A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle is configured so that in a manual driving mode in which a driver directly drives a vehicle, a pedal pad 400 is in a popped-up state of protruding and being exposed toward the driver to be operable by the driver, and in an autonomous traveling situation of the vehicle, the pedal pad 400 is in a hidden state of being hidden and blocked from being exposed toward the driver to be inoperable by the driver.

A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle is configured so that in a manual driving mode in which a driver directly drives a vehicle, a pedal pad 400 is in a popped-up state of protruding and being exposed toward the driver to be operable by the driver, and in an autonomous traveling situation of the vehicle, the pedal pad 400 is in a hidden state of being hidden and blocked from being exposed toward the driver to be inoperable by the driver.

The reaction force output device includes a drive source configured to output power to an operation portion in a direction opposite to an operating direction thereof; and a clutch mechanism interposed between the operation portion and the drive source and configured to connect and disconnect transmission of the power to the operation portion, wherein the clutch mechanism includes a first rotating body connected to the drive source side and to which the power of the drive source is transmitted, a second rotating body connected to the operation portion side, disposed coaxially with the first rotating body and configured to be relatively rotatable with respect to the first rotating body, a clutch lever rotatably supported by the first rotating body, and a plurality of engagement portions disposed at the second rotating body in a circumferential direction thereof and engaged with the clutch lever.

The reaction force output device includes a drive source configured to output power to an operation portion in a direction opposite to an operating direction thereof; and a clutch mechanism interposed between the operation portion and the drive source and configured to connect and disconnect transmission of the power to the operation portion, wherein the clutch mechanism includes a first rotating body connected to the drive source side and to which the power of the drive source is transmitted, a second rotating body connected to the operation portion side, disposed coaxially with the first rotating body and configured to be relatively rotatable with respect to the first rotating body, a clutch lever rotatably supported by the first rotating body, and a plurality of engagement portions disposed at the second rotating body in a circumferential direction thereof and engaged with the clutch lever.

A method of controlling switching to a manual driving mode in an autonomous vehicle provided with a foldable pedal device is provided. In the method, when a signal for switching a driving mode from an autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode is generated in an autonomous vehicle provided with a foldable accelerator pedal device and a foldable brake pedal device, whether it is possible to switch the driving mode to the manual driving mode is determined by checking safety conditions; when the safety conditions are satisfied, it is determined whether a pop-up position of a pad of the foldable accelerator pedal device and a pop-up position of a pad of the foldable brake pedal device are normal pop-up positions, respectively; and only when the positions are the respective normal pop-up positions, the driving mode is switched to the manual driving mode.

A vehicle has a braking system including a brake pedal and a controller. The controller may cause the brake pedal to move to a predetermined position responsive to automatic application of braking torque by the braking system. The controller may further implement an update such that the predetermined position corresponds to zero braking torque.

A foldable pedal apparatus for vehicles is provided in which pedal pads are rotated rearwards from a footrest panel and thus enter a pop-up state to be manipulable by a driver in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly drives a vehicle. The pedal pads are rotated forwards maximally close to the front surface of the footrest panel and thus enter a hidden state without exposure to be nonmanipulable by the driver in an autonomous driving situation.

A foldable pedal apparatus for vehicles is provided in which pedal pads are rotated rearwards from a footrest panel and thus enter a pop-up state to be manipulable by a driver in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly drives a vehicle. The pedal pads are rotated forwards maximally close to the front surface of the footrest panel and thus enter a hidden state without exposure to be nonmanipulable by the driver in an autonomous driving situation.

A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes pedal assemblies including pedal arms and pedal pads that are rotated rearwards and are thus popped up to a driver so as to be operated by the driver in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly drives a vehicle. Also, the pedal assemblies including the pedal arms and the pedal pads may be rotated forwards and upwards, so as to be located close to a front surface of a footrest panel and thus enter a hidden state in which exposure of the pedal assemblies to the driver is interrupted so as not to be operated by the driver in an autonomous driving situation.

A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes pedal assemblies including pedal arms and pedal pads that are rotated rearwards and are thus popped up to a driver so as to be operated by the driver in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly drives a vehicle. Also, the pedal assemblies including the pedal arms and the pedal pads may be rotated forwards and upwards, so as to be located close to a front surface of a footrest panel and thus enter a hidden state in which exposure of the pedal assemblies to the driver is interrupted so as not to be operated by the driver in an autonomous driving situation.