategy differs by less than a predetermined measure from the manual driving strategy.

A vehicle includes a clutch that couples an engine to a transmission via a flywheel, a clutch actuator, and a controller configured to receive an obstructed launch command, elevate an engine operation, for a fixed period of time, beyond a typical launch operation upon receipt of the obstructed launch command, and engage the clutch against the flywheel for at least a portion of the fixed period of time.

Disclosed is a driving support control device (ECU) 10 capable of controlling a vehicle 1 in accordance with any one selected from plural driving support modes by a driver. The driving support control device 10 is configured to temporally repeatedly calculate a target traveling course (R1 to R3) along which the vehicle 1 should travel, and to, in a given one (preceding vehicle following mode) of the driving support modes, execute control of causing the vehicle 1 to travel on and along the target traveling course, wherein the driving support control device 10 is operable, in a situation where a current position of the vehicle 1 deviates beyond a given distance d.sub.th laterally from the target traveling course, to, even when the driver selects the given driving support mode, prohibit transition to the given driving support mode.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an autonomous vehicle with an emergency escape mode. When fleeing a scene is critical, embodiments provide an AV that can operate in an emergency escape mode (EEM) to enable the AV to flee a scene, protecting its occupants. Typically, a passenger or operator invokes EEM in an AV when they are in imminent danger from criminal activity such as carjacking. A least resistance route can be computed to determine an escape route that provides for reduced chance of injury and/or increased probability of a successful escape.