Mazda Motor Corporation

Hideki Tani

Yasushi Yagi

Tetsushi Marutani

Yasumasa Imamura

Daisuke Kofu

Akihiro Tatara

A method of controlling driving force of a vehicle includes estimating a first maximum road surface frictional coefficient based on a driving stiffness defined by a micro slip ratio and driving force of drive wheels, in a first driving state where the vehicle travels straight at a constant acceleration, estimating a second maximum road surface frictional coefficient based on a steering reaction force detected by an electric power steering device, in a second driving state different from the first state and where the vehicle is steered, estimating a third maximum road surface frictional coefficient to be a given value in a third driving state different from the first and second states and where an outdoor air temperature is above a determination temperature, and controlling the driving force to settle within a friction circle defined by each of the highest frictional coefficients and a ground contact load of the drive wheels.

Method of controlling driving force of vehicle

A control system of a four-wheel drive vehicle and a gradient value setting device of the vehicle is provided so as to reliably control a wheel skid despite the vehicle facing an intersecting direction intersecting a maximum tilt line direction. The vehicle includes an engine, front and rear wheels, an electronic control 4WD coupling, and a control unit. The distribution amount of the driving force to the rear wheels is set by the electronic control 4WD coupling. The control unit determines whether or not the vehicle faces the intersecting direction on the inclined road, and if so, sets the driving force distribution amount so that the difference between the driving force distribution amount to the front wheels and to the rear wheels is smaller as compared with on a flat road, and commands the electronic control 4WD coupling to distribute the driving force by the distribution amount.

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Hiroshima, Japan

Hideki Tani