VEHICLE PADS THAT EMULATE TRADITIONAL VEHICLE PEDALS AND INCLUDE MECHANICAL HYSTERESIS

A pedal assembly for a vehicle that includes a foot pad, a pedal base, a flexible hinge that couples the foot pad to a first end of the pedal base, a sensor configured to sense a force exerted on the foot pad, and an electronic processor connected to the sensor. The electronic processor is configured to generate an output signal for controlling the vehicle based on a signal generated by the sensor and a model that defines a mechanical hysteresis effect. Another pedal assembly includes a prismatic joint that couples the foot pad to the pedal base. The prismatic joint enables linear displacement of the foot pad relative to the pedal base when a force is exerted on the foot pad.