Dynamic rollover prevention

• US 8,095,269 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gooden, Jr., Barry
• Application Number:
  US12/357,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.5, 280/5.501, 280/5.502, 280/5.507, 280/5.513, 280/755, 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/39, 701/45, 180/271, 180/282
• US Class Current: 701/39
• 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 a plurality of vehicle parameters for a vehicle;

determining, based on the accessed data associated with a first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent;

determining, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a roll countering solution comprising an identification of an amount of force for canceling the imminent rollover, the roll countering solution being determined based on the accessed data associated with a second subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters, the second subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters including at least one vehicle parameter corresponding to an operating condition of the vehicle;

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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 accessed data associated with a third subset of the plurality of 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 each of the one or more vehicle thrusters is operable to discharge a defined amount of force in a defined direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subset and the second subset have at least one vehicle parameter in common.

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

access data associated with a plurality of vehicle parameters for a vehicle;

determine, based on the accessed data associated with a first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent;

determine, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a roll countering solution comprising an identification of an amount of force for canceling the imminent rollover, the roll countering solution being determined based on the accessed data associated with a second subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters, the second subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters including at least one vehicle parameter corresponding to an operating condition of the vehicle;

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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 accessed data associated with a third subset of the plurality of 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.

13. 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.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first subset and the second subset have at least one vehicle parameter in common.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more sensors operable to record data associated with one or more vehicle parameters corresponding to operating conditions of a vehicle;

a roll countering controller operable to;

access data associated with a plurality of vehicle parameters, the plurality of vehicle including the one or more vehicle parameters corresponding to operating conditions of a vehicle;

determine, based on the accessed data associated with a first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent; and

determine, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a roll countering solution comprising an identification of an amount of force for canceling the imminent rollover, the roll countering solution being determined based on the accessed data associated with a second subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters, the second subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters including at least one of the one or more vehicle parameters corresponding to operating conditions of the vehicle;

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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 first subset of the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises 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 accessed data associated with a third subset of the plurality of 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.

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.

21. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first subset and the second subset have at least one vehicle parameter in common.