Abstract: A vehicle control system for adjusting control characteristics governing behaviors of a vehicle in accordance with a driving preference of a driver. The vehicle control system is comprised of a shifting means that shifts a driving mode of the vehicle between a first mode in which a driving force to be generated is moderated and a second mode in which a driving force to be generated is larger than that generated under the first mode, upon exceedance of a predetermined threshold value by an index that is changed according to a change in a behavior of the vehicle resulting from an accelerating or a decelerating operation executed by the driver. The threshold value is set to a limit value of acceleration for human beings to sense a linear change in the acceleration from zero.

Abstract: A driving force control system for a vehicle having a mechanism for changing an engine speed continuously. The driving force control system basically controls said mechanism in a manner such that the engine speed is adjusted to optimize fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine an index representing a demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle based on an actual behavior of the vehicle or an amount of operation carried out by a driver to cause said behavior. An upper limit value of the engine speed of the case in which a drive demand is increased is determined on the basis of the index, and the upper limit value is set to the higher value with an increase in the index representing the demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A driving force control system for vehicle for controlling a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver. The control mode is selected from a first mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected, and to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.

Abstract: A driving force control device of a vehicle is provided which is configured to calculate a required braking force on the basis of an amount of pressure applied to a brake operating mechanism, which is operated for deceleration by a driver, and to control a braking force of a power plant, which includes a drive source generating an accelerating force and a braking force, and a braking force of a braking mechanism, which generates a braking force with the operation of the braking operating mechanism, in cooperation so that the total braking force of the vehicle as a whole becomes the required braking force. The driving force control device is configured to detect acceleration information including a lateral acceleration of the vehicle and to control the braking force of the power plant on the basis of the detected acceleration information when the brake operating mechanism is operated.

Abstract: A steering system includes: a steering member that is provided on a vehicle and that is used for a steering operation; an actuator that assists the steering operation of the steering member; and a steering control device that executes returning operation assist control in which the actuator is controlled to assist a returning operation for returning the steering member to a neutral position, the returning operation corresponding to a turning operation for turning the steering member from the neutral position, and that determines a returning operation time at the time of executing the returning operation assist control on the basis of a steering operation amount of the steering member at the time of the turning operation.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an acceleration acquisition unit that detects or estimates an acceleration of a vehicle; and a control unit that is configured to change a running characteristic, which includes at least any one of a driving force characteristic, shift characteristic, steering characteristic and suspension characteristic of the vehicle, on the basis of the acceleration, wherein the control unit is configured to relatively delay a change of the running characteristic for decreasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle with respect to a change of the running characteristic for increasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle, and is configured to limit a change of the running characteristic when a jerk, which is a time differential value of the acceleration, is larger than a limit determination threshold as compared with when the jerk is smaller than or equal to the limit determination threshold.

Abstract: A driving force control system for a vehicle having a mechanism for changing an engine speed continuously. The driving force control system basically controls said mechanism in a manner such that the engine speed is adjusted to optimize fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine an index representing a demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle based on an actual behavior of the vehicle or an amount of operation carried out by a driver to cause said behavior. An upper limit value of the engine speed of the case in which a drive demand is increased is determined on the basis of the index, and the upper limit value is set to the higher value with an increase in the index representing the demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to judge a vehicle behavior or a driving preference of a driver based on acceleration of the vehicle including at least longitudinal acceleration. An acceleration value used in the judgment is obtained on the basis of a weighted detection value of the actual longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and a weighted parameter which is varied by an operation to increase a driving force of the vehicle executed by the driver. A weight on the parameter is reduced in case a weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is increased, and the weight on the parameter is increased in case the weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is reduced.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a controller that configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of a vehicle and that configured to vary a running characteristic of the vehicle on the basis of the index, wherein the controller is configured to relatively delay a variation in the index in response to a variation in the running condition when the variation in the index decreases quickness of a behavior of the vehicle as compared with when the variation in the index increases the quickness of the behavior of the vehicle, and to correct the running characteristic on the basis of the index so that energy efficiency of a driving force source of the vehicle varies within a predetermined range depending on control over power output from the driving force source.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a control portion configured to determine a single parameter based on a running condition of a vehicle, and determine control amounts for a plurality of actuators provided in the vehicle based on the parameter. A relation of the control amount for each of the plurality of actuators to the parameter is predetermined. The control portion is configured to, when the parameter is determined, determine the control amounts for the respective actuators based on the parameter, and control the actuators based on the determined control amounts.

Abstract: A driving force control device of a vehicle is provided which is configured to calculate a required braking force on the basis of an amount of pressure applied to a brake operating mechanism, which is operated for deceleration by a driver, and to control a braking force of a power plant, which includes a drive source generating an accelerating force and a braking force, and a braking force of a braking mechanism, which generates a braking force with the operation of the braking operating mechanism, in cooperation so that the total braking force of the vehicle as a whole becomes the required braking force. The driving force control device is configured to detect acceleration information including a lateral acceleration of the vehicle and to control the braking force of the power plant on the basis of the detected acceleration information when the brake operating mechanism is operated.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle, includes: a controller that is configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of the vehicle, to vary a running characteristic of the vehicle on the basis of the index, and to vary details output from an effect producing device, which applies a stimulus to at least part of five senses of a driver of the vehicle, on the basis of the index, wherein when a variation in the running characteristic because of a variation in the index decreases, quickness of a behavior of the vehicle, the variation in the index in response to a variation in the running condition is relatively delayed, as compared with when the variation in the running characteristic because of the variation in the index increases quickness of the behavior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to estimate an index representing a driving condition of a vehicle and a driving preference of a driver based on acceleration of the vehicle, and to adjust a driving characteristics of the vehicle based on the index. The vehicle control system is comprised of a straight-line braking determining means configured to determine a fact that a braking operation of the vehicle is carried out under a condition that the vehicle travels in a straight line, and an operational disturbance reducing means that prevents or reduces an effect of a disturbance resulting from the straight-line braking of the vehicle on an adjustment of the driving characteristics of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for adjusting control characteristics governing behaviors of a vehicle in accordance with a driving preference of a driver. The vehicle control system is comprised of a shifting means that shifts a driving mode of the vehicle between a first mode in which a driving force to be generated is moderated and a second mode in which a driving force to be generated is larger than that generated under the first mode, upon exceedance of a predetermined threshold value by an index that is changed according to a change in a behavior of the vehicle resulting from an accelerating or a decelerating operation executed by the driver. The threshold value is set to a limit value of acceleration for human beings to sense a linear change in the acceleration from zero.

Abstract: A vehicle control system vehicle control system configured to adjust a control characteristic of a vehicle in accordance with a driving preference of a driver. The vehicle control system detects an intentional operation of the driver based on a pattern of a change in a speed of an operation carried out by the driver to change a driving condition of the vehicle, and judges the driving preference on the basis of: a correlation of operational preference determining a correlation among an operating amount, an operating time and an operating preference; an operating amount of the intentional operation; and an operating time of the intentional operation. Therefore, the driving preference can be judged immediately when the driver carries out an operation to change a driving condition of the vehicle based on the operating time and the operating amount. The judged driving preference is reflected on the control characteristic of the vehicle immediately.

Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to judge a vehicle behavior or a driving preference of a driver based on acceleration of the vehicle including at least longitudinal acceleration. An acceleration value used in the judgment is obtained on the basis of a weighted detection value of the actual longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and a weighted parameter which is varied by an operation to increase a driving force of the vehicle executed by the driver. A weight on the parameter is reduced in case a weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is increased, and the weight on the parameter is increased in case the weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is reduced.

Abstract: A driving force control system for vehicle for controlling a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver. The control mode is selected from a first mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected, and to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.

Abstract: A steering system includes: a steering member that is provided on a vehicle and that is used for a steering operation; an actuator that assists the steering operation of the steering member; and a steering control device that executes returning operation assist control in which the actuator is controlled to assist a returning operation for returning the steering member to a neutral position, the returning operation corresponding to a turning operation for turning the steering member from the neutral position, and that determines a returning operation time at the time of executing the returning operation assist control on the basis of a steering operation amount of the steering member at the time of the turning operation.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an acceleration acquisition unit that detects or estimates an acceleration of a vehicle; and a control unit that is configured to change a running characteristic, which includes at least any one of a driving force characteristic, shift characteristic, steering characteristic and suspension characteristic of the vehicle, on the basis of the acceleration, wherein the control unit is configured to relatively delay a change of the running characteristic for decreasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle with respect to a change of the running characteristic for increasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle, and is configured to limit a change of the running characteristic when a jerk, which is a time differential value of the acceleration, is larger than a limit determination threshold as compared with when the jerk is smaller than or equal to the limit determination threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a controller that configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of a vehicle and that configured to vary a running characteristic of the vehicle on the basis of the index, wherein the controller is configured to relatively delay a variation in the index in response to a variation in the running condition when the variation in the index decreases quickness of a behavior of the vehicle as compared with when the variation in the index increases the quickness of the behavior of the vehicle, and to correct the running characteristic on the basis of the index so that energy efficiency of a driving force source of the vehicle varies within a predetermined range depending on control over power output from the driving force source.