Telematics system and method for traction reporting and control in a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A vehicle telematics system for wirelessly broadcasting a slip condition datagram, the system comprising:
- a slip detection circuit to detect a slipping condition between a wheel of a vehicle and a road surface;
a first computer processor in communication with the slip detection circuit, the computer processor configured to (1) assemble a slip datagram indicating that a slipping condition has been detected at the vehicle and (2) cause the slip datagram to be wirelessly broadcast to make a notice available to one or more other vehicles in a particular vicinity that a slip condition is present;
a transceiver in communication with the computer processor configured to wirelessly broadcast the slip datagram output by the computer processor; and
a cellular telephone wirelessly paired with the transceiver, the cellular telephone configured to (1) wirelessly receive the slip datagram transmitted by the transceiver, and (2) transmit the slip datagram to a slip datagram processing center located remotely from the broadcasting vehicle, comprising a second computer processor and a memory device, and wherein the second computer processor is configured to record at least a portion of the slip datagram, to broadcast a datagram to one or more receiving vehicles including traction information, whereinone or more of the receiving vehicles includes a traction control system, and wherein the traction control system is configured to limit the torque or braking pressure applied to a wheel based on the traction information provided in the slip datagram(s), whereinthe torque or brake pressure limit is determined based on a coefficient of friction provided in the slip datagram(s).
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a system and method are provided for detecting a slip condition between a vehicle tire and a road surface, processing contemporaneous vehicle data, such as torque or brake pressure applied, to determine a force of friction, and calculating a coefficient of friction. The coefficient of friction and location of the slip are broadcast to other vehicles driving in the proximity of the slip. The broadcasts may be utilized to notify drivers of slippery driving conditions at or ahead of the vehicle, and/or to limit torque and braking pressure applied to vehicle wheels to enhance traction and avoid slip.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle telematics system for wirelessly broadcasting a slip condition datagram, the system comprising:
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a slip detection circuit to detect a slipping condition between a wheel of a vehicle and a road surface; a first computer processor in communication with the slip detection circuit, the computer processor configured to (1) assemble a slip datagram indicating that a slipping condition has been detected at the vehicle and (2) cause the slip datagram to be wirelessly broadcast to make a notice available to one or more other vehicles in a particular vicinity that a slip condition is present; a transceiver in communication with the computer processor configured to wirelessly broadcast the slip datagram output by the computer processor; and a cellular telephone wirelessly paired with the transceiver, the cellular telephone configured to (1) wirelessly receive the slip datagram transmitted by the transceiver, and (2) transmit the slip datagram to a slip datagram processing center located remotely from the broadcasting vehicle, comprising a second computer processor and a memory device, and wherein the second computer processor is configured to record at least a portion of the slip datagram, to broadcast a datagram to one or more receiving vehicles including traction information, wherein one or more of the receiving vehicles includes a traction control system, and wherein the traction control system is configured to limit the torque or braking pressure applied to a wheel based on the traction information provided in the slip datagram(s), wherein the torque or brake pressure limit is determined based on a coefficient of friction provided in the slip datagram(s). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 15)
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4. A vehicle telematics system for wirelessly requesting a traction datagram, the system comprising:
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a global positioning system within a vehicle configured to determine a location of the vehicle; a computer processor in communication with the global positioning system, the computer processor configured to (1) assemble a request for a traction datagram, (2) process a received traction datagram to determine a traction condition in the proximity or route of the vehicle, and (3) if a low-traction condition exists in the proximity of the vehicle, limit the torque or brake pressure applied to one or more wheels of the to avoid slipping, wherein the torque or brake pressure limit is determined based on a coefficient of friction provided in the traction datagram(s); and a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the request for traction datagram and receive the traction datagram. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for wirelessly broadcasting traction conditions among vehicles in proximity with one another, the method comprising:
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detecting a slip condition between a tire and a road surface at a first vehicle; constructing a notification datagram at the first vehicle to wirelessly notify vehicles within a vicinity of the first vehicle; estimating a torque or brake pressure applied to the tire at the time of the slip condition occurred; estimating a coefficient of kinetic friction for the tire-road interface at the time of the slip condition; and wirelessly broadcasting the notification datagram at the first vehicle to make a slip condition notification available to one or more other vehicles within the vicinity of the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification