A vehicle driving assistance apparatus predicts (i) a first consumed energy amount corresponding to a consumed energy amount consumed by a driving apparatus of an own vehicle when executing a first following control and (ii) a second consumed energy amount corresponding to the consumed energy amount consumed by the driving apparatus of the own vehicle when executing the second following control. The apparatus executes the second following control when the second consumed energy amount is smaller than the first consumed energy amount. On the other hand, the apparatus executes the first following control when the second consumed energy amount is equal to or greater than the first consumed energy amount.

A device and a method for controlling autonomous driving control a speed of an autonomous vehicle before downhill travel. The device and method calculate a travel resistance of an autonomous vehicle on a travel-intended-route, including a downhill route, a main braking pressure required to travel at a constant speed, and a brake temperature based on braking. The device and method determine whether to reduce the main braking pressure based on the calculated brake temperature and calculates a decreased amount of the main braking pressure and an increased amount of a speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the decreased amount of the main braking pressure on the travel-intended-route when determining to reduce the main braking pressure. The device and method limit a maximum speed of the autonomous vehicle before entering the travel-intended-route based on the increased speed amount.

Disclosed is a method for determining a position of a motor vehicle by means of a location device of the motor vehicle. First, a first position (x.sub.1) related to an installation point of the location device in the motor vehicle is determined. In order to determine a position suitable for controlling the motor vehicle, with reference to the said first position (x.sub.1) a second position (x.sub.2) related to a center of gravity of the vehicle is determined, in that the first position (x.sub.1) is offset by a distance (a) between the said installation point of the location device and the center of gravity of the vehicle.

A processor unit (3) is configured for executing an MPC algorithm (13) for model predictive control of a first component (18) of a motor vehicle (1) and of a second component (19) of the motor vehicle (1). The MPC algorithm (13) includes a cost function (15) to be minimized and a dynamic model (14) of the motor vehicle (1). The dynamic model (14) includes a loss model (27) of the motor vehicle (1). The loss model (27) describes an overall loss of the motor vehicle (1). The cost function (15) includes a first term, which represents the overall loss of the motor vehicle (1). The overall loss depends on a combination of operating values, which includes a first value of a first operating parameter and a second value of a second operating parameter. The processor unit (3) is also configured for determining, by executing the MPC algorithm (13) as a function of the loss model (14), that combination of operating values, by which the first term of the cost function (15) is minimized.

A processor unit (3) is configured for executing an MPC algorithm (13) for model predictive control of a prime mover (8) and of at least one vehicle component influencing energy efficiency of a motor vehicle. The MPC algorithm (13) includes a longitudinal dynamic model (14) of the drive train (7) and of the vehicle component influencing the energy efficiency of the motor vehicle (1) as well as a cost function (15) to be minimized. The cost function (15) includes at least one first term. The processor unit (3) is configured for determining a particular input variable for the prime mover (8) and for the at least one vehicle component influencing the energy efficiency of the motor vehicle (1) by executing the MPC algorithm (13) as a function of a particular term such that the cost function (15) is minimized.

A method for calculating running resistance of a vehicle includes: calculating, by a controller, an integrated value obtained by integrating a torque of a driving source of the vehicle before the vehicle reaches a reference speed after the vehicle starts; and calculating, by the controller, the running resistance of the vehicle including rolling resistance based on the integrated value of the torque of the driving source.

Disclosed is a method for controlling the powertrain of a motor vehicle between the current location of the vehicle and an arrival point, including calculating a theoretical optimal traction force, determining a friction force applied to the vehicle, calculating an actual optimal force to be applied to the wheels as far as the arrival point, and applying a traction force to the wheels of the vehicle when the calculated actual optimal force is strictly greater than a predetermined threshold value or else not applying a force to the wheels of the vehicle when the calculated actual optimal force is greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, or else applying a braking force to the wheels of the vehicle when the calculated actual optimal force is strictly less than zero.

A system for controlling platooning by a following vehicle includes a sensor located in or on the following vehicle configured to detect data corresponding to a shape of a leading vehicle. The system further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) located in or on the following vehicle, coupled to the sensor, and configured to determine an optimal distance from the following vehicle to the leading vehicle based on the shape of the leading vehicle, the optimal distance corresponding to a distance at which drag applied to the following vehicle is reduced based on a pressure wake from the leading vehicle.

Disclosed are a device and a method for improving the fuel efficiency of a fuel cell vehicle in uphill and downhill driving. The device may calculate an appropriate stack output to be generated from a fuel cell stack based on the SOC of a battery as well as an uphill altitude at which the vehicle traveling on the uphill road has to travel further to reach the highest altitude when determining the degree of the stack output generated from the fuel cell stack when driving on the uphill road, and may prevent fuel consumption from increasing to generate excessive stack output while driving on an uphill road or the durability of the fuel cell stack from being deteriorated.

Example methods and systems for controlling speeds of a vehicle may generally determine a target vehicle acceleration using an autonomy control module of the vehicle. The target vehicle acceleration may be determined based upon at least one of a target vehicle following distance, a target vehicle following speed, or a target vehicle speed. The determined vehicle acceleration may be mapped to a level of vehicle torque using a vehicle dynamics module of the vehicle. Additionally, the level of vehicle torque may be applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle.