Devices, systems, and methods for controlling a braking system

1. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising:

for a mining haulage vehicle comprising a wheel drive system driven by an electric motor capable of applying a propel torque to at least one wheel coupled thereto, obtaining a rotational speed for each wheel;

via an inclinometer, obtaining an incline of a terrain being traversed by said mining haulage vehicle;

determining a desired velocity, including direction of travel, for said mining haulage vehicle;

automatically determining that at least one wheel of said mining haulage vehicle is rotating in an undesired direction;

automatically determining that said mining haulage vehicle is traveling in an opposing direction to said desired direction of travel at a translational velocity that is less than a predetermined translational velocity threshold;

automatically setting a service brake of said mining haulage vehicle responsive to said determination that said at least one wheel comprising said wheel motor is rotating in said undesired direction at a rotational speed that is above a predetermined rotational speed threshold and said determination that said mining haulage vehicle is traveling in said opposing direction to said desired direction of travel at said translational velocity that is less than said predetermined translational velocity threshold;

obtaining a gross vehicle weight for said mining haulage vehicle;

obtaining a gear ratio associated with said mining haulage vehicle;

estimating a rolling resistance of said mining haulage vehicle;

obtaining a rolling radius of a tire of said mining haulage vehicle;

automatically determining a threshold propel torque for said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon said gross vehicle weight, said terrain incline, said rolling resistance, said rolling radius, and said gear ratio;

automatically monitoring a throttle position of said mining haulage vehicle;

automatically determining an actual propel torque for said mining haulage vehicle based upon said throttle position;

automatically causing the electric motor to apply additional propel torque to the wheel in order to exceed the threshold propel torque; and

automatically releasing said service brake responsive to a determination that said actual propel torque of said mining haulage vehicle exceeds said threshold propel torque.

2. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising:

for a mining haulage vehicle comprising a wheel drive system driven by an electric motor capable of applying a selectively varying propel torque to at least one wheel coupled thereto, obtaining an actual propel torque for each wheel;

determining a threshold torque necessary to cause the mining haulage vehicle to achieve a desired velocity, including direction of translation;

automatically causing the electric motor to vary propel torque to the wheel in order to achieve the threshold propel torque;

responsive to a determination that an actual propel torque of a mining haulage vehicle exceeds a threshold propel torque, automatically releasing a service brake of said mining haulage vehicle, said service brake automatically set responsive to a determination that a wheel comprising a wheel motor is rotating in an undesired direction at a rotational speed that is above a predetermined rotational speed threshold and a determination that said mining haulage vehicle is traveling in an opposing direction to a desired direction of travel at a translational velocity that is less than a predetermined translational velocity threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically determining said threshold propel torque for said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon a gross vehicle weight, a terrain incline, a rolling resistance, a tire radius, and a gear ratio of said mining haulage vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically determining said actual propel torque based upon a throttle position of said mining haulage vehicle.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

obtaining said rotational speed for said wheel of said mining haulage vehicle that comprises said wheel motor.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

via an inclinometer, obtaining an incline of a terrain being traversed by said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon said incline.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

obtaining a gross vehicle weight for said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon said gross vehicle weight.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining said desired direction of travel for said mining haulage vehicle.

9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically determining that said wheel of said mining haulage vehicle is rotating in said undesired direction.

10. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically determining that said mining haulage vehicle is traveling in said opposing direction at said translational velocity.

11. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically monitoring a throttle position of said mining haulage vehicle, said actual propel torque determined based upon said throttle position.

12. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

obtaining a gear ratio associated with said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon said gear ratio.

13. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

estimating a rolling resistance of said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon said rolling resistance.

14. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

obtaining a rolling radius of a tire of said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon said rolling radius.

15. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically determining said threshold propel torque.

16. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically setting said service brake of said mining haulage vehicle.

17. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising:

for a mining haulage vehicle comprising a wheel drive system driven by an electric motor capable of applying a selectively varying propel or retard torque to at least one wheel coupled thereto, obtaining an actual propel torque for each wheel;

determining a threshold torque necessary to cause the mining haulage vehicle to achieve a desired velocity, including direction of translation;

automatically causing the electric motor to vary propel or retard torque to the wheel in order to achieve the threshold propel torque;

responsive to a determination that said mining haulage vehicle is traveling in an opposing direction to a desired direction of travel or at a translational velocity exceeding the desired velocity automatically applying a service brake, said service brake adapted to be automatically released responsive to a determination that an actual propel torque of a mining haulage vehicle exceeds the threshold propel torque.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

automatically determining said threshold propel torque for said mining haulage vehicle, said threshold propel torque determined based upon a gross vehicle weight, a terrain incline, a rolling resistance, a tire radius, and a gear ratio of said mining haulage vehicle.

19. A system comprising:

a mining haulage vehicle having a wheel drive system driven by an electric motor capable of applying a selectively varying propel torque to at least one wheel coupled thereto, and a sensor for obtaining an actual propel torque for each wheel;

an information device coupled to the propel torque sensor and the wheel drive system, capable of determining a threshold torque necessary to cause the mining haulage vehicle to achieve a desired velocity, including direction of translation and automatically causing the electric motor to vary propel torque to the wheel in order to achieve the threshold propel torque; and

a service brake controller coupled to the information device adapted to, responsive to a determination that the actual propel torque of a mining haulage vehicle exceeds the threshold propel torque, automatically release a service brake of said mining haulage vehicle, said service brake automatically set responsive to a determination that at least one wheel comprising a wheel drive system is rotating in an undesired direction at a rotational speed that is above a predetermined rotational speed threshold and a determination that said mining haulage vehicle is traveling in an opposing direction to a desired direction of travel at a translational velocity that is less than a predetermined translational velocity threshold.

20. A machine-readable medium comprising stored instructions adapted for use in a system including a mining haulage vehicle having:

a wheel drive system driven by an electric motor capable of applying a selectively varying propel torque to at least one wheel coupled thereto,

a sensor for obtaining an actual propel torque for each wheel,

a service brake for braking the haulage vehicle; and

an information device coupled to the propel torque sensor, the wheel drive system and the service brake, the information device having a processor with memory capable of storing and executing said instructions, and during execution of said instructions:

determining a threshold torque necessary to cause the mining haulage vehicle to achieve a desired velocity, including direction of translation and automatically causing the electric motor to vary propel torque to the wheel in order to cause the actual propel torque to achieve the threshold propel torque; and

responsive to a determination that the actual propel torque of the mining haulage vehicle exceeds the threshold propel torque, automatically releasing the service brake, said service brake automatically set responsive to a determination that at least one wheel comprising wheel drive system is rotating in an undesired direction at a rotational speed that is above a predetermined rotational speed threshold and a determination that said mining haulage vehicle is traveling in an opposing direction to a desired direction of travel at a translational velocity that is less than a predetermined translational velocity threshold.