Patents by Inventor Leo Laine

Leo Laine has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230278625
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Leo Laine, José Vilca, Rebecka Villiamsson
  • Publication number: 20230264692
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for reducing a lateral drift of a heavy-duty vehicle due to a road bank angle, where the heavy-duty vehicle is associated with a non-zero understeer/oversteer gradient. The method comprises obtaining a road bank angle of a road section the heavy-duty vehicle is about to traverse; obtaining a vehicle model indicative of a vehicle motion response to the road bank angle, where the vehicle model includes the understeer/oversteer gradient; determining, based on the road bank angle and the vehicle model, a first compensation torque for reducing the lateral drift of the heavy-duty vehicle at the road section; and applying the first compensation torque across different wheels of the heavy-duty vehicle to reduce the lateral drift of the heavy-duty vehicle due to the road bank angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kristoffer TAGESSON, Leo LAINE
  • Publication number: 20230249556
    Abstract: A wheel brake arrangement for a vehicle, the wheel brake arrangement comprising an eddy current wheel brake configured to receive electric power from a source of electric power of the vehicle during braking, and a transmission arrangement comprising a first shaft connected to the eddy current wheel brake and a second shaft connectable to a wheel of the vehicle, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a ratio varying arrangement, the ratio varying arrangement being configured to, for any rotational speed below a predetermined threshold speed of the second shaft during braking, control a rotational speed of the first shaft to be maintained within a predetermined rotational speed range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Hamid Yhr, Ulf Stenbratt, Leo Laine
  • Publication number: 20230242144
    Abstract: A method of providing a reinforcement learning, RL, agent for decision-making to be used in controlling an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: a plurality of training sessions, in which the RL agent interacts with a first environment including the autonomous vehicle, each training session having a different initial value and yielding a state-action value function Qk(s, a) dependent on state and action; an uncertainty evaluation on the basis of a variability measure for the plurality of state-action value functions evaluated for one or more state-action pairs corresponding to possible decisions by the trained RL agent; additional training, in which the RL agent interacts with a second environment including the autonomous vehicle, wherein the second environment differs from the first environment by an increased exposure to a subset of state-action pairs for which the variability measure indicates a relatively higher uncertainty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Volvo Autonomous Solutions AB
    Inventors: Carl-Johan HOEL, Leo LAINE
  • Patent number: 11702054
    Abstract: A brake control device (10) for delivering air under controlled pressure to a pneumatic brake actuator (BA), comprising an inlet port (51) coupled to a compressed air supply circuit, a working port (54) coupled to a service brake chamber (C2) of the brake actuator (BA), a venting port (56), first and second inlet solenoid valves (31, 32) for selectively connecting inlet port(s) to the working port, first and second outlet solenoid valves (41, 42) for selectively connecting the working port to venting port(s), a biased check valve (12), for coupling the working port to venting port(s), the brake control unit device further comprising first and second local electronic control units (21, 22) for controlling independently first and second inlet solenoid valves and first and second outlet solenoid valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Leon Henderson, Christian Oscarsson, Leo Laine
  • Patent number: 11691609
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a vehicle motion system including a braking function, comprising motion actuators with one or more brake actuators pertaining to the braking function, a first vehicle motion management controller (VMM1) and a second vehicle motion management controller (VMM2), forming a redundant assembly to control the braking function, wherein, in riding conditions, the first vehicle motion management controller controls the brake actuators with a current nominal expected braking performance, while the second vehicle motion management controller (VMM2) is in a waiting-to-operate mode, the control arrangement comprising a hot swap functionality in which the second vehicle motion management controller (VMM2) is configured to take over control of the brake actuators from the first vehicle motion management controller, with the current nominal expected braking performance, in a short time period (SWT) less than one second, preferably less than 0.5 second, preferably less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Lionel Farres, Christian Oscarsson, Leon Henderson, Johanna Majqvist, Jose Vilca, Kristoffer Tagesson, Karthik Ramanan Vaidyanathan, Nicolas Soulier
  • Publication number: 20230150332
    Abstract: A method for determining a tyre normal force range (Fz,min, Fz,max) of a tyre force (Fz) acting on a vehicle (100), the method comprising; obtaining (S1) suspension data (310) associated with a suspension system of the vehicle (100); obtaining (S2) inertial measurement unit, IMU, data (320) associated with the vehicle (100); estimating (S3), by a suspension-based estimator (330) a first tyre normal force range (Fz1,min, Fz1,max) based on the suspension data (310); estimating (S4), by an inertial force-based estimator (340), a second tyre normal force range (Fz2,min, Fz2,max)based on the IMU data (320); and determining (S5) the tyre normal force range (Fz,min, Fz,max) based on the first tyre normal force range (Fz1,min, Fz2max) and on the second tyre normal force range (Fz2,min, Fz2,max).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mats JONASSON, Leo LAINE, Bengt JACOBSON
  • Publication number: 20230142461
    Abstract: A method of controlling an autonomous vehicle using a reinforcement learning, RL, agent. The method includes a plurality of training sessions, in which the RL agent interacts with an environment including the autonomous vehicle, each training session having a different initial value and yielding a state-action value function Qk(s, a) dependent on state and action; decision-making, in which the RL agent outputs at least one tentative decision relating to control of the autonomous vehicle; uncertainty estimation on the basis of a variability measure for the plurality of state-action value functions evaluated for a state-action pair corresponding to each of the tentative decisions; and vehicle control, wherein the at least one tentative decision is executed in dependence of the estimated uncertainty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Volvo Autonomous Solutions AB
    Inventors: Carl-Johan HOEL, Leo LAINE
  • Publication number: 20230112013
    Abstract: A method for controlling an articulated vehicle combination comprising a plurality of self-powered vehicle units, wherein each self-powered vehicle unit comprises a propulsion device and a regenerative braking device connected to an energy source, the method comprising determining a current state of charge associated with an energy source of a target vehicle unit comprised in the plurality of self-powered vehicle units, and if the current state of charge is below a desired state of charge, generating a negative torque by the regenerative braking device of the target vehicle unit, and compensating at least partly for the generated negative torque by generating a positive torque by the propulsion device of at least one source vehicle unit comprised in the plurality of self-powered vehicle units, thereby transferring an amount of energy from the energy source of the at least one source vehicle unit to the energy source of the target vehicle unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventor: Leo LAINE
  • Publication number: 20230097576
    Abstract: A drawbar arrangement for a dolly vehicle, the drawbar arrangement comprising a control unit and an adjustable drawbar attached to the dolly vehicle, the adjustable drawbar comprising a front coupling element arranged to be adjusted vertically with respect to a ground plane by the control unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to determine a vertical coupling load associated with the front coupling element, and wherein the control unit is arranged to set a desired vertical coupling load associated with the front coupling element by vertically adjusting the front coupling element when coupled to a towing vehicle unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Jesper BLOMSTRAND
  • Publication number: 20230082801
    Abstract: A dolly vehicle includes at least one motion support device, MSD, and a control unit arranged for vehicle motion management, VMM, wherein the control unit is configurable in a master mode where the at least one MSD is controlled based on a set of capabilities of a vehicle combination comprising the dolly vehicle to fulfil an assigned task. The control unit is configurable in a slave mode where the at least one MSD is controlled based on requests received from an external master control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Leon HENDERSON, José VILCA, Mats JONASSON
  • Publication number: 20230080456
    Abstract: A method for controlling steering of a self-powered steerable dolly vehicle during a maneuver, the method comprising determining an articulation angle associated with a drawbar of the dolly vehicle, determining a longitudinal velocity of the dolly vehicle, and controlling the steering of the dolly vehicle based on the articulation angle and on the longitudinal velocity of the dolly vehicle, wherein the controlling comprises initially steering the dolly vehicle in a direction of the articulation angle direction in case the longitudinal velocity of the dolly vehicle is above a velocity threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Niklas FRÖJD, Leo LAINE, Mohammad Manjurul ISLAM
  • Publication number: 20230062199
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle brake system of a heavy duty vehicle, the brake system comprising a service brake system and an electrical machine brake system. The method includes determining a total brake torque request for braking a wheel of the vehicle, obtaining a brake torque capability of the electrical machine, determining if the total brake torque request exceeds the brake torque capability of the electrical machine, and if the total brake torque request exceeds the brake torque capability of the electrical machine but is below a threshold level, applying a baseline brake torque by the service brake system, wherein the baseline brake torque is configured to compensate for a difference between total brake torque request and brake torque capability of the electrical machine, and controlling wheel slip by the electrical machine brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Mattias ÅSBOGÅRD, Leon HENDERSON
  • Publication number: 20230068987
    Abstract: A control unit for a heavy duty vehicle. The vehicle includes an electric machine connected to first and second driven wheels via an differential. The control unit includes a first wheel slip control module associated with the first driven wheel, and a second wheel slip control module associated with the second driven wheel, where each wheel slip control module is arranged to determine an obtainable torque by the respective wheel based on a current wheel state, wherein the control unit is arranged to determine a required torque to satisfy a requested acceleration profile by the vehicle, and to request a torque from the electrical machine corresponding to the smallest torque out of the obtainable torques for each driven wheel and the required torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Mattias ASBOGÅRD, Leon HENDERSON
  • Publication number: 20230047444
    Abstract: A vehicle motion management system (260) for a vehicle, the vehicle motion management system being connectable to a motion support system (230230) for communication of control signals therebetween, wherein the vehicle motion management system is configured to: —determine a desired torque for operating the vehicle at a current vehicle operating condition; —determine a wheel slip limit for at least one wheel of the vehicle; —determine, based at least on the wheel slip limit, a wheel speed limit for the at least one wheel of the vehicle; and—transmit a control signal indicative of the desired torque and the wheel speed limit to the motion support system (230).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leon HENDERSON, Leo LAINE, Andreas GILLSTRÖM, Mattias ANDREASSON, Jerker LENNEVI, Sidhant RAY
  • Publication number: 20230023411
    Abstract: A braking system for a heavy duty vehicle includes a first brake controller arranged to control braking on a first wheel and a second brake controller arranged to control braking on a second wheel, based on a respective configured wheel slip limit and on a respective brake torque request, wherein the first and the second brake controllers are interconnected via a back-up connection arranged to allow one of the first and the second brake controller to assume braking control of the wheel of the other of the first and the second brake controller in case of brake controller failure, the braking system comprising a control unit arranged to, in response to brake controller failure, reduce the configured wheel slip limit associated with the failed brake controller to a reduced wheel slip limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Leon HENDERSON, Christian OSCARSSON
  • Publication number: 20230012982
    Abstract: A braking system for a heavy duty vehicle includes a first brake controller arranged to control braking on a front axle left wheel, and a second brake controller arranged to control braking on a front axle right wheel. The first and second brake controllers are connected by a back-up connection arranged to allow one of the first and the second brake controller to assume braking control of the wheel of the other of the first and the second brake controller. The first and second brake controllers are arranged as fail-operational brake controllers. A third brake controller is arranged to control braking on a first rear axle left wheel, and a fourth brake controller is arranged to control braking on a first rear axle right wheel. The third and the fourth brake controllers are arranged to place respective rear axle left and right wheels in an unbraked state in response to failure. The third and fourth brake controllers are arranged as fail-silent brake controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Leon HENDERSON, Christian OSCARSSON, Edo DRENTH, Kristoffer NILSSON
  • Publication number: 20230020541
    Abstract: A method for thermal conditioning at least one thermal buffer of a thermal system of a vehicle, the thermal system being a rechargeable energy storage system, RESS, and/or an energy transformation system comprising fuel cells, the thermal buffer having an operating window defined by the preferred operating temperature of the thermal buffer. The method includes providing predictive power utilization of the thermal buffer as a function of time, conditioning the thermal buffer in response to the predictive power utilization, such that the thermal buffer is thermally conditioned to be within the operating window of the thermal buffer. The operating window is varying as a function of the predictive power utilization over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Linus NORDHOLM, Jens SAMSIOE, Anders MAGNUSSON, Johan BJERNETUN, Johan LINDBERG, Leo LAINE
  • Publication number: 20230001898
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle brake system for a heavy duty vehicle including a primary brake system and an auxiliary brake system. The method includes configuring a wheel slip magnitude limit, obtaining a requested auxiliary brake torque, engaging the primary brake system at a torque determined in dependence of the requested auxiliary brake torque, while monitoring a wheel slip value, determining an allowable auxiliary brake torque in dependence of the requested auxiliary brake torque and the wheel slip value, and engaging the auxiliary brake system at the allowable auxiliary brake torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Anders ERIKSSON, Gustav NEANDER, Jan-Inge SVENSSON
  • Publication number: 20220402498
    Abstract: A road friction coefficient of a vehicle is estimated by obtaining substantially contemporaneous values associated with a steering angle for a steered axle of the vehicle, a lateral acceleration, a yaw acceleration, an alignment torque and an axle load on the steered axle; estimating a lateral tire force on the basis of the steering angle, lateral acceleration, and yaw acceleration; deriving a pneumatic trail from the alignment torque and estimated lateral tyre force; and estimating a road friction coefficient from the lateral tire force, the axle load, and the pneumatic trail. In embodiments, the derivation of the road friction coefficient includes evaluating a nonlinear function of the pneumatic trail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Mats Jonasson, Leo Laine, Leon Henderson