Abstract: A vehicle state estimation system and method uses an observer model to make cornering stiffness estimates from tire-based sensor data and vehicle-based sensor data throughout transient and non-transient operational maneuvers of a vehicle. A cornering stiffness identifier extracts transient-state cornering stiffness estimates from the cornering stiffness estimates made by the observer model and extracts from the transient-state cornering stiffness estimates an optimal transient-state cornering stiffness estimate having a substantially highest confidence measure for use by a vehicle control system.

Abstract: A tire sensor locating system for auto-location of a tire-based air pressure sensor at any tire location on a vehicle includes a hub acceleration sensor mounted to make a hub vertical acceleration measurement at a preset and known location on the vehicle for a respective one of the wheel hubs and a chassis acceleration sensor mounted to a chassis of the vehicle to make a chassis vertical acceleration measurement for the vehicle chassis. An estimator model is employed to derive a tire vertical stiffness estimation from the hub vertical acceleration measurements and the chassis vertical acceleration measurement. A look-up table correlates tire vertical stiffness estimation against measured tire air pressure and from the look-up table an assigned location of the tire sensor is made through a correlation between the tire measured air pressure and the tire vertical stiffness estimation.

Abstract: A tire tracking system and method for tracking travel mileage experienced by a vehicle tire includes a tire-affixed identification transponder operative to generate tire-specific identification data; a vehicle-based incremental vehicle travel distance estimator for generating a synchronous stream of incremental vehicle travel distance estimations; and a timestamp synchronization and distance traveled estimator operative to generate a continuous synchronous stream of incremental tire travel distance estimations from the incremental vehicle travel distance estimations. A mobile network uploads the incremental tire travel distance estimations and the tire-specific identification data to a remote server that generates an aggregate of the tire travel distance estimations in a form accessible by the tire-specific identification data.

Abstract: A tire-based system and method for estimating longitudinal stiffness between a tire and a road surface includes a longitudinal stiffness adaptation model for calculating longitudinal stiffness between a tire and a road surface from a plurality of scaling factors including the load level, the measured air cavity pressure of the one tire, and the measured temperature of the one tire compensated by a wear state estimation of the one tire. The wear state is obtained from a vehicle-measured vertical mode shift of the tire.

Abstract: A tire-based system and method for adapting the calculation of temperature-sensitive tire characteristics includes one or more tire-mounted temperature sensors mounted to a vehicle tire for measuring a tire temperature at a tire radially outward surface; an algorithmic model adapting one or more temperature-sensitive tire characteristics by the measured tire surface temperature; and vehicle controls using the temperature-sensitive tire characteristics adapted by the tire surface temperature in one or more vehicle control commands.

Abstract: A tire wear state estimation system includes as inputs an axle force estimation, a measured tire inflation pressure; a tire load estimation; a tire cornering stiffness estimation; and a tire identification by which a specific tire-based correlation model correlates tire inflation pressure, the tire load estimation, the tire cornering stiffness estimation, and the vehicle-based sensor axle force estimation.

Abstract: A road friction estimation system and method includes tire-affixed sensors and on-board vehicle sensors, a model-based tire force estimator operable generating from sensor-input a model-derived tire force estimation, a vehicle observer generating an observer-derived tire force estimation and a friction estimator generating a road friction estimation from a comparison of the model-derived tire force estimation and the observer-derived tire force estimation.

Abstract: A system for predicting tire lift-off propensity of a vehicle tire includes a vehicle tire-affixed tire-identification device for providing a tire-specific identification, multiple tire-affixed sensors mounted to the tire measuring tire-specific parameters and generating tire-specific parameter information, one or more vehicle-affixed sensor(s) mounted to the vehicle to measure vehicle speed and a lift-off propensity estimator generating a lift-off propensity for the vehicle tire from a database containing experimentally-derived, tire-ID specific, lift-off propensities correlated with measured tire-specific parameter information and vehicle speeds.

Abstract: An optimal tire slip ratio estimation system and method affixes a tire-identification device to a vehicle tire to provide a tire-specific identification and one or more sensors affixed to the tire for measuring one or more tire-specific parameters. A model-based optimal slip ratio estimator generates a model-derived optimal tire slip ratio estimation based upon an assessment of sensor-derived tire-specific parameter information based on the tire-specific identification.

Abstract: A load estimation system and method for estimating vehicle load includes a tire rotation counter for generating a rotation count from rotation of a tire; apparatus for measuring distance travelled by the vehicle; an effective radius calculator for calculating effective radius of the tire from the distance travelled and the rotation count; and a load estimation calculator for calculating the load carried by the vehicle tire from the effective radius of the tire. A center of gravity height estimation may be made from an estimated total load carried by the tires supporting the vehicle pursuant to an estimation of effective radius for each tire and a calculated load carried by each tire from respective effective radii.

Abstract: A tire cornering stiffness estimation system and method includes multiple tire-affixed sensors mounted to a supportive vehicle tire for operably measuring tire-specific parameters and generating tire-specific information relating tire pressure, temperature, wear state, tire identification and tire loading. One or more accelerometer(s) are mounted to the hub supporting the tire to generate a hub accelerometer signal. A model-based tire cornering stiffness estimator is included to generate a model-derived tire cornering stiffness estimation based upon the hub accelerometer signal adapted by the tire-specific information.

Abstract: A road friction estimation system and method includes tire-affixed sensors and on-board vehicle sensors, a model-based tire force estimator operable generating from sensor-input a model-derived tire force estimation, a vehicle observer generating an observer-derived tire force estimation and a friction estimator generating a road friction estimation from a comparison of the model-derived tire force estimation and the observer-derived tire force estimation.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor for measuring an inflation pressure level within a tire cavity; a contact patch length sensor measuring the rolling contact patch length of the tire; a tire rolling speed sensor measuring a rolling speed of the tire; and a tire wear state estimation calculator estimating a tire wear state of a tread of the tire. An artificial neural network estimates a tire load from the contact patch length, the inflation pressure level, and the tire rolling speed by utilizing as a compensation factor input the estimated tire wear state.

Abstract: A system and method of adjusting a vehicle anti-lock brake or collision mitigation system includes multiple tire-based sensors mounted to a vehicle tire to generate tire-derivative information. An adaptive tire model processes the tire-derivative information to continuously generate in real-time revisions to multiple tire-specific performance parameters affecting the performance of a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system receives and applies in real-time the tire-sensor based revisions to the tire-specific performance parameters optimize control system performance.

Abstract: A system and method estimating a vehicle tire load identifies a change in vehicle loading condition by measuring vibration resonant frequency peaks (bounce mode and/or pitch mode) of the unsprung mass. Signals required include the chassis vertical acceleration and/or chassis pitch rate obtained from commercially available sensors mounted to the vehicle. An observer model receives the inertial signal(s) and generates a dynamic load estimation based upon observed frequency change in the sprung mass natural frequency.

Abstract: A tire inner liner-based estimation system and method for a vehicle includes a tire pressure sensor mounted to a vehicle tire for detecting a measured tire air cavity pressure; a vehicle speed sensor mounted to provide a measured vehicle speed; a tire identification device mounted to the tire for conveying a tire identification; a tire inner liner deflection sensor mounted to detect and measure a loaded inner liner radius. An estimation of an inner liner-based parameter is iteratively made from the measured tire pressure and the loaded inner liner radius measurement.

Abstract: A tire wear state estimation system includes a tire pressure measuring device affixed to a vehicle tire for measuring tire inflation pressure and generating tire inflation pressure data; tire torsional mode measuring means for measuring tire torsional mode frequency and generating tire torsional mode frequency data; and tire identification means for generating tire-specific torsional mode coefficients using tire-specific identification data. A tire wear estimation is made based upon the tire inflation pressure data, the torsional mode frequency data, and the tire identification derived torsional mode coefficients.

Abstract: A dynamic load estimation system and method is provided, the system including a tire supporting a vehicle; a vehicle-mounted acceleration sensor for determining a vehicle lateral acceleration and a vehicle longitudinal acceleration; a roll angle calculating model for determining a vehicle roll angle; a roll rate calculating model for determining a vehicle roll rate; a static normal load calculation model for calculating a measured static normal load; and a dynamic tire load estimation model for calculating an estimated dynamic load on the tire from the measured static normal load, the vehicle roll angle, the vehicle roll rate, the vehicle lateral acceleration and the vehicle longitudinal acceleration.

Abstract: A tire-based system and method for estimating a radially outward tire surface temperature of an identified tire supporting an identified vehicle includes a temperature sensor to measure a tire inner liner temperature. An algorithmic prediction model is empirically trained to correlate inner liner tire temperature to tire radially outward surface temperature for the tire/vehicle combination. The empirically trained algorithmic prediction model receives a steady state temperature-based model inputs including the tire inner liner temperature and an ambient temperature measurement and transient behavior vehicle-based inputs. Based upon the steady state inputs and the transient behavior inputs, a radially outward tire surface temperature estimation is made.

Abstract: A tire-based system and method for estimating longitudinal stiffness between a tire and a road surface includes a longitudinal stiffness adaptation model for calculating longitudinal stiffness between a tire and a road surface from a plurality of scaling factors including the load level, the measured air cavity pressure of the one tire, and the measured temperature of the one tire compensated by a wear state estimation of the one tire. The wear state is obtained from a vehicle-measured vertical mode shift of the tire.