Vehicle suspension event recording and/or reporting system
A vehicle monitoring system may include a sensor network operably coupled to suspension components of the vehicle and a controller operably coupled to the sensor network to determine a suspension event and vehicle speed, initiation angle and duration time associated with the suspension event. The controller further determines a vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled during the suspension event based on the vehicle speed, initiation angle and duration time.
1 . A vehicle monitoring system comprising:
a sensor network operably coupled to suspension components of the vehicle; and
a controller operably coupled to the sensor network to determine a suspension event and vehicle speed, initiation angle and duration time associated with the suspension event,
wherein the controller further determines a vertical and/or horizontal component of a distance traveled during the suspension event based on the vehicle speed, initiation angle and duration time,
wherein the sensor network includes ride height sensors,
wherein the ride height sensors determine a start and an end of the suspension event based on an amount of suspension droop measured for the vehicle, and
wherein the start and the end of the suspension event is determined responsive to a selection of a suspension event mode and the vehicle being operated in a geo-fenced location that is reserved for off-road vehicle operation.
2 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further generates an instruction for display of the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled at a user interface of the vehicle, or for display of the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled at a user interface remotely located with respect to the vehicle responsive to wireless communication of the instruction.
3 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor network includes a camera and, wherein the camera captures video content of the suspension event.
4 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the video content is communicated to a user interface remotely located with respect to the vehicle responsive to wireless communication of the video content from the vehicle.
5 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor network includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) or gyroscope to determine the initiation angle.
6 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor network comprises a camera, radar or lidar, and
wherein the vertical component of the distance traveled is determined based on a vertical distance measured above ground during the suspension event detected via the camera, radar or lidar.
7 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle speed is modified based on tire slip to determine the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled.
8 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further determines an ending angle of the vehicle based on a determination of vehicle pitch at an end of the duration time.
9 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein a GPS elevation is measured at a start and end of the suspension event to determine the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled during the suspension event based on a change in elevation from the start to the end of the suspension event.
10 . The vehicle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein information recorded in association with the suspension event is communicated to another vehicle based on the other vehicle being in proximity to a location at which the suspension event occurred.
11 . A method of monitoring vehicle operation for a suspension event, the method comprising:
receiving sensor information from a sensor network of the vehicle;
determining when a suspension event occurs based on the sensor information;
determining vehicle speed and initiation angle at a start of the suspension event and duration time associated with the suspension event responsive to an end of the suspension event; and
determining a vertical and/or horizontal component of distance traveled during the suspension event based on the vehicle speed, initiation angle and the duration time,
wherein the determining of the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled is calculated using a modified vehicle speed,
wherein the modified vehicle speed is the vehicle speed corrected for tire slip, and
wherein the start of the suspension event and the end of the suspension event is determined by a vehicle ride height being over a ride height threshold for a pre-determined period of time and camera detection of a vertical distance above ground.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating an instruction for display of the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled at a user interface of the vehicle.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating an instruction for display of the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled at a user interface remotely located with respect to the vehicle responsive to wireless communication of the instruction.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor network includes a camera,
wherein the camera captures video content of the suspension event, and
wherein the video content is communicated to a user interface remotely located with respect to the vehicle responsive to wireless communication of the video content from the vehicle.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor network includes ride height sensors, and
wherein the ride height sensors determine the start and the end of the suspension event based on suspension droop measured for the vehicle.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor network includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) or gyroscope to determine the initiation angle.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor network comprises a camera, radar or lidar, and
wherein the vertical component of the distance traveled is determined based on a vertical distance measured above ground during the suspension event detected via the camera, radar or lidar.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising measuring a GPS elevation at the start and the end of the suspension event to determine the vertical and/or horizontal component of the distance traveled during the suspension event based on a change in elevation from the start to the end of the suspension event.
19 . A vehicle monitoring system comprising:
a sensor network operably coupled to suspension components of the vehicle; and
a controller operably coupled to the sensor network to determine a suspension event and vehicle speed, initiation angle and duration time associated with the suspension event,
wherein the controller further determines a vertical and/or horizontal component of a distance traveled during the suspension event based on the vehicle speed, initiation angle and duration time,
wherein the sensor network comprises a camera, radar or lidar,
wherein the vertical component of the distance traveled is determined based on a vertical distance measured above ground after maximum suspension droop during the suspension event detected via the camera, radar or lidar, and
wherein the maximum suspension droop is a ride height where the vehicle is not exerting any contact forces on the ground determined via the sensor network.