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Method and apparatus for vehicle rollover mitigation

  • US 7,894,955 B2
  • Filed: 03/23/2005
  • Issued: 02/22/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting a potential for a vehicle rollover event, the method comprising the steps of:

  • determining a lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle based on vehicle longitudinal velocity and vehicle side slip angle;

    measuring a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

    measuring a tire load;

    determining a rollover potentiality index based on the lateral kinetic energy and the lateral acceleration;

    determining a rollover index by weighting the rollover potentiality index by a factor of the lateral acceleration and a factor of the tire load;

    determining if the rollover index is above a predetermined threshold; and

    outputting an indication based on the above-determined indexes to a controller adapted to provide a control action in response thereto;

    wherein the measured tire load, which is used in determining the rollover index, is determined by measuring a length of a contact patch of a vehicle tire and measuring changes to the contact patch length and;

    further comprising the step of providing a control signal from a controller configured to output a control signal to a system of the vehicle to implement corrective action to reduce the potential of an actual rollover when the rollover index is above a predetermined threshold.

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