An apparatus for controlling an MDPS system may include an MDPS-basic logic unit determining a first auxiliary command current for driving an MDPS motor in a manual driving mode, based on column torque applied to a steering column of a vehicle and a vehicle speed, an autonomous driving steering controller determining a second auxiliary command current for driving the MDPS motor in an autonomous driving mode, and a mode change controller determining a driver's steering intervention using a variable reference time variably determined based on the column torque in the manual driving mode, determining a mode change time from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode based on the column torque, and determining a final auxiliary command current for driving the MDPS motor upon mode change, by applying, to the first and second auxiliary command currents, a weight into which the mode change time is incorporated.

A system and method for differential traction drive and steering axis coordination for an autonomous mower or other turf device includes initiating a steering motion based on determining a target forward speed and a steering rotational speed, calculating a left wheel speed and a right wheel speed, and applying the left and right wheel speeds, wherein the steering rotational speed is driven by a steering motor and the traction wheels associated with the autonomous mower, and the left and right wheel speeds are based on the target forward speed, a distance from a steering axle to the center of the respective wheel, and the steering rotational speed.

A steering column system includes a steering column shaft. Also included is a steering input device coupled to the steering column shaft. Further included is an energy absorbing mechanism operatively engaged with at least one of the steering column shaft and the steering input device. Yet further included is a column adjustment assembly configured to translate the steering column shaft between a retracted position and a driving position. Also included is at least one signal indicating whether the steering column shaft is in the retracted position or the driving position, and when the steering column shaft is in the retracted position, directional control of a vehicle is automated and the energy absorbing mechanism is in a non-operational state, and when the steering column shaft is returned to the driving position as indicated by the at least one signal, the energy absorbing mechanism is in an operational state.

An automatic steering control device includes a forward recognition device, a traveling state detector, a lateral positional deviation calculator, a steering angle controller. The lateral positional deviation calculator calculates a first lateral positional deviation that is the lateral positional deviation ahead of the vehicle by a first distance, and a second lateral positional deviation that is the lateral positional deviation ahead of the vehicle by a second distance larger than the first distance. The steering angle controller performs first control on the steering angle so that an absolute value of the first lateral positional deviation decreases, and second control on the steering angle based on the second lateral positional deviation so that a difference between a change amount of the steering angle in the first control and a change amount of an actual steered angle that is a steered angle of wheels of the vehicle decreases.

When a marker on a road is detected, an automated driving apparatus mounted on a vehicle determines whether to perform automated driving based on comparison between a relative movement log from the marker as a start point according to autonomous navigation and shape point data concerning a lane acquired from the most recent map data.

When a marker on a road is detected, an automated driving apparatus mounted on a vehicle determines whether to perform automated driving based on comparison between a relative movement log from the marker as a start point according to autonomous navigation and shape point data concerning a lane acquired from the most recent map data.

A vehicle guidance system detects when a driver of the vehicle manually intervenes in the longitudinal and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle while the vehicle is being operated in an automated driving mode. The vehicle guidance system outputs an indication to the driver via a user interface of the vehicle prompting the driver to take over the longitudinal and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle. The vehicle guidance system also continues to provide the longitudinal and/or lateral guidance of the vehicle in at least a partially automated manner for a takeover period of time and/or for a takeover distance.

A free-moving transport carriage for conveying at least one workpiece, having, in addition to a control unit, a near-field sensor arrangement which can be coupled to a track control unit, wherein the track control unit is able to determine, by means of position raw information which can be determined by the near-field sensor arrangement, a relative position of one or more points of the free-moving transport carriage with regard to one or more position information sources of a near-field travelling environment. The main orientation of the transport carriage and the variable conveying direction can be coordinated to one another by the track control unit. A conveying system for conveying at least one workpiece with at least one such free-moving transport carriage, a treatment system, a treatment system having such a conveying system and a method carried out by a track control unit.

A drive mode switch control device controls switching of driving between a driver and an autonomous driving function. The drive mode switch control device includes an operation information acquisition unit, a drive state switch unit, an attitude determination unit, and an approved target setting unit. The operation information acquisition unit acquires an operation information item associated with the driving operation input to at least one of a plurality of operation targets. The drive state switch unit executes an override that switches from an autonomous driving state to another driving state. The attitude determination unit acquires a plurality of detection information items related to driving attitudes of the driver, and determine whether each of the plurality of detection information items is appropriate for the driving operation. The approved target setting unit sets an approved operation target or a disapproved operation target to each of the plurality of operation targets.

Hydraulic bi-directional flow switches are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a piston disposed in a fluid channel between a first fluid connection and a second fluid connection, where the first and second fluid connections define a fluid pathway for hydraulic steering fluid. The example apparatus also includes a detector to detect a movement of the piston away from a default position of the piston, where the piston is to displace from the default position when the hydraulic steering fluid flows along the fluid pathway.