Controller for a vehicle

Abstract

A controller for a vehicle, the controller being configured to: receive a gradient signal indicative of a gradient of a surface the vehicle is traversing; determine a gradient modifier based at least in part on the gradient signal; modify an acceleration pedal map and a deceleration pedal map based at least in part on the gradient modifier; determine a position of an accelerator pedal with respect to a reference accelerator pedal position; and determine a torque output based at least in part on the acceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is greater than the reference accelerator pedal position; or determine a torque output based at least in part on the deceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is less than the reference accelerator pedal position.

1 . A controller for a vehicle, the controller being configured to:
 receive a gradient signal indicative of a gradient of a surface the vehicle is traversing;   determine a gradient modifier based at least in part on the gradient signal;   modify an acceleration pedal map and a deceleration pedal map based at least in part on the gradient modifier;   determine a position of an accelerator pedal with respect to a reference accelerator pedal position; and   determine a torque output based at least in part on the acceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is greater than the reference accelerator pedal position; or   determine a torque output based at least in part on the deceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is less than the reference accelerator pedal position.   
     
     
         2 . The controller according to  claim 1 , the controller being further configured to:
 receive a road load signal indicative of a torque value suitable for maintaining a current speed of the vehicle;   receive a road load accelerator pedal position signal based at least in part on the road load signal, the road load accelerator pedal position signal being indicative of the reference accelerator pedal position;   receive an accelerator pedal position signal indicative of a current position of the accelerator pedal; and   compare the road load accelerator pedal position signal and the accelerator pedal position signal.   
     
     
         3 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the acceleration pedal map and the deceleration pedal map are modified so as to reduce the torque output with respect to the position of the accelerator pedal. 
     
     
         4 . The controller according to  claim 2 , the controller being further configured to:
 receive a maximum torque signal indicative of a maximum torque deliverable by a powertrain of the vehicle; and   determine the acceleration pedal map based at least in part on the road load signal and the maximum torque signal.   
     
     
         5 . The controller according to  claim 1 , the controller being further configured to:
 receive an overrun torque demand signal indicative of a level of overrun torque requested by a vehicle system; and   determine the deceleration pedal map based at least in part on a road load signal and the overrun torque demand signal.   
     
     
         6 . The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein the road load signal is a function of at least one of:
 the current speed of the vehicle;   the gradient of the surface the vehicle is traversing; and   torque requested from a powertrain of the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The controller according to  claim 4 , wherein the maximum torque signal is a function of at least one of:
 the current speed of the vehicle;   the gradient of the surface the vehicle is traversing; and   torque requested from the powertrain of the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The controller according to  claim 5 , wherein the overrun torque demand signal is a function of at least one of:
 a current speed of the vehicle;   the gradient of the surface the vehicle is traversing; and   torque requested from a powertrain of the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the acceleration pedal map comprises a low-speed acceleration pedal map and a high-speed acceleration pedal map. 
     
     
         10 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the deceleration pedal map comprises a low-speed deceleration pedal map and a high-speed deceleration pedal map. 
     
     
         11 . The controller according to  claim 9 , the controller being further configured to:
 receive a vehicle speed signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle; and   determine a torque output according to the low-speed acceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is greater than the reference accelerator pedal position and the speed of the vehicle equals or is less than a low-speed limit; or   determine a torque output according to the high-speed acceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is greater than the reference accelerator pedal position and the speed of the vehicle equals or is greater than a high-speed limit.   
     
     
         12 . The controller according to  claim 10 , the controller being further configured to:
 receive a vehicle speed signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle; and   determine a torque output according to the low-speed deceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is less than the reference accelerator pedal position and the speed of the vehicle equals or is less than a low-speed limit; or   determine a torque output according to the high-speed deceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is less than the reference accelerator pedal position and the speed of the vehicle equals or is greater than a high-speed limit.   
     
     
         13 . The controller according to  claim 11 , the controller being configured to determine a torque output based at least in part on the low-speed acceleration pedal map and the high-speed acceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is greater than the reference accelerator pedal position and the speed of the vehicle is between the low-speed limit and the high-speed limit. 
     
     
         14 . The controller according to  claim 12 , the controller being configured to determine a torque output based at least in part on the low-speed deceleration pedal map and the high-speed deceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is less than the reference accelerator pedal position and the speed of the vehicle is between the low-speed limit and the high-speed limit. 
     
     
         15 . The controller according to  claim 13 , the controller being configured to determine the torque output based at least in part on the speed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A control system for a vehicle, the control system comprising the controller according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A vehicle comprising the control system according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving a gradient signal indicative of a gradient of a surface the vehicle is traversing;   determining a gradient modifier based at least in part on the gradient signal;   modifying an acceleration pedal map and a deceleration pedal map based at least in part on the gradient modifier;   determining a position of an accelerator pedal with respect to a reference accelerator pedal position; and   determining a torque output based at least in part on the acceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is greater than the reference accelerator pedal position; or   determining a torque output based at least in part on the deceleration pedal map if the position of the accelerator pedal is less than the reference accelerator pedal position.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , the method further comprising:
 receiving a road load signal indicative of a torque value suitable for maintaining a current speed of the vehicle;   receiving a road load accelerator pedal position signal based at least in part on the road load signal, the road load accelerator pedal position signal being indicative of the reference accelerator pedal position;   receiving an accelerator pedal position signal indicative of a current position of the accelerator pedal; and   comparing the road load accelerator pedal position signal and the accelerator pedal position signal.   
     
     
         20 . A controller for a vehicle, the controller being configured to:
 receive a gradient signal indicative of a gradient of a surface the vehicle is traversing; and   determine a torque output based at least in part on a positive gradient pedal map if the gradient signal indicates that the surface has a positive gradient; or   determine a torque output based at least in part on a negative gradient pedal map if the gradient signal indicates that the surface has a negative gradient.