Abstract: A system for active roll control for a vehicle body is provided and includes a sensor operable to monitor a tilt of the body and a suspension system. The suspension system includes an active sway bar including a first bar portion, a second bar portion, and an active roll control motor disposed between the first bar portion and the second bar portion. The active roll control motor is operable to turn the first bar portion in relation to the second bar portion. The system further includes a computerized active roll control controller which is operative to monitor a driving mode including one of straight-line driving and rounding a curve on a road, monitor an output of the sensor, determine a desired roll moment based upon the driving mode and the output of the sensor, and control the active roll control motor based upon the desired roll moment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided in a vehicle having a Hitch Articulation Angle (HAA) calculation system for estimating an HAA between the vehicle and a towed trailer. The method includes: receiving a plurality of ultrasonic sensor (USS) range measurements for a first USS on the vehicle while the vehicle is towing the trailer in a forward direction; receiving a plurality of HAA values calculated using geometric equations or a kinematic model that correspond to the plurality of USS range measurements; receiving a USS range measurement for the first USS while the vehicle is operating in a reverse direction or experiencing a high HAA but not from a second USS; estimating an HAA value from the USS range measurement by applying the USS curve characteristics for the first USS; and providing the estimated HAA value to a vehicle motion control system for use in controlling vehicle and trailer motion.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for estimating a Hitch Articulation Angle (HAA) using Ultra-Sonic Sensors (USSs) while ensuring quality detected echo signal performance using plausibility filtering, generating at least one set of USS data based on detecting a set of echo signals generated by a plurality of USSs configured about a vehicle coupled to a trailer; determining based on a set of USS data using a selected set of geometric equations in a plausibility filtering process for an arbitrary frontal shape of the trailer; and generating at least one comparison based on at least one set of USS data estimations to a kinematic model at low speeds for ensuring that results of the kinematic model to the HAA associated with the determined trailer shape is based on a pair of detected echo signals that are deemed to have a higher signal performance.

Abstract: Methods of attenuating vibration transfer to a body of a vehicle using a dynamic mass of the vehicle via minimizing a particular angular frequency of a wheel. One method includes receiving vehicle information over a time interval and determining, based on the vehicle information, an instantaneous angular velocity that corresponds to a particular angular frequency of the wheel. This method includes generating a gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command to counteract a vibration that occurs at the particular angular frequency of the wheel, which is based on the instantaneous angular velocity, and communicating the gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command to a hydraulic mount assembly that supports the dynamic mass. This method includes actuating an actuator of the hydraulic mount assembly in response to the gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command in order to minimize the vibration transfer to the body due to the vibration that occurs at the particular angular frequency of the wheel.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for estimating a Hitch Articulation Angle (HAA) using Ultra-Sonic Sensors (USSs) while ensuring quality detected echo signal performance using plausibility filtering, generating at least one set of USS data based on detecting a set of echo signals generated by a plurality of USSs configured about a vehicle coupled to a trailer; determining based on a set of USS data using a selected set of geometric equations in a plausibility filtering process for an arbitrary frontal shape of the trailer; and generating at least one comparison based on at least one set of USS data estimations to a kinematic model at low speeds for ensuring that results of the kinematic model to the HAA associated with the determined trailer shape is based on a pair of detected echo signals that are deemed to have a higher signal performance.

Abstract: A method for performing a data validity assessment for a brake pad wear estimation includes providing an electric park brake assembly including a motor and a battery management sensor, receiving motor current data from the motor of the electric park brake assembly, receiving battery current data from the battery management sensor, determining a margin of current from the motor current data and the battery current data, receiving historical motor position data and instant motor position data of the motor, calculating the brake pad wear estimation using the motor current data, comparing the historical motor position data and the instant motor position data against an expected range of motor positions, determining an electromagnetic interference level from the margin of current, the historical and instant motor position data, and the calculated brake pad wear estimation, and discarding the motor current data when the electromagnetic interference level is above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system for active roll control for a vehicle body is provided and includes a sensor operable to monitor a tilt of the body and a suspension system. The suspension system includes an active sway bar including a first bar portion, a second bar portion, and an active roll control motor disposed between the first bar portion and the second bar portion. The active roll control motor is operable to turn the first bar portion in relation to the second bar portion. The system further includes a computerized active roll control controller which is operative to monitor a driving mode including one of straight-line driving and rounding a curve on a road, monitor an output of the sensor, determine a desired roll moment based upon the driving mode and the output of the sensor, and control the active roll control motor based upon the desired roll moment.

Abstract: A method for performing a data validity assessment for a brake pad wear estimation includes providing an electric park brake assembly including a motor and a battery management sensor, receiving motor current data from the motor of the electric park brake assembly, receiving battery current data from the battery management sensor, determining a margin of current from the motor current data and the battery current data, receiving historical motor position data and instant motor position data of the motor, calculating the brake pad wear estimation using the motor current data, comparing the historical motor position data and the instant motor position data against an expected range of motor positions, determining an electromagnetic interference level from the margin of current, the historical and instant motor position data, and the calculated brake pad wear estimation, and discarding the motor current data when the electromagnetic interference level is above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Methods of attenuating vibration transfer to a body of a vehicle using a dynamic mass of the vehicle via minimizing a particular angular frequency of a wheel. One method includes receiving vehicle information over a time interval and determining, based on the vehicle information, an instantaneous angular velocity that corresponds to a particular angular frequency of the wheel. This method includes generating a gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command to counteract a vibration that occurs at the particular angular frequency of the wheel, which is based on the instantaneous angular velocity, and communicating the gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command to a hydraulic mount assembly that supports the dynamic mass. This method includes actuating an actuator of the hydraulic mount assembly in response to the gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command in order to minimize the vibration transfer to the body due to the vibration that occurs at the particular angular frequency of the wheel.

Abstract: An exemplary method for performing a brake pad life determination includes providing a brake assembly, including a brake pad position sensor, providing a control system comprising a controller electronically connected to the brake assembly, receiving sensor position data from the brake pad position sensor, determining whether the sensor position data satisfies a first acceptance criterion, if the sensor position data satisfies the first acceptance criterion, performing statistical analysis of the sensor position data to determine a standard deviation and a mean of the sensor position data, determining whether the sensor position data satisfies a second acceptance criterion, and if the sensor position data satisfies the second acceptance criterion, determining a brake pad life estimate.

Abstract: An exemplary method for performing a brake pad life determination includes providing a brake assembly, including a brake pad position sensor, providing a control system comprising a controller electronically connected to the brake assembly, receiving sensor position data from the brake pad position sensor, determining whether the sensor position data satisfies a first acceptance criterion, if the sensor position data satisfies the first acceptance criterion, performing statistical analysis of the sensor position data to determine a standard deviation and a mean of the sensor position data, determining whether the sensor position data satisfies a second acceptance criterion, and if the sensor position data satisfies the second acceptance criterion, determining a brake pad life estimate.

Abstract: An exemplary method of performing a brake pad wear check includes providing a brake assembly, including a brake pad and a brake rotor, providing a controller electronically connected to the brake assembly, the controller configured to calculate an expected wear of the brake pad, determine a brake pad wear threshold, compare the expected wear of the brake pad to the brake pad wear threshold, and if a first condition is satisfied, perform the brake pad wear check.

Abstract: Technical solutions are described for determining thickness of a vehicle brake pad. An example method for estimating brake pad wear on a vehicle includes computing a corner torque for a brake based on corner brake pressure applied to the brake. The method also includes computing a corner power for the brake based on the corner torque. The method also includes computing a rotor temperature of a rotor of the brake based on the corner power. The method also includes determining a brake pad wear rate per unit of power based on the rotor temperature and the corner power. The method also includes computing a brake pad wear based on the brake pad wear rate and the corner power.

Abstract: An exemplary method to detect a wear condition of a suspension system component of a vehicle includes the steps of receiving suspension system component data from a vehicle sensor, calculating an amplitude of the suspension system component data as a function of frequency, monitoring the amplitude of the suspension system component data within a predetermined frequency range, determining whether the amplitude of the suspension system component data is greater than a predetermined threshold, and, if the amplitude is greater than the predetermined threshold, transmitting a diagnostic notification.

Abstract: A system and method to determine the health state of a damper associated with a wheel of a vehicle using indirect measurements obtain information from one or more sensors. The one or more sensors includes a wheel speed sensor, inertial measurement unit, tire pressure sensor, steering wheel sensor, global positioning system (GPS) receiver, or a camera. The information from at least one of the one or more sensors includes at least one measurement of a parameter not directly characterizing the damper. The method also includes comparing the at least one measurement of the parameter with data of the parameter to estimate wear of the damper. The data includes a historical measurement, a measurement for another wheel of the vehicle, a measurement from another vehicle, or an output of a model, and a maintenance or replacement task is triggered by the estimate of the wear of the damper.