An apparatus for providing a notification of control authority transition in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a speaker configured to output a sound notification, a vibration motor configured to output a vibration notification, and a control circuit configured to be electrically connected with the speaker and the vibration motor. The control circuit is configured to output a first notification using the speaker during a first time interval, when a situation to transfer control authority for the vehicle occurs, output a second notification using the speaker and the vibration motor during a second time interval, after the first time interval elapses, and output a third notification using the speaker and the vibration motor during a third time interval, after the second time interval elapses.

A vehicle control system having a subsystem controller for initiating control of a first group of at least one vehicle subsystem in a selected one of a plurality of subsystem control modes each corresponding to one or more different driving conditions; and an estimator module for evaluating at least one driving condition indicator to determine the extent to which each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate and for providing an output indicative of the subsystem control mode that is most appropriate. The estimator module is configured to increase the probability to which the at least one off-road driving mode is determined appropriate in dependence on at least one terrain indicator. In an automatic response mode the subsystem controller selects the most appropriate one of the subsystem control modes for each subsystem of the first group in dependence on the output.

A vehicle includes a detection system configured to acquire data regarding operation of the vehicle, and a robotic driving device configured to provide robotic control of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a control system configured to determine whether the robotic driving device is activated, such that the vehicle is in robotic driving mode; receive a request by a prospective operator of the vehicle to deactivate the robotic driving device to initiate a manual driving mode; determine whether the prospective operator is impaired based on the data; and selectively grant or refuse the request based on the determination.

A control device of a vehicle comprises: a driving plan generating part 90 configured to generate a driving plan in automated driving of the host vehicle; a package extracting part 91 configured to extract driving assistance packages packaging permissions for a plurality of driving assistance operations based on at least one of the surrounding environment information, the vehicle information, and the driver information; a package proposing part 92 configured to propose driving assistance packages to the driver of the host vehicle based on the driving assistance packages extracted by the package extracting part and the driving plan; and an automated driving executing part 93 configured to perform driving assistance operations permitted in a driving assistance package proposed by the package proposing part and approved by the driver of the host vehicle.

A hybrid vehicle includes a controller configured to control an engine and an electric motor in one of a plurality of control modes. The controller is configured to execute a switching control to switch the control mode in accordance with a traveling plan. The controller is configured to report at least one of first information and second information using a report device, the first information indicating that the switching control is capable of being executed, the second information indicating that the switching control is not executed. The controller is configured to report third information using the report device in a case where the first information is reported by the report device, the third information being relevant to the switching control, and not to report the third information in a case where the second information is reported by the report device.

Embodiments herein can determine an optimal route for an autonomous electric vehicle. The system may score viable routes between the start and end locations of a trip using a numeric or other scale that denotes how viable the route is for autonomy. The score is adjusted using a variety of factors where a learning process leverages both offline and online data. The scored routes are not based simply on the shortest distance between the start and end points but determine the best route based on the driving context for the vehicle and the user.

The disclosure provides an early notification system to alert a driver of an approaching unsafe autonomous or semi-autonomous driving zone so that a driver may switch vehicle to a non-autonomous driving mode and navigate safely through the identified location. In response, to a determination of an upcoming unsafe autonomous or semi-autonomous driving zone, the driver or system may take appropriate actions in response to the early notification.

Among other things, a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities is operated in a mixed driving mode.

A method is disclosed for analyzing historical accident information to adjust driving actions of an autonomous vehicle over a travel route in order to avoid accidents which have occurred over the travel route. Historical accident information for the travel route can be analyzed to, for example, determine accident types which occurred over the travel route and determine causes and/or probable causes of the accident types. In response to determining accident types and causes/probable causes of the accident types over the travel route, adjustments can be made to the driving actions planned for the autonomous vehicle over the travel route. In addition, in an embodiment, historical accident information can be used to analyze available travel routes and select a route which presents less risk of accident than others.

A shift selector device includes an input member, a position setting mechanism and an activation controller. A selection operation of selecting a shift position is input to the input member. The position setting mechanism defines a movable range of the input member while supporting the input member in a displaceable manner. A plurality of the shift positions and at least one activation position linked to an automated travel system are disposed in the movable range. When the activation position is selected by displacement of the input member, the activation controller outputs an activation instruction for instructing a control function of the automated travel system linked to the activation position to be activated.