Vehicle control system and method for controlling a vehicle

Control system for a vehicle having a plurality of signal processing levels (E1, E2, A, P, R, K, F) and actuators (26, 28, 30), in particular for brake, steering, engine and gearbox, for converting actuation signals, characterized in that the following are provided as signal processing levels:

• an input level (E1) with devices (10) for inputting continuous stipulations of a driver and for converting the stipulations into setpoint value signals, or an input level (E2) with devices for inputting discrete stipulations of a driving system (40) and an automation level (A) with first signal processing modules (42, 44) for converting the stipulations of the input level (E2) into setpoint value signals,
• a predictive level (P) with second signal processing modules (12, 14) for correcting the setpoint value signals with reference to a prediction of driving states and/or a reactive level (R) with third signal processing modules (16, 18) for correcting the setpoint value signals with reference to current driving states,
• a coordination level (K) with fourth signal processing modules (20, 22) for converting the setpoint value signals into actuation signals, and
• an execution level (F) with the actuators (26, 28, 30) for executing the actuation signals,
• the actuators (26, 28, 30) being connected to the fourth signal processing modules (20, 22) and to one another by means of a fault-tolerant, redundant and bidirectional databus (24), and the first (42, 44), second (12, 14), third (16, 18) and/or fourth (20, 22) signal processing modules being suitable for redundant signal processing and devices for fault-tolerant, redundant and bidirectional transmission of data being provided between two successive signal processing levels.