AERODYNAMIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING THE AERODYNAMIC SYSTEM AND VERIFYING DOWNFORCE ESTIMATION USING A FORCE SENSOR

• US 20170092022A1
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Heil, Edward T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,102,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/005 Front spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/02 by aerodynamic means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

A method can be executed to diagnose an aerodynamic system of a vehicle and includes the following steps: (a) determining, via a controller, an expected downforce acting on an aerodynamic element of a vehicle based, at least in part, on a position of the aerodynamic element relative to a vehicle body of the vehicle; (b) determining, via the controller, a measured downforce based, at least in part, on a signal received from at least one force sensor; (c) determining a deviation, via the controller, based, at least in part, on the expected downforce and the measured aerodynamic force; and (d) controlling, via the controller, the aerodynamic element based, at least in part, on the deviation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, via a controller, an expected downforce acting on an aerodynamic element of a vehicle based, at least in part, on a position of the aerodynamic element relative to a vehicle body of the vehicle;

determining, via the controller, a measured downforce acting on the aerodynamic element based, at least in part, on a signal received from at least one force sensor;

determining a deviation, via the controller, based, at least in part, on the expected downforce and the measured downforce; and

controlling, via the controller, the aerodynamic element based, at least in part, on the deviation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected downforce is based, at least in part, on a vehicle velocity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected downforce is based, at least in part, on a vehicle ride height.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected downforce is based, at least in part, on a vehicle roll.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the deviation includes subtracting the expected downforce from the measured downforce.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising commanding an actuation mechanism to adjust a position of the aerodynamic element relative to the vehicle body.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising commanding the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the aerodynamic element relative to the vehicle body when the deviation is less than a first predetermined threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising commanding the actuation mechanism to adjust a position of the aerodynamic element relative to a vehicle body when the deviation is greater than a second predetermined threshold, wherein the second predetermined threshold is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the deviation to other controllers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing diagnosis status to other controllers based on the deviation.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

an aerodynamic element movably coupled to the vehicle body;

a force sensor operatively coupled to the aerodynamic element such that the force sensor is configured to detect a measured downforce acting on the aerodynamic element;

a controller in communication with the force sensor, wherein the controller is programmed to;

determine an expected downforce acting on the aerodynamic element based, at least in part, on a position of the aerodynamic element relative to the vehicle body;

determine a measured downforce acting on the aerodynamic element based, at least in part, on a signal received from the force sensor;

determine a deviation based, at least in part, on the expected downforce and the measured downforce; and

control the aerodynamic element based, at least in part, on the deviation.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the expected downforce is based, at least in part, on a vehicle velocity.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the expected downforce is based, at least in part, on a vehicle ride height.

14. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the expected downforce is based, at least in part, on a vehicle roll.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to subtract the expected downforce from the measured downforce to determine the deviation.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising an actuation mechanism coupled between the vehicle body and the aerodynamic element, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the aerodynamic element relative to the vehicle body, and the controller is programmed to command the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the aerodynamic element relative to the vehicle body.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the controller is programmed to command the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the aerodynamic element relative to the vehicle body when the deviation is less than a first predetermined threshold.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the controller is programmed to command the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the aerodynamic element relative to the vehicle body when the deviation is greater than a second predetermined threshold, and the second predetermined threshold is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the controller is programmed to communicate the deviation to other controllers.

20. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to provide a diagnosis status to other controllers based on the deviation.