Abstract: An active discharge circuit for electric vehicle inverter, the active discharge circuit intended to be connected in parallel with a DC link capacitor connected between positive and negative lines of a DC power link, wherein the circuit comprises a dissipative current source, a switch connected in series with the current source between the DC lines, and a controller connected to the switch and arranged to apply an activation signal in dependence of a control signal, the activation signal placing the switch in a conducting state, wherein the current source is configured to draw a discharge current and dissipate any energy stored in the DC link capacitor when the switch is in the conducting state. As long as the switch is closed by the activation signal, the current source will draw a constant current and dissipate power, and the voltage across the DC link capacitor will decrease linearly.

Abstract: A method is provided for vehicle identification, which method includes the steps of: an ego vehicle detecting a communicating vehicle by wireless vehicle to vehicle communication; the ego vehicle detecting a nearby vehicle by a sensor onboard the ego vehicle; the ego vehicle sending an identification request to the communicating vehicle by wireless vehicle to vehicle communication, wherein the identification request instructs the communicating vehicle to perform an action; the ego vehicle determining whether or not the nearby vehicle performed the action based at least on data from the sensor; and if the ego vehicle determines that the nearby vehicle performed the action, the ego vehicle determining that the communicating vehicle and the nearby vehicle are the same vehicle.

Abstract: A method is described for determining a friction estimate between a road surface and a tire of a vehicle, the tire being arranged on a steerable wheel of the vehicle, and the vehicle having an axle rack pivotably attached to a linkage arm connected to the steerable wheel such that a translational motion of the axle rack causes the linkage arm to rotate about a kingpin element such that the linkage arm causes a turning motion of the steerable wheel. The method includes acquiring a plurality of rack force values; acquiring a plurality of lateral wheel force values; mapping a relation between the plurality of rack force values and the lateral wheel force values to a model; and determining the lateral friction estimate based on the mapping.

Abstract: A method in a vehicle for determining road properties is described. The method includes: acquiring vehicle acceleration in x, y and z directions; acquiring a rack force; acquiring a wheel speed for each of all four wheels; determining a wheel speed energy based on the wheel speed; determining a wheel slip of all four wheels of the vehicle based on a respective wheel speed of the wheel; determining an acceleration energy in each of the x, y and z-directions based on the vehicle acceleration and the vehicle speed; determining a rack force energy based on the detected rack force; and determining road properties based on the wheel speed energy, rack force energy and vehicle speed. A system is also described for performing the method.

Abstract: A method is provided for vehicle identification, which method includes the steps of: an ego vehicle detecting a communicating vehicle by wireless vehicle to vehicle communication; the ego vehicle detecting a nearby vehicle by a sensor onboard the ego vehicle; the ego vehicle sending an identification request to the communicating vehicle by wireless vehicle to vehicle communication, wherein the identification request instructs the communicating vehicle to perform an action; the ego vehicle determining whether or not the nearby vehicle performed the action based at least on data from the sensor; and if the ego vehicle determines that the nearby vehicle performed the action, the ego vehicle determining that the communicating vehicle and the nearby vehicle are the same vehicle.

Abstract: A method is described for determining a friction estimate between a road surface and a tire of a vehicle, the tire being arranged on a steerable wheel of the vehicle, and the vehicle having an axle rack pivotably attached to a linkage arm connected to the steerable wheel such that a translational motion of the axle rack causes the linkage arm to rotate about a kingpin element such that the linkage arm causes a turning motion of the steerable wheel. The method includes acquiring a plurality of rack force values; acquiring a plurality of lateral wheel force values; mapping a relation between the plurality of rack force values and the lateral wheel force values to a model; and determining the lateral friction estimate based on the mapping.

Abstract: A method in a vehicle for determining road properties is described. The method includes: acquiring vehicle acceleration in x, y and z directions; acquiring a rack force; acquiring a wheel speed for each of all four wheels; determining a wheel speed energy based on the wheel speed; determining a wheel slip of all four wheels of the vehicle based on a respective wheel speed of the wheel; determining an acceleration energy in each of the x, y and z-directions based on the vehicle acceleration and the vehicle speed; determining a rack force energy based on the detected rack force; and determining road properties based on the wheel speed energy, rack force energy and vehicle speed. A system is also described for performing the method.