Apparatus and method for controlling travel mode of four-wheel drive vehicle

A method for controlling a travel mode of a four-wheel drive vehicle, the method comprising:

• a heat generation amount calculation step of determining a heat loss amount of a torque converter, based on input information of the four-wheel drive vehicle;
• a rough terrain travel start determination step of determining whether to start travel on a road having rough terrain conditions, based on the heat loss amount;
• a first travel mode control step of controlling entry into a semi-off-road travel mode in response that a current travel mode is an on-road travel mode, in response that it is determined to start the travel on the road having the rough terrain conditions;
• a rough terrain travel maintenance determination step of determining whether to maintain the travel on the road having the rough terrain conditions during the semi-off-road travel mode, based on the heat loss amount;
• and
• a second travel mode control step of controlling entry into a dedicated off-road travel mode from the current travel mode in response that it is determined to maintain the travel on the road having the rough terrain conditions.

An apparatus for controlling a travel mode of a four-wheel drive vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory storage medium containing program instructions for an operation of the processor,
• wherein the processor is configured to, by executing the program instructions,
• determine a heat loss amount of a torque converter, based on input information of the four-wheel drive vehicle;
• determine whether to start travel of the vehicle on a road having rough terrain conditions, based on the heat loss amount;
• control entry into a semi-off-road travel mode when a current travel mode is an on-road travel mode, upon concluding to start the travel on the road having the rough terrain conditions;
• determine whether to maintain the travel on the road having the rough terrain conditions during the semi-off-road travel mode, based on the heat loss amount;
• and
• to control entry into a dedicated off-road travel mode from the current travel mode upon concluding to maintain the travel on the road having the rough terrain conditions.