Abstract: Method for monitoring health status of a chassis system of a vehicle comprising a new electronic control unit, a set of sensors, and a communication bus configured to convey signal data, the new electronic control unit being configured to run a vehicle chassis system simulation module based on a vehicle main physics-based model of each subsystem of the chassis system of the vehicle, a first neural network module, a second neural network module, and a signal processing module, comprising the following steps implemented by the new electronic control unit to predict a first set of data-driven subsystem health statuses, provide a second set of physics-based subsystem health statuses, provide a set of consolidated subsystem health statuses, and depending on the set of consolidated subsystem health statuses, produce a support recommendation to correct failures indicated by the set of consolidated subsystem health statuses.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a fifth wheel on a vehicle. The method includes receiving, at a processor aboard the vehicle, input features associated with ongoing movement of the vehicle during a period of time; executing, via the processor, a first reinforcement learning model. Inputs to the first reinforcement learning model comprise the input features and at least one feedback from the driver indicating if a previous output of the first reinforcement learning model was correct. The outputs of the first reinforcement learning model comprising a current driving cycle of the vehicle and a current driving application of the vehicle. A second reinforcement learning model is executed. Inputs to the second reinforcement learning model include the outputs of the first reinforcement learning model and the input features. Output of the second reinforcement learning model is a desired fifth wheel position.

Abstract: A method for estimating a friction between a road surface and a tire of a steered wheel of a vehicle. The steered wheel being fit with dynamic steering. The vehicle includes a steering wheel and a set of sensors comprising wheel end sensors and steering wheel sensors configured to measure signals corresponding to a set of parameters., The steering wheel parameters comprising at least a steering wheel torque and a steering wheel angle. The method comprising the following steps implemented by the electronic control unit collect the signals, corresponding to the set of parameters, measured by the sensors during a period of time; process, by the signal processing module, the signals collected to provide processed signal data provide the processed signal data as input to the wheel end friction estimation model, the wheel end friction estimation model being configured to output a friction estimation of the friction between the road surface and the tire of the wheel.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle braking arrangement includes a vehicle control unit configured to determine whether one or more conditions that must occur to activate an automatic braking function of the vehicle are occurring, to automatically activate the automatic braking function after determining that the one or more conditions are occurring, and to automatically release the automatic braking function after determining that one or more conditions that must occur to release the automatic braking function are occurring. A method for operating such an arrangement is also provided.

Abstract: Method for detecting a failure in a pneumatic system of a vehicle, the pneumatic system comprising a supply pneumatic subsystem comprising supply lines, a control pneumatic subsystem comprising control lines, a delivery pneumatic subsystem comprising delivery lines, the vehicle comprising an electronic control unit configured to implement a trained supply recurrent neural network, a trained control recurrent neural network, a trained delivery recurrent neural network, and a trained main recurrent neural network; the method comprising collect and provide the input parameters to the trained recurrent neural networks to get a output from recurrent neural networks; provide the input parameters and the output parameters from recurrent neural networks to get a main output indicative of a pneumatic system health parameter indicative of a presence or an absence of a failure in one of the supply pneumatic subsystem, or the control pneumatic subsystem, or the delivery pneumatic subsystem of the pneumatic system.

Abstract: Method for estimating a brake factor parameter, the brake factor parameter being defined as a ratio of a braking torque over a braking pressure, the braking torque being applied on a wheel of a vehicle by a braking wheel sub-system of a braking system of the vehicle, the braking pressure being applied by the braking wheel sub-system to achieve the braking torque on the wheel of the vehicle, the method comprising collecting input parameters and estimating the brake factor parameter as a function of the at least one input parameter, an output of the step of estimating being an open loop estimation of the brake factor parameter.

Abstract: A method for controlling braking and/or traction of a vehicle is provided. The methods includes determining by the vehicle control unit a desired slip value based on vehicle state parameters, the desired slip value being communicated to the braking control unit and to the traction control unit, measuring or estimating a slip measure or estimation from wheel parameters collected on the at least wheel tire by the sensor, the slip measure or estimation being communicated to the braking control unit and/or to the traction control unit controlling a wheel slip by the braking control unit and by the traction control unit, based on the desired slip value and the slip measure or estimation.

Abstract: Method for updating at least one vehicle model parameter and at least one tire parameter in at least one chassis control unit of a vehicle, based on tire sensor information collected by a tire sensor placed on a tire. The method includes the steps of: collecting tire sensor information; updating the at least one vehicle model parameter based on updating at least one tire parameter, updating one tire parameter being based on the tire sensor information.

Abstract: A braking arrangement for a vehicle includes a source of compressed air, a drive axle for the vehicle, a brake associated with the drive axle and connected to the source of compressed air by an air line, an operator controlled valve in the air line between the source of compressed air and the brake, a proportioning valve in the air line between the operator controlled valve and the brake. A compressor is driven by the drive axle or a drive shaft of the vehicle and has an outlet connected to a control port of the proportioning valve.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an anti-dive bar system that includes a first bar with a first floating end and a first fixed end mechanically coupled to a first axle. The anti-dive bar system further includes a second bar with a second floating end and a second fixed end mechanically coupled to a second axle. The anti-dive bar system further includes a coupler with a sleeve and a locking member. The sleeve is configured to receive at least a portion of the first bar. The locking member is moveable between a retracted position in which the first floating end of the first bar is moveable relative to the sleeve and the second floating end of the second bar and an extended position in which the first floating end of the first bar is fixed relative to the sleeve and the second floating end of the second bar.

Abstract: A braking arrangement for a vehicle includes a source of pressurized air, a first wheel with a first pneumatic brake arrangement including a first brake, the first brake being arranged to be engaged when connected to the source of pressurized air and disengaged when disconnected from the source of pressurized air, a second wheel with a second pneumatic brake arrangement including a second brake, the second brake being arranged to be engaged when connected to the source of pressurized air and disengaged when disconnected from the source of pressurized air, and a proportional valve between the source of pressurized air and the first brake, opening of the proportional valve being proportional to pressure in a line between the source of pressurized air and the proportional valve. The first pneumatic brake arrangement and the second pneumatic brake arrangement function differently.

Abstract: An expert system for synoptic climatology. The expert system comprises a user interface that interacts with a user to obtain geographical information. An inference engine executes expert rules based on the geographical information. A synoptic climatology knowledge base provides the inference engine with the expert rules. A method for representing geographical information related to synoptic climatology for use in the expert system. The method comprises partitioning the world into climatic regions. The climatic regions are partitioned into subregions. The subregions are partitioned into zones of climatic commonalty. The climatic regions, subregions and zones of climatic commonalty are put into a frame hierarchy.