VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle speed control system operable to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, the system being operable automatically to perform a direction change operation wherein the system causes a transmission of the vehicle to adopt a configuration corresponding to travel in an opposite direction to the instant configuration when the vehicle speed does not exceed a prescribed transmission direction change speed.

主权项

1. A vehicle speed control system operable to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, the system being operable automatically to:
perform a direction change operation wherein the system causes a speed of the vehicle to reduce to a value not exceeding a direction change speed limit value, being a maximum speed at which a transmission of the vehicle is permitted to adopt a configuration corresponding to travel in an opposite direction to an instant configuration, if the vehicle speed exceeds the direction change speed limit value when the direction change operation is commenced; to cause a transmission of the vehicle to adopt a configuration corresponding to travel in the opposite direction to the instant configuration when the speed has reduced to a value not exceeding the direction change speed limit value, and accelerate the vehicle from rest following a change in configuration of the transmission from travel in a first direction to travel in a second direction opposite the first at a moment selected in dependence on suspension system articulation.