Control system and method for a vehicle

Abstract

A control system (208) for a vehicle 10 configured to determine tracks (figs. 4A-D) in a terrain surface, analyse the tracks to estimate one or more surface characteristics of the terrain surface, and set or modify one or more driving parameters based on the estimated one or more surface characteristics. The system can sense an area ahead of the vehicle to obtain sensor (120a-g) data, and determine in dependence on the sensor data, tracks ahead of the vehicle in a terrain surface. In this way, the control system can utilise tyre tracks ahead to the vehicle to ascertain the nature of the surface, and in particular its characteristics. Vehicle driving parameters may then be set or modified having regard to the surface characteristics. This relies on the fact that the tread or ruts left in a surface by another vehicle as that vehicle traverses the surface are often a good indicator of the surface characteristics.

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