Abstract: A washing machine appliance and method of operation are generally provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a first pair of diagonal feet, a second pair of diagonal feet, a tub, a basket, a measurement device, a motor, and a controller. The motor may be configured for selectively rotating the basket within the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the motor and the measurement device. The controller may be configured for rotating the basket for a first period, monitoring movement of the cabinet between the first pair of diagonal feet and between the second pair of diagonal feet during the rotating, determining a first diagonal movement value, determining a second diagonal movement value, evaluating one or both of the diagonal movement values against a predetermined value, and transmitting a stability signal.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for suspending a tub in a washing machine appliance includes a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a capsule, the capsule including a body extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis and defining an interior, the first end defining an opening of the interior. The damper assembly further includes a cap connectable to the capsule at the first end of the capsule. The cap includes a body which defines a central bore hole extending along the longitudinal axis and a cavity surrounding the central bore hole. The cap further includes a tapered ridge extending from a surface defining the cavity, the tapered ridge tapering towards and bordering the central bore hole.

Abstract: A system and method that includes collecting vehicle sensor data, wherein prioritizing vehicle sensor data includes identifying a level of importance for each of a plurality of vehicle sensor data types included in the vehicle sensor data; generating a vehicle sensor data schedule, wherein generating the vehicle data schedule includes one or more of (i) identifying a transmission order for each of the plurality of vehicle sensor data types and (ii) identifying a storage scheme selected from a hierarchy of data storage types for each of the plurality of vehicle sensor data types; transforming vehicle sensor data into message data, wherein the transforming includes selectively converting one or more of the vehicle sensor data types of the vehicle sensor data to a messaging format based on the prioritization; and transmitting, via one or more selected communication networks, the message data according to the vehicle sensor data schedule.

Abstract: A method for washing articles in a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes providing a tub and a basket, the basket rotatably positioned within a tub, with an amount of wash water for washing one or more articles positioned in the basket. After the wash cycle, the method initiates a spin cycle while maintaining at least a minimum amount of wash water from the wash cycle in the basket and tub. Maintaining the wash water during the initiation of the spin cycle can assist in preventing an imbalance of the wash load. For example, the wash load may be more evenly distributed during the draining of the wash water, as the wash basket is spinning during such draining of the wash water.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, agitating articles within the tub for a first period, the tub containing the volume of liquid, and measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The movement is measured using an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold, and spinning a basket after draining liquid from the tub.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, and agitating articles within the tub for a first period and using a first agitation profile, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, wherein the step of measuring movement occurs after agitating articles within the tub for the first period and for an intermediate measurement period and using an intermediate agitation profile, and wherein the intermediate agitation profile is different from the first agitation profile. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into the tub, and agitating articles within the tub for a first period, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes draining a first portion of the volume of liquid from the tub, the first portion less than the volume flowed into the tub, wherein a sum of the first portion and a second portion of the volume of liquid remaining in the tub equals the volume. The method further includes measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub after draining the first portion of the volume of liquid from the tub, wherein the step of measuring movement occurs after agitating articles within the tub for the first period and for an intermediate measurement period.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and method of operation is provided. The washing machine appliance has a tub and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub. The basket defines a chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The method includes performing a wash cycle, the wash cycle including flowing a volume of liquid into the tub, agitating articles within the tub, draining liquid from the tub after agitating the articles, and spinning the basket after draining liquid from the tub. The method further includes measuring movement of the tub during the wash cycle, wherein measuring movement includes detecting movement of the tub as one or more displacement amplitudes using an accelerometer and a gyroscope, determining whether the displacement amplitudes meet one or more predetermined criteria, and generating a filtered value set based on the displacement amplitudes determined to meet the one or more predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, agitating articles within the tub for a first period, the tub containing the volume of liquid, and measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The movement is measured as one or more displacement amplitudes using an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold, and spinning a basket after draining liquid from the tub.

Abstract: Washing machine appliances and suspension assemblies for suspending tubs in washing machine appliances are provided. A suspension assembly includes a first pliable mount and a second pliable mount, the first pliable mount and second pliable mount spaced apart from each other along a lateral direction. The first and second pliable mounts each include a hollow body and a head, the head integral with the hollow body. The suspension assembly further includes a rocker arm engaging the head of the first pliable mount and the second pliable mount. The rocker arm extends between the first pliable mount and the second pliable mount along the lateral direction. The suspension assembly further includes a rod connected to the rocker arm and disposed between the first pliable mount and the second pliable mount along the lateral direction.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, agitating articles within the tub for a first period, the tub containing the volume of liquid, and measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold, and spinning a basket after draining liquid from the tub.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into the tub, and agitating articles within the tub for a first period, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes draining a first portion of the volume of liquid from the tub, the first portion less than the volume flowed into the tub, wherein a sum of the first portion and a second portion of the volume of liquid remaining in the tub equals the volume. The method further includes measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub after draining the first portion of the volume of liquid from the tub, wherein the step of measuring movement occurs after agitating articles within the tub for the first period and for an intermediate measurement period.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, and agitating articles within the tub for a first period and using a first agitation profile, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, wherein the step of measuring movement occurs after agitating articles within the tub for the first period and for an intermediate measurement period and using an intermediate agitation profile, and wherein the intermediate agitation profile is different from the first agitation profile. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, agitating articles within the tub for a first period, the tub containing the volume of liquid, and measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The movement is measured using an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold, and spinning a basket after draining liquid from the tub.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for suspending a tub in a washing machine appliance includes a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a capsule, the capsule including a body extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis and defining an interior, the first end defining an opening of the interior. The damper assembly further includes a cap connectable to the capsule at the first end of the capsule. The cap includes a body which defines a central bore hole extending along the longitudinal axis and a cavity surrounding the central bore hole. The cap further includes a tapered ridge extending from a surface defining the cavity, the tapered ridge tapering towards and bordering the central bore hole.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring load balance in washing machine appliances, and washing machine appliances, are provided. A method includes accelerating rotation of a basket about a central axis within a tub of the washing machine appliance from a first speed to a second speed greater than the first speed. The method further includes detecting a plurality of speed changes during the accelerating step, and summing absolute values of speed differences for each of the plurality of detected speed changes to obtain an unfolded speed value.

Abstract: Washing machine appliances and suspension assemblies for suspending tubs in washing machine appliances are provided. A suspension assembly includes a frame, a mount seated on the frame, and a rod coupled to the mount. The rod is rotatable about a pivot point. The suspension assembly further includes a sensor assembly operable to monitor rotation of the rod. The sensor assembly includes a sensor and a reference surface. One of the sensor or the reference surface is coupled to the rod and rotatable with the rod relative to the other of the sensor or the reference surface. The sensor is operable to measure reference distances from the reference surface.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet and a tub disposed within the cabinet. The washing machine appliance also includes features for variably damping motion of the tub relative to the cabinet, such as a damper with a first, rigid piston and a second, compliant piston slidably received within a cylinder of the damper.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring load balance in washing machine appliances, and washing machine appliances, are provided. A method includes accelerating rotation of a basket about a central axis within a tub of the washing machine appliance from a first speed to a second speed greater than the first speed. The method further includes detecting a plurality of speed changes during the accelerating step, and summing absolute values of speed differences for each of the plurality of detected speed changes to obtain an unfolded speed value.

Abstract: A method for washing articles in a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes providing a tub and a basket, the basket rotatably positioned within a tub, with an amount of wash water for washing one or more articles positioned in the basket. After the wash cycle, the method initiates a spin cycle while maintaining at least a minimum amount of wash water from the wash cycle in the basket and tub. Maintaining the wash water during the initiation of the spin cycle can assist in preventing an imbalance of the wash load. For example, the wash load may be more evenly distributed during the draining of the wash water, as the wash basket is spinning during such draining of the wash water.