Apparatus and method for controlling travel of vehicle

A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining a driving mode by determining a speed of the vehicle and receiving a user-selected driving mode, the user-selected driving mode including a plurality of user-selected driving modes;
• determining at least one of a plurality of power supply sources to supply power to drive the vehicle based on the speed of the vehicle and one of the plurality of user-selected driving modes, each of the plurality of user-selected driving-modes using a different combination of the plurality of power supply sources to supply power to drive the vehicle, the plurality of power supply sources comprising:
• a first engine generator and a second engine generator, each engine generator configured to generate power by using a turning force of an engine;
• a battery charged by the first or second engine generator;
• and
• an ultra capacitor charged by the first or second engine generator;
• and
• determining an alternative driving mode comprising switching from at least a first power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources to at least a second power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources to drive the vehicle when a failure occurs in the first power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources,
• wherein determining the driving mode comprises:
• receiving a user selection of a low-noise driving mode at a first speed;
• turning off the first and second engine generators;
• and
• driving the vehicle using power supplied from at least one of the battery and the ultra capacitor.

A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining a driving mode by determining a speed of the vehicle and receiving a user-selected driving mode, the user-selected driving mode including a plurality of user-selected driving modes;
• determining at least one of a plurality of power supply sources to supply power to drive the vehicle based on the speed of the vehicle and one of the plurality of user-selected driving modes, each of the plurality of user-selected driving-modes using a different combination of the plurality of power supply sources to supply power to drive the vehicle, the plurality of power supply sources comprising:
• a first engine generator and a second engine generator, each engine generator configured to generate power by using a turning force of an engine;
• a battery charged by the first or second engine generator;
• and
• an ultra capacitor charged by the first or second engine generator;
• and
• determining an alternative driving mode comprising switching from at least a first power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources to at least a second power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources to drive the vehicle when a failure occurs in the first power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources,
• wherein determining the driving mode comprises:
• receiving a user selection of a turn-in-place driving mode at a first speed;
• supplying the power from the first and second engine generators, the battery, and the ultra capacitor;
• and
• driving the vehicle to turn in place by operating a first steering system configured to turn the vehicle using the supplied power and a skid caused by a difference in driving force between a left wheel and a right wheel.

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of power supply sources comprising:
• a first power supply comprising a first engine generator and a second power supply comprising a second engine generator, each of the first and second engine generators configured to generate power by using a turning force of an engine;
• a third power supply comprising a battery charged by the first power supply or the second power supply;
• a fourth power supply comprising an ultra capacitor charged by the first power supply or the second power supply;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• determine a driving mode by determining a speed of the vehicle and receiving a user-selected driving mode, the user-selected driving mode including a plurality of user-selected driving modes and the speed of the vehicle is considered for each of the plurality of user-selected driving modes;
• determine at least one of the plurality of power supply sources to supply power to drive the vehicle based on the speed of the vehicle and one of the plurality of user-selected driving modes, wherein each of the plurality of user-selected driving modes uses a different combination of the plurality of power supply sources to supply power to drive the vehicle;
• and
• determine an alternative driving mode comprising switching from the at least a first power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources to at least a second power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources to drive the vehicle when a failure occurs in the power supply source of the plurality of power supply sources.