Systems and methods for vehicle dynamics assignment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10315481-B2
Application number	US-201514933486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Nov 5, 2015
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 contr

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lu Jianbo
• Hrovat Davor David
• Tseng Eric Hongtei
• Xu Li

Classifications

• B60G2400/25

  Stroke; Height; Displacement · CPC title

• B60G2400/80

  Exterior conditions · CPC title

• B60G2400/39

  Brake pedal position · CPC title

• B60G2800/9122

  ARS - Anti-Roll System Control · CPC title

• B60G2500/30

  Height or ground clearance · CPC title