Method and apparatus for assisting in the maintenance of a vehicle speed within a speed range, and a vehicle comprising such an apparatus

A vehicle coasting system for assisting in the maintenance of a speed of a vehicle within a target speed range, the system comprising:

• means for generating a plurality of coasting profiles for the vehicle comprising:
• an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving signals indicative of a value of vehicle speed and upcoming changes in geometry of a predicted vehicle path, and an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein, wherein the electronic processor is configured to access the electronic memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to generate said coasting profiles;
• means to identify at least one of the coasting profiles that maintains the speed of the vehicle within the target speed range;
• and
• means to output a coasting signal for either:
• controlling a prime mover of the vehicle to place the vehicle into a coasting mode in accordance with the at least one identified coasting profile;
• or
• providing feedback to a vehicle user to place the vehicle into a coasting mode, such that the vehicle if placed in the coasting mode by the user will coast in accordance with the at least one identified coasting profile;
• wherein
• the means to identify at least one of the coasting profiles and the means to output a coasting signal comprise the electronic processor identifying one of said generated coasting profiles and generating said coasting signal in response thereto.