Patent ID: 7162346
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: B60W,G05B

Abstract:
1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle which is operable in a plurality of driving modes, the system comprising; a driving mode selector for providing a requested driving mode; a vehicle mode controller adapted to receive said requested driving mode from the driving mode selector; at least one vehicle subsystem operable in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes, each adapted to receive from the vehicle mode controller the requested driving mode and to send continuously to said vehicle mode controller a status message indicating its current subsystem configuration and its ability to change to said requested driving mode; and wherein the vehicle mode controller is operable to communicate continuously said requested driving mode to each vehicle subsystem to initiate an evaluation of each subsystem configuration mode status and its ability to change modes, to initiate simultaneously the change of all of the at least one vehicle subsystems to said requested driving mode upon affirmative completion of said evaluation, and to confirm that all of said vehicle subsystems have changed to said requested driving mode.