Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding methods for detecting a tailgating situation involving a second motor vehicle behind an automated vehicle, and performing an automated safety routine in response to the detected tailgating situation. The tailgating situation is detected based on a simultaneous occurrence of two or more conditions involving an estimated time to collision, lateral offsets of both vehicles with respect to a center of a lane, activation of a turn signal blinker of the second motor vehicle, or flashing of a headlamp of the second motor vehicle. The safety routine includes performing a lane change to an adjacent lane. When no adjacent lanes are available for a lane change, a maximum permissible deceleration rate is decreased while increasing a time gap between the automated vehicle and a third motor vehicle directly in front of the automated vehicle by automatically adjusting an amount of at least one of acceleration or braking.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding methods for detecting a tailgating situation involving a second motor vehicle behind an automated vehicle, and performing an automated safety routine in response to the detected tailgating situation. The tailgating situation is detected based on a simultaneous occurrence of two or more conditions involving an estimated time to collision, lateral offsets of both vehicles with respect to a center of a lane, activation of a turn signal blinker of the second motor vehicle, or flashing of a headlamp of the second motor vehicle. The safety routine includes performing a lane change to an adjacent lane. When no adjacent lanes are available for a lane change, a maximum permissible deceleration rate is decreased while increasing a time gap between the automated vehicle and a third motor vehicle directly in front of the automated vehicle by automatically adjusting an amount of at least one of acceleration or braking.

Abstract: A process for assisting the driving of a vehicle in a situation of following a queue. The vehicle is provided with a braking system and a plurality of sensors measuring values of variables defining an instantaneous state of the vehicle. The process includes the steps of: comparing the state of the vehicle with an entry state by testing a plurality of entry conditions; when the entry conditions are simultaneously verified, comparing the state of the vehicle with an exit state by testing a plurality of exit conditions; while at least one exit condition is not verified, generating a braking force value (F); and transmitting the value of the braking force generated as the target braking force (Ftarget) to the braking system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driving assistance method which is intended for use on a slope. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises an accelerometer which can measure a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle as measured longitudinal acceleration.

Abstract: A process for assisting the driving of a vehicle provided with a braking system including brake calipers able to be activated as a function of a target braking force, including the steps of: determining an instantaneous state of the vehicle defined by state variables measured by sensors with which the vehicle is provided; testing a logical entry condition verified when the velocity of the vehicle is zero and when the slope is greater than a pre-defined slope; when the logical entry condition is verified, testing a logical exit condition; automatically operating the braking system to keep the vehicle static on the slope while the logical exit condition is not verified; and automatically releasing the activation of the braking system when the logical exit condition is verified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driving assistance method which is intended for use on a slope. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises an accelerometer which can measure a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle as measured longitudinal acceleration.

Abstract: This method for controlling the behaviour of an automotive vehicle during cornering consisting in measuring the rotational wheel speed of the front and rear wheels of the vehicle, establishing the wheel speed difference between the front and rear wheels and modifying the brake pressure applied to the rear wheel brakes of the vehicle according to a vehicle behaviour to be obtained, comprises the steps of elaborating a function of the absolute value of the wheel speed difference between the inner front wheel and the outer rear wheel, considering the cornering direction and using said function to determine the brake pressure variations to be applied to the rear wheel brakes.

Abstract: A control method for a manual back-up electro-hydraulic braking system in which the rear service brakes of the vehicle are intentionally operated in a manual back-up mode under specified non-failure operating conditions to conserve electrical energy. The manual back-up mode for the rear service brakes is initiated if braking is commenced while the vehicle speed is below a near-zero threshold speed. If braking is commenced above the threshold speed, the manual back-up mode for the rear service brakes is initiated when the vehicle speed falls below the threshold and the pressure command for the rear brakes has been substantially constant for at least a predetermined time. In this case, the rear manual back-up mode is initiated by reducing the rear brake pressure command to the rear boost units at a controlled rate until the rear brake pressure reaches the manually developed pressure, and then entering the manual back-up mode.