Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, that a lane centering feature is active in the vehicle; identifying, by the processor, a pattern of steering wheel torque; determining, by the processor, a driver requested offset based on a location of the vehicle and a location of a center of the lane; applying, by the processor, the driver requested offset to a planned trajectory of the vehicle; evaluating, by the processor, one or more duration conditions; and in response to the evaluating, selectively generating, by the processor, a control signal based on the planned trajectory with the driver requested offset.

Abstract: A vehicle system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a trailer control module configured to control actuation of actuators of the trailer and a vehicle control module in communication with the trailer control module. The vehicle control module is configured to control actuation of actuators in the vehicle, determine an energy parameter associated with the vehicle when the trailer control module controls actuation of the actuators in the trailer based on an initial trailer condition, determine an actuation force when the trailer control module controls actuation of the actuators in the trailer based on the initial trailer condition, and generate a control signal for the trailer control module based on the actuation force to control actuation of the actuators of the trailer hitched to the vehicle. Other example vehicle systems and methods for vehicles towing trailers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle comprising an Electric Power Steering System (EPS). In an embodiment, a method includes learning, by a processor, a non-linearity of a boost factor associated with the EPS; determining, by the processor, a deboost factor based on an inverse relationship of the learned non-linearity of the boost factor associated with the EPS; and generating, by the processor, a steering command to the EPS based on the deboost factor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: initiating, by a processor, steering excitation according to a pattern while the vehicle is stationary; learning, by the processor, a load associated with a front axle of the vehicle based on the steering excitation; translating, by the processor, the load associated with the front axle of the vehicle to a load associated with a tongue of a trailer, and generating, by the processor, a trailer tongue load value based on the load associated with the tongue of the trailer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, that a lane centering feature is active in the vehicle; identifying, by the processor, a pattern of steering wheel torque; determining, by the processor, a driver requested offset based on a location of the vehicle and a location of a center of the lane; applying, by the processor, the driver requested offset to a planned trajectory of the vehicle; evaluating, by the processor, one or more duration conditions; and in response to the evaluating, selectively generating, by the processor, a control signal based on the planned trajectory with the driver requested offset.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle comprising an Electric Power Steering System (EPS). In an embodiment, a method includes learning, by a processor, a non-linearity of a boost factor associated with the EPS; determining, by the processor, a deboost factor based on an inverse relationship of the learned non-linearity of the boost factor associated with the EPS; and generating, by the processor, a steering command to the EPS based on the deboost factor.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling steering of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: operating, by a processor, the autonomous vehicle in a path-based automated driving assist mode; receiving, by the processor, driver input including a driver torque; classifying, by the processor, an operation mode based on a type of the path-based automated driving assist mode; determining, by the processor, an override threshold for overriding the path-based automated driving assist mode on a first lateral side of the autonomous vehicle based on the operation mode; determining, by the processor, a driver override status based on the override torque threshold; and generating, by the processor, control signals to control the steering of the autonomous vehicle based on the driver override status and the driver torque.

Abstract: Methods, systems and a vehicle control system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle control system includes an Electric Power Steering System (EPS), and a sensor system including a vehicle dynamics sensor configured to provide vehicle dynamics data and a temperature sensor configured to provide measured outside temperature. A processor is in operable communication with the EPS and the sensor system. The processor is configured to execute program instructions. The program instructions are configured to cause the processor to: execute an automated lateral control algorithm based on the vehicle dynamics data to generate a steering command, adapt the automated lateral control algorithm based on the measured outside temperature so that the steering command compensates for changing lateral response of the vehicle as a result of changing environmental temperature; and provide the steering command to the EPS, wherein the EPS is configured to laterally control the vehicle based on the steering command.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for lateral control of a steering system includes identifying at least one parameter of at least one lateral control feature that results in an optimized value in an outcome of control for a lateral control feature enabling robustness to an uncertainty; adaptively adjusting an output control signal generated by a vehicle trajectory controller coupled to the steering controller, by quantifying the uncertainty of an uncertain value in a lateral control feature; and sending a control command including at least a torque control or a wheel angle control to compensate for the uncertainty of the at least one uncertain value in the configuration of components of an electronic power steering (EPS) system associated with the vehicle variant by correcting at least one parameter of the at least one lateral control feature.

Abstract: Methods, systems and a vehicle control system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle control system includes an Electric Power Steering System (EPS), and a sensor system including a vehicle dynamics sensor configured to provide vehicle dynamics data and a temperature sensor configured to provide measured outside temperature. A processor is in operable communication with the EPS and the sensor system. The processor is configured to execute program instructions.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for lateral control of a steering system includes identifying at least one parameter of at least one lateral control feature that results in an optimized value in an outcome of control for a lateral control feature enabling robustness to an uncertainty; adaptively adjusting an output control signal generated by a vehicle trajectory controller coupled to the steering controller, by quantifying the uncertainty of an uncertain value in a lateral control feature; and sending a control command including at least a torque control or a wheel angle control to compensate for the uncertainty of the at least one uncertain value in the configuration of components of an electronic power steering (EPS) system associated with the vehicle variant by correcting at least one parameter of the at least one lateral control feature.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling steering of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: operating, by a processor, the autonomous vehicle in a path-based automated driving assist mode; receiving, by the processor, driver input including a driver torque; classifying, by the processor, an operation mode based on a type of the path-based automated driving assist mode; determining, by the processor, an override threshold for overriding the path-based automated driving assist mode on a first lateral side of the autonomous vehicle based on the operation mode; determining, by the processor, a driver override status based on the override torque threshold; and generating, by the processor, control signals to control the steering of the autonomous vehicle based on the driver override status and the driver torque.

Abstract: A coffee roaster oven chamber wherein coffee beans are heated and intermixed in a fluidized bed is fabricated as a unitary structure from a transparent material that allows incandescent coils to radiantly heat coffee beans while they are concurrently heated by air heated by the same coils. In a preferred embodiment the oven chamber is fabricated from glass as a single piece structure which may be removed from the coffee roaster for adding or removing coffee beans and cleaning.

Abstract: A coffee roaster which roasts coffee beans in a removable oven chamber employing both radiant and convection heating techniques while the beans are continually intermixed in a fluidized bed rotating in the horizontal plane. Roaster control means are provided to terminate the roasting process by quenching the beans and oven chamber with relative cool air while maintaining the beans in a fluidized bed to avoid scorching or further roasting by the residual heat of the coffee bean mass. The oven chamber is provided with an insulated handle to facilitate its removal from the heating chamber for dispensing roasted coffee beans. It includes an upper transparent section through which the roasted charge of beans may be viewed to thereby facilitate poring beans from the removed chamber.