System and method for performance launch control of a vehicle

• US 8,175,785 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Turski, Michael P., O'Dea, Kevin A., Krueger, Eric E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US12/340,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701 53- 56, 701 64- 67, 701/74, 701 82- 87, 701 90- 91, 701/99, 701101-115, 180/197, 303/159
• US Class Current: 701/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling

Abstract

A system and related operating method for performance launch control of a vehicle begins by receiving a user-selected driving condition setting that is indicative of road conditions. The method also collects real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle, and derives a target wheel slip profile from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data. The actual propulsion system torque of the vehicle is limited using the target wheel slip profile, resulting in improved performance for standstill launches.

Claims

1. A method for performance launch control of a vehicle having an engine and a clutch, the method comprising:

receiving a user-selected driving condition setting;

calculating an engine speed limit in response to the user-selected driving condition setting, the engine speed limit representing a maximum speed for the engine during initial launch conditions;

calculating a total available tire traction value from the user-selected driving condition setting;

collecting real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle;

generating a baseline target wheel slip profile from the vehicle status data;

adjusting the baseline target wheel slip profile, using the user-selected driving condition setting, to obtain an adjusted target wheel slip profile; and

estimating, based on the real-time vehicle status data, a real-time tire traction value corresponding to lateral force tire traction potential;

computing a remaining tire traction value by subtracting the estimated real-time tire traction value from the calculated total available tire traction value, to obtain a surplus tire traction capacity for current real-time operating conditions;

calculating a torque limit for the engine, based on the remaining tire traction value;

detecting initial launch conditions for the vehicle;

enabling the engine speed limit until subsequent engagement of the clutch; and

limiting actual engine torque of the vehicle using the torque limit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling the engine speed limit following initial launch of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step receives a user-selected driving condition setting that is selected from the group consisting of:

a wet road setting;

a dry road setting;

a race track setting;

a snowy road setting; and

an icy road setting.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing when the clutch is engaged; and

in response to the sensing step, disabling the engine speed limit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle status data includes data selected from the group consisting of:

yaw rate;

pitch rate;

roll rate;

lateral acceleration;

longitudinal acceleration;

vertical acceleration;

velocity;

throttle position;

engine speed;

rotational wheel velocity;

wheel slip;

wheel position;

clutch position;

clutch pedal position;

clutch pedal velocity; and

clutch engagement status.