Real-time determination of tire normal forces

• US 9,371,073 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Shih-Ken, Pylypchuk, Valery, Moshchuk, Nikolai K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/744,144
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/24 All layers being polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/0207 Materials belonging to B32B25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/0278 Polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/0292 Thermoplastic elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/4023 on the layer surface, e.g. ink
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/4026 within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/744 Non-slip, anti-slip
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/75 Printability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2471/04 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/065 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/306 comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/08 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• 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 2400/0511 : Roll angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0512 : Pitch angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 : Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/64 : Wheel forces, e.g. on hub, spindle or bearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/12 : Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/122 : Wheatstone bridge circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/22 : Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 : Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/16 : Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/18 : Roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 : Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/12 : related to parameters of the vehicle itself , e.g. tyre models
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24339 : Keyed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24347 : From both sides

Abstract

A device includes a plurality of tires and a suspension system as subcomponents. The suspension system includes at least one suspension sensor configured to provide suspension data (S). A controller is operatively connected to the suspension sensor. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (F_zi(t), i=1 . . . 4) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S). The tire normal force (F_z) is the net force acting on each tire (or wheel) in the vertical direction. The tire normal force acting on each tire may be determined without using the specific model of the tire, road information, wheel or tire sensors.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of tires;

a suspension system operatively connected to the plurality of tires;

at least one suspension sensor operatively connected to the suspension system and configured to provide suspension data (S);

a controller operatively connected to the at least one suspension sensor and having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (F_zi(t), i=1 . . . n) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S), the respective tire normal forces being operative to adjust operation of the wheeled device;

wherein execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to determine a transformation matrix (T) based on a plurality of predefined parameters;

wherein the suspension data (S) includes respective real-time suspension forces (S_i(t), i=1 . . . n) for each of the plurality of tires;

wherein the controller is configured to obtain the respective tire normal forces (F_zi(t), i=1 . . . n) by multiplying the suspension data (S) with the transformation matrix (T) such that;

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one suspension sensor includes a strain gage.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth coefficients (T₁₁, T₁₂, T₁₃, T₁₄) are defined as:

T₁₁=1+m₁*(d²/I_xx+a²/I_yy+1/M);

T₁₂=m₁*[−

(d²/I_xx)+a²/I_yy+1/M];

T₁₃=m₁*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M+(d²/I_xx)]; and

T₁₄=m₁*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M−

(d²/I_xx)].

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the second tire has a second mass (m₂); and

the transformation matrix (T) includes a second row having fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth coefficients (T₂₁, T₂₂, T₂₃, T₂₄) based at least partially on the second mass (m₂), the first distance (a), the second distance (b), the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth coefficients (T₂₁, T₂₂, T₂₃, T₂₄) are defined as:

T₂₁=m₂*[−

(d²/I_xx)+a²/I_yy+1/M];

T₂₂=1+m₂*(d²/I_xx+a²/I_yy+1/M);

T₂₃=m₂*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M−

(d²/I_xx)]; and

T₂₄=m₂*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M+(d²/I_xx)].

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of tires includes a third tire having a third mass (m₃);

the transformation matrix (T) includes a third row having ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth coefficients (T₃₁, T₃₂, T₃₃, T₃₄) based at least partially on the third mass (m₃), the first distance (a), the second distance (b), the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth coefficients (T₃₁, T₃₂, T₃₃, T₃₄) are defined as:

T₃₁=m₃*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M+d²/I_xx];

T₃₂=m₃*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M−

d²/I_xx];

T₃₃=1+m₃*(b²/I_yy+1/M+d²/I_xx); and

T₃₄=m₃*(b²/I_yy+1/M−

d²/I_xx).

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of tires includes a fourth tire having a fourth mass (m₄); and

the transformation matrix (T) includes a fourth row having thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth coefficients (T₄₁, T₄₂, T₄₃, T₄₄) based at least partially on the fourth mass (m₄), the first distance (a), the second distance (b), the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth coefficients (T₄₁, T₄₂, T₄₃, T₄₄) are defined as:

T₄₁=m₄*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M−

d²/I_xx];

T₄₂=m₄*[−

(a*b/I_yy)+1/M+d²/I_xx];

T₄₃=m₄*(b²/I_yy+1/M−

d²/I_xx); and

T₄₄=1+m₄*(b²/I_yy+1/M+d²/I_xx).

10. A method for determining a tire normal force (F_z) in a device having a plurality of tires, a controller and a suspension system with at least one suspension sensor, the method comprising:

obtaining suspension data (S) via the at least one suspension sensor;

obtaining a transformation matrix (T) based on a plurality of predefined parameters, via the controller;

determining the respective tire normal forces (F_zi(t), i=1 . . .

     4) for one or more of the plurality of tires based on the transformation matrix (T) and the suspension data (S), via the controller, the respective tire normal forces being operative to adjust operation of the device;

wherein the plurality of predefined parameters includes;

a first distance (a) from a front axle of the device to a center of gravity of the device;

a second distance (b) from a rear axle of the device to the center of gravity of the device;

wherein the plurality of tires includes two laterally-spaced tires, such that the two laterally-spaced tires are both on one of the front axle and the rear axle;

a track width (d) between respective first and second centerlines of the two laterally-spaced tires;

a roll moment of inertia (I_xx) of the device;

a pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) of the device;

a sprung mass (M) of the device; and

respective masses (m_i) of each of the plurality of tires,

wherein the first tire has a first mass (m₁); and

wherein the transformation matrix (T) includes a first row having first, second, third and fourth coefficients (T₁₁, T₁₂, T₁₃, T₁₄) based at least partially on the first mass (m₁), the first distance (a), the second distance (b), the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the transformation matrix (T) includes obtaining respective Laplace transforms of sprung- and unsprung mass dynamic equations.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the second tire has a second mass (m₂); and

the transformation matrix (T) includes a second row having fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth coefficients (T₂₁, T₂₂, T₂₃, T₂₄) based at least partially on the second mass (m₂), the first distance (a), the second distance (b), the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the plurality of tires includes a third tire having a third mass (m₃);

the transformation matrix (T) includes a third row having ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth coefficients (T₃₁, T₃₂, T₃₃, T₃₄) based at least partially on the third mass (m₃), the first distance (a), the second distance (b), the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the plurality of tires includes a fourth tire having a fourth mass (m₄); and

the transformation matrix (T) includes a fourth row having thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth coefficients (T₄₁, T₄₂, T₄₃, T₄₄) based at least partially on the fourth mass (m₄), the first distance (a), the second distance (b), the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).

15. A device comprising:

a plurality of tires;

a suspension system operatively connected to the plurality of tires;

at least one suspension sensor operatively connected to the suspension system and configured to provide suspension data (S);

a controller operatively connected to the at least one suspension sensor and having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (F_zi(t), i=1 . . .

     4) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S), the respective tire normal forces being operative to adjust operation of the wheeled device;

wherein execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to determine a transformation matrix (T) based on a plurality of predefined parameters;

wherein the plurality of predefined parameters includes a first distance (a) from a front axle of the device to a center of gravity of the device and a second distance (b) from a rear axle of the device to the center of gravity of the device;

wherein the transformation matrix (T) includes a plurality of rows each having a respective plurality of coefficients, the respective plurality of coefficients being based at least partially on the first distance (a) and the second distance (b);

wherein the suspension data (S) includes respective real-time suspension forces (S_i(t), i=1 . . . n) for each of the plurality of tires; and

wherein the controller is configured to obtain the respective tire normal forces (F_zi(t), i=1 . . . n) by multiplying the suspension data (S) with the transformation matrix (T) such that;

16. The device of claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of rows includes a first row, second row, a third row and a fourth row;

the plurality of tires includes a first tire, second tire, a third tire and a fourth tire;

the respective plurality of coefficients of the first row are based at least partially on a first mass of the first tire;

the respective plurality of coefficients of the second row are based at least partially on a second mass of the second tire;

the respective plurality of coefficients of the third row are based at least partially on a third mass of the third tire; and

the respective plurality of coefficients of the fourth row are based at least partially on a fourth mass of the fourth tire.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of tires includes two laterally-spaced tires, such that the two laterally-spaced tires are both on one of the front axle and the rear axle;

the plurality of predefined parameters further includes a track width (d) between respective first and second centerlines of the two laterally-spaced tires, a roll moment of inertia (I_xx) of the device, a pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) of the device and a sprung mass (M) of the device; and

the respective plurality of coefficients of the transformation matrix (T) are based at least partially on the track width (d), the roll moment of inertia (I_xx), the pitch moment of inertia (I_yy) and the sprung mass (M).