TECHNICAL AREA

5 The invention relates to a method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve according to the introduction to claim 1 . The invention relates to a system for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve. The invention relates also to a motor vehicle. The invention relates also to a computer

10 program and a computer program product.

BACKGROUND

The automatic adaptation of the speed of a vehicle according to the current degree of curvature during the driving of vehicles that includes the taking of a 15 curve is known. Many drivers, however, prefer to drive manually on roads with curves in order to retain feeling and control over the vehicle.

EP2527222 reveals driver assistance for the control of the speed taking into consideration curve data, which have been drawn up using navigational data or sensors of the surroundings, where the speed is adapted before taking a 20 curve. The speed of taking the curve is calculated based on a maximum curvature and/or turn at a defined position in the curve and a pre-determined comfortable lateral acceleration.

Similar systems require the driving of vehicles on roads for which map data are available, and that the vehicle be equipped with a map information unit 25 comprising a digital map and positional equipment in order to be able to determine the position of the vehicle along its route. PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a method and a system for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve that makes improved safety possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other purposes, which are made clear by the description below, are achieved by means of a method, a system, a motor vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product of the type described in the introduction, and that furthermore demonstrate the distinctive features specified in the characterising part of the attached independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method and the system are defined in the attached non-independent claims. According to the invention, these purposes are achieved with a method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve, comprising the steps: to determine continuously the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle; to compare, based on a maximum permitted lateral acceleration of the vehicle that has been determined, the current lateral acceleration with the maximum permitted lateral acceleration; and, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, to apply an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

It is in this case avoided that the driver is permitted to accelerate too strongly or to resume a previously preset cruise-control speed in a curve. As a consequence of this, safety while taking a curve is in this case improved, whereby the risks of skidding or leaving the roadway in the curve are reduced. With such a solution, high safety when taking a curve can be achieved without map data or corresponding means to determine coming degrees of curvature along the route of the vehicle being required for adaptation of the speed when taking the curve. It is in this case made possible for drivers who drive a vehicle without cruise-control systems to obtain assistance when taking a curve.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises the step to initiate automatically retardation of the vehicle, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration has been determined to exceed the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. Safety while taking a curve is in this case improved, whereby the risks of skidding or leaving the roadway in the curve are reduced. With such a solution, high safety when taking a curve can be achieved without map data or corresponding means to determine coming degrees of curvature along the route of the vehicle being required for adaptation of the speed when taking the curve. It is in this case made possible for drivers who drive a vehicle without cruise-control systems to obtain assistance when taking a curve.

According to one embodiment of the method, retardation of the vehicle takes place through what is known as "coasting in gear" of the vehicle engine and/or coasting in neutral. High safety when taking a curve is in this case made possible.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises the step of presenting to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle is being applied. The safety is in this way improved in that the driver is informed that the limitation is being applied. Furthermore, improved driver behaviour is made possible in that the driver is informed that the limitation is being applied. According to one embodiment, the method comprises the step of presenting to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatically initiated retardation of the vehicle is being applied. The safety is in this way improved in that the driver is informed that the retardation is being applied. Furthermore, improved driver behaviour is made possible in that the driver is informed that the retardation is being applied.

The embodiments of the system demonstrate corresponding advantages as corresponding embodiments of the method described above.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description read together with the attached drawings, where the same reference numbers refer to the same parts throughout the several views, and where: Figure 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a system for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates schematically a limiting function for the limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle depending on the current lateral acceleration according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a block diagram of a method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve according to one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 illustrates schematically a computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS In this document, the term "link" refers to a communication link that may be a physical line, such as an opto-electronic communication line, or a non- physical line, such as a wireless connection, for example a radio link or microwave link.

In this document, the term "coasting in gear" refers to driving of the vehicle during which the wheels of the vehicle rotate the vehicle engine without any fuel injection to the engine taking place.

In this document, the term "coasting in neutral" refers to driving of the vehicle during which the propulsion of the vehicle is disconnected in such a manner that the wheels of the vehicle do not rotate the engine of the vehicle, by, for example, placing the gear level into the neutral position and/or depressing the clutch.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 1 given as an example is constituted by a heavy vehicle in the form of a lorry. Alternatively, the vehicle may be constituted by any appropriate vehicle at all, such as a bus or a car. The vehicle includes a system I according to the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a block diagram of a system I for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system I comprises an electronic control unit 100. The system I comprises means 1 10 to determine continuously the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The means 1 10 to determine continuously the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle includes sensor means in the form of yaw angle gauges and speed measurement means in order to determine the speed of the vehicle, whereby the lateral acceleration can in this way be determined. The means 1 10 to determine continuously the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle includes calculation means for calculation based on the geometry of the vehicle itself, and means in the form of sensor means to determine differences in the speeds of individual wheels. The system I comprises means 120 to compare, based on a maximum permitted lateral acceleration of the vehicle that has been determined, the current lateral acceleration with the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The system I comprises means 130 to determine continuously the speed of the vehicle. The means 130 to determine continuously the speed of the vehicle includes, according to one variant, speed measurement means.

The system I comprises means 140 to determine a maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The means 140 to determine a maximum permitted lateral acceleration comprises the determination of a predetermined maximum permitted lateral acceleration, which is based on normal conditions with respect to properties of the vehicle such as the length of the vehicle, the width of the vehicle, the composition of the vehicle train, the distribution of load on the vehicle, the centre of gravity of the vehicle, and the axle pressure of the vehicle, and/or properties of the surroundings such as the effective width of the traffic lane, frictional properties of the roadway, visibility conditions and camber properties of the roadway. The predetermined maximum permitted lateral acceleration is, according to one embodiment, of the magnitude of 2 m/s ² . The maximum permitted lateral acceleration is in this case constituted by a predetermined maximum permitted lateral acceleration. According to one alternative or supplementary variant, the electronic control unit 100 includes stored data of the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The system I comprises means 150 to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The means 150 to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration comprises means 1 52 to, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, apply an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The means 150 to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration comprises means 1 54 to, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, apply an automatic limitation of the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The system I comprises means 1 00 to determine limitation a _/ , _m,/ong of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle based on the current lateral acceleration. The means 100 to determine limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle based on current lateral acceleration comprises, according to one variant, the electronic control unit 1 00. The limitation a _/ , _m,/ong is determined, according to one variant, according to:

Figure 3 illustrates schematically such a limiting function F(lai _at l). The system I comprises, according to one variant, means 1 60 to determine the presence of curvature along the route of the vehicle. The means to determine the presence of curvature is, according to one variant, arranged for continuous determination.

The means 160 to determine continuously the presence of curvature along the route of the vehicle includes, according to one variant, a map information unit 162 comprising map data including properties of the roadway along the route of the vehicle, including curvature.

The means 160 to determine continuously the presence of curvature along the route of the vehicle includes, according to one variant, means 164 to determine the position of the vehicle. The means 164 to determine the position of the vehicle comprises a geographical position-determination system to determine continuously the position of the vehicle along its route. An example of a geographical position-determination system is GPS.

The map information unit 162 and the means 164 to determine the position of the vehicle are comprised, according to one variant, of means 160a to determine the route of the vehicle, where the means to determine the route of the vehicle is arranged to provide predetermined properties of the roadway along the route of the vehicle including. The said map data of the map information unit 1 62 include also properties of the roadway along the route of the vehicle, including topography.

Through the map information unit 1 62 and the means 1 64 to determine the position of the vehicle, it is consequently made possible to identify continuously the position of the vehicle and properties of the roadway, including the degree of curvature along the route of the vehicle.

Through the map-information unit 1 62, it is made possible to determine in advance the degree of curvature along the route of the vehicle. The means 160 to determine continuously the presence of curvature along the route of the vehicle includes, according to one variant, camera means 166. The camera means 166 is arranged to detect properties of the roadway, including the degree of curvature, along the route of the vehicle. The camera means 166 is arranged to detect the form of the extent of the roadway, including the curvature of the roadway and/or road markings, in order in this way to determine the curvature of the roadway along which the vehicle is travelling. The camera means may include one or several cameras for the detection.

By determining by means of the means 160 the degree of curvature of the roadway, such prediction of the degree of curvature can be used to determine limitation a _/ , _m,/ong of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. The system I comprises in this case means 100 to determine limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle based on the current lateral acceleration and the curvature that has been determined. The means 100 to determine limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle based on current lateral acceleration and the curvature that has been determined comprises, according to one variant, the electronic control unit 1 00. The limitation a _/ , _m,/ong is determined, according to one variant, according to:

where a(s _CU rr) is the longitudinal acceleration that is required to maintain the correct acceleration.

It may be desirable, according to one variant, not to permit an obligatory reduction in speed, whereby the limitation a _/ , _m,/ong is determined according to:

The system I comprises means 100 to determine limitation v _max of the speed of the vehicle based on the current lateral acceleration ai _at,max . The means 100 to determine limitation of the speed of the vehicle based on maximum permitted lateral acceleration comprises, according to one variant, the electronic control unit 100. The determination of the maximum speed based on the maximum permitted lateral acceleration for curvature uses information about the curvature of the roadway along the route of the vehicle, whereby the following equation A) is used: where v _max (s) is the maximum speed along the stretch s in front of the vehicle, a _a i _at,max (s) is the maximum permitted lateral acceleration along the stretch s in front of the vehicle, and c(s) is the degree of curvature along the stretch s in front of the vehicle. The system I comprises means 170 to initiate automatically retardation of the vehicle, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration has been determined to exceed the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

Retardation of the vehicle is arranged to take place, according to one variant, through what is known as "coasting in gear" of the vehicle engine and/or coasting in neutral.

The means 170 to initiate automatically retardation of the vehicle comprises in this case means to activate coasting in gear of the vehicle engine and/or coasting in neutral.

The system I comprises means 182 to present to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle is being applied. The means 182 to present to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle is being applied can be constituted by any suitable presentation means at all, such as visual presentation means, audible presentation means and/or tactile presentation means.

The visual presentation means includes, according to one variant, a display unit and/or a blinking unit or equivalent. The audible presentation means includes presentation in the form of a voice message and/or presentation in the form of a sound alarm. The tactile presentation means includes an influence on the steering wheel of the vehicle in the form of vibration/motion and/or influence on the seat of the vehicle in the form of vibration and/or influence on a pedal such as the accelerator pedal or brake pedal.

The system I comprises means 184 to present to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatically initiated retardation of the vehicle is being applied. The means 184 to present to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatically initiated retardation of the vehicle is being applied can be constituted by any suitable presentation means at all, such as visual presentation means, audible presentation means and/or tactile presentation means. The visual presentation means includes, according to one variant, a display unit and/or a blinking unit or equivalent. The audible presentation means includes presentation in the form of a voice message and/or presentation in the form of a sound alarm. The tactile presentation means includes an influence on the steering wheel of the vehicle in the form of vibration/motion and/or influence on the seat of the vehicle in the form of vibration and/or influence on a pedal such as the accelerator pedal or brake pedal.

The means 1 82 and the means 1 84 are comprised in a means 180 for driver presentation. The system I comprises in this case means 1 80 for driver presentation comprising the means 182 and the means 184. The means 1 82 and the means 184 are constituted, according to one variant, of one and the same means. The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 10 with the means 1 1 0 to determine continuously the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to receive over the link 1 0 a signal from the means 1 10 representing lateral acceleration data for the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 20a with the means 120 to compare, based on a maximum permitted lateral acceleration that has been determined, the current lateral acceleration with the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to transmit a signal through the link 20a to the means 120 representing lateral acceleration data for the current lateral acceleration and lateral acceleration data for the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 20b with the means 120 to compare, based on the maximum permitted lateral acceleration that has been determined, the current lateral acceleration with the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to receive over the link 20b a signal from the means 1 20 representing comparison data for comparison of the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle and the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 30 with the means 130 to determine continuously the speed of the vehicle. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to receive over the link 30 a signal from the means 130 that represents speed data for the speed of the vehicle.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 40 with the means 140 to determine a maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to receive over the link 40 a signal from the means 140 representing lateral acceleration data for the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 50 with the means 150 to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 1 00 is arranged to transmit a signal over a link 50 to the means 1 50 representing limitation data in order to apply an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 52 with the means 152 to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to transmit a signal over a link 52 to the means 150 representing limitation data in order to apply an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 54 with the means 154 to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to transmit a signal over a link 54 to the means 1 54 representing limitation data in order to apply an automatic limitation of speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected through a link 60 such that it exchanges signals with the means 160 to determine the presence of curvature along the route of the vehicle. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to receive over the link 60 a signal from the means 1 60 that represents data for the curvature.

The electronic control unit 1 00 is connected through a link 60a such that it exchanges signals with the means 160a comprising the map information unit 162 and the means 164 to determine the position of the vehicle. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to receive over the link 60a a signal from the means 160a that represents map data for the degree of curvature along the route of the vehicle.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected through a link 66 such that it exchanges signals with the camera means 166. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to receive over the link 66 a signal from the camera means 166 that represents data for the degree of curvature data of the roadway along the route of the vehicle.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals over a link 70 with the means 170 to automatically initiate retardation of the vehicle, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration has been determined to exceed the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to transmit through the link 70 a signal to the means 170 representing initiation data for initiation of retardation of the vehicle, according to one variant including data for activation of coasting in gear and/or coasting in neutral of the vehicle.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals through a link 82 with the means 182 to present to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle is being applied. The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to transmit over the link 82 a signal to the means 182 that represents presentation data.

The electronic control unit 100 is connected such that it exchanges signals through a link 84 with the means 184 to present to the driver of the vehicle the fact that automatically initiated retardation of the vehicle is being applied. The electronic control unit 1 00 is arranged to transmit over the link 84 a signal to the means 184 that represents presentation data.

The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to process the said lateral acceleration data for the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle and the said lateral acceleration for the maximum permitted lateral acceleration and to transmit them to the means 120 that compares these data in order to determine comparison data for the comparison of the current lateral acceleration and the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to process the said speed data for the speed of the vehicle in order to determine whether the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration and, if this is the case, to transmit to the means 1 50 limitation data in order to apply an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, and, more specifically, limitation data in order to apply an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle to the means 152 and/or limitation data in order to apply an automatic limitation of the speed of the vehicle to the means 154.

The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to transmit, in the case in which it has been determined that the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, presentation data to the means 182 for presentation to the driver that automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle is being applied.

The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to process the said comparison data speed data for the speed of the vehicle in order to determine whether the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration and, if this is the case, to transmit to the means 170 initiation data for initiation of retardation of the vehicle, according to one variant including data for the activation of coasting in gear and/or coasting in neutral of the vehicle.

The electronic control unit 100 is arranged to transmit, in the case in which it has been determined that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, presentation data to the means 1 84 for presentation to the driver that automatically initiated retardation of the vehicle is being applied.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically such a limiting function F(lai _at l) for limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle depending on the current lateral acceleration a _iat according to one embodiment of the present invention.

During driving of vehicle, the vehicle will be in this case, as long as the lateral acceleration is low or non-existent, will be permitted to accelerate without any significant limitation, in accordance with the graph shown in Figure 3. If the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle according to the function F(lai _at l) in Figure 3 will be applied.

If the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration aiat, _max , an automatic retardation of vehicle is applied, i.e. the acceleration will in this case be negative, which leads to a limitation in speed.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a block diagram of a method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to one embodiment, the method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve comprises a first step S1 . The current lateral acceleration of the vehicle is determined continuously in this step.

According to one embodiment, the method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve comprises a second step S2. The current lateral acceleration is in this step compared with the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, based on a maximum permitted lateral acceleration of the vehicle that has been determined.

According to one embodiment, the method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve comprises a third step S3. An automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle is in this step applied, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a drawing of a design of an arrangement 500. The control unit 100 that has been described with reference to Figure 2 can comprise in one execution the arrangement 500. The arrangement 500 comprises a non-transient memory 520, a data processing unit 51 0 and a read/write memory 550. The non-transient memory 520 has a first section of memory 530 in which a computer program, such as an operating system, is stored in order to control the function of the arrangement 500. Furthermore, the arrangement 500 comprises a bus controller, a serial communication port, I/O means, an A/D converter, a unit for the input and transfer of time and date, an event counter and an interrupt controller (not shown in the drawing). The non-transient memory 520 has also a second section of memory 540. There is provided a computer program P that comprises routines for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve according to the innovative method. The program P comprises routines to determine continuously the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The program P comprises routines to compare, based on a maximum permitted lateral acceleration of the vehicle that has been determined, the current lateral acceleration with the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The program P comprises routines to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The program P may be stored in an executable form or in a compressed form in a memory 560 and/or a read/write memory 550.

When it is described that the data processing unit 510 carries out a certain function, it is to be understood that the data processing unit 510 carries out a certain part of the program that is stored in the memory 560, or a certain part of the program that is stored in the read/write memory 550.

The data processing arrangement 510 can communicate with a data port 599 through a data bus 515. The non-transient memory 520 is intended for communication with the data processing unit 51 0 through a data bus 512. The separate memory 560 is intended to communicate with the data processing unit 510 through a data bus 51 1 . The read/write memory 550 is arranged to communicate with the data processing unit 51 0 through a data bus 514. Links associated with the control unit 100, for example, may be connected to the data port 599.

When data is received at the data port 599 it is temporarily stored in the second section of memory 540. When the data that has been received has been temporarily stored, the data processing unit 510 is prepared for the execution of code in a manner that has been described above. The signals received on the data port 599 can be used by the arrangement 500 to determine continuously the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The signals received on the data port 599 can be used by the arrangement 500 to compare, based on a maximum permitted lateral acceleration of the vehicle that has been determined, the current lateral acceleration with the maximum permitted lateral acceleration. The signals received on the data port 599 can be used by the arrangement 500 to apply, in the case in which the current lateral acceleration lies below the maximum permitted lateral acceleration, an automatic limitation of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle in order to avoid that the current lateral acceleration exceeds the maximum permitted lateral acceleration.

Parts of the methods described here may be carried out by the arrangement 500 with the aid of the data processing unit 510, which runs the program stored in the memory 560 or in the read/write memory 550. When the arrangement 500 runs the program, the method described here is executed. The description above of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been given for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the variants that have been described. Many modifications and variations will be obvious for one skilled in the arts. The embodiments have been selected and described in order to best describe the principles of the invention and its practical applications, and thus to make it possible for one skilled in the arts to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications that are appropriate for the intended use.