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

Abstract: A reduced-order fail-safe inertial measurement unit system. A first inertial measurement unit device includes a plurality of accelerometers measuring linear accelerations and gyroscopes measuring angular velocities. A second inertial measurement unit device includes a reduced number of accelerometers and gyroscopes relative to the first inertial measurement unit device measuring at least two linear accelerations and at least one angular velocity. A processor receives acceleration data from the first and second inertial measurement units. The processor detects faulty data measurements from the first inertial measurement unit. The processor supplements the faulty data measurements of the first inertial measurement unit with transformed data generated as a function of the measurement data from the second inertial measurement unit. The processor applies predetermined transformation solutions to transform the measurement data from the second inertial measurement unit into the transformed data.

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

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

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 controlling a component of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving sensor data sensed from the vehicle; processing the sensor data to determine an ideal state of the vehicle; processing the sensor data and the ideal state of the vehicle to determine a feasible state of the vehicle; and selectively controlling at least one component associated with at least one of an active safety system and a chassis system of the vehicle based on the at least one feasible state.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling components of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: generating a model of vehicle dynamics based on vehicle corner information; determining a control output based on the model of vehicle dynamics; and selectively controlling at least one component associated with at least one of an active safety system and a chassis system of the vehicle based on the control output.

Abstract: A method for providing vehicle lateral steering control. The method includes providing a mathematical model of vehicle dynamics that includes a state variable, a steering control variable and a future road disturbance factor that defines the upcoming road curvature, banks and slopes of the roadway. The method determines an optimal steering control signal that includes a feedback portion and a feed-forward portion, where the feed-forward portion includes the road disturbance factor. The method determines a state variable and a control variable for the current roadway curvature, bank and slope for stationary motion of the vehicle for constant speed, yaw rate and lateral velocity. The method then introduces a new state variable and control variable for dynamic vehicle motion for variable speed, yaw rate and lateral velocity that is a difference between the state and control variables for predicted future times and the steady state variables.

Abstract: A method for providing vehicle lateral steering control. The method includes providing a mathematical model of vehicle dynamics that includes a state variable, a steering control variable and a future road disturbance factor that defines the upcoming road curvature, banks and slopes of the roadway. The method determines an optimal steering control signal that includes a feedback portion and a feed-forward portion, where the feed-forward portion includes the road disturbance factor. The method determines a state variable and a control variable for the current roadway curvature, bank and slope for stationary motion of the vehicle for constant speed, yaw rate and lateral velocity. The method then introduces a new state variable and control variable for dynamic vehicle motion for variable speed, yaw rate and lateral velocity that is a difference between the state and control variables for predicted future times and the steady state variables.

Abstract: A system for use at a vehicle to estimate vehicle pitch angle and road grade angle, in real time and generally simultaneously. The system includes a sensor configured to measure vehicle pitch rate, a processor, and a computer-readable medium. The medium includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising estimating, using an observer and the vehicle pitch rate measured by the sensor, an estimated vehicle pitch rate. The operations further comprise estimating, using an observer and the measured vehicle pitch rate, the vehicle pitch angle, and estimating, based on the estimated vehicle pitch rate and the vehicle pitch angle estimated, the road grade angle.

Abstract: A system, for use at a vehicle to estimate vehicle roll angle and road bank angle, in real time and generally simultaneously. The system includes a sensor configured to measure vehicle roll rate, a processor; and a computer-readable medium. The medium includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising estimating, using an observer and the vehicle roll rate measured by the sensor, a vehicle roll rate. The operations also include estimating, using an observer and a measured vehicle roll rate, the vehicle roll angle, and estimating, based on the vehicle roll rate estimated and the vehicle roll angle estimated, the road bank angle.

Abstract: A method of providing automatic collision avoidance in a vehicle with a front wheel electric power steering (EPS) system and rear wheel active rear steering (ARS) system and an automatic collision avoidance system are described. The method includes generating a vehicle math model including the control variables, designing a steering control goal as a criterion to determine the control variables, and implementing a model predictive control to solve the steering control goal and determine the control variables. The method also includes providing the control variables to the EPS system and the ARS system to respectively control a front actuator associated with front wheels and a rear actuator associated with rear wheels.

Abstract: A reduced-order fail-safe inertial measurement unit system. A first inertial measurement unit device includes a plurality of accelerometers measuring linear accelerations and gyroscopes measuring angular velocities. A second inertial measurement unit device includes a reduced number of accelerometers and gyroscopes relative to the first inertial measurement unit device measuring at least two linear accelerations and at least one angular velocity. A processor receives acceleration data from the first and second inertial measurement units. The processor detects faulty data measurements from the first inertial measurement unit. The processor supplements the faulty data measurements of the first inertial measurement unit with transformed data generated as a function of the measurement data from the second inertial measurement unit. The processor applies predetermined transformation solutions to transform the measurement data from the second inertial measurement unit into the transformed data.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an optimal collision avoidance path for a host vehicle that may potentially collide with a target vehicle. The method includes providing off-line an optimization look-up table for storing on the host vehicle that includes an optimal vehicle braking or longitudinal deceleration and an optimal distance along the optimal path based on a range of speeds of the host vehicle and coefficients of friction of the roadway surface. The method determines the current speed of the host vehicle and the coefficient of friction of the roadway surface during the potential collision, and uses the look-up table to determine the optimal longitudinal deceleration or braking of the host vehicle for the optimal vehicle path. The method also determines an optimal lateral acceleration or steering of the host vehicle for the optimal vehicle path based on a friction ellipse and the optimal braking.

Abstract: A method of providing automatic collision avoidance in a vehicle with a front wheel electric power steering (EPS) system and rear wheel active rear steering (ARS) system and an automatic collision avoidance system are described. The method includes generating a vehicle math model including the control variables, designing a steering control goal as a criterion to determine the control variables, and implementing a model predictive control to solve the steering control goal and determine the control variables. The method also includes providing the control variables to the EPS system and the ARS system to respectively control a front actuator associated with front wheels and a rear actuator associated with rear wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle control method includes iteratively modifying a level of braking of the vehicle until it is determined that the vehicle has substantially lost traction with respect to the road surface, then determining the coefficient of friction between the road surface and the tire based on the level of braking at the time the vehicle substantially lost fraction. In one embodiment, previous ABS or other vehicle control events are used as a basis for estimating an initial level of braking to be applied during the friction measurement procedure. Such a deterministic maneuver can also function as a collision warning to the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of tires and a suspension system as subcomponents. The suspension system includes at least one suspension sensor configured to provide suspension data (S). A controller is operatively connected to the suspension sensor. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (Fzi(t), i=1 . . . 4) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S). The tire normal force (Fz) is the net force acting on each tire (or wheel) in the vertical direction. The tire normal force acting on each tire may be determined without using the specific model of the tire, road information, wheel or tire sensors.