IP Library Granted Patent US 8,639,438
Granted Patent B2
US 8,639,438 · App. 13/579,196 · Granted Jan 28, 2014

Method for vehicle driving assistance

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,639,438
App. No.
13/579,196
Granted
Jan 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assisting in the driving of a vehicle during a braking test on said vehicle on a track, said track being divided into a plurality of adjacent strips (Z 1 , . . . , Zn) mainly extending lengthwise in the track, the width (Iz) of each strip being greater than or equal to the width of the tires of the vehicle, each strip being worn on each braking of the vehicle on said strip. The assistance method comprises a step of selecting at least one strip out of the plurality of strips of the track, said strip being selected according to its level of wear. The assistance method also comprises a step of determining a theoretical trajectory of the vehicle, such that, by following said theoretical trajectory, the vehicle is able to brake on the selected strip.

Claims (23)

1. A method for assisting a driver in the driving of a vehicle during a braking test of said vehicle on a test track to evaluate performance characteristics of one or more tires on said vehicle,

wherein the test track comprises an acceleration portion and a test portion, and wherein the test portion is divided into a plurality of adjacent strips (Z 1 , . . . , Zn) mainly extending lengthwise in the track, the width (Iz) of each strip being greater than or equal to the width of the tires of the vehicle, such that each strip is worn by tires of the vehicle during each braking of the vehicle on said strip, such that the wear of each strip affects the assessment of tire performance characteristics,

said assistance method comprising:

selecting at least one strip out of the plurality of strips of the track, according to the known or determined wear of that strip;

determining a theoretical trajectory of the vehicle, such that, by following said theoretical trajectory, the vehicle can be braked on the selected strip

indicating the theoretical trajectory to be followed to the driver of the vehicle; and

braking the vehicle and measuring performance characteristics of the tires on said vehicle.

2. The assistance method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle, and wherein the selecting at least one strip from the plurality of strips of the track comprises selecting the strip with the least wear.

3. The assistance method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a passenger vehicle and further comprising, prior to the selecting of at least one strip, determining pairs of strips, such that two strips of one and the same pair of strips are spaced apart from one another by a distance corresponding to the distance between two tires of one and the same axle of the vehicle, wherein for each pair of strips, a wear of the pair of strips corresponding to the average of the wears of the strips of said pair is determined for each pair of strips and, wherein the selecting of at least one strip comprises selecting the pair of strips from the plurality of pairs of strips with the least wear.

4. The assistance method according to claim 1 , further comprising comparing a trajectory actually followed by the vehicle with the theoretical trajectory, thereby validating the braking test.

5. A method for managing the state of a track on which braking tests of a vehicle are carried out, comprising:

performing the assistance method according to claim 1 , wherein the indicating of the theoretical trajectory to the driver comprises transmitting the theoretical trajectory to the vehicle located on the test track.

6. A device for assisting in the driving of a vehicle during a braking test on said vehicle on a track, said track being divided into a plurality of adjacent strips (Z 1 , . . . , Zn) mainly extending lengthwise in the track, the width (Iz) of each strip being greater than or equal to the width of the tires of the vehicle, each strip being worn on each braking of the vehicle on said strip, said assistance device comprising:

a module for selecting at least one strip out of the plurality of strips of the track, said strip being selected according to its wear; and

a module for determining a theoretical trajectory of the vehicle, such that, by following said theoretical trajectory, the vehicle is able to brake on the selected strip.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for assisting a driver in the driving of a vehicle during a braking test of said vehicle on a test track to evaluate the performance characteristics of one or more tires on said vehicle,

wherein the test track comprises an acceleration portion and a test portion, and wherein the test portion is divided into a plurality of adjacent strips (Z 1 , . . . , Zn) mainly extending lengthwise in the track, the width (Iz) of each strip being greater than or equal to the width of the tires of the vehicle, such that each strip is worn on-by tires of the vehicle during each braking of the vehicle on said strip, such that the wear of each strip affects the assessment of tire performance characteristics, said computer program comprising instructions for implementing the following:

selecting at least one strip out of the plurality of strips of the track, said strip being selected according to its wear; and

determining a theoretical trajectory of the vehicle, such that, by following said theoretical trajectory, the vehicle is able to brake on the selected strip.

8. A method for assisting a driver in the driving of a vehicle during a braking test of said vehicle on a test track to evaluate performance characteristics of one or more tires on said vehicle,

wherein the test track comprises an acceleration portion and a test portion, and wherein the test portion is divided into a plurality of adjacent strips (Z 1 , . . . , Zn) mainly extending lengthwise in the track, the width (Iz) of each strip being greater than or equal to the width of the tires of the vehicle, such that each strip is worn by the tires of the vehicle each braking of the vehicle on said strip, such that the wear of each strip affects the assessment of tire performance characteristics, said assistance method comprising:

selecting at least one strip out of the plurality of strips of the track, using a module for selecting a strip according to its wear; and

determining a theoretical trajectory of the vehicle using a module for determining a theoretical trajectory, such that, by following said theoretical trajectory, the vehicle is able to brake on the selected strip.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2020
From: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
To: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
Reel/Frame 052863/0624 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2012
From: MARTIN, DENIS; BUISSON, JEREMY
To: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN; MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
Reel/Frame 028978/0367 →