Abstract: Provided is an extended view method and apparatus, the method including generating a virtual viewpoint image of a vehicle based on a surrounding view of the vehicle, generating an extended virtual viewpoint image based on the virtual viewpoint image of the vehicle and a received virtual viewpoint image of another vehicle, and displaying the extended virtual viewpoint image to a user.

Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a side mirror assembly having a mirror housing and a mirror. The mirror housing is moveable between a normal position and a partially-folded position, and the mirror is moveable relative to the mirror housing such that a line of sight remains the same in the normal and partially-folded positions. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror with an image display function includes a half mirror which includes a high-Re retardation film and a reflection layer and an image display device on the half mirror, in which the high-Re retardation film, the reflection layer, and the image display device are disposed in this order, the high-Re retardation film has a front phase difference of 5000 nm or greater, and the reflection layer is a linear polarization reflection layer or a circular polarization reflection layer.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a left side view camera attached to the left lateral side of the body and having a field of view in a rearward direction. A right side view camera is attached to the right lateral side of the body and has a field of view in a rearward direction. There is a right back up camera and a left back up camera. An optics module receives resulting video signals and produces light fields such that the light fields are reflected off of windows of the motor vehicle and are then visible to a driver of the motor vehicle as virtual images.

Abstract: A luggage compartment structure of a vehicle includes a floor covering, a side trim, and a pocket assembly. The floor covering includes a first board portion disposed closer to a front of the vehicle, a second board portion disposed closer to a rear of the vehicle, and a hinge portion that couples the first board portion with the second board portion. The second board portion is foldable on the hinge portion over the first board portion. The side trim is disposed on a side of the floor covering and includes a wall portion and a floor portion. The pocket assembly is disposed closer to the rear of the vehicle relative to the hinge and attached to the side trim to be detachable. The pocket assembly includes a sidewall portion and a bottom wall portion projecting from a lower edge of the sidewall portion and under which a battery is disposed.

Abstract: A storage solution for a vehicle includes a rotatable body that has a plurality of faces. The storage solution for a vehicle also includes a dowel that defines a rotation axis. The dowel is coupled to opposing faces of the rotatable body. One or more storage features are deployable from each face of the rotatable body that is free of engagement with the dowel.

Abstract: One embodiment of a ladder rack system and method of use are described. The system may have a ladder rack frame with an inner rail and an outer rail. The system may also have a ladder rack bed that is selectively moveable with respect to the ladder rack frame. The ladder rack bed may have an inner beam and an outer beam. The system may also have a driveshaft and at least one driveline arm that are connected together. The driveline arm is also connected to the ladder rack bed.

Abstract: A ladder latching device for a tilting ladder rack includes an inner extrusion for clamping to the load supporting member of the ladder rack. An outer extrusion is slidably mounted on the inner extrusion. The outer extrusion carries a treadle and ladder rung engaging stop. Between the two extrusions are a toothed rack and a gas spring. The outer extrusion carries a pivotable, spring-biased lever having a tooth for selectively engaging the toothed rack for releasably locking the stop at a desired location relative to a rung of a ladder being unloaded as the outer extrusion is made to slide by applying foot pressure on the treadle. Thus, a ladder may be lowered along the load supporting member until the ladder's feet engage the ground as the stop disengages from its place on a ladder rung.

Abstract: A bicycle rack for attaching to a vehicle includes a hitch attachment, a vertical support frame, and a pair of horizontal support frames. An upper horizontal support frame is perpendicularly secured to a distal end of the vertical support frame. A lower horizontal support frame is perpendicularly secured adjacent to the middle of the vertical support frame. The hitch attachment is pivotally secured behind the base of the vertical support frame and is provided with a plurality of hitch attachment apertures to allow an adjustable projection from the vehicle. The vertical support frame can be selectively moved toward horizontal by removing a lock pin. The upper and lower support frames support at least one (1) bicycle thereon.

Abstract: A communication device weather shield and vehicle door mount apparatus protects a communication device from moisture and debris while being operated by a user, and mounts the communication device to a vehicle door panel, so as to be operable from directly on the vehicle. The apparatus provides an anchor panel that mounts the communication device with an anchoring mechanism, and enables manipulation of the communication device with a hand grip. The apparatus provides a protective transparent shield that is fixedly disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship with the anchor panel. The shield is larger than the anchor panel, covering the anchor panel to protect the communication device from moisture and debris. The transparent shield is sized to slide in a recess between a vehicle side inner window surface and a side inner door so that the communication device hangs on the side of the vehicle below the window.

Abstract: A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a substrate attached to a housing. The housing includes a viewable portion. A light source is operably coupled with an optic. A reflective member is further disposed within the badge. A first portion of an excitation light emitted from the light source is directed through the optic toward a first portion of the viewable portion. A second portion of the excitation light is reflected by the reflective member towards a second portion of the viewable portion.

Abstract: A seal assembly is mounted to a floor portion of an RV with a slide out room. The slide out room has a wall and a floor that is separated from the floor of the RV. The seal assembly has a floor portion, a separate wear bar and a separate bulb seal. The floor portion has a mounting portion that receives the wear bar and an exterior leg that connects the bulb seal using a tongue and groove. Fasteners connect the wear bar and floor portion to the floor of the RV. The floor portion includes a wiper that extends upwardly from an inner lateral edge. A catch wall extends adjacent the wiper and cooperates with it to form a trough for drainage. The catch wall can receive a corner piece to direct drained water to the outside of the RV.

Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method are provided having wrong touch feedback and adaptive learning. The method includes the steps of detecting multiple attempted activations of a proximity switch that is not allowed, and adjusting one or more settings based on the detected multiple attempted activations to provide adaptive learning. The method also includes the steps of detecting an allowed activation of the proximity switch based on the adjusted one or more settings, and performing an action in response to the detected allowed activation. The proximity switch assembly includes one or more user perceived feedback devices for generating user perceived feedback when an attempted activation that is not allowed is detected.

Abstract: A wire harness that can be arranged in a vehicle, the wire harness including: a cylindrical conductor whose first end is electrically connected to a first flexible conductor that is flexible; and a tubular conductor that is electrically connected to the cylindrical conductor in a state in which a second end of the cylindrical conductor is fitted into an opening at a first end of the tubular conductor.

Abstract: A wire harness includes a cable that includes a plurality of electric wires and a sheath covering the electric wires, a wire fixing portion that is formed to cover an end portion of the sheath and the electric wires extending out of the end portion of the sheath and fixes the extending directions of the electric wires, and a fixing member attaching portion to which a fixing member used for fixing the cable to a fixing target is attached. The wire fixing portion and the fixing member attaching portion are formed by resin-molding. The wire fixing portion and the fixing member attaching portion are spaced apart from each other in a cable longitudinal direction. The wire fixing portion is relatively movable with respect to the fixing member attaching portion due to flexibility of the cable between the wire fixing portion and the fixing member attaching portion.

Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable electronic control device which has not only an effect of reducing costs but also an effect of facilitating a manufacturing process. To include a control board; a connector including a terminal connected to the control board; and a housing case to which the control board and the connector are fixed. The control board has a part sealed with a sealing resin. The connector is disposed at a position facing another part of the control board, being isolated from the sealing resin by the control board and the housing case.

Abstract: A retractable power interface includes a plurality of power ports, such as a 12 volt DC port, a 120 volt AC port, and a USB port. The power interface may be located in a variety of locations on a vehicle, such as in the interior of a truck bed, the tailgate of a truck bed, and a rear bumper. The power interface is coupled to the vehicle power by a retractable cord. The power interface may be removed from a stationary position or location and moved to a convenient location. The cord may automatically retract when it is desired to return the power interface to the stationary position. The retractable power interface may be located in the interior sidewalls of a truck bed, the interior side or top of a tailgate, and/or in the rear bumper.

Abstract: A vehicular data correlation system includes a first network access device (NAD) of a first vehicle; and a database server having processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cross-reference a first driver settings dataset in a driver settings database to a first vehicle dataset in a vehicle database to form a first enhanced data packet, cross-reference a first vehicle conditions dataset in a vehicle conditions database to a first driver dataset in a driver database to form a second enhanced data packet, correlate the first enhanced data packet with the second enhanced data packet, download the first enhanced data packet to the first NAD, download the second enhanced data packet to the first NAD, and transmit a first initiation signal to implement the first driver settings dataset and to display the first vehicle conditions dataset on the first vehicle, via the first NAD.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a self-discharge device adapted to decrease a positive potential of a window pane at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom during propulsion by discharging the static electricity through the airflow to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the window pane.

Abstract: A vehicle frame component for limiting the movement of the wheel of the vehicle toward the cab of a cab on frame vehicle including a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending outwardly and located proximal the wheel structure. In one embodiment the vehicle frame component is located forward of the wheel and includes a tire puncture device to deflate the tire during an offset front impact and in a second embodiment the vehicle frame component is located rearward of the wheel. The vehicle frame component has particular utility during an offset front impact where the offset is less than approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the width of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bumper reinforcement including: a bumper main body portion extending in a vehicle transverse direction and is provided at a vehicle longitudinal direction outer side of a pair of left and right side members, the pair of left and right side members being disposed at a vehicle front portion or a vehicle rear portion and extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction; and a reinforcing member formed of wood and is block-shaped, and that is disposed within a cross-section of at least a vehicle transverse direction central portion of the bumper main body portion, an axially central direction of annual growth rings of the wood of the reinforcing member being set to a direction that runs along the vehicle transverse direction.

Abstract: A pedestrian protection device for a motor vehicle, for example for a motor vehicle front end or a motor vehicle rear end, has a bumper crossmember with a deformation element arranged on the outer side thereof, i.e. the side directed towards the front. In particular, the deformation element is arranged between a bumper skin and the bumper crossmember. The deformation element has a first element and a second element which are displaceable relative to one another in the event of a collision.

Abstract: A seatback for a seating assembly in a vehicle comprises: a vertical midline; and a guide for seatbelt webbing having a first position and a second position; wherein, the second position is closer to the vertical midline than the first position. The seatback further includes a frame and trim at least partially covering the frame. The guide can be operably coupled to the frame. The guide can be disposed at least partially above the trim. The seatback can further include an actuator with a piston to move the guide. The piston can be operably connected to the guide below the trim having a first position and a second position. When the piston is in the first position, the guide is in the first position. When the piston is in the second position, the guide is in the second position. The actuator can be a controller controlled pyrotechnic actuator.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes a front wheel unit and a rear wheel unit attached to a vehicle body frame, a power source mounted at a rear portion of the vehicle body frame, a ROPS bracket fixed to the vehicle body frame at a region thereof forwardly of the power source and a ROPS. this ROPS includes a pair of left and right upright portions and a crossbar connecting the upright portions at upper portions thereof. Lower end portions of the pair of upright portions are supported to the ROPS bracket to be pivotable toward the power source about a horizontal axis extending in a vehicle-body transverse direction.

Abstract: An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes: a three-point seatbelt device having a seatbelt extendable across a front of an upper body of an occupant sitting on a seat; and a belt airbag device including a belt airbag that is provided at a shoulder belt section, which is extendable from a shoulder to a waist of the occupant, of the seatbelt the belt airbag being configured to be deployed when a collision occurs. The belt airbag includes a belt-direction deployment section extendable and deployable along the shoulder belt section, and an intersecting-direction deployment section extendable and deployable in a direction intersecting the shoulder belt section. The belt-direction deployment section and the intersecting-direction deployment section are configured to form a single bag by being coupled to each other below a head of the occupant sitting on the seat.

Abstract: An airbag system includes a seat back having a first location and a second location spaced from the first location. The airbag system includes a housing pivotally supported by the seat back at the first location. The airbag system includes a linear actuator including a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is fixed to the seat back at the second location. The second end is fixed to the housing.

Abstract: A radiant heater apparatus includes an interior panel, a heater main body, and a cover layer. The interior panel includes a deployment portion to be deployed into a cabin space due to a deployment of an airbag apparatus. The deployment portion has a breaking edge where a panel tear portion breaks when the airbag apparatus is deployed. The panel tear portion includes a centerline portion and a pair of sideline portions. The deployment portion includes the breaking edge that is formed along the centerline portion or the sideline portions. The deployment portion has a stress concentration portion that locally applies stress to the cover layer while at least a part of the breaking edge formed along the centerline portion is not in contact with the cover layer, when the deployment portion is deployed and comes into contact with the cover layer.

Abstract: An exemplary vehicle assembly, includes, among other things, an inflatable device that transitions between a less expanded position and a more expanded position. The inflatable device in the more inflated position is disposed within a door opening of a vehicle. A side door of the vehicle is detached from the vehicle to provide the door opening. An exemplary occupant protection method includes, among other things, after a side door of a vehicle is detached from the vehicle to provide a door opening, transitioning an inflatable device from a less expanded position to a more expanded position. The inflatable device in the more inflated position is disposed within the door opening.

Abstract: A curtain airbag apparatus may include: a curtain airbag cushion installed on an inner side surface of a vehicle including a first chamber configured to be inflated and deployed from a collapsed position as gas is injected therein from an inflator into an expanded position covering the inner side surface of the vehicle; and a first restraint part disposed toward a side of a driver airbag cushion to limit expansion of the curtain airbag cushion and form a restraint recess in the curtain airbag cushion to allow the driver airbag cushion to be fitted into the restraint recess such that the first chamber supports the driver airbag cushion in the expanded position.

Abstract: An airbag includes a main inflatable section which includes a front-collision arresting face at the rear plane as deployed, a protruding inflatable section which includes an oblique-collision arresting face, and an arresting recess formed between the front-collision arresting face and oblique-collision arresting face. An outer tether is disposed on the outside of the airbag for preventing the protruding inflatable section from moving away from the main inflatable section at airbag deployment. The outer tether includes a side edge disposed towards the protruding inflatable section and a front edge disposed towards the main inflatable section. The side edge is jointed to an upper edge of the oblique-collision arresting face by a side joint which is formed over a generally entire area in a front and rear direction of the protruding inflatable section. The front edge is jointed to an upper edge of the front-collision arresting face by a front joint.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle may include an airbag cushion configured to be provided with a vent hole for discharging inflation gas therein to the outside; a flap configured to have an external circumferential surface partially coupled to the airbag cushion along a rim of the vent hole; and a tether configured to have one end portion penetrating through the vent hole of the airbag cushion to be coupled to an internal side surface of the flap and be partially supported on an internal side surface of the airbag cushion to pull the flap when the airbag cushion is fully deployed, to close the vent hole and release a tensile force when the airbag cushion is loaded to deploy the flap outwardly of the airbag cushion by the inflation gas, to open the vent hole.

Abstract: A seat belt latch plate assembly includes a latch plate and a latch plate cover carried on the latch plate. That latch plate cover is made by means of a two-shot injection molding process and includes integral bumpers that are made from a soft, sound dissipating material and have an energy absorbing cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify first and second regions of an image representing a seatbelt, actuate an output device to deliver a first output upon detecting an absence of the seatbelt in the first region and in the second region, and actuate the output device to deliver a second output upon detecting an absence of the seatbelt in the first region and a presence of the seatbelt in the second region.

Abstract: A seatbelt assembly includes a buckle assembly, having (a) a housing carrying a latching mechanism, a first light source and a first electrical contact, (b) a seatbelt and (c) a latch plate assembly, carried on the seatbelt. The latch plate assembly includes a latch plate and an electrical circuit including a battery, a second light source and a second electrical contact.

Abstract: A vehicle ignition system includes an ignition cylinder housing defining an exterior portion, an interior portion and a channel extending at least partially through the interior portion. An ignition cylinder is at least partially received by and adjustable relative to the ignition cylinder housing. The ignition cylinder includes an elongate body defining an exterior portion and an interior portion. A cam member is at least partially received in the channel of the ignition cylinder housing and includes a clutch disposed adjacent to and engaging a portion of the ignition cylinder. A locking mechanism cooperates with the ignition cylinder housing and ignition cylinder includes a locking member having a projection extending therefrom that releasably engages a portion of the ignition cylinder housing when the locking mechanism is placed in the at least one second position to prevent adjustment of the ignition cylinder relative to the ignition cylinder housing.

Abstract: A control device includes an acquisition unit acquiring a condition of a vehicle upon reception of a control request, an execution ability determination unit determining whether or not the vehicle is in a condition where the control request can be executed safely, an execution control unit executing the control request when the vehicle is determined to be in a condition where the control request can be executed safely, and a changeover control unit implementing control to change over the condition of the vehicle to a condition where the control request can be executed safely. When the vehicle is in a condition where the control request cannot be executed safely, the changeover control unit is activated. After the vehicle becomes in a condition where the control request can be executed safely, the execution control unit executes the control request.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly module (20) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an optical sensor system (30) which can be used a) to monitor a detection area (150) on the outside of the motor vehicle (1) in order to determine the proximity of a user (10), b) to measure the distance to the user (10) within the detection area (150) and c) to release a signal for carrying out an action on the motor vehicle (1) in the event a user (10) is detected in a predefined actuation area (180) within the detection area (150).

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to a vehicle and enabling data off-boarding that include associating a primary portable device to the vehicle and granting privileges to the primary portable device. The method and system also include associating at least one secondary portable device to the vehicle by granting privileges to the at least one secondary portable device through the primary portable device. The method and system additionally include providing terms and conditions related to data off-boarding to the primary portable device and providing terms and conditions related to data off-boarding to the at least one secondary portable device when the at least one secondary portable device is linked to the vehicle through the primary portable device. The method and system further include controlling off-boarding of vehicle data of a driver when the terms and conditions are accepted.

Abstract: Example on-demand driver (ODD) systems and methods are described herein. An example method includes generating, with an ODD system, a softkey for a vehicle associated with an agreement between a driver-in-need (DIN) and an ODD, monitoring, with the ODD system, a location of an ODD device carried by the ODD, and transmitting, with the ODD system, the softkey to the ODD device when the ODD device is detected as being within a proximity of the vehicle. In the example method, the softkey is used to unlock the vehicle.

Abstract: Some embodiments include techniques for mutual authentication between a passenger that has requested a transportation service and a dispatched vehicle for providing the requested transportation service. A user device associated with the passenger verifies the dispatched vehicle using a vehicle access token generated by a transportation service platform and sends a secret key to the dispatched vehicle. The dispatched vehicle uses the secret key to recover passenger biometric information from a passenger secret received from the user device through the transportation service platform, captures passenger biometric information on-site, and compares the recovered passenger biometric information and the passenger biometric information collected on-site to verify the passenger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a windscreen wiping device (100) for a vehicle, comprising a wiper blade (2) with an elongate upper part (10) and an elongate lower part (12), which are configured to be at least partially bendable. Furthermore, a plurality of connecting elements (18) for connecting the upper part (10) and the lower part (12) are provided, said connecting elements being spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal extent (8) of the wiper blade (2) and being designed to permit a movement of the upper part (10) and of the lower part relative to each other with a movement component along a longitudinal extent (8) of the wiper blade (2). Furthermore, the windscreen wiping device (100) comprises a fastening device. The fastening device comprises a wiper-blade-side fastening part (20) and a fastening element (50).

Abstract: A parking lock pre-selection mechanism for a work machine is disclosed in which a pawl is engageable with teeth on a power train output shaft to lock it in place. An operator lever is used to preselect the parking lock position. The mechanism includes first and second pivotally interconnected links, urged by a spring to a maximum length set by a stop. The spring causes the pawl to be urged into place when the teeth and pawl are in proper alignment.

Abstract: A wheel chock (40) has a profile that provides maximum restraining capacity when the wheel (22) is completely supported thereby, by mitigating undesirable failure modes while promoting the safest failure mode of operation, slipping on ground (30). The profile includes a generally flat bottom surface (46) for being in contact with a ground surface (30), a substantially broken top surface (44) for being in contact with the wheel (22), the top surface (44) including a first contact point (P1), a second contact point (P2), and a contact surface (52) there between allowing at most two points of contact at a time between the contact surface (52) and the wheel (22), with the second contact point (P2) being one of the two points of contact. A more specific clothoid profile of the contact surface (52) is preferred to minimize the rate of variation of the contact force of the wheel (22) with the chock (40).

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to enable precise calculation of the distance to a moving object that is detected in a monocular area even in the case where the road height varies between an overlapping area and the monocular area. According to the present invention, provided are a parallax-information obtaining unit that obtains parallax information about an overlapping area of a plurality of images captured by a plurality of cameras installed in a vehicle; and an object-distance calculating unit that calculates the distance between an object detected in a non-overlapping area and the vehicle, the non-overlapping area being an area other than the overlapping area in the images, on the basis of parallax information obtained from the overlapping area in the past.

Abstract: A braking control device for a vehicle is provided, which includes an operating amount detecting part configured to detect an operating amount of a brake pedal, a reaction-force giving part configured to generate a reaction force of the brake pedal, a braking-force generating part configured to generate a braking force for wheels, and an ECU electrically connected with them and configured to control the reaction-force giving part and the braking-force generating part, and set a braking characteristic in which the reaction force according to a stepping force of the brake pedal and a deceleration of the vehicle have a logarithmic relationship, and when the reaction force is above a given reaction force. The ECU controls the braking-force generating part based on the braking characteristic while making the deceleration for the reaction force higher than the logarithmic relationship.

Abstract: A method of controlling the braking of a vehicle descending a slope. The method includes receiving one or more electrical signals each indicative of a value of a respective vehicle-related parameter. The method further includes detecting that the vehicle is descending a slope based on the value(s) of one or more of the vehicle-related parameters. The method still further includes automatically modifying an amount of brake torque being applied to at least certain of the wheels of the vehicle in response to the detection of the vehicle descending a slope by increasing the amount of brake torque being applied to one or more trailing wheels of the vehicle, and decreasing the amount of brake torque being applied to one or more leading wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electronically controllable pneumatic brake system in a vehicle includes wheel brakes for braking respective wheels of the vehicle. Wheel brakes of at least one vehicle axle include spring-loaded cylinders for implementing a pneumatic parking brake in a parking brake braking circuit of the vehicle. The brake system further includes an electronically controllable monostable bypass valve, wherein the monostable bypass valve is disposed between a manually operated parking brake valve and the spring-loaded cylinders. The monostable bypass valve controls, in a first switching position, a bypass control pressure based on an actuation pressure produced by the parking brake valve to implement a manually specified parking brake force. The monostable bypass valve further controls, in a second switching position, a bypass control pressure depending on a venting pressure prevailing in a bypass vent connection to implement an electrically specified parking brake force.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electrical power circuits. Each brake assembly includes an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The electrical power circuits are located remotely from one another. Each power circuit is configured to drive a respective actuator. The vehicle further includes a first electronic brake system (EBS) controller and a second EBS controller. The first EBS controller is configured to output a first data command signal to control a first group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second EBS controller is configured to output a second data command signal to control a second group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second group excludes the power circuits from the first group.

Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle includes devices that are configured to apply braking force to a wheel in response to a braking command. A first sensor is disposed to monitor a parameter associated with the braking force, and a spatial sensor is disposed to determine a linear range between the vehicle and a predefined locus point. A controller is operatively connected to the braking system and in communication with the first sensor and the spatial sensor. The controller detects a braking event and determines a time to stop and an applied braking force during the braking event, which is integrated over the time to stop. The braking system is evaluated based upon the total stopping distance and the integrated applied braking force during the braking event. A fault associated with the braking system is determined based upon the evaluation of the braking system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for validating operation of a secondary braking system (SBS) of a vehicle having a plurality of brakes, by controlling the SBS and a primary braking system (PBS) of the vehicle. The method may involve using the PBS to generate a first predetermined target braking pressure in the PBS for at least a first one of the brakes, while using the SBS to generate a second predetermined target braking pressure in the SBS for at least a second one of the brakes. Actual and anticipated performance characteristics of a braking component associated with the vehicle are then observed and compared, and from the comparison a determination is made whether the SBS is operating properly.