Abstract: Light or moderate impacts against a vehicle are detected. Measured acceleration and yaw rate are compared to baseline thresholds in a baseline state. When the acceleration is above the threshold, a distance from an estimated impact location to a vehicle center-of-gravity is determined. When the determined distance is less than a vehicle edge distance, an impact-suspected state will be entered if at least one of the acceleration and yaw rate is above the respective threshold for a predetermined duration. In the impact-suspected state, a plurality of vehicle dynamic behaviors are monitored for confirming occurrence of the light impact. A return is made to the baseline state if the acceleration and yaw rate fail to remain above the respective threshold or if the calculated distance fails to remain less than the edge distance. The impact is detected when at least one of the behaviors confirms the occurrence.

Abstract: A method includes controlling charging a battery pack of an electrified vehicle, via a control system of the electrified vehicle, based on climate conditions, traffic conditions, and learned driving habits of a driver of the electrified vehicle. The control system is configured to create a smart charging schedule for either adding or not adding an additional charge to the battery pack in anticipation of an expected upcoming drive cycle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having input and output shafts and clutches engageable in combinations to create power-flow paths between the input and output shafts. The vehicle further includes wheels driven by the output shaft and a controller. The controller is programmed to engage one of the combinations, and, responsive to the wheels slipping and a desired engine torque reduction exceeding a threshold, command capacity to an additional one of the clutches to reduce torque of the output shaft.

Abstract: Various methods of detecting or controlling vehicle stability are disclosed. Certain embodiments provide a method for performing hill hold control for a vehicle, a method for detecting a vehicle sliding into loss of control, and/or a method for controlling a vehicle's sliding into loss of control. Methods for detecting sliding into loss of control may include comparing the vehicle's longitudinal velocity gradient with a reference speed computed from wheel speed sensors inputs and/or detecting a lateral velocity of the vehicle and a longitudinal velocity of the vehicle when vehicle sliding is detected. Methods for control may include calculating a vehicle pitch angle from the lateral acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, the yaw rate, the roll rate, and the pitch rate, calculating a longitudinal velocity gradient from the vehicle pitch angle, and/or calculating a sideslip angle.

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.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an obstacle avoidance system with active suspensions. The obstacle avoidance system uses one or more active suspensions to lift or jump one or more corresponding wheels over an obstacle in the vehicle's path to avoid contact with the obstacle when the vehicle cannot practically drive over, steer around, or stop before hitting the obstacle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having input and output shafts and clutches engageable in combinations to create power-flow paths between the input and output shafts. The vehicle further includes wheels driven by the output shaft and a controller. The controller is programmed to engage one of the combinations, and, responsive to the wheels slipping and a desired engine torque reduction exceeding a threshold, command capacity to an additional one of the clutches to reduce torque of the output shaft.

Abstract: Crash detection in a road vehicle includes determining an impact location. Acceleration and yaw rate are measured, and occurrence of an impact is detected by comparing a total acceleration to an impact threshold. An impact angle is determined according to an arctangent of a ratio of lateral and longitudinal accelerations. A center-of-gravity to impact distance is determined according to vehicle mass, moment of inertia, acceleration, and yaw rate. When the yaw rate is less than a yaw threshold and the impact angle is within a predetermined range of an integer multiple of 90°, then the impact location is determined in response to a projection of the impact distance selected according to signs of the accelerations. Otherwise, the impact location is determined in response to a projection of the impact distance selected according to signs of the accelerations and a sign of the yaw rate.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device programmed to receive a set of goals for a vehicle and identify a travel area for the vehicle for a time period. The computing device receives data indicating predictability of driving conditions of the travel area and determines that the predictability is sufficient to control the vehicle according to model predictive control. Controlling the vehicle includes determining instructions to control actuators related to the steering, propulsion and braking of the vehicle to minimize a cost function. The instructions are implemented for a first time slot. The time period is updated to remove the first time slot at the beginning and include an additional time slot at the end of the predetermined time period. The computing device determines an updated control solution, and implements the updated control solution for a second time slot.

Abstract: Light or moderate impacts against a vehicle are detected. Measured acceleration and yaw rate are compared to baseline thresholds in a baseline state. When the acceleration is above the threshold, a distance from an estimated impact location to a vehicle center-of-gravity is determined. When the determined distance is less than a vehicle edge distance, an impact-suspected state will be entered if at least one of the acceleration and yaw rate is above the respective threshold for a predetermined duration. In the impact-suspected state, a plurality of vehicle dynamic behaviors are monitored for confirming occurrence of the light impact. A return is made to the baseline state if the acceleration and yaw rate fail to remain above the respective threshold or if the calculated distance fails to remain less than the edge distance. The impact is detected when at least one of the behaviors confirms the occurrence.

Abstract: A vehicle having a drivetrain is controlled based on a difference between a torque transmitted by the drivetrain when the vehicle has constant non-zero speed and the torque transmitted by the drivetrain when the vehicle is accelerating. The drivetrain torque may be measured by a drivetrain torque sensor. The effective vehicle mass is computed from the torque difference. The computed mass of the vehicle is used to adjust the activation of a collision warning system or a collision avoidance system. A method of operating a vehicle where the activation of a collision avoidance system is adjusted based on a difference between a torque transmitted by a drivetrain when the vehicle has constant non-zero speed and the torque transmitted by the drivetrain when the vehicle is accelerating is disclosed. The torque difference is used to compute a vehicle mass that is used to adjust a collision warning distance.

Abstract: A controller may indicate a low-traction mode of a vehicle when a longitudinal tracking accumulation exceeds a first threshold value and a lateral response accumulation exceeds a second threshold value. The longitudinal tracking accumulation may measure a tally of activation of a traction control system over time. The lateral response accumulation may measure a comparison of the vehicle yaw-rate to a driver-desired model-based prediction of the yaw-rate. The controller may indicate the low-traction mode by providing a recommendation to switch to the low-traction mode in a human-machine interface screen of the vehicle, or by automatically adjusting the operational mode of at least one electronic control unit of the vehicle to implement the low-traction mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assessing tire health through monitoring an effective tire rolling radius are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining velocity data for a vehicle from a global positioning system, obtaining angular speed data for a wheel of the vehicle, processing the velocity data and the angular speed data using a digital filter, and determining an effective rolling radius of a tire coupled to the wheel based on the processed velocity data and angular speed data.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor with access to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether an autonomous host vehicle can traverse an environmental obstacle, and if the autonomous host vehicle can traverse the environmental obstacle, controlling an active suspension system in accordance with the environmental obstacle and controlling the autonomous host vehicle to traverse the environmental obstacle.

Abstract: A computer for, e.g., a mass market passenger vehicle operable by a virtual driver in autonomous and/or semi-autonomous mode, is programmed to determine that a current vehicle braking capacity exceeds each of a first braking target and a mitigation threshold at a current vehicle speed. The computer is further programmed to compare the current vehicle speed to an engine breaking threshold and generate a transmission control message providing data to operate a vehicle transmission. Where the current vehicle speed is above the engine braking threshold, the transmission control message provides data to operate the vehicle transmission to inhibit transfer of an input torque through the vehicle transmission. Additionally, where the current vehicle speed is below a wheel lock threshold, the transmission control message further provides data to operate the vehicle transmission to inhibit rotation of an output shaft of the vehicle transmission.

Abstract: A method for identifying vehicle vibration includes receiving signals indicative of a vehicle vibration from one or more vehicle sensors while the vehicle is in operation. The method also includes determining a magnitude of the vehicle vibration at one or more target frequency bands. The method additionally includes determining whether the vehicle vibration is associated with one or more wheels of the vehicle based on the magnitude of the vehicle vibration at the one or more target frequency bands. The method further includes generating a diagnostic recommendation when the vehicle vibration is associated with the one or more wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vehicle mode scheduling with learned user preferences include monitoring vehicle data when a vehicle changes from a first mode to a second mode. The method also includes analyzing the vehicle data to identify a preference for the second mode during a driving context. Additionally, the method includes generating a recommendation on whether to switch to the second mode while traversing a route based on the vehicle data, and the driving context, and presenting the recommendation to the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor with access to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether an autonomous host vehicle can traverse an environmental obstacle, and if the autonomous host vehicle can traverse the environmental obstacle, controlling an active suspension system in accordance with the environmental obstacle and controlling the autonomous host vehicle to traverse the environmental obstacle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assessing tire health through monitoring an effective tire rolling radius are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining velocity data for a vehicle from a global positioning system, obtaining angular speed data for a wheel of the vehicle, processing the velocity data and the angular speed data using a digital filter, and determining an effective rolling radius of a tire coupled to the wheel based on the processed velocity data and angular speed data.

Abstract: A controller may indicate a low-traction mode of a vehicle when a longitudinal tracking accumulation exceeds a first threshold value and a lateral response accumulation exceeds a second threshold value. The longitudinal tracking accumulation may measure a tally of activation of a traction control system over time. The lateral response accumulation may measure a comparison of the vehicle yaw-rate to a driver-desired model-based prediction of the yaw-rate. The controller may indicate the low-traction mode by providing a recommendation to switch to the low-traction mode in a human-machine interface screen of the vehicle, or by automatically adjusting the operational mode of at least one electronic control unit of the vehicle to implement the low-traction mode.