An electrically controlled differential gear is disposed between a right front wheel and a left front wheel of a vehicle. The electrically controlled differential gear includes a clutch mechanism that limits a differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear. A second ECU (control portion) obtains information as to failure associated with actuation of a right front electric brake mechanism. The second ECU obtains a physical amount relating to a required braking force which is applied to the left front wheel and the right front wheel. The second ECU outputs a differential limiting control command for limiting the differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear to the clutch mechanism (or more specifically, a differential ECU that controls the clutch mechanism) based on the information as to the failure and the physical amount relating to the required braking force.

A differential rotation limiting force control apparatus for a center differential includes an outwardly headed state detection processor and a limiting force control processor. The outwardly headed state detection processor makes a detection of an outwardly headed state in which a vehicle is cornering with a yaw rate and a side-slip angle of a vehicle body of the vehicle having the same sign. In response to the detection of the outwardly headed state, the limiting force control processor controls a limiting force that limits differential rotation between front and rear wheel driving devices, to reduce a difference between a motive force on a front wheel caused by an output of the travel power source and an absolute value of a braking force on the front wheel caused by internal circulation torque of the center differential.

A drift driving control method and system of an electronic limited slip differential (e-LSD). The method and the system enable drift driving by controlling an e-LSD differential when drift driving is intended by a driver. Whether or not drift mode conditions are met on the basis of a driver’s vehicle operating state and an output value reflecting a driving state of a vehicle is determined. When the drift mode conditions are met, control is performed so that drift driving is performed by causing the vehicle to be oversteered by increasing driving force of a turning outer wheel using the electronic limited slip differential and then maintaining simultaneous slipping of right and left wheels.

A vehicle has an engine, a limited slip differential (LSD) mounted on an axle driven by the engine, and left and right wheels operably connected to the LSD. At least one parameter indicative of a riding condition of the vehicle is determined. A slippery driving condition is detected based on the at least one parameter. The LSD is selectively locked in response to the detection. The slippery driving condition is detected when a torque requested by a user is above a load line of the engine, upon successive wheel slips occurrences, and/or when a wheel slip is detected while a preload is applied to the LSD.

A vehicle drive system configured to achieve a required driving force of braking force without changing an orientation of a vehicle in the event of slippage of a wheel. The vehicle drive system comprises: a torque generating device; a differential mechanism that allows a relative rotation between a right wheel and a left wheel; a differential restricting device that restricts a differential rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel; and a steering mechanism that controls a turning angle of pairs of the wheels. A first controller controls the relative rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel to be smaller than a predetermined value and second controller further controls a turning angle of the wheels controlled by the steering mechanism.

A system for managing vehicle body and wheel motion control with a dual clutch differential includes sensors and actuators disposed on the vehicle, the sensors measuring real-time static and dynamic data and the actuators altering static and dynamic behavior of the motor vehicle. A control module executes program code portions stored in memory. The program code portions receive the real-time static and dynamic data; selectively prioritize torque output from a prime mover of the vehicle through the differential to driven wheels of the vehicle to control a body and the driven wheels; model and estimate clutch torque for each clutch of the dual clutch differential; model and estimate a joint clutch torque, a tire force, and corner torque; and generate a torque output for each clutch of the dual clutch differential that is selected to maintain one or more of body control, wheel control, and stability of the motor vehicle.

A method for mitigating torque steer in a vehicle having a steering axle with a limited slip differential and a pair of output members. The limited slip differential includes a pair of differential outputs and a clutch. The method includes: operating the limited slip differential with the clutch in the first condition; determining that the vehicle is in a state in which a torque steer condition is occurring or is likely to occur; and operating the clutch to reduce a torque differential between the differential outputs to mitigate the torque steer condition. A vehicle with a steering axle and a controller that is configured to operate a clutch in the steering axle to attenuate torque steer is also provided.

A vehicle gear-shifting control apparatus is equipped with an engine, a motor, an automatic transmission, a friction brake system, and a controller which executes, during deceleration of a vehicle during which the friction brake system is distributing a braking force to front and rear wheels, a regeneration control of imparting a regenerative braking torque to the rear wheels by causing the motor to perform a regeneration operation and a gear-shifting control of changing a shift stage of the automatic transmission by outputting a gear-shifting signal in accordance with the rotation speed of an input shaft to the automatic transmission. When the controller determines an oversteered state of the vehicle during the regeneration control, the controller increases an input torque of the input shaft so that the regenerative braking torque decreases while maintaining the regeneration operation of the motor and, at the same time, limits the gear-shifting control.

An electrically controlled differential gear is disposed between a right front wheel and a left front wheel of a vehicle. The electrically controlled differential gear includes a clutch mechanism that limits a differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear. A second ECU (control portion) obtains information as to failure associated with actuation of a right front electric brake mechanism. The second ECU obtains a physical amount relating to a required braking force which is applied to the left front wheel and the right front wheel. The second ECU outputs a differential limiting control command for limiting the differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear to the clutch mechanism (or more specifically, a differential ECU that controls the clutch mechanism) based on the information as to the failure and the physical amount relating to the required braking force.

A vehicle has an engine, an accelerator control, a limited slip differential (LSD) mounted on an axle driven by the engine, and left and right wheels operably connected to the LSD. An accelerator control position is sensed. A speed of the vehicle is optionally sensed. In order to prevent wheel spin, a high load is selectively applied to the LSD when the accelerator control position meets or exceeds a predetermined position threshold. Optionally, application of the high load may depend on the speed of the vehicle being less than a predetermined speed threshold, the accelerator control position concurrently meeting or exceeding the predetermined position threshold. In order to enhance directional stability of the vehicle, a stabilization load is optionally applied when the speed of the vehicle meets or exceeds the predetermined speed threshold.