Integration of rear wheel steering with vehicle stability enhancement system

• US 6,560,524 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Chin, Yuen-Kwok, Lin, William Chin-Woei, Rule, David S., Sidlosky, David Michael, Deng, Weiwen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/963,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/72, 180/204, 180/6.2, 180/6.24, 180/400, 180/408, 303/140, 303/146
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/022 Rear-wheel steering; Four-wheel steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1755 Brake regulation specially adapted to control the stability of the vehicle, e.g. taking into account yaw rate or transverse acceleration in a curve road vehicle drive control systems for control of driving stability otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/02

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering. The method includes inputting a vehicle speed and measured vehicle yaw rates. Determining a front and rear wheel steer angle. Calculating a desired yaw rate. Comparing the measured yaw rate with the desired yaw rate to determine a yaw error term. Applying a braking force to a wheel of a vehicle imparting a yaw moment based upon the magnitude of the error term calculated. The rear wheel steer angle is taken into account in calculating a desired yaw rate.

Claims

1. A method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering, the method comprising the steps of:

a) inputting a vehicle speed;

b) inputting a measured vehicle yaw rate;

c) determining a front wheel steer angle;

d) determining a rear wheel steer angle;

e) calculating a desired yaw rate;

f) comparing the measured yaw rate with the desired yaw rate to determine a yaw error term; and

g) applying a braking force to a wheel of the vehicle to impart a yaw moment based upon the magnitude of the error term calculated wherein the rear wheel steering angle is taken into account in calculating the desired yaw rate.

2. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a front wheel steer angle further includes the step of centering a hand wheel sensor.

3. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 2 wherein the step of centering the hand wheel comprises:

a) inputting a vehicle speed;

b) inputting a measured vehicle yaw rate;

c) inputting a vehicle lateral acceleration;

d) inputting a rear wheel steer angle;

e) determining an estimated hand wheel position;

f) determining if the vehicle is undergoing a severe maneuver;

g) assigning the estimated hand wheel position as the true hand wheel position;

h) calculating a front wheel steer angle according to the equation;

4. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 3 wherein the step of calculating the front wheel steer angle utilizes a rear wheel steer gain such that the rear wheel steer angle does not need to be measured directly.

5. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 4 wherein the step of calculating the front wheel steer angle is according to the equation:

 

δ

_f*=(r/V)+K_ua_y/(1+G_r/f)

wherein

δ

_f* is the front wheel steer angle;

r is the measured vehicle yaw rate;

V is the vehicle speed;

K_u is the under steer coefficient;

a_y is the lateral acceleration; and

G_r/f is the rear wheel steer gain.

6. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a rear wheel steer angle comprises:

a) inputting a vehicle speed;

b) inputting a front steering angle;

c) determining a rear steering gain corresponding to the inputted vehicle speed;

d) determining if the vehicle is in an oversteer or an understeer condition;

e) adjusting the value of the rear steering gain based upon the determination of the oversteer or understeer condition and the value of the gain;

f) calculating the rear wheel steer angle according to the equation;

7. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 1 wherein the desired steady state yaw rate is determined according to the equation:

8. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 1 wherein the desired dynamic yaw rate is determined according to the equation:

9. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 8 wherein the step of calculating the desired vehicle yaw rate utilizes a rear wheel steer gain such that the rear wheel steer angle does not need to be measured directly.

10. The method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering of claim 9 wherein the desired dynamic yaw rate is determined according to the equation:

11. A method of operation for an active brake control, the method providing an integration of rear wheel steering and active brake control such that a desired yaw rate term is calculated utilizing a formula including variables to account for rear wheel steering, the method including the steps of:

a) inputting a vehicle speed;

b) inputting a measured vehicle yaw rate;

c) determining a front wheel steer angle;

d) determining a rear wheel steer angle;

e) calculating a desired yaw rate;

f) comparing the measured yaw rate with the desired yaw rate to determine a yaw error term; and

g) applying a braking force to a wheel of the vehicle to impart a yaw moment based upon the magnitude of the error term calculated wherein the rear wheel steering angle is taken into account in calculating the desired yaw rate.

12. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 11 wherein the step of determining a front wheel steer angle further includes the step of centering a hand wheel sensor.

13. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 12 wherein the step of centering the hand wheel comprises:

a) inputting a vehicle speed;

b) inputting a measured vehicle yaw rate;

c) inputting a vehicle lateral acceleration;

d) inputting a rear wheel steer angle;

e) determining an estimated hand wheel position;

f) determining if the vehicle is undergoing a severe maneuver;

g) assigning the estimated hand wheel position as the true hand wheel position;

h) calculating a front wheel steer angle according to the equation;

14. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 13 wherein the step of calculating the front wheel steer angle utilizes a rear wheel steer gain such that the rear wheel steer angle does not need to be measured directly.

15. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 14 wherein the step of calculating the front wheel steer angle is according to the equation:

16. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 11 wherein the step of determining a rear wheel steer angle comprises:

a) inputting a vehicle speed;

b) inputting a front steering angle;

c) determining a rear steering gain corresponding to the inputted vehicle speed;

d) determining if the vehicle.is in an oversteer or an understeer condition;

e) adjusting the value of the rear steering gain based upon the determination of the oversteer or understeer condition and the value of the gain;

f) calculating the rear wheel steer angle according to the equation;

17. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 11 wherein the desired yaw rate is determined according to the equation:

18. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 11 wherein the desired dynamic yaw rate is determined according to the equation:

19. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 18 wherein the step of calculating the desired vehicle yaw rate utilizes a rear wheel steer gain such that the rear wheel steer angle does not need to be measured directly.

20. The method of operation for an active brake control on a vehicle of claim 19 wherein the desired dynamic yaw rate is determined according to the equation:

21. A method for integrating a vehicle stability enhancement system and rear wheel steering, the method comprising the steps of:

a) inputting a vehicle speed;

b) inputting a measured vehicle yaw rate;

c) determining a front wheel steer angle;

d) determining a rear wheel steer angle;

e) calculating a desired yaw rate according to the equation;