Systems and methods for inducing speed reduction responsive to detecting a surface having a relatively low coefficient of friction

A system for vehicle control, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• identify, for a surface being traversed by a vehicle, at least a portion of the surface that has a coefficient of friction that is less than a coefficient of friction threshold;
• determine, responsive to identifying the portion of the surface has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction threshold, whether a vehicle speed is greater than a vehicle speed threshold;
• in response to determining that the vehicle speed is greater than the vehicle speed threshold, determine whether an operator of the vehicle is engaging a handwheel of the vehicle;
• and
• in response to determining that the operator of the vehicle is engaging the handwheel of the vehicle:
• generate a first alert signal;
• selectively adjust, after a predetermined period, at least one steering characteristic of a steering system of the vehicle from a first value to a second value;
• and
• in response to at least one of a reduction in the vehicle speed and a distance between the vehicle and the portion of the surface having the coefficient of friction being less than a distance threshold, selectively adjust the at least one steering characteristic from the second value to the first value.

An apparatus for vehicle control, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• identify, for a surface being traversed by a vehicle, at least a portion of the surface that has a coefficient of friction that is less than a coefficient of friction threshold;
• determine, responsive to identifying the portion of the surface has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction threshold, whether a vehicle speed is greater than a vehicle speed threshold;
• in response to determining that the vehicle speed is greater than the vehicle speed threshold, determine whether an operator of the vehicle is engaging a handwheel of the vehicle based on at least one handwheel signal;
• in response to determining that the operator of the vehicle is engaging the handwheel of the vehicle:
• generate a first alert signal;
• selectively adjust, after a predetermined period, at least one steering characteristic of a steering system of the vehicle from a first value to a second value;
• and
• in response to at least one of a reduction in the vehicle speed and a distance between the vehicle and the portion of the surface having the coefficient of friction being less than a distance threshold, selectively adjust the at least one steering characteristic from the second value to the first value;
• and
• in response to determining that the operator of the vehicle is not engaging the handwheel of the vehicle, generate a second alert signal.