SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMANCE LAUNCH CONTROL OF A VEHICLE

• US 20100161188A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: KRUEGER, ERIC E., TURSKI, MICHAEL P., O'DEA, KEVIN A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/67
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling

Abstract

A system and related operating method for performance launch control of a vehicle begins by receiving a user-selected driving condition setting that is indicative of road conditions. The method also collects real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle, and derives a target wheel slip profile from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data. The actual propulsion system torque of the vehicle is limited using the target wheel slip profile, resulting in improved performance for standstill launches.

Claims

1. A method for performance launch control of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a user-selected driving condition setting that is indicative of road conditions;

collecting real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle;

deriving a target wheel slip profile from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data; and

limiting actual propulsion system torque of the vehicle using the target wheel slip profile.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating an engine speed limit from the user-selected driving condition setting, the engine speed limit representing a maximum engine speed for the vehicle; and

enabling the engine speed limit for initial launch conditions.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising disabling the engine speed limit following initial launch of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the target wheel slip profile defines desirable wheel slip for an initial launch point of the vehicle, and for at least one shift point of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the target wheel slip profile defines a highest desirable wheel slip for the initial launch point, and decreasing desirable wheel slip thereafter for increasing shift points of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring clutch status data of the vehicle; and

synchronizing the target wheel slip profile in response to the clutch status data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a propulsion system torque limit from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data; and

applying the propulsion system torque limit for a current launch/shift point of the vehicle when actual wheel slip of the vehicle does not exceed that defined by the target wheel slip profile.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a propulsion system torque limit from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data; and

updating the propulsion system torque limit to an updated torque limit when actual wheel slip of the vehicle exceeds that defined by the target wheel slip profile, wherein the updated torque limit is influenced by a difference between the actual wheel slip and that defined by the target wheel slip profile.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time vehicle status data includes data selected from the group consisting of:

yaw rate;

pitch rate;

roll rate;

lateral acceleration;

longitudinal acceleration;

vertical acceleration;

velocity;

throttle position;

engine speed;

rotational wheel velocity;

wheel slip;

wheel position;

clutch position;

clutch pedal position;

clutch pedal velocity; and

clutch engagement status.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step receives a user-selected driving condition setting that is selected from the group consisting of:

a wet road setting;

a dry road setting;

a race track setting;

a snowy road setting; and

an icy road setting.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a user-selected vehicle handling setting, wherein the deriving step derives the target wheel slip profile from the user-selected driving condition setting and the user-selected vehicle handling setting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user-selected vehicle handling setting is selected from the group consisting of:

a loose setting;

a neutral setting; and

a tight setting.

2. The method of claim 2, wherein the deriving step comprises:

generating a baseline target wheel slip profile from the real-time vehicle status data; and

adjusting the baseline target wheel slip profile, using the user-selected driving condition setting, to obtain the target wheel slip profile.

14. A method for performance launch control of a vehicle having an engine and a clutch, the method comprising:

receiving a user-selected driving condition setting;

calculating an engine speed limit in response to the user-selected driving condition setting, the engine speed limit representing a maximum speed for the engine;

detecting initial launch conditions for the vehicle; and

enabling the engine speed limit until subsequent engagement of the clutch.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sensing when the clutch is engaged; and

in response to the sensing step, disabling the engine speed limit.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

collecting vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle;

generating a baseline target wheel slip profile from the vehicle status data;

adjusting the baseline target wheel slip profile, using the user-selected driving condition setting, to obtain an adjusted target wheel slip profile; and

limiting actual engine torque of the vehicle using the adjusted target wheel slip profile.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle status data includes data selected from the group consisting of:

yaw rate;

pitch rate;

roll rate;

lateral acceleration;

longitudinal acceleration;

vertical acceleration;

velocity;

throttle position;

engine speed;

rotational wheel velocity;

wheel slip;

wheel position;

clutch position;

clutch pedal position;

clutch pedal velocity; and

clutch engagement status.

18. An onboard vehicle-based system for performance launch control of a vehicle having drive wheels, the system comprising:

a user interface subsystem configured to receive a user-selected driving condition setting that is indicative of current road conditions;

a vehicle sensor subsystem configured to collect real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle;

a propulsion system configured to generate torque for the drive wheels of the vehicle; and

a controller coupled to the user interface subsystem, to the vehicle sensor subsystem, and to the propulsion system, the controller being configured to;

generate a target wheel slip profile for the vehicle, based upon the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data;

calculate a torque limit for the propulsion system, based upon the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data; and

dynamically regulate actual torque of the propulsion system in response to the target wheel slip profile and the torque limit.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the controller updates the torque limit to an updated torque limit when actual wheel slip of the vehicle exceeds that defined by the target wheel slip profile;

the updated torque limit is influenced by a difference between the actual wheel slip and that defined by the target wheel slip profile; and

the controller dynamically updates the torque limit until the actual wheel slip does not exceed that defined by the target wheel slip profile.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller calculates an engine speed limit from the user-selected driving condition setting, enables the engine speed limit for initial launch conditions, and disables the engine speed limit following initial launch of the vehicle.