Mobility traction control system and method

• US 7,577,508 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbons, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/798,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/32, 701/33, 701/36, 701/37, 701/41, 701/42, 701 70- 74, 701 80- 83, 701/90, 180/197, 303139-150
• US Class Current: 701/70
• 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 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/63 Location of the center of gravity
• 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 2600/20 Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/214 by varying the load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/914 Height Control System
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/915 Suspension load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/94 Electronic Stability Program (ESP, i.e. ABS+ASC+EMS)
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/95 Automatic Traction or Slip Control [ATC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/972 Electronic Differential Lock [EDS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/12 including control of differentials
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/1307 Load distribution on each wheel suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/1315 : Location of the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0066 : using buttons or a keyboard connected to the on-board processor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 : Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 : Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/064 : Degree of grip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/1005 : Driving resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 : Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 : Interaction between the driver and the control system

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 traction control modes, comprising the steps of:

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 traction 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 traction 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 traction control mode; and

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

2. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction modes according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of repeating said outputting, said receiving, and said determining for each remaining user-selectable vehicle traction control mode.

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

4. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 1, 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.

5. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 4, further comprising:

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

controlling at least one vehicle ride characteristic for a run flat operation mode; and

calculating the three-dimensional vehicle center of gravity;

selecting a vehicle traction 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 traction control modes according to claim 1, 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.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle mode controller and the at least one vehicle subsystem are configured to provide vehicle traction control.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle subsystems comprise:

a ride height adjustment system;

a differential control system;

a tire inflation system;

an anti-lock braking system; and

a stability control system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle mode controller provides a run flat vehicle ride control mode.

7. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction 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 vehicle subsystem according to one of said user-selectable vehicle traction control 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 traction 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 traction control mode; and

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

wherein said user-selectable vehicle traction control modes includes a run flat control mode, and wherein said means for outputting a control signal is configured, in response to receiving a corresponding run flat user input via said input means, to lower a ride height on first, second and third corners of the vehicle with respect to a fourth corner that is closest to a flat tire.

8. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction modes according to claim 7, further comprising means for repeating said outputting, said receiving, and said determining for each remaining user-selectable vehicle traction control mode.

9. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 7, 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.

10. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 7, 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.

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; and

at least one vehicle subsystem controlled by the vehicle mode controller,

wherein said first keypad receives a selection of a user-selectable vehicle traction/ride control mode,

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

said vehicle mode controller calculates a three-dimensional center of gravity of a vehicle based on a weight on at least one axle and a chassis height with respect to at least one axle, and

said vehicle mode controller outputs the three-dimensional center of gravity, and

said vehicle mode controller controls said vehicle subsystem based on said three-dimensional center of gravity.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle mode controller is configured to further perform:

a chassis height above axle calculation; and

a weight on axle calculation.