IP Library Granted Patent US 10,315,481
Granted Patent B2
US 10,315,481 · App. 14/933,486 · Granted Jun 11, 2019

Systems and methods for vehicle dynamics assignment

Inventors: Jianbo Lu (Northville, MI); Davor David Hrovat (Ann Arbor, MI); Eric Hongtei Tseng (Canton, MI); Li Xu (Northville, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60G17/015B60G2400/10B60G2400/204B60G2400/25B60G2400/32B60G2400/39B60G2400/41B60G2400/52B60G2400/80B60G2400/841B60G2400/843B60G2500/30B60G2800/914B60G2800/9122
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,315,481
App. No.
14/933,486
Granted
Jun 11, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and method for assigning vehicle suspension dynamics are disclosed. Control signals that correspond to a current driving dynamic of a suspension system of a vehicle are generated. A vehicle state associated with the generated control signals is computed and a non-traditional suspension mode is selected. Based on the computed vehicle state and the selected suspension mode, a suspension height of the vehicle is adjusted.

Claims (47)

1. A method for assigning vehicle suspension dynamics:

generating control signals corresponding to a current driving dynamic of a vehicle suspension system;

computing a vehicle state associated with the generated control signals;

when the computed vehicle state is indicative of an anomaly in a predetermined vehicle target, selecting an anomaly mitigation suspension mode, wherein the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is configured to control the vehicle suspension to achieve a desired suspension height for each of a plurality of predetermined vehicle targets, wherein the predetermined vehicle targets include chassis deterioration, a fuel economy target, a passive static suspension height (PSSH) compensation target, a terrain target, a traffic target, a weather target, and a parking target; and

based on the computed vehicle state and the target anomaly, adjusting a suspension height of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving real-time data about the current driving dynamic from one or more vehicle dynamic sensors, wherein the real-time data indicates deterioration of the vehicle's chassis and an uneven ride height of a vehicle-body.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a chassis deterioration anomaly, the suspension mode is configured to passively vary the ride height of the vehicle-body at wheels of the vehicle based on a detected level of deterioration.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein passively varying the ride height of the vehicle-body further includes application of an offset value to a desired ride height value, wherein the desired ride height value is configured to compensate for the detected level of deterioration to achieve a target ride height value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a suspension height request is signaled via actuators located at wheels of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at a mode manager, signals indicating the vehicle is being parked and, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a parking target anomaly, adjusting a suspension height of the vehicle includes adjusting a nose position of the vehicle to achieve an expanded field of view for an operator of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein achieving an expanded field of view includes obtaining a desired pitch angle target.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at a mode manager, signals indicative of a drag factor associated with a current wind speed experienced by the vehicle and, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a fuel economy target anomaly, adjusting a suspension height of the vehicle includes increasing or decreasing the suspension height of the vehicle, based on the received signals, to achieve a maximum fuel economy.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to a static suspension height of the vehicle and, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a passive static suspension height (PSSH) compensation target anomaly, adjusting a suspension height of the vehicle includes adjusting a nose position of the vehicle to achieve a desired compensation target value.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to local traffic conditions and, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a traffic target anomaly, adjusting a suspension height of the vehicle includes increasing the suspension height to achieve a maximum vehicle ride height and/or adjusting a pitch and/or roll angle of the suspension to improve an operator's field of view.

11. A system for assigning vehicle suspension dynamics, comprising:

a controller configured to:

generate control signals corresponding to a current driving dynamic of a vehicle suspension system;

compute a vehicle state associated with the generated control signals;

when the computed vehicle state is indicative of an anomaly in a predetermined vehicle target, select an anomaly mitigation suspension mode, wherein the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is configured to control the vehicle suspension to achieve a desired suspension height for each of a plurality of predetermined vehicle targets, wherein the predetermined vehicle targets include chassis deterioration, a fuel economy target, a passive static suspension height (PSSH) compensation target, a terrain target, a traffic target, a weather target, and a parking target; and

based on the computed vehicle state and the target anomaly, adjust a suspension height of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive real-time data about the current driving dynamic from one or more vehicle dynamic sensors, wherein the real-time data indicates deterioration of the vehicle's chassis and an uneven ride height of a vehicle-body.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on chassis deterioration anomaly, the controller is configured to passively vary the ride height of the vehicle-body at wheels of the vehicle based on a detected level of deterioration.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein, when passively varying the ride height of the vehicle-body, the controller is further configured to apply an offset value to a desired ride height value, wherein the desired ride height value is selected to compensate for the detected level of deterioration to achieve a target ride height value.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a signaled suspension ride height request via actuators located at wheels of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to current weather conditions and, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a weather target anomaly, adjusting a suspension height of the vehicle includes adjusting a nose position of the vehicle to achieve a desired weather compensation target.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to a detected terrain and, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a terrain target anomaly, adjusting a suspension height of the vehicle includes increasing a ground clearance over the detected terrain.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a fuel economy target anomaly, the controller is further configured to:

receive, at a mode manager, signals indicative of a drag factor associated with a current wind speed experienced by the vehicle and, based on the received signals, increase or decrease the suspension height of the vehicle to achieve a maximum fuel economy.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a traffic target anomaly, the controller is further configured to:

receive, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to local traffic conditions and, based on the received signals, increase the suspension height to achieve a maximum vehicle ride height and/or adjust a pitch and/or roll angle of the suspension to improve an operator's field of view.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a weather target anomaly, the controller is further configured to:

receiving, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to current weather conditions and, based on the received signals, adjust a nose position of the vehicle to achieve a desired weather compensation target.

21. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a parking target anomaly, the controller is further configured to:

receive, at a mode manager, signals indicating the vehicle is being parked and, based on the received signals, adjust a nose position of the vehicle to achieve an expanded field of view for an operator of the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a terrain target anomaly, the controller is further configured to:

receive, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to a detected terrain and, based on the received signals, increase a ground clearance over the detected terrain.

23. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when the anomaly mitigation suspension mode is selected based on a passive static suspension height (PSSH) compensation target anomaly, the controller is further configured to:

receive, at a mode manager, signals corresponding to a static suspension height of the vehicle and, based on the received signals, adjust a nose position of the vehicle to achieve a desired compensation target value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2015
From: LU, JIANBO; HROVAT, DAVOR DAVID; TSENG, ERIC HONGTEI; XU, LI
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 036976/0533 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170129298A1 · May 11, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,215,747 US 12,251,973