Controller and method

Motor vehicle controller capable of receiving surface friction signal, indicating coefficient of friction between wheel and road surface (surface_friction), and accelerator position, accel_ctrl_pos. Uses surface_friction to determine a powertrain torque limit, PT_TQ_MAX, at which wheel slip exceeds a predetermined amount, and determines instant torque, PT_TQ, depending on predetermined / mapped relationship with accel_ctrl_pos, where the torque to accelerator relationship is modified to reduce instant torque when demand is close to torque limit. Torque may also be reduced when accelerator position is in a predetermined range / proportion. Predetermined wheel slip value may depend on surface friction, vehicle speed (ref_speed), and/or nature of terrain / road surface. A signal indicating nature of terrain may also indicate amount of drag and vehicle driving mode. Driving mode may be selected manually or automatically, and may correspond to various control modes for vehicle subsystems such ...

Motor vehicle controller and method

A motor vehicle controller 110 is provided. The controller 110 comprises: means for receiving a drive demand signal indicative of an amount of net drive to be applied to one or more driving wheels 11, 12, 14, 15 of a vehicle 1; means for estimating a value of a parameter indicative of a surface coefficient of friction between one or more driving wheels 11, 12, 14, 15 and a driving surface, surface_friction, at least in part in dependence on a net torque applied to one or more driving wheels 11, 12,14, 15 and a speed of one or more driving wheels 11, 12,14, 15; and means for applying a net torque to one or more wheels 11, 12, 14, 15 of a vehicle 1. The amount of net torque applied is determined in dependence at least in part on the received drive demand signal. The controller 110 is configured automatically to increase momentarily an amount of net torque applied to one or more driving wheels 11, 12, 14, 15 independently of the drive demand signal and to update an estimate of parameter surface_friction ...

A controller for a vehicle system

A controller for estimating traction 60, 160 for a motor vehicle system is provided. The controller 60, 160 comprises: a monitoring module 66 which monitors torque values; a determining module 68 for determining a maximum torque value 100 by obtaining and storing empirical data while driving on a surface, the maximum torque value 100 being the torque immediately prior to wheel slip; a predicting module 70 for predicting a traction threshold 102 based on the maximum torque value 100; and a control module 72 for outputting a signal indicative of the traction threshold 102.

Controller and method

A vehicle controller comprising: means for receiving a signal indicative of a surface friction parameter, surface_friction, corresponding to a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; means for receiving a signal indicative of an accelerator position, accel_ctrl_pos; means for determining a critical powertrain torque limit value PT_TQ_CRIT in dependence on the surface friction parameter; and means for providing a traction warning indication in dependence on the accelerator position, accel_ctrl_pos, and the torque limit, PT_TQ_CRIT. The surface fiction may be determined based on vehicle speed and wheel slip. The controller may determine slip based on the terrain, and may be associated with a number of driving modes that control a plurality of subsystems, dependent on the driving conditions/terrain.

Controller and method for controlling torque response in dependence on surface friction

A controller for a vehicle system

Controller and method

Motor vehicle controller and method

CONTROLLER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MOTOR VEHICLE

A motor vehicle controller that carries out a method which includes: receiving a signal indicative of a surface friction parameter, surface_friction, the surface friction parameter corresponding to a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving a signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions, accel_ctrl_pos; determining a critical powertrain torque limit value PT_TQ_CRIT in dependence at least in part on the value of surface_friction; and providing a traction warning indication to a driver in dependence on the value of accel_ctrl_pos and PT_TQ_CRIT. 1. A motor vehicle controller comprising:means for receiving a signal indicative of a surface friction parameter, said surface friction parameter corresponding to a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface;means for receiving a signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions;means for determining a critical powertrain torque limit value in dependence at least in part on the signal indicative of a surface friction parameter; andmeans for providing a traction warning indication to a driver in dependence on the signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control and the critical powertrain torque limit value.2. A controller according to wherein the means for determining the critical powertrain torque limit value is configured to determine the critical powertrain torque limit value in dependence on an amount of torque required to cause slip of one or more driving wheels to exceed a predetermined amount.3. A controller according to configured wherein the predetermined amount of slip is determined by the data processing apparatus in dependence at least in part on the surface friction parameter.4. A controller according to configured to receive a signal indicative of instant vehicle speed claim 3 , the controller being configured to determine the ...

CONTROLLER AND METHOD

A motor vehicle controller comprising data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus configured to carry out the steps of: receiving a surface friction signal indicative of a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving an accelerator position signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions; determining a powertrain torque limit value corresponding to an amount of powertrain torque at which slip of a driving wheel is expected to exceed a predetermined amount, the powertrain torque limit value being determined at least in part in dependence on the surface friction signal; and determining and outputting a powertrain torque demand signal corresponding to an instant amount of torque to be developed by a powertrain, the powertrain torque demand signal being determined in dependence at least in part on the accelerator position signal according to a predetermined relationship. 1. A motor vehicle controller comprising data processing apparatus , the data processing apparatus comprising:means for receiving a surface friction signal indicative of a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface;means for receiving an accelerator position signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions;means for determining a powertrain torque limit value corresponding to an amount of powertrain torque at which slip of a driving wheel is expected to exceed a predetermined amount, the powertrain torque limit value being determined at least in part in dependence on the surface friction signal; andmeans for determining and outputting a powertrain torque demand signal corresponding to an instant amount of torque to be developed by a powertrain, the powertrain torque demand signal being determined in dependence at least in part on the accelerator position signal according to a predetermined relationship, the controller ...

MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROLLER AND METHOD

A motor vehicle controller configured to: receive a drive demand signal indicating an amount of net drive to be applied to one or more driving wheels of a vehicle, estimate a value of a parameter indicative of a surface coefficient of friction between one or more driving wheels and a driving surface, and apply a net torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle. The amount of net torque applied is determined in dependence at least in part on the received drive demand signal. The controller is configured to increase an amount of net torque applied to one or more driving wheels independently of the drive demand signal and to update an estimate of the parameter in dependence on a change in speed of the at least one driving wheel when the amount of net torque applied to the at least one driving wheel is increased. 1. A motor vehicle controller comprising:means for receiving a drive demand signal indicative of an amount of net drive to be applied to one or more driving wheels of a vehicle;means for estimating a value of a parameter indicative of a surface coefficient of friction between one or more driving wheels and a driving surface, surface friction; andmeans for applying a net torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle, an amount of net torque applied being determined in dependence at least in part on the received drive demand signal,the controller being configured automatically to increase momentarily an amount of net torque applied to one or more driving wheels independently of the drive demand signal and to update an estimate of parameter surface friction in dependence at least in part on a change in speed of said at least one driving wheel when the amount of net torque applied to said at least one driving wheel is increased.2. A controller according to wherein the means for applying a net torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle comprises means for causing application of positive drive torque and negative brake torque to each of one or more driving wheels ...

Motor vehicle controller and method

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle controller comprising: means for receiving a drive demand signal indicative of an amount of net drive to be applied to one or more driving wheels of a vehicle; means for estimating a value of a parameter indicative of a surface coefficient of friction between one or more driving wheels and a driving surface, surface_friction, at least in part in dependence on a net torque applied to one or more driving wheels and a speed of one or more driving wheels; and means for applying a net torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle, an amount of net torque applied being determined in dependence at least in part on the received drive demand signal, the controller being configured automatically to increase momentarily an amount of net torque applied to one or more driving wheels independently of the drive demand signal and to update an estimate of parameter surface_friction in dependence at least in part on a change in speed of said at least one driving wheel when the amount of net torque applied to said at least one driving wheel is increased.