Mobility Traction Control System and Method

• US 20080243336A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbons, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US12/115,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243336A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/63 Location of the center of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/82 Ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/821 Uneven, rough road sensing affecting vehicle body vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/822 Road friction coefficient determination affecting wheel traction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/04 Means for informing, instructing or displaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1877 Adaptive Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/20 Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/213 by applying forward/backward torque on each wheel individually
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/214 by varying the load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/925 Airbag deployment systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/95 Automatic Traction or Slip Control [ATC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/952 : Electronic driving torque distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/954 : Four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/984 : Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0066 : using buttons or a keyboard connected to the on-board processor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0074 : Driver shifts control to the controller, e.g. by pressing a button
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/185 : Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 : Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/12 : Differentials
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 : Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 : Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/064 : Degree of grip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/1005 : Driving resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling

Abstract

A system and method for vehicle mobility traction/ride control. The system includes a mode controller configured to output control signals to a variety of vehicle control subsystems in response to operator mode selection input.

Claims

1. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes, comprising:

receiving a user input to initiate a determination of at least one vehicle ride characteristic;

outputting a control signal to configure a ride height vehicle subsystem according to one of said user-selectable vehicle control modes;

receiving a first input indicative of a chassis height with respect to at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle control mode, and a second input indicative of a weight on at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle control mode; and

determining said at least one vehicle ride characteristic based on said first and second inputs.

3. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 1, wherein said receiving occurs in response to a user selection entered using at least a first keypad.

5. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 1, further comprising:

controlling said vehicle in one of said user selectable vehicle control modes using a controller, further comprising the steps of;

controlling at least one vehicle ride characteristic;

selecting a vehicle control mode in the controller using at least a first input keypad;

communicating vehicle ride information to the user; and

controlling the operation of at least one vehicle ride characteristic with the controller.

6. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle ride characteristic is used to control said ride height vehicle subsystem.

16. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 1, wherein said outputting a control signal is operable to configure a ride height vehicle subsystem to one of a max ride height and a min ride height.

17. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 3, wherein said first keypad includes means for receiving user selection of a min ride height mode and a max ride height mode.

18. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 17, wherein said first keypad further includes means for receiving user selection of an on road mode, a hard pack snow ice mode, an off road mode, a deep mud mode, a deep sand mode, a fording mode, a low range mode, a tow neutral mode, a high range mode, and a tire deflation mode.

21. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 3, wherein said receiving occurs in response to a user selection entered using said one of said first keypad and a second keypad, said first keypad including means for receiving user selection of a min ride height mode and a max ride height mode.

22. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes according to claim 21, wherein said second keypad includes means for receiving user selection of a hybrid mode, a pre-electric vehicle (ev) mode, an electric vehicle mode, emergency flashers, backup alarm override mode, reset fuel cutoff, vehicle strobe, work lights, high idle, a trailer (CT) center of gravity calculation, a vehicle (UV) center of gravity calculation, and a master override.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

7. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle modes, comprising:

input means for receiving a user input to initiate a determination of at least one vehicle ride characteristic;

means for outputting a control signal to configure a ride height vehicle subsystem according to one of said user-selectable vehicle modes;

means for receiving a first input indicative of a chassis height with respect to at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle mode, and a second input indicative of a weight on at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle mode; and

means for determining said at least one vehicle ride characteristic based on said first and second inputs;

wherein said user-selectable vehicle modes includes a min ride height control mode, and wherein said means for outputting a control signal is configured, in response to receiving a corresponding user input via said input means, to lower a ride height of the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 7, wherein said input means is further constructed for receiving user selection of an on road mode, a hard pack snow ice mode, an off road mode, a deep mud mode, a deep sand mode, a fording mode, a low range mode, a tow neutral mode, a high range mode, and a tire deflation mode.

24. The system of claim 7, wherein said input means further comprises a second keypad that includes means for receiving user selection of a hybrid mode, a pre-electric vehicle (ev) mode, an electric vehicle mode, emergency flashers, backup alarm override mode, reset fuel cutoff, vehicle strobe, work lights, high idle, a trailer (CT) center of gravity calculation, a vehicle (UV) center of gravity calculation, and a master override.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. A system for modifying vehicle ride characteristics based on user input, comprising:

a vehicle mode controller;

a user input apparatus coupled to the vehicle mode controller, said user input apparatus including at least a first keypad said first keypad including means for receiving user selection of a min ride height mode and a max ride height mode; and

at least one vehicle subsystem controlled by the vehicle mode controller, said at least one vehicle subsystem including a ride height adjustment system, wherein said first keypad receives a selection of a user-selectable vehicle ride control mode,

said vehicle mode controller outputs control information to said at least one vehicle subsystem based on said selected vehicle ride control mode,

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle subsystems further comprise:

a differential control system;

a tire inflation system;

an anti-lock braking system; and

a stability control system.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said first keypad further includes means for receiving user selection of an on road mode, a hard pack snow ice mode, an off road mode, a deep mud mode, a deep sand mode, a fording mode, a low range mode, a tow neutral mode, a high range mode, and a tire deflation mode.

23. The system of claim 11, further comprising a second keypad that includes means for receiving user selection of a hybrid mode, a pre-electric vehicle (ev) mode, an electric vehicle mode, emergency flashers, backup alarm override mode, reset fuel cutoff, vehicle strobe, work lights, high idle, a trailer (CT) center of gravity calculation, a vehicle (UV) center of gravity calculation, and a master override.

12. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

25. A computer-readable medium upon which is encoded a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user selectable vehicle control modes, comprising:

receiving a user input to initiate a determination of at least one vehicle ride characteristic;

outputting a control signal to configure a vehicle subsystem according to one of said user-selectable vehicle control modes;

receiving a first input indicative of a chassis height with respect to at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle control mode, and a second input indicative of a weight on at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle control mode; and

determining said at least one vehicle ride characteristic based on said first and second inputs.

26. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, further comprising repeating said outputting, said receiving, and said determining for each remaining user selectable vehicle control mode.

27. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said receiving occurs in response to a user selection entered using at least a first keypad.

28. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said at least one vehicle ride characteristic is one of a three-dimensional center of gravity of said vehicle and said weight on at least one axle.

29. The computer-readable medium according to claim 28, further comprising:

controlling said vehicle in one of said user selectable vehicle control modes using a controller, further comprising the steps of;

controlling at least one vehicle ride characteristic;

calculating the three-dimensional vehicle center of gravity;

selecting a vehicle control mode in the controller using at least said first keypad;

communicating vehicle ride information to the user; and

controlling the operation of at least one vehicle ride characteristic with the controller.

30. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said at least one vehicle ride characteristic is used to control one or more vehicle subsystems selected from the group consisting of:

a central tire inflation system, an active damper system, and a chassis management system.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said outputting a control signal to configure a vehicle subsystem according to one of said user-selectable vehicle control modes comprises outputting a control signal to configure a ride height vehicle subsystem.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein said outputting a control signal operable to configure a ride height vehicle subsystem is operable to configure the ride height vehicle subsystem to one of a max ride height and a min ride height.

33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein said first keypad includes means for receiving user selection of a min ride height mode and a max ride height mode.

34. The computer-readable medium according to claim 33, wherein said first keypad further includes means for receiving user selection of an on road mode, a hard pack snow ice mode, an off road mode, a deep mud mode, a deep sand mode, a fording mode, a low range mode, a tow neutral mode, a high range mode, and a tire deflation mode.

35. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein said receiving occurs in response to a user selection entered using said one of said first keypad and a second keypad, said first keypad including means for receiving user selection of a min ride height mode and a max ride height mode.

36. The computer-readable medium according to claim 35, wherein said second keypad includes means for receiving user selection of a hybrid mode, a pre-electric vehicle (ev) mode, an electric vehicle mode, emergency flashers, backup alarm override mode, reset fuel cutoff, vehicle strobe, work lights, high idle, a trailer (CT) center of gravity calculation, a vehicle (UV) center of gravity calculation, and a master override.