Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Derek Leslie Jones

David Andrew Clare

Jan Pieter Prins

William Burdock

Paul Malcolm Darnell

John Anthony Kellett

Anthony Francis Spillane

Keith Gary Reginald Parsons

Sam Anker

David Armstrong

Adrian Berry

Andrew Cotta

Tim Slaney

Adrie Breugelmans

Nick Moore

Richard Cook

David Inch

Scott Dicken

Phil Guest

A vehicle control system has a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management systema transmission controllera steering controllera brakes controllerand a suspension controllerThese subsystem controllers are each operable in a plurality of subsystem modes, and are all connected to a vehicle mode controllerwhich controls the modes of operation of each of the subsystem controllers so as to provide a number of driving modes for the vehicle. Each of the modes corresponds to a particular driving condition or set of driving conditions, and in each mode each of the functions is set to the function in mode most appropriate to those conditions.

Vehicle control

A vehicle control system has a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controllerand a suspension controller. These subsystem controllers are each operable in a plurality of subsystem modes, and are all connected to a vehicle mode controllerwhich controls the modes of operation of each of the subsystem controllers so as to provide a number of driving modes for the vehicle. Each of the modes corresponds to a particular driving condition or set of driving conditions, and in each mode each of the functions is set to the function in mode most appropriate to those conditions.

A vehicle mode controller, a driving mode collecting means, and a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controller and a suspension controller, provide an improved system and method of operating a vehicle control system in a host vehicle in a manner suitable for a respective driving surface in a plurality of different off-road surfaces and terrains such as might be encountered when driving off-road. An improved method is provided for controlling a vehicle control system by avoiding unplanned combinations of subsystem configuration modes and minimizing the transition time when changing between subsystem configuration modes.

Vehicle control method and apparatus

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West Midlands, United Kingdom

Derek Leslie Jones