Abstract: The invention provides a system (10) for a motor vehicle (100) that receives drive demand information (161S) indicative of an amount of drive demanded of a powertrain (129) of the vehicle (100), and controls an amount of drive torque applied by the powertrain (129) to one or more road wheels (111, 112, 114, 115) in dependence on the drive demand information (116S). The system also receives gradient information (11GS) relating to the driving surface and vehicle speed information (Sv). The control system, in dependence on the gradient and speed information, automatically causes a braking system (12d) to apply brake force to one or more of the wheels (111, 112, 114, 115) to prevent vehicle rollback, and adjusts the amount of brake force applied in dependence on the drive demand information (161S) to cause the amount of brake force applied to increase progressively as the amount of drive demand decreases.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for controlling at least one subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising: a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the at least one vehicle subsystems in one of a plurality of baseline subsystem control modes by setting at least one control parameter of the or each of the at least one subsystems to a predetermined, stored, value or state applicable to that baseline subsystem control mode, each baseline subsystem control mode corresponding to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle; and input means for permitting a user to provide an input to the control system, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of baseline subsystem control modes, the control system is configured to allow a user to define, via the input means, a user-configured subsystem control mode based on one said at least one baseline subsystem control mode by adjusting the value or state of at least one of said at least one control parameters to a value or state

Abstract: A speed control system for a vehicle. The speed control system has a torque control for automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value. The system receives information indicative of a gradient of a driving surface over which the vehicle is driving, with the torque control being configured to control the rate of change of the amount of torque applied to the one or more wheels, in order to attempt to maintain the vehicle traveling in accordance with the target speed value, in dependence at least in part on the gradient of the driving surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a system (10) for a motor vehicle (100) that receives drive demand information (161S) indicative of an amount of drive demanded of a powertrain (129) of the vehicle (100), and controls an amount of drive torque applied by the powertrain (129) to one or more road wheels (111, 112, 114, 115) in dependence on the drive demand information (116S). The system also receives gradient information (11GS) relating to the driving surface and vehicle speed information (Sv). The control system, in dependence on the gradient and speed information, automatically causes a braking system (12d) to apply brake force to one or more of the wheels (111, 112, 114, 115) to prevent vehicle rollback, and adjusts the amount of brake force applied in dependence on the drive demand information (161S) to cause the amount of brake force applied to increase progressively as the amount of drive demand decreases.

Abstract: A speed control system for a vehicle. The speed control system has a torque control for automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value. The system receives information indicative of a gradient of a driving surface over which the vehicle is driving, with the torque control being configured to control the rate of change of the amount of torque applied to the one or more wheels in order to attempt to cause the vehicle to accelerate substantially from rest to a target speed value, the rate of change of the amount of torque being controlled by the torque control in dependence at least in part on the received information indicative of the gradient of the driving surface.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle sub-system, the system being configured for determining a configuration of the sub-system. The system includes a user interface for receiving from a user an indication of a plurality of attributes indicative of off-road driving characteristics of a driving scenario, and a processor arranged to determine a configuration of the at least one vehicle sub-system based on the plurality of attributes of the driving scenario.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for controlling at least one subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising: a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the at least one vehicle subsystems in one of a plurality of baseline subsystem control modes by setting at least one control parameter of the or each of the at least one subsystems to a predetermined, stored, value or state applicable to that baseline subsystem control mode, each baseline subsystem control mode corresponding to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle; and input means for permitting a user to provide an input to the control system, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of baseline subsystem control modes, the control system is configured to allow a user to define, via the input means, a user-configured subsystem control mode based on one said at least one baseline subsystem control mode by adjusting the value or state of at least one of said at least one control parameters to a value or state

Abstract: A speed control system for a vehicle. The speed control system has a torque control for automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value. The system receives information indicative of a gradient of a driving surface over which the vehicle is driving, with the torque control being configured to control the rate of change of the amount of torque applied to the one or more wheels in order to attempt to cause the vehicle to accelerate substantially from rest to a target speed value, the rate of change of the amount of torque being controlled by the torque control in dependence at least in part on the received information indicative of the gradient of the driving surface.

Abstract: A speed control system for a vehicle. The speed control system has a torque control for automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value. The system receives information indicative of a gradient of a driving surface over which the vehicle is driving, with the torque control being configured to control the rate of change of the amount of torque applied to the one or more wheels, in order to attempt to maintain the vehicle traveling in accordance with the target speed value, in dependence at least in part on the gradient of the driving surface.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of: automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value v_target; controlling a rate of change of speed of the vehicle by application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels; and receiving information relating to a terrain response mode in which the vehicle is configured or an amount of drag imposed on a vehicle. The system is configured to control the rate of change of speed in dependence at least in part on the terrain response mode, the amount of drag imposed on the vehicle, or both.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle sub-system, the system being configured for determining a configuration of the sub-system. The system includes a user interface for receiving from a user an indication of a plurality of attributes indicative of off-road driving characteristics of a driving scenario, and a processor arranged to determine a configuration of the at least one vehicle sub-system based on the plurality of attributes of the driving scenario.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of: automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value v_target; controlling a rate of change of speed of the vehicle by application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels; and receiving information relating to a terrain response mode in which the vehicle is configured or an amount of drag imposed on a vehicle. The system is configured to control the rate of change of speed in dependence at least in part on the terrain response mode, the amount of drag imposed on the vehicle, or both.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramifying composition for forming a fire resistant ceramic under fire conditions the composition comprising: (i) at least 10% by weight of mineral silicate; (ii) from 8% to 40% by weight of at least one inorganic phosphate that forms a liquid phase at a temperature of no more than 800° C.; and (iii) at least 15% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a polymer base composition comprising at least 50% by weight of an organic polymer.

Abstract: A system for identifying transmission rates of an optical signal transmitted in an optical communication network includes a signal converter for converting a sample of the optical signal to an electrical signal. A frequency analyzer analyzes the electrical signal to determine energy levels of the signal at predetermined frequencies. The detected energy levels are stored in a first memory device. A second memory device stores known energy levels at predetermined frequencies for a plurality of known optical transmission standards. A comparator receives the detected energy levels stored in the first memory device and compares this information to the known transmission standards stored in the second memory device in order to identify the data transmission standard of the optical signal.

Abstract: A cable (1) comprises a conductor (3), an insulating layer (2) which forms a self-supporting ceramic layer when exposed to elevated temperatures experienced in a fire, and an additional heat transformable layer (4). The additional layer (4) can be another layer which forms a self-supporting ceramic layer when exposed to fire, or it can act as a sacrificial layer which decomposes at or below the temperature that the insulating layer forms a ceramic. The addition layer can enhance the strength of the layers before, during or after the fire, the structural integrity of the insulting layer (2) after the fire, the resistance of the layers to the ingress of water after the fire, or the electrical or thermal resistance of the layers during and after the fire.

Abstract: A fire resistant composition comprising: a silicone polymer; mica in an amount of from 5% to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition; and a limited amount of glass additive sufficient to enable the formation of a self supporting ceramic material at temperatures above the decomposition temperature of the silicone polymer and below the fire rating temperature of the composition. The glass additive addition required to produce the self supporting ceramic material has been found to be preferably from 0.3% to 8% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The composition is applicable to products formed for fire wall linings, fire partitions, screens, ceilings or linings, structural fire protection, fire door inserts, window or door seals, intumescent seals, in electrical switchboard cabinets or cables. In one cable application, the composition may be used as the extruded intermediate material (2) between the conductor (3) and extruded sheath (4).

Abstract: A fire resistant composition for forming a fire resistant ceramic at elevated temperatures, the composition comprising: at least 15% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a polymer base composition comprising at least 50% by weight of an organic polymer; and at least 20% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a silicate mineral filler; wherein upon exposure to an elevated temperature (experienced under fire conditions), the fire resistant composition is useful for passive fire protection applications, particularly cables, the fluxing oxide is present in an amount of from 1 to 15% by weight of the residue.

Abstract: Good quality films can be formed on a substrate by coating a substrate with a solution comprising a liquid silicate solvent containing a dissolved photocurable arylsiloxane oligomer or polymer. Phenyl silocane/silicate compositions can be used to form photocurable films on substrates for use as dielectric films, protective coatings, and the like.