Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for vehicle turning in confined spaces are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein instructions, at least one memory, a processor to execute the instructions to operate a first brake of a first wheel of a vehicle, operate a second brake of a second wheel of the vehicle, determine a frictional coefficient of a driving surface of the vehicle by rotating a third wheel of the vehicle, determine based on the frictional coefficient, if a turn command can be conducted by the vehicle, and when the turn command can be conducted, conduct the turn command.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a brake assembly for applying negative torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle, a grill shutter assembly that directs airflow over the brake assembly when opened, and prevents airflow toward the brake assembly when closed, and a controller that calculates a target brake temperature, the controller being operably coupled to the grill shutter assembly to control positioning of the grill shutter assembly based on a comparison between a current brake temperature to the target brake temperature.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a speed control system that is configured to increase and decrease vehicle speed when a command is received from a control system. The speed control system may include an engine that provides positive torque, and a friction-based system that is configured to provide negative torque to decrease vehicle speed. The control system may provide negative torque commands to activate a friction-based system of a trailer, and a trailer torque can be adjusted by changing a gain of negative torque commands to the trailer. The control system may utilize a baseline gain if trailer fade is not detected. The control system may decrease the gain of negative torque commands to the trailer if the negative torque of the trailer for an applied gain decreases with time.

Abstract: A vehicle control system of a vehicle may include a first brake assembly to secure the vehicle in a stationary position while parked, a first sensor suite to monitor an environment outside the vehicle in response to the first brake assembly being enabled, a second sensor suite to monitor the environment, and a controller configured to monitor first sensor suite data received from the first sensor suite to determine potential vehicle movement. The controller may be configured to transition the vehicle to an awake state to enable the second sensor suite in response to determining the vehicle is moving, confirm the vehicle is moving via second sensor suite data received from the second sensor suite in response to the vehicle being in the awake state, and apply brake force from a second brake assembly in response to the vehicle being confirmed to be moving.

Abstract: A parking brake system of a vehicle may be provided. The parking brake system may include a brake assembly, a controller operably coupled to a sensor suite, and a locking assembly operably coupled to the brake assembly to lock torque applied to the brake assembly when actuated. The locking assembly may include a rack gear that may apply a locking force to a brake pad of the brake assembly when the brake assembly is actuated to apply an actuation force to the rack gear and the vehicle is parked, a solenoid having an energized state and a de-energized state, and a pinion gear operably coupled to the rack gear that may be carried by the rack gear when the brake assembly is actuated. The solenoid may engage the pinion gear when in the energized state and may only release the pinion gear responsive to a reapplication of the actuation force.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a speed control system that is configured to increase and decrease vehicle speed when a command is received from a control system. The speed control system may include an engine that provides positive torque, and a friction-based system that is configured to provide negative torque to decrease vehicle speed. The control system may provide negative torque commands to activate a friction-based system of a trailer, and a trailer torque can be adjusted by changing a gain of negative torque commands to the trailer. The control system may utilize a baseline gain if trailer fade is not detected. The control system may decrease the gain of negative torque commands to the trailer if the negative torque of the trailer for an applied gain decreases with time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine brake pad wear are disclosed herein. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a brake, memory, and a processor to execute instructions to detect the vehicle is in operation on a road, determine a deceleration capability of the brake in response to a first brake check event, compare the deceleration capability of the vehicle to a first threshold, and in response to determining the deceleration capability of the vehicle does not satisfy the first threshold, cause the vehicle to navigate to an exit of the road prior to a portion of the road with a grade higher than a threshold grade.

Abstract: A caravan is performed of a plurality of vehicles by an ego vehicle. An ego vehicle receives, in caravan messages via a wireless transceiver of the ego vehicle, capability information indicative of capabilities of the vehicles to traverse an obstacle along a route. Performance rankings that indicate relative capabilities of the vehicles per type of obstacle are determined based on the capability information. One or more ordering strategies are utilized to define a vehicle ordering for traversal of the obstacle along the route, the vehicle ordering being based on the performance rankings of the vehicles and the obstacle. The obstacle is traversed, by the caravan, according to the vehicle ordering.

Abstract: A method of providing vehicle guidance for traversal of rutted terrain may include employing a sensor network to determine characteristics of ruts in the rutted terrain, and determining a proximity value between a portion of a body of the vehicle and the rutted terrain based on the determined characteristics. The method may further include, responsive to the proximity value being below a proximity threshold, defining a strategy for positioning the vehicle at a point of increased ground clearance relative to the ruts, and providing a guidance instruction to the vehicle according to the defined strategy.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a brake assembly for applying negative torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle, a grill shutter assembly that directs airflow over the brake assembly when opened, and prevents airflow toward the brake assembly when closed, and a controller that calculates a target brake temperature, the controller being operably coupled to the grill shutter assembly to control positioning of the grill shutter assembly based on a comparison between a current brake temperature to the target brake temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating and providing braking assistance between towing vehicles and towed vehicles during towing events, such as bidirectional charging towing events, are provided. The towing braking assistance may be provided by the towed vehicle in the form of an assistive braking torque output to assist the towing vehicle with meeting a target deceleration rate during the towing event. The assistive braking torque output may be provided to account for mutual vehicle deceleration events, brake compensation or brake fade events, and stability events of the coupled vehicles during the towing events, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating steering controls between towing vehicles and towed vehicles provide more cohesive parking experiences during towing events, including bidirectional charging towing events. The towed vehicle may be controlled to provide assistive parking steering maneuvers to assist the towing vehicle when parking during the towing event. The assistive parking steering maneuver may include maneuvering a drive wheel of the towed vehicle either toward or away from a detected curb or detected traffic, for example.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine brake pad wear are disclosed herein. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a brake, memory, and a processor to execute instructions to detect the vehicle is in operation on a road, determine a deceleration capability of the brake in response to a first brake check event, compare the deceleration capability of the vehicle to a first threshold, and in response to determining the deceleration capability of the vehicle does not satisfy the first threshold, cause the vehicle to navigate to an exit of the road prior to a portion of the road with a grade higher than a threshold grade.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for vehicle turning in confined spaces are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein instructions, at least one memory, a processor to execute the instructions to operate a first brake of a first wheel of a vehicle, operate a second brake of a second wheel of the vehicle, determine a frictional coefficient of a driving surface of the vehicle by rotating a third wheel of the vehicle, determine based on the frictional coefficient, if a turn command can be conducted by the vehicle, and when the turn command can be conducted, conduct the turn command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating and providing braking assistance between towing vehicles and towed vehicles during towing events, such as bidirectional charging towing events, are provided. The towing braking assistance may be provided by the towed vehicle in the form of an assistive braking torque output to assist the towing vehicle with meeting a target deceleration rate during the towing event. The assistive braking torque output may be provided to account for mutual vehicle deceleration events, brake compensation or brake fade events, and stability events of the coupled vehicles during the towing events, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating and providing steering assistance between towing vehicles and towed vehicles during towing events. The towing steering assistance may be provided by the towed vehicle in the form of assistive steering maneuvers to assist the towing vehicle with turning during the towing event. The assistive steering maneuvers may be provided to account for turning maneuvers, steering compensation, and stability events of the coupled vehicles during the towing events, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating steering controls between towing vehicles and towed vehicles provide more cohesive parking experiences during towing events, including bidirectional charging towing events. The towed vehicle may be controlled to provide assistive parking steering maneuvers to assist the towing vehicle when parking during the towing event. The assistive parking steering maneuver may include maneuvering a drive wheel of the towed vehicle either toward or away from a detected curb or detected traffic, for example.