Method for controlling vehicle lift

• US 10,336,317 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Fahland, Jason D., Auden, Joshua R., Dominguez, David, Bray, Samantha J., Krueger, Eric E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boomer, Jeffrey C
• Application Number:
  US15/215,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20180022343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/18 Four-wheel drive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/28 Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/22 Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/16 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/00 Output or target parameters relating to overall vehicle dynamics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/114 Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/02 by aerodynamic means

Abstract

Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for controlling lift for vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle includes a body, one or more sensors, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to measure values pertaining to one or more parameter values for a vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate determining whether an unplanned lift of the body of the vehicle is likely using the parameters, and implementing one or more control measures when it is determined that the unplanned lift of the body of the vehicle is likely.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining one or more parameter values for a vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of front wheels, a plurality of rear wheels, a front axle coupled to the plurality of front wheels, and a rear axle coupled to the plurality of rear wheels;

determining, using the one or more parameter values, a ride height and an acceleration of ride height for the vehicle; and

applying, via instructions provided via a processor;

a ramped up front downforce, a ramped down rear downforce, or both, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than a first predetermined threshold; and

braking torque to the rear axle of the vehicle for a non-zero amount of time that is less than one second when the ride height is greater than a second predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

applying a torque change via a driveline of the vehicle when it is determined that the unplanned lift of the vehicle is likely.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ramped up front downforce is provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ramped up rear downforce is provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ramped up front downforce and the ramped up rear downforce are both provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an axle torque is reduced, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein braking is applied:

to a rear axle of the vehicle when lift is detected for a front portion of the vehicle; and

to a front axle of the vehicle when lift is detected for a rear portion of the vehicle.

8. A system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to measure values pertaining to one or more parameter values for a vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of front wheels, a plurality of rear wheels, a front axle coupled to the plurality of front wheels, and a rear axle coupled to the plurality of rear wheels; and

a processor coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to;

determine, using the one or more parameter values, a ride height and an acceleration of ride height for the vehicle; and

provide instructions to provide;

a ramped up front downforce, a ramped down rear downforce, or both, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than a first predetermined threshold; and

braking torque to the rear axle of the vehicle for a non-zero amount of time that is less than one second when the ride height is greater than a second predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply a torque change via a driveline of the vehicle when it is determined that the unplanned lift of the vehicle is likely.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the ramped up front downforce is provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the ramped up rear downforce is provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the ramped up front downforce and the ramped up rear downforce are both provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein an axle torque is reduced, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein braking is applied:

to a rear axle of the vehicle when lift is detected for a front portion of the vehicle; and

to a front axle of the vehicle when lift is detected for a rear portion of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

a plurality of front wheels;

a plurality of rear wheels;

a front axle coupled to the plurality of front wheels, and a rear axle coupled to the plurality of rear wheels;

one or more sensors configured to measure values pertaining to one or more parameter values for a vehicle during operation of the vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to;

determine, using the one or more parameter values, a ride height and an acceleration of ride height for the vehicle; and

provide instructions to apply;

a ramped up front downforce, a ramped down rear downforce, or both, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than a first predetermined threshold; and

braking torque to the rear axle of the vehicle for a non-zero amount of time that is less than one second when the ride height is greater than a second predetermined threshold.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the ramped up front downforce is provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the ramped up rear downforce is provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the ramped up front downforce and the ramped up rear downforce are both provided, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein an axle torque is reduced, via instructions provided by the processor, when the acceleration of the ride height is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein braking is applied:

to a rear axle of the vehicle when lift is detected for a front portion of the vehicle; and

to a front axle of the vehicle when lift is detected for a rear portion of the vehicle.