Abstract: In a steering apparatus, in accordance with a grip limit control process (30b?), it is determined whether or not a grip degree ? estimated by a grip degree estimation arithmetically operating process (30a) is less than a predetermined grip degree (??), and in the case that it is determined that an estimated grip degree (?) is less than the predetermined grip degree (??), the process applies such a feeling that a steering operation by a steering wheel suddenly becomes light to a driver, by suddenly increasing an assist quantity by a motor (M), thereby notifying the driver of the matter that the grip degree of a steered wheel is close to a limit. Therefore, it is possible to transmit to the driver a probability that a side slip is generated by further turning the steering wheel 21 in the same direction as the current direction, thereby calling the driver's attention for steering.

Abstract: A rolling motion stability control apparatus restrains a roll increasing tendency of a vehicle, with each wheel of the vehicle being braked by a wheel brake device. A first braking force control device is provided for applying a first braking force to the wheel, when the vehicle is turned to one direction. A second braking force control device is provided for applying a second braking force to the wheel, when the vehicle is turned to the other direction. A terminating control adjustment device is provided for adjusting the braking force control devices to continue the first braking force being applied, until the second braking force is initiated to be applied, when the vehicle is turned to the one direction, and then to the other direction.

Abstract: A stabilizer is actively controlled even for an input from a road surface, ride comfort is ensured against a variation resulted from irregularity of road surface, while a vehicle is traveling straight, and a roll angle of a vehicle body is restrained surely, when the vehicle is turning. In a stabilizer control apparatus for controlling a torsional rigidity of a stabilizer disposed between a right wheel and a left wheel of the vehicle, to control a rolling motion of a vehicle body actively in response to a turning state of the vehicle, a relative displacement between the vehicle body and the right and left wheels is detected (M13), and according to at least one of a stabilizer free control (M15) and a roll damping control (M16), on the basis of at least one of a difference between right and left wheel strokes and a difference between right and left wheel stroke velocities, an externally applied force for controlling the torsional rigidity of the stabilizer is set (M17).

Abstract: In a stabilizer control apparatus for transmitting a power through a speed reducing mechanism, a rolling motion of a vehicle body is restrained smoothly and rapidly, without being affected by transmitting efficiency of the speed reducing mechanism. As for a stabilizer (SBf) including a pair of stabilizer bars (SBfr, SBfl) disposed between a right wheel and a left wheel, and a stabilizer actuator (FT) driven by an electric motor disposed between them, the electric motor M is controlled in response to a turning state of a vehicle, to control a torsional rigidity of the stabilizer. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises relative position detection means for detecting the relative position of the pair of stabilizer bars (for example, obtained from a relationship between a rotational angle of the electric motor and a reducing speed ratio), and it is so constituted that the electric motor is controlled in response to the detected result.

Abstract: To provide a small-sized stabilizer control apparatus for actively restraining a roll of a vehicle body within an output range of an electric motor, and certainly providing a torsion spring characteristic inherently owned by a stabilizer bar, if the output exceeds the range. A stabilizer actuator having an electric motor and a speed reducing mechanism is disposed between a pair of stabilizer bars disposed between a right wheel and a left wheel. The inverse of the product of a normal efficiency and a reverse efficiency of the speed reducing mechanism {1/(?P·?N)} is equal to or greater than 1.17 and equal to or smaller than 3.75, and the output of the electric motor is controlled to be held or reduced, when the turning state has come to be out of such a range that the rolling motion of the vehicle body can be actively controlled.

Abstract: A vehicle motion control apparatus is provided for performing a vehicle stability control on the basis of a parameter indicative of lateral margin for a tire on a road. The apparatus includes a steering control device for controlling a relationship between a steering angle and a tire angle to be varied, and a decelerating control device for controlling a vehicle speed to be decreased. The parameter indicative of lateral margin for the tire is monitored, and the steering control device and the decelerating control device are controlled on the basis of the monitored parameter.

Abstract: A stabilizer control apparatus for controlling a torsional rigidity of a stabilizer arranged between a right wheel and a left wheel of a vehicle includes a turning state detecting device for detecting a turning state quantity of the vehicle, and a switching device for switching the torsional rigidity of the stabilizer and including a first position in which a first torsional rigidity is achieved and a second position in which a lower torsional rigidity than the first torsional rigidity is achieved. The switching device switches between the first position and the second position based on the turning state quantity detected by the turning state detecting device. Further, the switching device switching the first position to the second position when a state in which the turning state quantity detected by the turning state detecting device is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value continues for a predetermined time or more.

Abstract: In vehicle roll sensing of the present invention, a self-aligning torque (SAT) estimator estimates a composite value of SATs generated on tire contact patch of right and left wheels. A slip angle computer detects a vehicle speed and a steering angle and computes a slip angle of the wheel from the measured vehicle speed and steering angle. An SAT model value computer estimates an SAT model value as a composite value of SATs of the right and left wheels when no load shifts between the right and left wheels on the basis of the slip angle. A load shift ratio estimator estimates a load shift state of the right and left wheels on the basis of the composite value of the SATs of the wheels and the SAT model value. A vehicle rollover estimator estimates a rollover of the vehicle on the basis of the estimated load-shift state.

Abstract: An angular velocity detection device is provided for detecting an angular velocity about a single axis tilted in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle to a normal axis thereof. An actual motion state variable of the vehicle is calculated on the basis of the detected angular velocity. At least one of the braking force and driving force applied to a vehicle is controlled to stabilize a yawing motion and a rolling motion of the vehicle, on the basis of a motion state variable deviation between a desired motion state variable and the actual motion state variable, e.g., a deviation between a yaw velocity and a roll velocity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rolling motion stability control apparatus restrains a roll increasing tendency of a vehicle, with each wheel of the vehicle being braked by a wheel brake device. A first braking force control device is provided for applying a first braking force to the wheel, when the vehicle is turned to one direction. A second braking force control device is provided for applying a second braking force to the wheel, when the vehicle is turned to the other direction. A terminating control adjustment device is provided for adjusting the braking force control devices to continue the first braking force being applied, until the second braking force is initiated to be applied, when the vehicle is turned to the one direction, and then to the other direction.

Abstract: In a stabilizer apparatus for a vehicle, an electronic control unit calculates a target current of an electric motor from vehicle speed, steering angle, and lateral acceleration, and increases and decreases actual current such that the calculated target current flows through the motor. The control unit decreases the actual current by a predetermined amount when the difference between the target current and the actual current becomes smaller than a predetermined value during control of increasing the actual current. The predetermined amount is equal to the difference between the determined target current at the time of the detection of the difference and current which is necessary to obtain, during control of decreasing the actual current, an output torque equal to the output torque of the speed reduction mechanism obtained as a result of the target current flowing through the electric motor.

Abstract: A rolling motion stability control apparatus restrains a roll increasing tendency of a vehicle, with each wheel of the vehicle being braked by a wheel brake device. A first braking force control device is provided for applying a first braking force to the wheel, when the vehicle is turned to one direction. A second braking force control device is provided for applying a second braking force to the wheel, when the vehicle is turned to the other direction. References for starting controls of the first and second braking force control devices are set to be of predetermined values, respectively. The reference for starting the control of the second braking force control device is modified to be smaller than a predetermined value, when the vehicle is turned to the one direction.

Abstract: According to a roll increasing tendency estimation apparatus, a state variable is calculated in response to magnitude of a rolling moment of the vehicle, to provide a roll input magnitude, and a state variable is calculated in response to variation in time of the rolling moment, to provide a roll input velocity. A roll increasing tendency of a vehicle is estimated on the basis of a relationship between the calculated roll input magnitude and the calculated roll input velocity. On the basis of a relationship between the roll input magnitude and roll input velocity, at least one of a braking force control and a driving force control may be performed, to restrain the roll increasing tendency of the vehicle.

Abstract: A braking force distribution control device is provided in which wheel speeds of respective wheels of a vehicle are detected. On the basis of the detected wheel speeds, slopes of coefficients of friction ? between the wheels and a road surface are estimated as road surface ? slope values of the respective wheels. On the basis of the estimated road surface ? slope values of the respective wheels, braking forces of the respective wheels are controlled such that the braking forces among the respective wheels are adjusted.

Abstract: In accordance with a vehicle motion control apparatus, a steering angle (?h) of a steering wheel is determined on the basis of a rotation angle (?pm) of an assist motor (24m) detected by a rotation angle sensor (24s) and a rotation angle (?vm) of a gear ratio variable motor (32m) detected by a rotation angle sensor (32s), and a VGRS control process (40a) of a gear ratio variable mechanism is executed on the basis of the determined steering angle (?h). Accordingly, since the steering angle (?h) of the steering wheel is determined on the basis of the rotation angle (?vm) used for the VGRS control process (40a) of the gear ratio variable mechanism and the rotation angle (?pm) used for an EPS control process (30a) of an EPS actuator, it is possible to obtain the steering angle (?h) of the steering wheel without a steering angle sensor. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of the parts of a vehicle motion control apparatus.

Abstract: A first state variable indicative of a rolling motion of a vehicle and a second state variable indicative of a different rolling motion of the vehicle from the first state variable are acquired. A roll increasing tendency of the vehicle is estimated on the basis of a characteristic including the second state variable. At least one of a braking force control and a driving force control is performed to restrain the roll increasing tendency of the vehicle, on the basis of the first state variable acquired when the roll increasing tendency is estimated.

Abstract: In a stabilizer apparatus for a vehicle, an electronic control unit calculates a target current of an electric motor from vehicle speed, steering angle, and lateral acceleration, and increases and decreases actual current such that the calculated target current flows through the motor. The control unit decreases the actual current by a predetermined amount when the difference between the target current and the actual current becomes smaller than a predetermined value during control of increasing the actual current. The predetermined amount is equal to the difference between the determined target current at the time of the detection of the difference and current which is necessary to obtain, during control of decreasing the actual current, an output torque equal to the output torque of the speed reduction mechanism obtained as a result of the target current flowing through the electric motor.

Abstract: In accordance with a vehicle motion control apparatus, a steering wheel torque (Th) generated in accordance with an operation of a steering wheel is determined in accordance with a steering wheel torque arithmetic process (30b) by EPS_ECU by using a steering torque (Tp) generated in a second steering shaft of a gear ratio variable mechanism, a motor torque (Tvm) generated by a motor (32m) of the gear ratio variable mechanism and a rotation angle (?vm) of the motor (32m), on the basis of a dynamic equation expressing a torque transfer by the gear ratio variable mechanic Accordingly, even in the case that the vehicle motion control apparatus employs a structure that the gear ratio variable mechanism is interposed between the steering wheel and a torque sensor, the steering wheel torque (Th) can be known without adding any new torque sensor or the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a road condition estimation apparatus for estimating a road condition for use in a vehicle having a steering control unit for actuating a device mechanically independent of a manually operated steering member to steer at least a wheel of front and rear wheels. The apparatus includes an actuating signal detection unit for detecting an actuating signal for actuating the device of the steering control unit, an aligning torque estimation unit for estimating an aligning torque produced on the wheel on the basis of the actuating signal detected by the actuating signal detection unit, and a vehicle state variable detection unit for detecting a state variable of the vehicle.

Abstract: In accordance with a steering apparatus (20), a grip state between a ground surface on which a steered wheel is grounded and the steered wheel is estimated by a grip degree estimation arithmetically operating process (30a) which is arithmetically operated by AFS_ECU (30), and VGRS target angle is set such that a steering gear ratio is increased in the case that the grip degree gets close to a grip limit on the basis of an estimated grip state, in accordance with a grip degree vs gear ratio map (30b). Accordingly, since it is possible to estimate the grip degree which is changed in correspondence to a magnitude of the road surface it, for example, in the case that the steered wheel gets close to the grip limit, it is possible to increase the steering gear ratio so as to set large even at a time when the vehicle runs at the low speed.