Drive force distribution controlling method

Drive force distribution control

Controlling drive force distribution to the wheels of a four-wheel vehicle using a drive force distribution between first and second sides of the vehicle, decided via determination of a grip force margin for each side indicative of the amount by which horizontal forces may be increased before they exceed a skidding threshold S3, the drive force distribution q being changed S4 in a direction in which a fictitious moment, which would be caused by the grip force margins acting on the sides of the vehicle in a same transversal direction, is minimized.

Stabalizer arrangement

A method of estimating a cornering limit of a vehicle

A method and a system of estimating a cornering limit of an automotive vehicle comprises sensing in step a vehicle operating conditions and a vehicular yaw rate, detecting in step b a lateral acceleration ay of the vehicle, calculating in step c vehicle parameters. In step d a yaw rate error is calculated on the basis of a yaw rate reference value and a vehicular yaw rate. If the lateral acceleration ay in step b is determined as being unequal to zero, it is estimated whether the vehicle operating conditions, the vehicle parameters and the yaw rate error are within a predetermined range of given thresholds. If the vehicle operating conditions, the vehicle parameters and the yaw rate error are within a predetermined range of the given thresholds, a warning step f of triggering a driver warning and/or a control step g of controlling the vehicle operating conditions are performed. A computer program product comprising a computer code for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Drive mechanism for selectively switching a drive between propulsion and torque vectoring mode

STABILIZER ARRANGEMENT

The present invention comprises a stabilizer arrangement for an independent wheel suspension system (1) of an automotive vehicle comprising a stabilizer bar (14) having an elongated central segment (15) and an arm segment (16) at each end portion of the central segment that is secured to a suspension system component (6); at least one fastening link (17) adapted to movably fasten the central segment (15) on the vehicle body; wherein the stabilizer arrangement is deformable substantially along an elongation direction of the central segment. (15) such that it can take up lateral movements of at least one of the suspension system components (6) secured to the arm segments (16).

Hybrid vehicle with planetary differential that provides a vector mode

A hybrid vehicle has a drive mechanism comprising a torque generating drive member, e.g. an electric motor 12, coupled to first and second output shafts 18, 20 via a planetary differential having a ring gear 44, inner planetary gears 36, 38, outer planetary gears 40, 42 and a sun gear 34. The ring gear 44 is connected to a rotor 16 of the motor 12, the planetary gears 36, 38, 40 42 are connected to the first shaft 18 and the sun gear 34 is connected to second shaft 20. A stator 14 of the motor 12 may be coupled to a fixed base member 26 by a switching device or clutch 22 so as to provide either a propulsion mode or a vector mode. In the propulsion mode, the motor's torque is inducted to the first and second output shafts 18, 20 unidirectional and in the vector mode, the motor's torque is inducted to the first and second output shafts 18, 20 in opposite directions so as to provide active yaw control.

METHOD FOR DETERMINING VEHICLE WHEEL SPEED AND SLIP CONDITION PARAMETERS

A method is described for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle on a road surface. The method includes obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, which is dependent on longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle when a slope of the road surface is non-zero. The method includes determining an initial estimate of the slope. The method includes determining a difference between the initial estimate of the slope and a prior estimate of the slope and, based on the difference, setting a current estimate of the slope to be equal to the initial estimate or the prior estimate. The method includes estimating the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on the current estimate of the slope and the measured value of vehicle acceleration. The method includes controlling at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels based on the estimated longitudinal velocity of the vehicle. 120-. (canceled)21. A method for determining a rotational direction of a wheel , the wheel being one of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle , the method comprising:a) determining an average wheel speed of the plurality of vehicle wheels;b) in response to an absolute value of the average wheel speed being greater than a first threshold, determining that the rotational direction of the wheel is in a first rotational direction; i) determining an integration of acceleration;', 'ii) in response to the value of the integration being greater than zero, determining that the rotational direction of the wheel is in the first rotational direction; and', 'iii) in response to the value of the integration not being greater than zero, determining that the rotational direction of the wheel is in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction; and, 'c) in response to the absolute value of the average wheel speed not being greater than the first thresholdd) controlling at least one of the plurality of wheels of the vehicle based on the ...

System and Method for Determining a Vehicle Velocity Parameter

A method is described for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle on a road surface. The method includes obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, which is dependent on longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle when a slope of the road surface is non-zero. The method includes determining an initial estimate of the slope. The method includes determining a difference between the initial estimate of the slope and a prior estimate of the slope and, based on the difference, setting a current estimate of the slope to be equal to the initial estimate or the prior estimate. The method includes estimating the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on the current estimate of the slope and the measured value of vehicle acceleration. The method includes controlling at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels based on the estimated longitudinal velocity of the vehicle. 1. A method for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle that is operating on a longitudinally-extending road surface , the vehicle having a plurality of wheels including a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels , the first set of wheels being spaced apart from the second set of wheels along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle , the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle , and the road surface having a slope that is associated with changes in elevation of the road surface as the vehicle travels along the road surface , the method comprising:obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, wherein the measured value of vehicle acceleration is based on (i) longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle as well as on (ii) vertical acceleration of the vehicle when the slope of the road surface is non-zero, wherein the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is acceleration of the vehicle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;determining an initial estimate of the slope ...

Drive mechanism for selectively switching a drive between propulsion and torque vectoring mode

The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle with a drive mechanism for transmitting torque to at least a first (18) and a second output member (20) as well as to a such drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism comprises: - a torque generating drive member (12) operably coupled to the first and second output members (18, 20), a switching element (22) operably coupled to the drive member (12) for selectively coupling the drive member (12) with the first and second output members (18, 20) either in a propulsion mode or in a vector mode, wherein in the propulsion mode, the drive member's (12) torque is inducted to first and second output members (18, 20) unidirectional and wherein in the vector mode, the drive member's (12) torque is inducted to first and second output members (18, 20) in opposite directions.

Verfahren zur beurteilung der spurhaltungsfähigkeit eines fahrzeugs

Crash monitoring system

The present disclosure relates to a crash monitoring system for a vehicle, a vehicle comprising such crash monitoring system, a crash monitoring method and a computer program element for such crash monitoring system. The crash monitoring system comprises a steering wheel, an airbag unit with an inflatable bag, a crash sensor unit and a control unit. The steering wheel is formed noncircular. The airbag unit being arrangeable facing a driver seat in the vehicle. The crash sensor unit is configured to generate crash information of an imminent crash event. The crash information comprises at least a speed of the vehicle, a crash direction, a crash severity and a driving path of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to determine based on the crash information a rotation angle of the noncircular steering wheel, at which the inflatable bag is able to be deployed to uniformly absorb impact energy form a driver sitting towards the steering wheel. The control unit is configured to rotate the steering wheel by the determined rotation angle in case of a crash event.

Method for determining vehicle wheel speed and slip condition parameters

A method is described for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle on a road surface. The method includes obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, which is dependent on longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle when a slope of the road surface is non-zero. The method includes determining an initial estimate of the slope. The method includes determining a difference between the initial estimate of the slope and a prior estimate of the slope and, based on the difference, setting a current estimate of the slope to be equal to the initial estimate or the prior estimate. The method includes estimating the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on the current estimate of the slope and the measured value of vehicle acceleration. The method includes controlling at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels based on the estimated longitudinal velocity of the vehicle.