System for use in a vehicle

A method for use in a vehicle determining an indication of the type of terrain ahead of the vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving sensor output data from a plurality of vehicle-mounted sensors, including at least one radar sensor and at least one acoustic sensor, each for receiving a reflected signal from the terrain ahead of the vehicle;
• storing pre-determined data relating sensor output data, for the or each acoustic sensor and the or each radar sensor, to a particular terrain type;
• comparing the sensor output data with the pre-determined data to determine an indication of the particular terrain type corresponding to the sensor output data;
• and
• receiving, via a human machine interface configured to enable communication of the determined terrain type to the user and to enable user-input in relation to the terrain type following determination of the terrain type by the user, the user-input in relation to the terrain type and, in dependence upon the user-input, providing a terrain type to the data memory together with sensor output data corresponding to the terrain type to supplement the pre-determined data as part of a self-learning process.

A system for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a processor configured to receive sensor output data from a plurality of vehicle-mounted sensors, including at least one radar sensor and at least one acoustic sensor, each for receiving a reflected signal from the terrain ahead of the vehicle;
• a human machine interface configured to enable communication of the determined terrain type to a user and to enable user-input in relation to the terrain type following determination of the terrain type by the user;
• a data memory configured to store pre-determined data relating sensor output data for each acoustic sensor and each radar sensor to a particular terrain type,
• wherein the processor is configured to compare the sensor output data with the pre-determined data to determine an indication of the particular terrain type corresponding to the sensor output data, and further wherein the processor includes means configured to receive the user-input in relation to the terrain type and for, in dependence upon the user-input, providing a terrain type to the data memory together with sensor output data corresponding to the terrain type to supplement the predetermined data as part of a self-learning process;
• at least one acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal to the terrain ahead;
• and
• at least one acoustic receiver for receiving a reflected signal of the acoustic signal from the terrain ahead, and at least one radar transmitter for transmitting a radar signal to the terrain ahead and at least one radar receiver for receiving a reflected signal of the radar signal from the terrain ahead.