The present invention is a minimum size, maneuverable, comfortable, safe, and inexpensive compact vehicle, having a higher level of cornering/turning stability than the current state of the art. The inventive design may be applied to two-, three-, and four- (or more) wheeled vehicles. The invention may be utilized in the design of the main components of vehicles providing an increased stability during turning, even at high speeds, based on fixed and moveable chassis portions which swing in relation to one another and novel linking mechanisms connected with large and/or wide wheel portions.

The invention relates to an autonomous driving control method, an autonomous driving control system, and a vehicle. The autonomous driving control method includes: estimating motion control capacities of a vehicle on the basis of performance parameters and/or structure parameters of the vehicle; grading autonomous driving functions of the vehicle on the basis of the motion control capacities; and providing the graded autonomous driving functions on the basis of a state of the vehicle. The autonomous driving control method of the invention can provide different grades of autonomous driving functions in different vehicle states, thereby improving driving experience.

A method for operating a motor vehicle having multiple drive wheels and multiple drive machines, each drive machines being an electric machine and being allocated to a drive wheel. The method includes: acquiring a total setpoint drive torque; acquiring a current vehicle driving speed, a current steering angle, and optionally, the wheel loads of all drive wheels; determining wheel-individual movement speeds of the drive wheels over the roadway based on the current vehicle driving speed, the current steering angle, a known chassis geometry of the motor vehicle, and optionally, the wheel loads; determining a setpoint wheel speed for each drive wheel based on the determined movement speeds, and distributing the total setpoint drive torque to all drive wheels such that an actual curve path deviates from a setpoint curve path specified by the steering angle; actuating each drive machine to adjust the setpoint wheel speed at the respective drive wheel.

A drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle comprises at least one drive unit, a drive shaft driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft comprising a first wheel and a second output shaft comprising a second wheel, and a first clutch connecting the drive shaft to the first output shaft, and a second clutch connecting the drive shaft to the second output shaft, and furthermore, a control unit for regulating the clutches. In a stable first driving condition, the clutches are regulated such that a total locking power of the two clutches corresponds at least or substantially to a drive torque generated by the drive shaft; wherein a method comprises at least the following steps: a) determining an unstable second driving condition in which at least one first wheel has a first slip or a second wheel has a second slip; and b) modifying at least one locking ratio of the clutch connected to the at least one slipping wheel, wherein the first clutch has an adjustable first locking ratio and the second clutch has an adjustable second locking ratio.

An object of the invention is to realize an M+ control which is suitable to a driving scene without depending on pedal operation information of a driver. A vehicle motion control device according to the invention sets an absolute value of deceleration generated in the vehicle in a period in which the lateral motion of the vehicle is predicted to be changed from a state where the vehicle takes the lateral motion to a state where the vehicle does not take the lateral motion to be smaller than that generated in a period in which the lateral motion of the vehicle is predicted to be changed from a state the vehicle takes one of right and left lateral motions to a state where the vehicle takes the other lateral motion.

An active hood vent system for a motor vehicle includes a hood vent, having a closure displaceable between a closed position and an opened position, and a control module. That control module is configured to adjust the aero balance of the motor vehicle by opening and closing the closure. Further, the control module may be configured to close the closure and thereby minimize engine compartment air from entering an HVAC inlet of the motor vehicle when the current operating temperature of the motor vehicle is below a predetermined temperature requiring engine cooling, and a current motor vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed where airflow over the hood limits ingestion of engine compartment air by the HVAC inlet.

A regenerative braking control method of a vehicle, may include a first operation of determining a driving risk of a road surface on the basis of a status of the road surface while driving; a second operation of determining whether an accelerator pedal is released while driving; a third operation of determining whether a brake pedal is operated while driving; and a fourth operation of performing no regenerative braking when the accelerator pedal is determined as being released, the driving risk of the road surface is determined as being high, and when the brake pedal is determined as not being operated.

An apparatus configured to control downforce is provided. The apparatus includes a piezoelectric bellow configured to generate airflow, a power controller configured to output a signal to actuate the piezoelectric bellow; and a controller configured to control the power controller based on vehicle dynamics information.

A regenerative braking control method of a vehicle, may include a first operation of determining a driving risk of a road surface on the basis of a status of the road surface while driving; a second operation of determining whether an accelerator pedal is released while driving; a third operation of determining whether a brake pedal is operated while driving; and a fourth operation of performing no regenerative braking when the accelerator pedal is determined as being released, the driving risk of the road surface is determined as being high, and when the brake pedal is determined as not being operated.

An active hood vent system for a motor vehicle includes a hood vent, having a closure displaceable between a closed position and an opened position, and a control module. That control module is configured to adjust the aero balance of the motor vehicle by opening and closing the closure. Further, the control module may be configured to close the closure and thereby minimize engine compartment air from entering an HVAC inlet of the motor vehicle when the current operating temperature of the motor vehicle is below a predetermined temperature requiring engine cooling, and a current motor vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed where airflow over the hood limits ingestion of engine compartment air by the HVAC inlet.