A vehicle may be operated in a driving mode with autonomous lateral control and in a driving mode with manual lateral control, where the vehicle has a steering lever with a steering lever range, and where the steering lever range represents a circular space which is delimited about 360° by a rotational movement of the steering lever about a steering lever axis of rotation. A method associated with the vehicle may include one or more of the following steps: operating the vehicle in a driving mode with autonomous lateral control; detecting an intrusion in the steering lever range and/or a breaching of a predefined distance from the steering lever range by the vehicle occupant or another object with a sensor unit without the vehicle occupant coming into contact with the steering lever; and signaling the intrusion and/or the breaching of the distance to the vehicle occupant.

Redundant vehicle controls based on user presence and position are disclosed herein. A method can include determining a presence and a position of a driver in a sensing zone of a vehicle using a sensor platform integrated into the vehicle. The sensing zone is associated with a primary driving interface of the vehicle. Determining when the position of the driver indicates that the driver is not in a fully-seated position relative to a driver's seat of the vehicle, and that the vehicle is in a non-seated drive mode where the driver is permitted to operate the vehicle while not being in the fully-seated position. Activating a secondary driving interface of the vehicle when the driver is not in a fully-seated position and the vehicle is in the selected driving mode. The secondary driving interface can be used in combination with the primary driving interface.

In a driving assistance device for a vehicle provided with an automatic driving mode and a manual driving mode, a standby member is provided to allow a driver seated at a seat to rest an arm. A sensor senses that a hand of a driver is placed at a position where the driver can reach the sensor while the driver rests the arm on the standby member. The sensor senses that a finger of the driver is in contact with the sensor. The sensor is provided in an arm rest.

A driving assist system for a vehicle includes a driver monitoring system that includes a plurality of sensors disposed in a vehicle and sensing driver hand positions of a driver driving the vehicle. A control includes a processor operable to process data sensed by the sensors to determine the driver hand positions of the driver driving the vehicle. The control, responsive to processing of data sensed by the sensors and at least in part responsive to the determined sensed driver hand positions, is operable to determine a level of attentiveness of the driver. The driving assistance system of the vehicle operates to provide driving assistance of the vehicle responsive at least in part to the determined level of attentiveness of the driver.

A motion detection device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect static capacitance, and a sensor bracket to which the plurality of sensor electrodes are attached. The sensor bracket is provided with an engagement portion to be engaged with an engaged portion of each of the sensor electrodes. The engagement portion of the sensor bracket and the engaged portion of the sensor electrode are formed in a shape that allows mutual engagement between regular combinations and regulates mutual engagement other than the regular combinations.

Redundant vehicle controls based on user presence and position are disclosed herein. A method can include determining a presence and a position of a driver in a sensing zone of a vehicle using a sensor platform integrated into the vehicle. The sensing zone is associated with a primary driving interface of the vehicle. Determining when the position of the driver indicates that the driver is not in a fully-seated position relative to a driver's seat of the vehicle, and that the vehicle is in a non-seated drive mode where the driver is permitted to operate the vehicle while not being in the fully-seated position. Activating a secondary driving interface of the vehicle when the driver is not in a fully-seated position and the vehicle is in the selected driving mode. The secondary driving interface can be used in combination with the primary driving interface.

A method for terminating an automated driving function of a vehicle involves deactivating the driving function by a steering intervention of a driver of the vehicle in a steering system, which includes a steering column and a steering wheel. In order to determine the steering intervention, a steering column torque at the steering column is measured and a steering wheel angle is measured. A manual torque acting on the steering wheel is estimated based on the measured steering column torque and the measured steering wheel angle. The estimation is based on a model equation of the steering system, which takes into consideration a moment of inertia of the steering wheel and a frictional torque in the steering system.

The present application discloses a driverless vehicle, a driverless vehicle control method and a driverless vehicle control apparatus. The vehicle includes: a steering wheel and a processor. A sensor is provided on the steering wheel. The processor is configured to switch a driving mode of the driverless vehicle to a manual driving mode in response to detecting a sensing signal outputted by the sensor, when the driverless vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode. This implementation achieves smooth switching of the driving mode.

A program and a control device capable of calibrating a detection value of a sensor that detects contact with a steering wheel are provided. The program in accordance with the present invention is characterized by causing a computer to execute processing of distinguishing whether or not a user is on a driver's seat of a vehicle; acquiring, from a sensor (21) that converts contact with a steering wheel (2) into an electric signal for detection, a detection value of the detected electric signal; determining whether or not a difference between the detection value acquired when it has been distinguished that the user is not on the driver's seat, and a reference value is equal to or larger than a threshold value; and setting the detection value as the reference value when it has been determined that the difference is not equal to or larger than the threshold value.

A vehicle control system includes a steering input member rotatably supported by a vehicle body, a first capacitive sensor provided on a first surface portion of the steering input member facing in one direction along a rotational center line of the steering input member, a second capacitive sensor provided on a second surface portion of the steering input member opposite to the first surface portion, and a control unit configured to control a drive unit and/or a brake unit of the vehicle according to signals from the first and second capacitive sensors. The control unit executes an acceleration control to control the drive unit to accelerate the vehicle when a prescribed signal is received from the first capacitive sensor, and to execute a deceleration control to control the drive unit and/or the brake unit to decelerate the vehicle when a prescribed signal is received from the second capacitive sensor.