Abstract: A wheel module arranged to generate torque to accelerate and to decelerate a heavy-duty vehicle. The wheel module comprises at least one electric machine arranged for regenerative braking, an eddy current braking device, and an electronic control unit, ECU. The wheel module further comprises a communications port arranged for communication with an external control unit and a power distribution network arranged to connect the electric machine to the eddy current braking device and to a power port arranged to input and to output electrical power to and from the wheel module. The ECU is arranged to obtain configuration data via the communications port indicative of a maximum output power of the power port, and to control the power distribution network to maintain the output power of the power port below the maximum output power by distributing power from the at least one electric machine between the eddy current braking device and the power port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering assembly (12) for a vehicle (10). The steering assembly (12) comprises a first steering actuator (14) and a second steering actuator (16). The first steering actuator (14) is adapted to be actuated in accordance with at least one signal issued from a motion control system (18) to control a steering angle of at least one steerable ground engaging member (20, 22) of the vehicle (10) to thereby control the steering of the vehicle (10). The first steering actuator (14) is associated with a first nominal steering capability, defining at least one limitation of at least one of the following: steering angle, steering angle rate and steering torque, for the at least one steerable ground engaging member (20, 22).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling operation of an articulated vehicle combination (AVC), the AVC comprising a tractor unit comprising a primary prime mover for propulsion of the AVC, a first trailer unit coupled to the tractor unit by a first articulated coupling, a dolly comprising a secondary prime mover, the dolly being coupled to the first trailer unit by a second articulated coupling, and a second trailer unit coupled to the dolly by a third articulated coupling, the method comprising determining at least one property indicative of a stability of the AVC; comparing the property with a predetermined property specific range; and controlling the secondary prime mover to generate a propulsion torque for the AVC when the property is within the predetermined property specific range.

Abstract: A system and to a method executed in a vehicle control unit for controlling wheel slip of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises at least two wheels driven by at least primary actuator via an open differential. The primary actuator is controlled to rotate at a speed resulting in a slip ?em of the primary actuator. A signed wheel slip limit ?lim is determined by adding a configurable value to the slip ?em of the primary actuator, such that ?lim>?em. The at least two wheels are controlled to rotate at wheel speeds resulting in respective wheel slips ?l, ?r below the signed wheel slip limit ?lim, wherein each one of ?l, ?r and ?em are signed numerical values.

Abstract: A method for having a vehicle follow a desired curvature path is provided. The vehicle has at least one differential with a differential lock connected to at least one driven wheel axle of the vehicle. The method includes providing information regarding state of the differential lock, the state being either that the differential lock is activated or unlocked, and when the differential lock is activated, calculating a yaw moment of the vehicle caused by the differential lock; and compensating for a deviation from the desired curvature path caused by the yaw moment such that a resulting steering angle is equal to or less than a maximum allowed steering angle of the vehicle. The compensation is a feed forward compensation.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of parking a trailer by means of a towing vehicle, which trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle via a coupling element of the trailer; the towing vehicle estimating position and heading of the coupling element of the parked trailer; transmitting the estimated position and heading of the coupling element of the parked trailer to a data storage device; and automatically uncoupling the trailer from the towing vehicle, so that the towing vehicle can drive away from the parked trailer.

Abstract: A vehicle motion management (VMM) system for a heavy-duty vehicle, configured to obtain a desired wheel force value of a wheel of the vehicle; determine a torque limit for a first motion support device (MSD) associated with the wheel based on the desired wheel force value; determine a tire model based on a relationship between wheel force and wheel speed of the wheel; determine a desired wheel speed for the first MSD based on the tire model; and determine a torque fill request for a second MSD of the vehicle based on the desired wheel force and on a torque capability of the first MSD. The VMM system determines the torque fill request for the second MSD in dependence of the torque limit for the first MSD in case the operating torque of the first MSD is limited by the torque limit, and to determine the torque fill request for the second MSD in dependence of an applied torque status signal in case the operating torque of the first MSD is not limited by the torque limit.

Abstract: A braking arrangement for decelerating a heavy duty vehicle, the arrangement including a control unit, at least one electric machine arranged for regenerative braking, an electrical energy absorption device, an eddy current braking device, and a power distribution network arranged to connect the electric machine to the energy absorption device and to the eddy current braking device, wherein the control unit is configured to distribute regenerated electrical power from the electric machine between the energy absorption device and the eddy current braking device by the power distribution network in dependence of a target deceleration value of the heavy duty vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling motion of a heavy-duty vehicle, comprising obtaining information related to an upcoming vehicle path and vehicle maneuver along the path, obtaining information related to a road friction coefficient along the upcoming vehicle path, configuring lateral and longitudinal wheel slip limits for at least two wheels of an axle or lumped group-axle on the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein lateral and longitudinal wheel slip values are related to respective lateral and longitudinal tire force values via a pre-determined combined tire slip model, determining a vehicle motion profile for performing the vehicle maneuver along the path as a solution to a non-linear optimal control problem, NOCP, wherein the NOCP is constrained by the lateral and longitudinal wheel slip limits and formulated to account for the road friction coefficient and/or curvature along the upcoming vehicle path, and controlling the motion of the heavy-duty vehicle along the path based on the determined target vehicle motion profile

Abstract: A method for reducing off-tracking by a multi-trailer heavy duty vehicle during a maneuver, the method comprising obtaining a model of vehicle dynamics describing dynamics of the multi-trailer heavy duty vehicle, determining respective force trajectories for two or more axles of the vehicle as a solution to a non-linear optimal control problem, NOCP, where the NOCP is formulated with an objective to at least minimize trailer off-tracking, wherein the NOCP is formulated based on the model of vehicle dynamics, and controlling motion of the heavy duty vehicle during the maneuver based on the determined force trajectories.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle combination, the vehicle combination comprising a first vehicle unit, a second vehicle unit and an articulated coupling connecting the first and second vehicle units to each other, the method comprising determining a coupling force parameter of the articulated coupling based on a combination of motion related parameters obtained from the first and second vehicle units; selecting an operational envelope for the vehicle combination based on the coupling force parameter; and controlling the vehicle combination to operate within the operational envelope.

Abstract: A method for steering an articulated vehicle traveling on a road, the vehicle comprising a tractor and a trailer, the method comprising determining a position of the tractor in relation to the road, and adjusting the steering in dependence on the determined tractor position. The method further comprises determining an orientation of the trailer in relation to the road, and/or an angular velocity of the trailer in relation to the road, and adjusting the steering in dependence on the determined trailer orientation and/or the determined angular velocity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control unit for determining a value indicative of a load bearing capability of a ground segment supporting a vehicle. The control unit is configured to issue a control signal to the vehicle to thereby impart a motion change of the vehicle, and receive response information from the vehicle indicative of the vehicle's response to the imparted motion change. The control unit is further configured to, based on the response information, determine a vertical position change of at least one wheel of the vehicle, and based on the determined vertical position change and the imparted motion change, determine the value indicative of the load bearing capability of the ground segment.

Abstract: A computer-implement method of estimating air drag for a vehicle combination is provided. The method includes detecting a change of an exterior shape of the vehicle combination to a new exterior shape. The method includes, in response to detecting such a change, and based on one or more images of the vehicle combination captured after the change, estimating a projected area function indicating a dependence of a projected frontal area of the vehicle combination having the new exterior shape on air-attack angle. The method includes using the estimated projected area function to update a crosswind-sensitive air drag model for the vehicle combination.

Abstract: The invention i.a. relates to a method comprising the steps of: parking (S1) a trailer (12) by means of a towing vehicle (10), which trailer (12) is coupled to the towing vehicle (10) via a coupling element (32) of the trailer (12); the towing vehicle (10) estimating (S2) position and heading of the coupling element (32) of the parked trailer (12); transmitting (S3) the estimated position and heading of the coupling element (32) of the parked trailer (12) to a data storage device (34, 42); and automatically uncoupling (S5) the trailer (12) from the towing vehicle (10), so that the towing vehicle (10) can drive away from the parked trailer (12).

Abstract: A self-powered dolly vehicle unit with an adaptable wheelbase, the dolly vehicle unit comprising a front axle arranged to support a pair of steerable front wheels, a rear axle arranged to support a pair of rear wheels, a fifth wheel connection for towing a trailer vehicle, a draw-bar attachment mechanism , arranged to hold a draw-bar, and a frame structure arranged to support the front axle and the rear axle at a variable wheelbase distance from each other, wherein the frame structure is arranged to be locked at a first wheelbase distance position and at a second wheelbase distance position.

Abstract: A method for setting a heavy duty vehicle in motion. The method includes obtaining a motion instruction for setting the vehicle in motion, determining a target wheel slip value corresponding to a wheel slip suitable for executing to the motion instruction, and controlling wheel speed to maintain wheel slip of the vehicle at the target wheel slip value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling at least one actuator of a vehicle, the actuator being configured to apply a torque on at least one wheel of the vehicle, wherein the applied torque is determined by a control function associated with a control bandwidth, the method comprising configuring the control function to control the applied torque to reduce a difference between a first parameter value related to a current rotational speed of the wheel and a second parameter value related to target rotational speed of the wheel; obtaining data indicative of a current operating condition of the vehicle; setting the control bandwidth of the control function in dependence of the current operating condition of the vehicle; and controlling the actuator using the control function.

Abstract: A method for estimating a longitudinal force difference ?Fx acting on steered axle wheels of a vehicle, the method comprising obtaining data from the vehicle related to an applied steering torque Msteer associated with the steered axle wheels, obtaining a scrub radius value rs associated with the steered axle wheels, and estimating the longitudinal force difference ?Fx, based on the obtained data and on the scrub radius rs, as proportional to the applied steering torque Msteer and as inversely proportional to the scrub radius rs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling steering of a vehicle arrangement. The method is controlling steering of the vehicle arrangement during a turning maneuver, by applying a differential wheel speed by at least one of individually controllable electric machines and reducing the operational capacity of a power steering system, when a first power utilization value, obtained by operating the individually controllable electric machines with the differential wheel speed, is equal to, or greater than a second power utilization value, obtained by operating the power steering system during the turning maneuver.