Dynamic Rollover Prevention

• US 20100185354A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Pruett, James A., Adams, Timothy E., Moshenrose, Christopher T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 related to roll-over prevention

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a method includes accessing data associated with one or more vehicle parameters and determining, based on the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent. The method includes determining, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a roll countering solution. The method includes determining, based on the roll countering solution, one or more vehicle thrusters to execute the determined roll countering solution. The method includes signaling the one or more vehicle thrusters to discharge to execute the determined roll countering solution.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

accessing data associated with one or more vehicle parameters;

determining, based on the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent;

determining, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a roll countering solution;

determining, based on the roll countering solution, one or more vehicle thrusters to execute the determined roll countering solution; and

signaling the one or more vehicle thrusters to discharge to execute the determined roll countering solution.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll angle; and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll angle exceeds a maximum allowable roll angle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll rate;

and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll rate exceeds a maximum allowable roll rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll angle and a vehicle roll rate; and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll rate exceeds a maximum allowable roll rate corresponding to the roll angle.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining, based on the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters, if the vehicle is close to rollover;

signaling, in response to a determination that the vehicle is close to rollover, a roll warning indicator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the roll countering solution comprises the identification of an amount of force for canceling the imminent rollover.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more vehicle thrusters is operable to discharge a defined amount of force in a defined direction.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the roll countering solution comprises the identification of an amount of force for canceling the imminent rollover.

8. A system, comprising one or more processing units operable to:

access data associated with one or more vehicle parameters;

determine, based on the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent;

determine, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a roll countering solution;

determine, based on the roll countering solution, one or more vehicle thrusters to execute the determined roll countering solution; and

signal the one or more vehicle thrusters to discharge to execute the determined roll countering solution.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll angle; and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll angle exceeds a maximum allowable roll angle.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll rate;

and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll rate exceeds a maximum allowable roll rate.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll angle and a vehicle roll rate; and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll rate exceeds a maximum allowable roll rate corresponding to the roll angle.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to:

determine, based on the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters, if the vehicle is close to rollover;

signal, in response to a determination that the vehicle is close to rollover, a roll warning indicator.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more vehicle thrusters is operable to discharge a defined amount of force in a defined direction.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more sensors operable to record data associated with one or more vehicle parameters;

a roll countering controller operable to;

access the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters recorded by the one or more sensors;

determine, based on the data associated with one or more vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent; and

determine, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a vehicle roll countering solution; and

one or more vehicle thrusters operable to, upon receipt of a signal to discharge to execute the determined roll countering solution from the roll countering controller, discharge an amount of force.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll angle; and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll angle exceeds a maximum allowable roll angle.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll rate;

and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll rate exceeds a maximum allowable roll rate.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:

the one or more vehicle parameters comprise a vehicle roll angle and a vehicle roll rate; and

determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent comprises determining if the vehicle roll rate exceeds a maximum allowable roll rate corresponding to the roll angle.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:

the vehicle comprises a roll warning indicator; and

the one or more processing units are operable to;

determine, based on the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters, if the vehicle is close to rollover; and

signal, in response to a determination that the vehicle is close to rollover, the roll warning indicator.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein each of the one or more vehicle thrusters is operable to deploy a defined amount of force in a defined direction.