Roll Stability Control System For An Automotive Vehicle Using An External Environmental Sensing System

• US 20070170667A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aaron Mills, Gerald Engelman, Jianbo Lu, Keith Mattson, Liwen Xu, Samir Beydoun
• Original Assignee: Aaron Mills, Gerald Engelman, Jianbo Lu, Keith Mattson, Liwen Xu, Samir Beydoun
• Inventors: Lu, Jianbo, Mattson, Keith, Mills, Aaron, Xu, Liwen, Engelman, Gerald, Beydoun, Samir
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.507
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• 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 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/16 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/18 Roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 related to roll-over prevention

Abstract

A roll stability control system for an automotive vehicle includes an external environment sensing system, such as a camera-based vision system, or a radar, lidar or sonar-based sensing system that generates image, radar, lidar, and/or sonar-based signals. A controller is coupled to the sensing system and generates dynamic vehicle characteristic signals in response to the image, radar, lidar, or sonar-based signals. The controller controls the rollover control system in response to the dynamic vehicle control signal. The dynamic vehicle characteristics may include roll related angles, angular rates, and various vehicle velocities.

Claims

1. A control system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a camera-based vision system generating an image signal;

a dynamic control system; and

a controller coupled to the camera system and the dynamic control system, said controller generating an aggressive driving signal or loss of control signal in response to the image signal, said controller increasing a dynamic control system entry threshold in response to the aggressive driving signal and reducing the dynamic control system entry threshold in response to the loss of control signal.

2. A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller determines a lateral velocity signal in response to the image signal, said controller generating an aggressive driving signal or loss of control signal in response to the lateral velocity signal.

3. A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the dynamic control system comprises a yaw stability control system.

4. A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the dynamic control system comprises a roll stability control system.

5. A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the loss of control signal comprises a road departure signal.

6. A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera-based vision system comprises a front mounted camera.

7. A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera-based vision system comprises a front mounted camera and a side mounted camera.

8. A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera-based vision system comprises a rear mounted camera.

9. A method of controlling a dynamic control system of a vehicle comprising:

generating an image signal;

generating an aggressive driving signal or loss of control signal in response to the image signal;

increasing an entry threshold of the dynamic control system in response to the aggressive driving signal;

reducing the entry threshold of the dynamic control system in response to the loss of control signal; and

controlling the vehicle with the dynamic control system.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating an image signal from a stereo pair of cameras.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a front mounted camera and a side mounted camera.

12. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a rear mounted camera and a side mounted camera.

13. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the loss of control signal comprises a road departure signal.

14. A method of controlling a dynamic control system of a vehicle comprising:

generating an image signal;

generating an aggressive driving signal in response to the image signal;

increasing the controlling an entry threshold of the dynamic control system in response to the aggressive driving signal; and

controlling the vehicle with the dynamic control system.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a stereo pair of cameras.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a front mounted camera and a side mounted camera.

17. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a rear mounted camera and a side mounted camera.

18. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the loss of control signal comprises a road departure signal.

19. A method of controlling a dynamic control system of a vehicle comprising:

generating an image signal;

generating a loss of control signal in response to the image signal;

reducing the entry threshold of the dynamic control system entry threshold in response to the loss of control signal; and

controlling the vehicle with the dynamic control system.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a stereo pair of cameras.

21. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a front mounted camera and a side mounted camera.

22. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein generating an image signal comprises generating the image signal from a rear mounted camera and a side mounted camera.

23. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the loss of control signal comprises a road departure signal.

25. A control system as recited in claim 23 wherein the dynamic control system comprises an anti-lock brake system.

26. A control system as recited in claim 23 wherein the dynamic control system comprises a traction control system.

27. A control system as recited in claim 23 wherein the dynamic control system comprises a roll stability control system.

28. A control system as recited in claim 23 wherein the dynamic control system comprises a yaw stability control system.

24. A control system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a camera-based vision system generating an image signal;

a dynamic control system;

means to determine the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle; and

a controller coupled to the camera system and the dynamic control system, said controller determining a lateral velocity from the image signal, said controller determining a side slip angle in response to the lateral velocity and the longitudinal velocity, said controller controlling the dynamic control system in response to the side slip angle.

29. A method of operating a dynamic control system of an automotive vehicle comprising:

generating image, radar, or lidar-based signals;

determining a lateral velocity from the image, radar, or lidar-based signals;

determining a longitudinal vehicle velocity;

determining a side slip angle from the longitudinal vehicle velocity and the lateral velocity; and

controlling the dynamic control system in response to the side slip angle.

30. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein determining a longitudinal velocity comprises determining a longitudinal velocity from a wheel speed sensor.

31. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein determining a longitudinal velocity comprises determining the longitudinal velocity from the image, radar, lidar, or sonar-based signals.

32. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein controlling the dynamic control system comprises controlling a yaw control system.

33. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein controlling the dynamic control system comprises controlling a rollover control system.

34. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein controlling the dynamic control system comprises controlling a traction control system.

35. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein controlling the dynamic control system comprises controlling an anti-lock brake system.