IP Library Granted Patent US 7,487,021
Granted Patent B2
US 7,487,021 · App. 11/838,025 · Granted Feb 3, 2009

Method for determining estimated vehicle dynamics parameters

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,487,021
App. No.
11/838,025
Granted
Feb 3, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining estimated vehicle dynamics parameters using a vehicle parameter estimator, a vehicle condition detector and a rich steering input detector for estimating vehicle understeer coefficient and front and rear cornering compliances in real time. The vehicle parameter estimator receives a front wheel steering angle signal, a rear wheel steering angle signal, a vehicle lateral acceleration signal, a vehicle yaw rate signal and a vehicle speed signal, and employs a linear parameter estimation algorithm for estimating the understeer coefficient, and the front and rear corning compliance. The vehicle condition detector receives the front wheel steering angle signal, the rear wheel steering angle signal, the vehicle yaw rate signal and the vehicle speed signal, and disables the vehicle parameter estimator if the vehicle is not operating in a linear region. The rich steering input detector determines whether the estimated vehicle parameters are reliable and are ready to be used.

Claims (19)

1. A method for determining estimated vehicle dynamics parameters, said method comprising:

estimating the vehicle parameters using input signals including a front wheel steering angle signal, a rear wheel steering angle signal, a vehicle lateral acceleration signal, a vehicle yaw rate signal and a vehicle speed signal, wherein estimating the vehicle parameters includes using a linear parameter estimation algorithm;

disabling the vehicle dynamics parameter estimation if the vehicle is not operating in a linear region including outputting a disable signal for disabling the vehicle dynamics parameter estimation; and

disregarding the estimated vehicle parameters if a rich steering input condition is not met and the estimated vehicle parameters are not reliable and are not ready to be used including outputting a disregard signal for disregarding the estimated vehicle parameters.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein estimating the vehicle parameters includes estimating a vehicle understeer coefficient, a front cornering compliance and a rear cornering compliance.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein estimating the vehicle parameters includes converting the input signals to converted values, executing the linear parameter estimation algorithm based on the converted values to generate estimation values, and calculating the vehicle parameters based on the estimation values.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein converting the input signals to converted values includes filtering the signals, integrating the signals and generating regression vectors.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein disabling the estimated vehicle parameters if the vehicle is not operating in a linear region includes disabling the estimated vehicle parameters if the vehicle is not traveling faster than a predetermined speed, the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating faster than a predetermined rate or the vehicle yaw rate is greater than a predetermined yaw rate.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein determining if the vehicle yaw rate is greater than a predetermined yaw rate includes comparing the vehicle yaw rate to a reference yaw rate.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein estimating the vehicle parameters includes determining if a steady state turning condition is met.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein estimating the vehicle parameters includes using an algorithm selected from the group consisting of recursive least squares algorithms and Lyapunov-based algorithms.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein disregarding the estimated vehicle parameters includes determining a reference model that has pre-defined reference model parameters, providing an estimation of the reference model parameters and comparing the estimation of the reference model parameters to the pre-defined reference model parameters.

10. A method for determining estimated vehicle dynamics parameters, said method comprising:

estimating a vehicle understeer coefficient, a front cornering compliance and a rear cornering compliance using a linear parameter estimation algorithm and input signals including a front wheel steering angle signal, a rear wheel steering angle signal, a vehicle lateral acceleration signal, a vehicle yaw rate signal and a vehicle speed signal;

disabling the vehicle dynamics parameter estimation if the vehicle is not traveling faster than a predetermined speed, the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating faster than a predetermined rate or the vehicle yaw rate is greater than a predetermined yaw rate, wherein disabling the vehicle dynamics parameter estimation includes outputting a disable signal for disabling the vehicle dynamics parameter estimation; and

disregarding the estimated vehicle parameters if a rich steering input condition is not met and the estimated vehicle parameters are not reliable and are not ready to be used, wherein disregarding the estimated vehicle parameters includes determining a reference model that has pre-defined reference model parameters, providing an estimation of the reference model parameters and comparing the estimation of the reference model parameters to the pre-defined reference model parameters, wherein disregarding the estimated vehicle parameters includes outputting a disregard signal for disregarding the estimated vehicle parameters.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein estimating the vehicle parameters includes converting the input signals to converted values, executing the linear parameter estimation algorithm based on the converted values to generate estimation values, and calculating the vehicle parameters based on the estimation values.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein converting the input signals to converted values includes filtering the signals, integrating the signals and generating regression vectors.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein estimating the vehicle parameters includes determining if a steady state turning condition is met.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0946 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0656 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0140 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0264 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0563 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0479 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0610 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022102/0533 →