Abstract: A tire longitudinal stiffness estimation system includes an electronic communication system disposed on a vehicle. A sensor is disposed on the vehicle in communication with the electronic communication system, and a processor is accessible through the electronic communication system. The sensor measures parameters associated with the vehicle and communicates data for the parameters to the processor. A mu slip curve generator receives the parameters to generate a mu slip curve in real time from the data. An extraction module extracts raw data from a linear portion of the mu slip curve. A denoising module de-noises the raw data from the mu slip curve by determining a vector for the raw data, an orientation of the vector, and a heading of the vector. The denoising module generates de-noised data, and a stiffness calculator receives the de-noised data and generates a longitudinal stiffness estimate for the tire.

Abstract: A road condition monitoring system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle is supported by at least one tire and includes a central communication system. The system includes a processor in electronic communication with the central communication system. An identifier is in electronic communication with the processor, receives vehicle condition data from the central communication system, and identifies a free rolling instance of the at least one tire. A slip estimator is in electronic communication with the processor, receives speed data from the central communication system, and determines slip characteristics of the at least one tire during the free rolling instance. A classifier is in electronic communication with the processor, receives the slip characteristics of the at least one tire, and identifies a road surface condition from the slip characteristics.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a double damper is disclosed that may be used in an automotive suspension system. In one embodiment, a double damper includes a first damper having a first piston rod, a first gas chamber, a first compression chamber, and a first rebound chamber. The double damper further includes a second damper having a second piston rod, a second gas chamber, a second compression chamber, and a second rebound chamber. The first damper and the second damper are connected via a sleeve from which the first piston rod and the second piston rod extend at opposite ends.