Abstract: A motor vehicle motion control health monitoring system includes sensors and actuators disposed on the motor vehicle. The sensors measure real-time static and dynamic telemetry data about the motor vehicle, and the actuators alter static and dynamic behavior of the motor vehicle. A control module has a processor, a memory, and input/output (I/O) ports. The processor executes program code portions stored in the memory, the program code portions include: an offline portion that collects telemetry data from the motor vehicle, performs failure analysis on the telemetry data and allocates tasks based on the failure analysis; and an online portion that analyzes the telemetry data for failures within specific sensors, actuators, or functions that utilize systems of sensors and/or actuators. The online portion mitigates deviations in the telemetry data by sending a correction to the one or more sensors, actuators, and/or functions of a motor vehicle motion control system.

Abstract: A device includes a body operatively connected to a plurality of wheels, with the plurality of wheels being positioned relative to a banked surface defining a bank angle (?). A suspension system includes at least one suspension sensor configured to provide suspension displacement data. A controller is in communication with the at least one suspension sensor and has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions. The controller is configured to obtain the suspension displacement data and determine a roll angle (?) based at least partially on the suspension displacement data. The bank angle (?) is determined based at least partially on the roll angle (?), a yaw rate (r), a longitudinal velocity (Vx) and a plurality of predetermined parameters. Operation of the device is controlled based partly on at least one of the roll angle (?) and the bank angle (?).

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle to improve vehicle dynamics are provided. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of sensors which monitor vehicle dynamics by monitoring at least wheel and steering movements associated with a vehicle system used in controlling vehicle dynamics by control outputs from a holistic vehicle control system. Then, estimating states of the vehicle from computations of longitudinal and latitudinal velocities, tire slip ratios, clutch torque, axle torque, brake torque, and slip angles derived from the data sensed by the sensors from the wheel and steering movements. Finally, formulating a model of vehicle dynamics by using estimations of vehicle states with a target function to provide analytical data to enable the model of vehicle dynamics to be optimized and for using the data associated with the model which has been optimized to change control outputs to improve in real-time the vehicle dynamics.

Abstract: A system and method for computationally estimating a tire normal force for use in vehicle antilock braking, adaptive cruise control, and traction and stability control by correcting measured accelerations with respect to the estimated road angles. The system and method are operative to measure an acceleration at three points on a sprung mass of the vehicle and estimate a tire normal force of a tire in response to the three acceleration measurements as an input to the vehicle controller.

Abstract: A method for providing low speed lateral steering control for a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes receiving sensor data corresponding to a road wheel angle, determining a planned vehicle path of travel, defining a road wheel angle search range based on a maximum road wheel angle rate, determining a steering control goal using the road wheel angle that tracks and measures a difference between a current vehicle path and the planned vehicle path, determining an optimal steering control signal using the road wheel angle and the steering control goal and providing the control signal to a steering controller.

Abstract: A passively Q-switched fiber laser system comprises a pump source and an ring cavity connected with each other. The ring cavity comprises a gain fiber, a directional coupler and a saturable absorber connected in order. The saturable absorber is a quantum-dot polymer composite film, which is fabricated by a simple method comprising steps of: mixing a quantum dot material of lead sulfide (PbS) with a colloidal polymer to form a mixture; and drying the mixture at two different temperatures in two stages respectively. The saturable absorber of the present invention has lower saturating intensity and a plurality of absorption bands comprising 1000 nm to 1100 nm and 1500 nm to 1600 nm. The maximum output power and the maximum pulse energy of the passively Q-switched fiber laser system can be superior to those laser systems using the quantum-dot (QD) polymer composite film as saturable absorber.

Abstract: A device includes a body operatively connected to a plurality of wheels, with the plurality of wheels being positioned relative to a banked surface defining a bank angle (?). A suspension system includes at least one suspension sensor configured to provide suspension displacement data. A controller is in communication with the at least one suspension sensor and has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions. The controller is configured to obtain the suspension displacement data and determine a roll angle (?) based at least partially on the suspension displacement data. The bank angle (?) is determined based at least partially on the roll angle (?), a yaw rate (r), a longitudinal velocity (Vx) and a plurality of predetermined parameters. Operation of the device is controlled based partly on at least one of the roll angle (?) and the bank angle (?).

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for controlling a vehicle. The methods and systems read sensors and estimate pneumatic trail for a tire of the vehicle based on the sensor readings. The methods and systems determine presence or absence of a tire lateral saturation condition based on a comparison of the estimated pneumatic trail for the tire of the vehicle with a pneumatic trail threshold indicative of a tire lateral saturation condition. When the tire lateral saturation condition is present, the methods and systems determine a control value and use the control value as an input to a vehicle control module. The vehicle control module is responsive to the tire lateral saturation condition based on the control value.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of tires, a suspension system operatively connected to the plurality of tires, at least one suspension sensor operatively connected to the suspension system and configured to provide suspension data (S), and a controller operatively connected to the at least one suspension sensor and having a processor for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (Fzi(t), i=1 . . . n) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S), the respective tire normal forces being operative to adjust operation of the wheeled device. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to determine a transformation matrix (Ts) based on a plurality of predefined parameters. The controller is configured to obtain the respective tire normal forces (Fzi(t), i==1 . . . n) via the following equation: {tilde over (F)}z=[TS+?S(p)]{tilde over (S)}+Tu?.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an improved system and method for validating vehicle lateral velocity estimation. The provided system and method employ an efficient validation algorithm to detect lateral velocity estimation faults. The method and system are robust to road uncertainties and do not require redundant estimations or measurements. The provided system and method offer a technological solution for real time validation of lateral velocity estimation using already existing vehicle sensors, and are independent of (i) road condition information, (ii) wheel torque information, (iii) tire model information, and (iv) tire wear information.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting faults in a sensor and reconstructing an output signal without use of the faulty sensor. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, sensor data indicating a measured value from a first sensor; receiving, by a processor, sensor data indicating measured values from a plurality of other sensors; computing, by a processor, virtual values based on a vehicle model and the sensor data from the plurality of other sensors; computing, by a processor, a residual difference between the measured value from the first sensor and the virtual values; detecting, by a processor, whether a fault exists in the first sensor based on the residual difference; and when a fault in the sensor is detected, generating, by a processor, a control value based on the virtual values instead of the measured value.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle to improve vehicle dynamics are provided. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of sensors which monitor vehicle dynamics by monitoring at least wheel and steering movements associated with a vehicle system used in controlling vehicle dynamics by control outputs from a holistic vehicle control system. Then, estimating states of the vehicle from computations of longitudinal and latitudinal velocities, tire slip ratios, clutch torque, axle torque, brake torque, and slip angles derived from the data sensed by the sensors from the wheel and steering movements. Finally, formulating a model of vehicle dynamics by using estimations of vehicle states with a target function to provide analytical data to enable the model of vehicle dynamics to be optimized and for using the data associated with the model which has been optimized to change control outputs to improve in real-time the vehicle dynamics.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of tires, a suspension system operatively connected to the plurality of tires, at least one suspension sensor operatively connected to the suspension system and configured to provide suspension data (S), and a controller operatively connected to the at least one suspension sensor and having a processor for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (Fzi(t), i=1 . . . n) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S), the respective tire normal forces being operative to adjust operation of the wheeled device. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to determine a transformation matrix (Ts) based on a plurality of predefined parameters. The controller is configured to obtain the respective tire normal forces (Fzi(t), i==1 . . . n) via the following equation: {tilde over (F)}z=[TS+?S(p)]{tilde over (S)}+Tu?.

Abstract: A method for providing low speed lateral steering control for a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes receiving sensor data corresponding to a road wheel angle, determining a planned vehicle path of travel, defining a road wheel angle search range based on a maximum road wheel angle rate, determining a steering control goal using the road wheel angle that tracks and measures a difference between a current vehicle path and the planned vehicle path, determining an optimal steering control signal using the road wheel angle and the steering control goal and providing the control signal to a steering controller.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an improved system and method for validating vehicle lateral velocity estimation. The provided system and method employ an efficient validation algorithm to detect lateral velocity estimation faults. The method and system are robust to road uncertainties and do not require redundant estimations or measurements. The provided system and method offer a technological solution for real time validation of lateral velocity estimation using already existing vehicle sensors, and are independent of (i) road condition information, (ii) wheel torque information, (iii) tire model information, and (iv) tire wear information.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for controlling a vehicle. The methods and systems read sensors and estimate pneumatic trail for a tire of the vehicle based on the sensor readings. The methods and systems determine presence or absence of a tire lateral saturation condition based on a comparison of the estimated pneumatic trail for the tire of the vehicle with a pneumatic trail threshold indicative of a tire lateral saturation condition. When the tire lateral saturation condition is present, the methods and systems determine a control value and use the control value as an input to a vehicle control module. The vehicle control module is responsive to the tire lateral saturation condition based on the control value.

Abstract: A system and method for computationally estimating a directional velocity of a vehicle in real time under different configurations and road conditions for use in vehicle antilock braking, adaptive cruise control, and traction and stability control by correcting measured accelerations with respect to the estimated road angles. A time window is used to provide reliable mapped acceleration for the transient regions and maneuvers on gravel surfaces with high fluctuations in the acceleration measurement. Longitudinal and lateral accelerations are mapped from the vehicle's CG into the tire coordinates using the vehicle's geometry, lateral velocity, yaw rate, and the steering wheel angle to generate system matrices of the combined kinematic-force estimation structure.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a detected faulty signal. A pitch sensor fault is detected by a processor. A signal of the detected faulty pitch sensor is reconstructed using indirect sensor data. The reconstructed signal is output to a controller to maintain stability.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining vehicle spin-out conditions including conditions indicative of a vehicle spin-out ahead of the vehicle actually spinning-out. The methods and systems receive motion parameters of a vehicle based on sensed signals from at least one vehicle sensor of an electronic power steering system and an inertial measurement unit. The method and systems estimate pneumatic trail based on a rate of change of self-aligning torque with respect to axle lateral force. The methods and systems determine vehicle spin-out conditions based on the estimated pneumatic trail. The methods and systems control at least one feature of a vehicle in response to the determined vehicle spin-out conditions.

Abstract: A passively Q-switched fiber laser system comprises a pump source and an ring cavity connected with each other. The ring cavity comprises a gain fiber, a directional coupler and a saturable absorber connected in order. The saturable absorber is a quantum-dot polymer composite film, which is fabricated by a simple method comprising steps of: mixing a quantum dot material of lead sulfide (PbS) with a colloidal polymer to form a mixture; and drying the mixture at two different temperatures in two stages respectively. The saturable absorber of the present invention has lower saturating intensity and a plurality of absorption bands comprising 1000 nm to 1100 nm and 1500 nm to 1600 nm. The maximum output power and the maximum pulse energy of the passively Q-switched fiber laser system can be superior to those laser systems using the quantum-dot (QD) polymer composite film as saturable absorber.