Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system configured to control a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations, the control system being configured to receive an environment indication signal indicative of an environment surrounding the vehicle, the control system being configured to determine, based on the environment indication signal, whether there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle before brake torque is demanded of a braking system of the vehicle and the control system being configured, when it is determined that there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle, to cause the driveline to operate in a second configuration and not a first configuration, wherein in the first configuration a first group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline and in the second configuration the first group of one or more wheels and in addition a second group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the drivel

Abstract: A controller (125) for controlling an engine (102) of a vehicle (103) is disclosed, along with a control system (101) comprising a controller (125), a vehicle (103) and a method (200, 500). The controller (125) comprises control means configured to cause stopping of power generation of the engine (102) during movement of the vehicle (103) in dependence on at least one criterion being met and to cause restarting of power generation by the engine (102), in dependence of at least one input signal indicating a requirement for the engine (102) to restart to provide a required power output.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system of a motor vehicle transmission. The multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system includes a multi-stable selector which is operable by the driver of the vehicle to select a respective one of the operating modes of the transmission, an arrangement of illuminated labels indicating the selector mode and an indexing mechanism for maintaining the immobilization of the selector in its different positions.

Abstract: A control system that controls a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations is configured to receive a brake signal responsive to the application of a braking system. The control system causes the driveline to operate in a second configuration and not a first configuration in dependence at least in part on the brake signal. In the first configuration a first group of one or more wheels and in addition a second group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline, and in the second configuration the first group of one or more wheels and not the second group are arranged to be driven by the driveline.

Abstract: An input device for use in a vehicle steering assembly. The input device includes at least one user-operable control member which is moveable between a deployed state and a retracted state. When a control member is in its deployed state it is operable to provide an input to a vehicle control system, and when retracted, it is moved to a position that avoids accidental actuation. In a particular example, the or each control member is a paddle shaped lever which is used to send gear change requests to an automatic transmission, and the lever is retracted when gear change requests do not need to be sent.

Abstract: A motor vehicle control system that includes a first user-operable transmission selector for selecting a transmission operating mode and a user-operable gear selector, such as paddle input controls. The gear selector is operable in a first functional mode to select between a plurality of forward direction gear ratios. The gear selector is also operable in a second functional mode to select between a forward direction and reverse direction. This allows a user to use the gear selector to control travel in forward and reverse directions.

Abstract: A controller for a motor vehicle includes means for receiving information indicative of a current vehicle speed; means for receiving information indicative of an amount of brake force a braking system is developing or is capable of developing; means for receiving information indicative of a gradient of a driving surface on which the vehicle is driving; and torque transmission reduction means for causing a powertrain torque reduction operation to be performed in which the controller causes one or more components in a torque transmission path from a torque delivery device to driven wheels to assume a torque reduction condition in which torque transmission is reduced or substantially terminated. The controller is configured automatically to cause the torque reduction operation to be performed in dependence at least in part on the information indicative of current vehicle speed, information indicative of brake force amount and information indicative of driving surface gradient.

Abstract: A method and system of determining the instant gradient of a road, taking into account positive and negative drive torque, may be used to select one of a plurality of shift maps for a vehicle automatic transmission. The invention takes into account vehicle retardation due to braking, and permits consistent adoption of a shift map appropriate to the instant gradient.

Abstract: A vehicle (10) has an automatic multi-speed transmission. For starting from rest a launch ratio is selected by a slope and/or obstacle device (13, 15) according to identification of an up-slope (12), a down slope, or an obstacle (17, 18).

Abstract: A vehicle (10) has a camera recognition system to detect and interpret a road sign (14) indicative of a gradient. A gradient related shift map of an automatic vehicle transmission is pre-selected upon recognition of the road sign, and implemented upon detection that the gradient has commenced. The invention provides for rapid and consistent implementation of a suitable shift map on a gradient.

Abstract: A controller (125) for controlling an engine (102) of a vehicle (103) is disclosed, along with a control system (101) comprising a controller (125), a vehicle (103) and a method (200, 500). The controller (125) comprises control means configured to cause stopping of power generation of the engine (102) during movement of the vehicle (103) in dependence on at least one criterion being met and to cause restarting of power generation by the engine (102), in dependence of at least one input signal indicating a requirement for the engine (102) to restart to provide a required power output.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system of a motor vehicle transmission. The multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system includes a multi-stable selector which is operable by the driver of the vehicle to select a respective one of the operating modes of the transmission, an arrangement of illuminated labels indicating the selector mode and an indexing mechanism for maintaining the immobilization of the selector in its different positions.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system configured to control a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations, the control system being configured to receive an environment indication signal indicative of an environment surrounding the vehicle, the control system being configured to determine, based on the environment indication signal, whether there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle before brake torque is demanded of a braking system of the vehicle and the control system being configured, when it is determined that there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle, to cause the driveline to operate in a second configuration and not a first configuration, wherein in the first configuration a first group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline and in the second configuration the first group of one or more wheels and in addition a second group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the drivel

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system comprising: a first controller configured in each of a predetermined plurality of states to generate a torque request signal in order to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, the system being configured, when the first controller is one of said plurality of states to generate a gear shift limit signal to cause a change in an engine speed at which a transmission controller is permitted to cause a gear downshift, the gear shift limit signal being generated in dependence on at least one traction indicator signal indicative of an amount of estimated traction between the vehicle and a driving surface.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system of a motor vehicle transmission. The multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system includes a multi-stable selector which is operable by the driver of the vehicle to select a respective one of the operating modes of the transmission, an arrangement of illuminated labels indicating the selector mode and an indexing mechanism for maintaining the immobilization of the selector in its different positions.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system configured to control a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations, the system being configured to receive a brake signal responsive to the application of a braking system, the system being configured to cause the driveline to operate in a second configuration and not a first configuration in dependence at least in part on the brake signal, wherein the first configuration a first group of one or more wheels and in addition a second group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline and in the second configuration the first group of one or more wheels and not the second group are arranged to be driven by the driveline.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for a motor vehicle comprising: means for receiving information indicative of a current vehicle speed; means for receiving information indicative of an amount of brake force a braking system of the vehicle is developing or is capable of developing; means for receiving information indicative of a gradient of a driving surface on which the vehicle is driving; and torque transmission reduction means for causing a powertrain torque reduction operation to be performed in which the controller causes one or more components in a torque transmission path from a torque delivery device to driven wheels of the vehicle to assume a torque reduction condition in which torque transmission from the torque delivery device to the driven wheels is reduced or substantially terminated, the controller being configured automatically to cause the torque reduction operation to be performed in dependence at least in part on the information indicative of current vehicle speed, in

Abstract: A method for controlling a motor vehicle transmission (11) is disclosed in which a sensor (18) used to produce an indication of position of a selector (17) is calibrated such that positioning the selector (17) at a peak force feedback position produced by a peak and trough force feedback mechanism (24) connected to the selector (17) will always result in the selection of a drive mode of the transmission (11).

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle having a first user-operable transmission selector means for selecting a forward operating mode of a transmission corresponding to travel in a forward direction and a reverse operating mode of a transmission corresponding to travel in a reverse direction opposite the forward direction, the control system comprising: a user-operable gear selector configured in a first functional mode to, upon receipt of a user input, select between a plurality of forward direction gear ratios, and wherein the user-operable gear selector is re-configured in a second functional mode to, upon receipt of a user input, select between the forward operating mode and the reverse operating mode.

Abstract: A method and system of determining the instant gradient of a road, taking into account positive and negative drive torque, may be used to select one of a plurality of shift maps for a vehicle automatic transmission. The invention takes into account vehicle retardation due to braking, and permits consistent adoption of a shift map appropriate to the instant gradient.