摘要 |
A system for selecting one of a stored plurality of vehicle throttle responses depending on the type of terrain and for gradually switching over from one characteristic to another characteristic whilst on the move, includes an electronic control unit (6) which controls a throttle butterfly valve arrangement (2, 3, 4). In one embodiment, the control unit (6) is adapted to effect a switch from one throttle response to another within a fixed time, period by gradually Increasing or decreasing the throttle opening at a variable rate which depends on the accelerator pedal position measured at discrete time intervals during the switching time period. The invention allows switching between throttle responses without the driver having to release the accelerator pedal and without any abrupt changes in vehicle speed. The selectable characteristics, such as sport, mud, grass and tarmac modes, may be selected in response to a signal from a driver operated switch 11 or vehicle mounted sensor 12. |