Abstract: A method for estimating lateral force includes receiving vehicle data. The vehicle includes a plurality of tires. The method further includes using a bicycle model to determine first lateral forces at each of the plurality of tires of the vehicle, using a double-track model to determine second lateral forces at each of the plurality of tires of the vehicle, fusing the first lateral forces determined using the bicycle model and the second lateral forces using the double-track model to determine third lateral forces at each of the plurality of tires of the vehicle, and controlling an actuator of the vehicle using the third lateral forces at each of the plurality of tires of the vehicle.

Abstract: A driver command interpreter system for a vehicle includes one or more controllers that execute instructions to receive a plurality of dynamic variables, vehicle configuration information, and driving environment conditions, and determine a target vehicle state during transient driving conditions based on the plurality of dynamic variables from the one or more sensors, the vehicle configuration information, and the driving environment conditions. The one or more controllers build a transient vehicle dynamic model based on the target vehicle state during transient driving conditions, the plurality of dynamic variables, the vehicle configuration information, and the driving environment conditions, and solve for desired zeros corresponding to the target vehicle state during transient conditions.

Abstract: A system for adaptive tire force prediction in a motor vehicle includes a control module that executes program code portions that receive real-time static and dynamic data from motor vehicle sensors, that model forces at each tire of the motor vehicle at one or more incremental time steps, that estimate actual forces at each tire of the motor vehicle at each of the one or more incremental time steps, that adaptively predict tire forces at each tire of the motor vehicle at each of the one or more incremental time steps, that generate one or more control commands for actuators of the motor vehicle, that capture discrepancies between real-time force estimations and nominal force calculations at each tire of the motor vehicle, and that apply compensation parameters to reduce tracking errors in the one or more control commands to the one or more actuators of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A driver command interpreter system for a vehicle includes one or more controllers that execute instructions to receive a plurality of dynamic variables, vehicle configuration information, and driving environment conditions, and determine a target vehicle state during transient driving conditions based on the plurality of dynamic variables from the one or more sensors, the vehicle configuration information, and the driving environment conditions. The one or more controllers build a transient vehicle dynamic model based on the target vehicle state during transient driving conditions, the plurality of dynamic variables, the vehicle configuration information, and the driving environment conditions, and solve for desired zeros corresponding to the target vehicle state during transient conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether a vehicle is in an understeer or oversteer situation. The system includes a controller circuit coupled to an IMU and an EPS, and programmed to: calculate, for a steered first axle, an axle-based pneumatic trail for using IMU measurements and EPS signals and estimate a saturation level as a function of a distance between the axle-based pneumatic trail and zero. The system estimates, for an unsteered second axle, an axle lateral force curve with respect to a slip angle of the second axle, and a saturation level as a function of when the axle lateral force curve with respect to the slip angle transitions from positive values to negative values. The saturation level of the first axle and the second axle are integrated. The system determines that the vehicle is in an understeer or oversteer situation as a function of the integrated saturation levels.

Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to: determine an occurrence of intentional drift event, and in response to determining the occurrence of the intentional drift event, determine a front torque target and a rear torque target.

Abstract: The concepts described herein relate to a calculation of desired future longitudinal horizons related to torque or acceleration, and desired future lateral horizons related to yaw rate and lateral velocity, and their use in response to driver-selectable modes. In the longitudinal direction, driver inputs of pedal and brake position as well as drivability metrics are used to calculate the desired future torque trajectory. In the lateral direction, the front and rear steering angles may be used with a bicycle model to derive the trajectories. The trajectories are used in a vehicle motion controller that uses weighting to tradeoff competing requests and deliver performance that is consistent with a selected driver mode, such as a tour mode, a sport mode, an off-road mode, a trailering mode, etc.

Abstract: A system for estimating a lateral velocity and a longitudinal velocity of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors for monitoring data indicative of a travel state of the vehicle and one or more controllers in electronic communication with the plurality of sensors. The one or more controllers executes instructions to receive the data indicative of the travel state of the vehicle from the plurality of sensors. The one or more controllers estimate at least one initial estimated state of the vehicle based on the data indicative of the travel state of the vehicle. The one or more controllers fuse together the data indicative of the travel state of the vehicle with the at least one initial estimated state of the vehicle to determine the lateral velocity and a longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on a single state estimation scheme.

Abstract: An aerodynamic deflector on the vehicle is repositionable. An actuator is coupled with the aerodynamic deflector. A controller configured to: detect a performance mode of operation of the vehicle; determine a requested lateral acceleration; calculate a control adjustment of the aerodynamic deflector to generate a downforce to achieve the requested lateral acceleration and maximize lateral grip of the vehicle; and operate the actuator to effect the control adjustment of the aerodynamic deflector to generate the downforce on the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle and a system and method of controlling the vehicle. The system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor obtains a first estimate of a force on a tire of the vehicle based on dynamics of the vehicle. The processor is configured to obtain a second estimate of the force on the tire using a tire model, determine an estimate of a coefficient of friction between the tire and the road from the first estimate of the force and the second estimate of the force, and control the vehicle using the estimate of the coefficient of friction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vehicle motion control are provided. The method includes: calculating a correction factor using one of three different sets of operations when the vehicle is performing a limit handling maneuver, wherein the correction factor is calculated using a first set of operations when the vehicle is operating in an understeer state, calculated using a second set of operations when the vehicle is operating in an oversteer state, and calculated using a third set of operations when the vehicle is operating in a neutral steer state; adjusting a desired lateral acceleration and a desired yaw rate by applying the correction factor to account for a reduced level of friction experienced by the vehicle when traveling on a non-ideal friction surface; calculating optimal control actions based on the adjusted desired lateral acceleration and adjusted desired yaw rate; and applying the optimal control actions with vehicle actuators during vehicle operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle are provided. The systems and methods include a sensor system and a processor configured to execute program instructions, to cause the at least one processor to: receive yaw rate values, lateral acceleration values and longitudinal velocity values for the vehicle from the sensor system, determine side slip angle parameter values based on the yaw rate values, lateral acceleration values and longitudinal velocity values, determine phase portrait angles based on the side slip angle parameter values and the yaw rate values, wherein the phase portrait angles each represent an angle between yaw rate and side slip angle for the vehicle in a phase portrait of yaw rate and side slip angle, detect or predict vehicle instability based at least on the phase portrait angles, and when vehicle instability is detected or predicted, control motion of the vehicle to at least partly correct the vehicle instability.

Abstract: A tire radius monitoring system for dynamically determining a tire effective radius for each of the wheels on a vehicle is described. The system includes a GPS sensor, a plurality of wheel speed sensors, and a controller. The controller determines, via the GPS sensor, a velocity vector related to longitudinal velocity of the vehicle. The controller determines wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels, and detects a no-wheel-slip state for the vehicle wheels and the velocity vector from the GPS sensor. The controller determines tire effective radii for the plurality of vehicle wheels based upon the velocity vector for the vehicle and the wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels during the no-wheel-slip state, and controls vehicle operation based upon the tire effective radii.

Abstract: A system includes a clutch state module and a clutch torque module. The clutch state module is configured to determine whether a clutch of an electronic limited slip differential is locked or unlocked. The electronic limited slip differential couples an engine of a vehicle to left and right wheels of the vehicle. The clutch torque module is configured to estimate an actual torque transferred by the clutch using a first clutch torque model when the electronic limited slip differential is unlocked, and estimate the actual clutch torque using a second clutch torque model when the electronic limited slip differential is locked. The second clutch torque model is different than the first clutch torque model.

Abstract: A system for adaptive tire force prediction in a motor vehicle includes a control module that executes program code portions that receive real-time static and dynamic data from motor vehicle sensors, that model forces at each tire of the motor vehicle at one or more incremental time steps, that estimate actual forces at each tire of the motor vehicle at each of the one or more incremental time steps, that adaptively predict tire forces at each tire of the motor vehicle at each of the one or more incremental time steps, that generate one or more control commands for actuators of the motor vehicle, that capture discrepancies between real-time force estimations and nominal force calculations at each tire of the motor vehicle, and that apply compensation parameters to reduce tracking errors in the one or more control commands to the one or more actuators of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vehicle motion control are provided. The method includes: calculating a correction factor using one of three different sets of operations when the vehicle is performing a limit handling maneuver, wherein the correction factor is calculated using a first set of operations when the vehicle is operating in an understeer state, calculated using a second set of operations when the vehicle is operating in an oversteer state, and calculated using a third set of operations when the vehicle is operating in a neutral steer state; adjusting a desired lateral acceleration and a desired yaw rate by applying the correction factor to account for a reduced level of friction experienced by the vehicle when traveling on a non-ideal friction surface; calculating optimal control actions based on the adjusted desired lateral acceleration and adjusted desired yaw rate; and applying the optimal control actions with vehicle actuators during vehicle operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether a vehicle is in an understeer or oversteer situation. The system includes a controller circuit coupled to an IMU and an EPS, and programmed to: calculate, for a steered first axle, an axle-based pneumatic trail for using IMU measurements and EPS signals and estimate a saturation level as a function of a distance between the axle-based pneumatic trail and zero. The system estimates, for an unsteered second axle, an axle lateral force curve with respect to a slip angle of the second axle, and a saturation level as a function of when the axle lateral force curve with respect to the slip angle transitions from positive values to negative values. The saturation level of the first axle and the second axle are integrated. The system determines that the vehicle is in an understeer or oversteer situation as a function of the integrated saturation levels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle are provided. The systems and methods include a sensor system and a processor configured to execute program instructions, to cause the at least one processor to: receive yaw rate values, lateral acceleration values and longitudinal velocity values for the vehicle from the sensor system, determine side slip angle parameter values based on the yaw rate values, lateral acceleration values and longitudinal velocity values, determine phase portrait angles based on the side slip angle parameter values and the yaw rate values, wherein the phase portrait angles each represent an angle between yaw rate and side slip angle for the vehicle in a phase portrait of yaw rate and side slip angle, detect or predict vehicle instability based at least on the phase portrait angles, and when vehicle instability is detected or predicted, control motion of the vehicle to at least partly correct the vehicle instability.

Abstract: A vehicle and a system and method of controlling the vehicle. The system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor obtains a first estimate of a force on a tire of the vehicle based on dynamics of the vehicle. The processor is configured to obtain a second estimate of the force on the tire using a tire model, determine an estimate of a coefficient of friction between the tire and the road from the first estimate of the force and the second estimate of the force, and control the vehicle using the estimate of the coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A method for dynamically determining a mass of a vehicle including a propulsion system coupled to a drive wheel is described, and includes monitoring vehicle operating conditions, executing an event-based estimation method based upon the vehicle operating conditions to determine a first vehicle mass state, and executing a recursive estimation method based upon the vehicle operating conditions to determine a second vehicle mass state. A final vehicle mass is determined based upon the first and second vehicle mass states.