Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Paul John King

Andrew Fairgrieve

Emma-Claire Dunning

Thuy-Yung Tran

Maelle Dodu

Robbie Lesbirel

Jonathan Woodley

Rebecca Matthias

John Simlett

Nicolas Iacovou

Roxana Ciovnicu

Jithesh Kotteri

Jithin Jayaraj

Laur Läänemets

Krishna Jayaprakash

Bineesh Ravi

Timothy John Kennedy

Hongshi Yan

David Howard Summers

Simon Oliver Sutton

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a control system for a vehicle, the control system comprising at least one controller and being configured to: obtain image data relating to terrain to be traversed by the vehicle, and for each of a plurality of sub-regions of the image data: determine probability data relating to whether the respective sub-region relates to a path region or a non-path region of the terrain; and determine a cost for the vehicle to traverse a portion of the terrain to which the sub-region relates depending on the probability data meeting one or more path probability criteria indicating that the sub-region relates to the path region, one or more non-path probability criteria indicating that the sub-region relates to the non-path region or neither the path probability criteria nor the non-path probability criteria; and determining a vehicle path in dependence on the determined costs.

Control system for a vehicle

A control system (C) for a vehicle (), the system comprising a processing means (10, 19) arranged to receive, from terrain data capture means (C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle by means of one or more sensors, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (), wherein the terrain information comprises data defining at least one 2D image of the terrain ahead of the vehicle, wherein the processing means (10, 19) is configured to: perform a segmentation operation on image data defining one said at least one 2D image and identify in the image data edges of a predicted path of the vehicle; calculate a 3D point cloud dataset in respect of the terrain ahead of the vehicle based on the terrain information; determine the 3D coordinates of lateral edges of the predicted path of the vehicle by reference to the point cloud dataset, based on the coordinates of edges of the predicted path identified in the 2D image, to determine a 3D predicted path of the vehicle; and control the direction of travel of the vehicle in dependence at least in part on the 3D predicted path.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a vehicle, the vehicle () being operable in an at least partly autonomous mode and a manual mode, the control system comprising input means () for receiving a gaze signal () indicative of a direction of a gaze of an occupant of the vehicle (), and a contact signal () indicative of physical contact between the occupant and a control of the vehicle, control means () configured to determine an estimate of the occupant's attention to a driving task in the at least partly autonomous mode in dependence on the gaze signal () and to determine when the occupant is at least partly obscured relative to the at least one imaging means (), wherein the control means () is configured to determine the estimate of the occupant's attention to the driving task in dependence on the contact signal when it is determined that the occupant is at least partly obscured.

Apparatus and method for monitoring vehicle operation

A controller can include an electronic processor unit configured to control the driving direction of a vehicle within a lane based on a first trajectory. The controller can be operable to receive a user input for directing the vehicle along a second trajectory that is different from the first trajectory, determine third trajectory data by at least comparing data associated with the first trajectory to data associated with the second trajectory, and output a control signal for controlling, using the electronic processor unit, the driving direction of the vehicle. The control signal can be based at least on the third trajectory data.

Controller and method for controlling the driving direction of a vehicle

A controller for controlling a pneumatic control valve (PCV) in a central tire inflation system (CTIS). The controller includes an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving a supply-side pressure signal. The electronic processor is configured to control a first control valve (V) to generate a pneumatic control signal for changing an operating state of a pneumatic control valve (PCV). The electronic processor also monitors the supply-side pressure signal and identifies a change in the operating state of the pneumatic control valve (PCV) in dependence on a change in the supply-side pressure. The electronic processor is configured to output a first valve close signal upon determining that the pneumatic control valve (PCV) has changed operating state. Also provided is a CTIS incorporating a controller; to a vehicle; and to a method of controlling a pneumatic control valve (PCV).

Central tyre inflation system and method

A central tire inflation system (CTIS) for a vehicle includes a reservoir for supplying air to the vehicle tires, a pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the reservoir, a compressor for supplying compressed air along a first flow path to the reservoir, a compressor timer for monitoring the run-time of the compressor, a dryer disposed on the first flow path for drying air supplied by the compressor, a purging system for routing air through the dryer along a second flow path to purge liquid from the dryer, and a controller for controlling the flow of air in the CTIS. The controller is configured: to activate the compressor in response to a request for a compressor operation, after which operation the air in the reservoir is at a post-operation pressure; when the compressor operation is complete, to determine a compressor activation period, and to determine if the compressor activation period is greater than or equal to a target period; and if the compressor activation period is less than the target period, to keep the compressor activated until pressure in the reservoir increases to a base target pressure greater than the post-operation pressure; and if the compressor activation period is greater than or equal to the target period, to keep the compressor activated until pressure in the reservoir increases to an elevated target pressure higher than the base target pressure and to activate the purging system to route air from the reservoir to purge the dryer of liquid.

A central tire inflation system for a vehicle having a plurality of inflation control valves for controlling inflation of a respective tire, a first gas source for supplying pressurized gas to the inflation control valves, a first gas inlet valve for controlling the supply of gas from the first gas source to a fluid gallery, and a plurality of gallery outlet valves each arranged to control gas flow between the fluid gallery and a respective tire supply line that supplies gas from the fluid gallery to the inflation control valve. The gallery has two gallery pressure sensors for measuring a pressure of gas in the gallery. An electronic controller performs a gallery pressure sensor check that involves, with the gallery outlet valves and first gas inlet valve closed, causing the gallery exhaust valve to open and monitoring the pressure in the gallery according to each of the gallery pressure sensors.

Control system, vehicle and method

A processor for controlling operation of a central tire inflation system (CTIS) to change a tire pressure of a tire of a vehicle is configured to control the CTIS to inflate or deflate the tire to a predetermined tire pressure which is above a target tire pressure for the tire. The processor then controls the CTIS to deflate the tire until the target tire pressure is reached. In this manner, a second tire inflation operation to achieve the target tire pressure in the tire can be avoided.

Central tire inflation system

A processor for controlling operation of a central tire inflation system. The processor controls the central tire inflation system to inflate a vehicle tire from a current tire pressure to a target tire pressure. The processor is configured to generate one or more output signals to cause the central tire inflation system to supply compressed air to inflate the tire from said current tire pressure to the target tire pressure in at least first and second stages. In the first stage, the central tire inflation system supplies compressed air to inflate the tire from the current tire pressure to an intermediate tire pressure. In the second stage, the central tire inflation system supplies compressed air to inflate the tire from the intermediate tire pressure to the target tire pressure. The first and second stages of the inflation are discrete from each other.

Central tire inflation system and method

A central tire inflation system for a tire. The system includes one or more pneumatic control valves for controlling inflation of a respective tire. A first compressed air source is provided for supplying compressed air to inflate the tire. A second compressed air source is provided for supplying compressed air to control the at one or more pneumatic control valves. A control means is provided for controlling the supply of compressed air from the second compressed air source to generate a pneumatic control signal to control the one or more pneumatic control valves. The first compressed air source can be a compressor configured to provide compressed air to inflate the tires. The second compressed air source can form part of an air suspension system.

A system is described for determining degradation of an exhaust gas recirculation system of an internal combustion engine. This method utilizes a combination of parameters to accurately determine degradation of the exhaust gas recirculation system. For example, the system utilizes changes in intake manifold pressure, changes in idle speed control operation, changes in ignition timing, and fueling changes to accurately determine operation of the exhaust gas recirculation system.

External exhaust gas recirculation on board diagnostic using EGR effect on a combination of engine operating parameters

The invention relates to the performance evaluation of an oxygen gas sensor in a motor vehicle, where the oxygen gas sensor is used to measure the oxygen content of the combusted air fuel mixture of a motor vehicle exhaust. The method involves measuring the fall time for the detected oxygen level to fall to a pre-determined lower threshold after the fuel supply to the engine has been cut off, and if the measured fall time exceeds a pre-set time, producing an oxygen sensor degradation signal.

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Warwickshire, United Kingdom

Paul John King