Abstract: A motor vehicle controller that carries out a method which includes: receiving a signal indicative of a surface friction parameter, surface_friction, the surface friction parameter corresponding to a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving a signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions, accel_ctrl_pos; determining a critical powertrain torque limit value PT_TQ_CRIT in dependence at least in part on the value of surface_friction; and providing a traction warning indication to a driver in dependence on the value of accel_ctrl_pos and PT_TQ_CRIT.

Abstract: A speed control system for a vehicle, comprising an electronic controller configured to automatically cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value. The electronic controller is further configured to receive information relating to movement of at least a portion of a vehicle body or at least a portion of a body of an occupant relative to a vehicle, and to automatically adjust the value of the target speed value in dependence on the received information.

Abstract: Autonomous cruise control is provided to permit one vehicle to follow another at a predetermined separation regardless of gradient. A system and method is disclosed which continually determines the separation distance of the vehicles, the speed of the leading vehicle and the location of the leading vehicle, to the intent that the following vehicle computes the required speed upon reaching the instant location of the lead vehicle.

Abstract: A driver advice system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle subsystem comprises a selector for receiving at least one driving condition indicator for the vehicle and for selecting, 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 device for providing to the driver an indication of the preferred setting for one or more of the vehicle subsystems.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system comprising one or more electronic control units configured to carry out a method that includes applying torque to at least one of the plurality of wheels, detecting a slip event between any one or more of the wheels and the ground over which the vehicle is travelling when the vehicle is in motion and providing a slip detection output signal in the event thereof. The method carried out by the one or more electronic control units further includes receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel and maintaining the vehicle at the target speed independently of the slip detection output signal by adjusting the amount of torque applied to the at least one of the plurality of wheels.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to implement a speed control function, the control system being operable to: receive an input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; determine an instantaneous value of a primary target speed torque parameter corresponding to an amount of torque that should be developed at a given position in a powertrain in order to control the vehicle to travel at the target speed; and filter by means of filter means a value of a torque parameter input thereto to generate a filtered torque parameter value, the system being operable to command the powertrain to develop at said position an amount of torque corresponding to the filtered torque parameter value, wherein the system is operable to input to the filter means a secondary target speed torque parameter value determined in dependence on the primary target speed torque parameter value and a current value of filtered torque parameter generated by the filter means.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in a manual operating mode selection condition in which a user may select a required system operating mode by means of user-operable mode selection input means, and an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode, wherein when operating in the manual condition and a change from the manual condition to the automatic condition is made the system is configured to select a prescribed automatic mode selection condition vehicle ride-height independently of the selected operating mode.

Abstract: A driver advice system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle subsystem comprises a selector for receiving at least one driving condition indicator for the vehicle and for selecting, 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 device for providing to the driver an indication of the preferred setting for one or more of the vehicle subsystems.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel and applying torque to the at least one of the vehicle wheels for propelling the vehicle at a vehicle control speed. The user input is received via an input device that enables the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button. The system includes a controller configured to incrementally increase the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is held, and, once the set-speed + button is released the controller is configured to continue to increase the target set-speed by a value determined by the controller in dependence on at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system for controlling a vehicle having a plurality of wheels. The vehicle speed control system is configured to automatically control the speed of the vehicle in dependence on an input target set-speed. The system carries out a method that includes: applying torque to at least one of the plurality of wheels; receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; and applying torque to the at least one of the plurality of wheels for propelling the vehicle at a vehicle control speed. The system further controls the vehicle control speed as a function of at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system is configured to automatically control the speed of the vehicle in dependence on an input set-speed. The system receives a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel. The system includes an input device to enable the user to incrementally increase and/or decrease the target set-speed upon each actuation of the input device by an incremental value. Torque is applied to at least one of the vehicle's wheels for propelling the vehicle at the vehicle control speed. The control system is configured to determine the incremental value in dependence upon at least one of: the instantaneous vehicle speed; the target set-speed; or the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling.

Abstract: A method of cruise control whereby a following vehicle can be caused to travel at a target speed, subject to maintaining a pre-determined distance from a leading vehicle in substantially straight travel, the method comprising: determining by means of measuring means a separation distance of the leading vehicle and following vehicle and maintaining the pre-determined separation distance from the leading vehicle; determining by means of deviation detection means a deviation of the leading vehicle from a substantially straight path and an instant location of the deviation; and preventing automatic acceleration of the following vehicle until reaching said instant location in dependence on the detection of a deviation.

Abstract: A method and system of providing steering in cruise control, in low friction conditions, at low speed and in low range. Speed of individual vehicle wheels is repeatedly and automatically adjusted to ensure that the actual rate of turn of the vehicle approaches the theoretical rate of turn as demanded by the vehicle driver.

Abstract: A method of setting a vehicle in motion over a driving surface and/or maintaining motion of said vehicle over the driving surface implemented by a control system, said method comprising initiating motion control, initiating motion control comprising: commanding by the control system application of brake torque and drive torque to one or more wheels such that the vehicle is held stationary; subsequently initiating motion from rest whilst brake torque continues to be applied to the one or more wheels. The strategy may also be implemented to maintain vehicle progress on low friction surfaces. The vehicle driver may be commanded to vary a control input, such as accelerator pedal position, in order to facilitate the maintaining of progress.

Abstract: A system for controlling vehicle speed in accordance with a current value of vehicle set-speed. The system responds to user input to change the current value of vehicle set-speed to a different value and is configured to store the current value of set-speed in a memory as a stored set-speed and to change the current value of set-speed in dependence on the user input. The speedometer indicates both the current and stored set-speeds. The system can return the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed upon receipt of a “resume” or other user command. The system can enter into a descent control mode that applies braking torque but no drive torque and can also enter into a full functionality mode that provides either drive or braking torque to maintain the vehicle at the set-speed.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to implement a speed control function, the control system being operable to: receive an input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; determine an instantaneous value of a primary target speed torque parameter corresponding to an amount of torque that should be developed at a given position in a powertrain in order to control the vehicle to travel at the target speed; and filter by means of filter means a value of a torque parameter input thereto to generate a filtered torque parameter value, the system being operable to command the powertrain to develop at said position an amount of torque corresponding to the filtered torque parameter value, wherein the system is operable to input to the filter means a secondary target speed torque parameter value determined in dependence on the primary target speed torque parameter value and a current value of filtered torque parameter generated by the filter means.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to implement a speed control function, the control system comprising: means for receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; target speed torque determining means for determining an instantaneous value of torque, target speed torque, that should be applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle by a powertrain in order to control the vehicle to travel at the target speed; and filter means operable to filter the value of target speed torque to generate a filtered torque value, the system being operable to command the powertrain to apply to the one or more wheels an amount of torque corresponding to the filtered torque value, wherein the system further comprises modifier means operable to receive the instantaneous value of target speed torque generated by the target speed torque determining means and to input to the filter means a value of torque that is less than the target speed torque in dependence on a current speed of the vehicle

Abstract: A vehicle is adapted to sense a condition of use in which a maximum speed control speed is reduced. The condition of use may be indicated by a sensor of the vehicle, or selected according to the kind of terrain across which the vehicle is travelling. Selection of terrain type may be manual or automatic, and may enable a selection of sensors appropriate to the terrain type. A vehicle driver may select a speed control speed lower than the permitted maximum.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the system being operable to cause the vehicle to accelerate from a first speed to a second speed in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of acceleration profiles, the profile being selected in dependence on a selected one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the system being operable to cause the vehicle to operate in accordance with a value of vehicle set-speed, the system being operable to allow a user to change the current value of vehicle set-speed in discrete steps by means of user input means, a magnitude of the discrete steps being determined by the system in dependence on a vehicle operational state.