Vehicle control system that evaluates driving condition indicator(s) to determine the most appropriate control mode

A vehicle control system 10 comprising a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the vehicle subsystems 12 in a selected one of a plurality of different subsystem control modes. Each control mode corresponds to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle. Evaluation means are provided for evaluating one or more driving condition indicators, 16, 17 to determine the extent to which each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate and for providing an output 30 to the subsystem controller that is indicative of the control mode which is most appropriate. The evaluation means may calculate the probability that the or each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate. Automatic control means may be operable in an automatic response mode to select an appropriate one of the subsystem control modes in dependence on the output. The control modes may relate to terrain type or driving style.

Vehicle control unit which activates a progress control function

A control system, for a motor vehicle, comprises a vehicle control unit (VCU) 10 which controls a plurality of vehicle subsystems 12, e.g. engine management system 12a, transmission system 12b, steering unit 12c etc. The VCU 10 receives a plurality of signals 16, 17 from various sensors which provide, or are used to calculate, a plurality of driving condition or terrain indicators. A user, via a Human Machine Interface (HM1) 32 having a display screen and switchpack (170, fig 4) , may select automatic modes wherein an automatic progress control function is activated and a speed of the vehicle over terrain, e.g. hill descent, grass, snow etc, is controlled via an appropriate subsystem 12. When the system is in an automatic mode selection the system allows the automatic progress control function, e.g. cruise control, to be activated only when the system is operating in one of a subset of system operating modes. Reference is also made to a method of controlling a vehicle and a vehicle.

A driver advice system for a vehicle

A driver advice system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle subsystem 12a-12e such as an engine management system, transmission system steering system, comprises selection means 20 which receives at least one driving condition indicator, e.g. terrain indicator signals 17, 22, 26, from an estimator module 18. The selection means/module 20 serves an automatic special program selector (ASPS) algorithm and selects, from a plurality of settings, a preferred setting for the at least one vehicle subsystem in response to the at least one driving condition indicator. The driver advice system includes an indication means 34 for providing to the driver an indication of the preferred setting for one or more of the vehicle subsystems 12a-12e. The indication means 34 may be a visual display device and/or an audio device and/or a kinaesthetic device. If vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold and the preferred setting is a low range the indicating means is inhibited.

Vehicle control system and method for controlling a vehicle