Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jan Pieter Prins

David Andrew Clare

Derek Leslie Jones

William Burdock

Paul Malcolm Darnell

Keith Gary Reginald Parsons

Anthony Francis Spillane

John Anthony Kellett

Andrew Fairgrieve

Paul Beever

Nick Brockley

Jon Parr

James Kelly

Daniel Woolliscroft

Sam Anker

David Armstrong

Alex Bean

Charlotte Cooke

Adrian Berry

Charlotte Cook

Tim Slaney

Adrie Breugelmans

Nick Moore

Richard Cook

David Inch

Scott Dicken

Phil Guest

Andrew Cotta

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 motor vehicle controller comprising data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus configured to carry out the steps of: receiving a surface friction signal indicative of a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving an accelerator position signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions; determining a powertrain torque limit value corresponding to an amount of powertrain torque at which slip of a driving wheel is expected to exceed a predetermined amount, the powertrain torque limit value being determined at least in part in dependence on the surface friction signal; and determining and outputting a powertrain torque demand signal corresponding to an instant amount of torque to be developed by a powertrain, the powertrain torque demand signal being determined in dependence at least in part on the accelerator position signal according to a predetermined relationship.

Controller and method

A motor vehicle controller configured to: receive a drive demand signal indicating an amount of net drive to be applied to one or more driving wheels of a vehicle, estimate a value of a parameter indicative of a surface coefficient of friction between one or more driving wheels and a driving surface, and apply a net torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle. The amount of net torque applied is determined in dependence at least in part on the received drive demand signal. The controller is configured to increase an amount of net torque applied to one or more driving wheels independently of the drive demand signal and to update an estimate of the parameter in dependence on a change in speed of the at least one driving wheel when the amount of net torque applied to the at least one driving wheel is increased.

Motor vehicle controller and method

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 differential control system for the center and rear differentials of a four-wheel-drive vehicle comprises a controller () which receives signals input from a number of sensors including ride height sensors (). The controller () determines from the ride height signals the degree of articulation of the vehicle suspension and controls the degree of locking of the differentials in response. The degree of locking is increased with increased articulation, and with increased rate of change of articulation.

Vehicle differential control

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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Solihull, United Kingdom

Jan Pieter Prins