Abstract: A utility vehicle includes an electronically controlled vehicle behavior adjuster, an intention detector, and a controller. The electronically controlled vehicle behavior adjuster is capable of modifying response characteristics of behavior of the vehicle. The intention detector detects at least one of intentions of an operator of moving the vehicle. When an operator's intention of moving the vehicle is detected by the intention detector, the controller changes the response characteristics of the behavior of the vehicle compared to when an intention of the operator of moving the vehicle is not detected by the intention detector.

Abstract: A method for analyzing and managing a vehicle load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle having a fluid suspension system, the method including sampling, at a manifold of the fluid suspension system, a set of fluid pressure corresponding to a set of fluid springs of the fluid suspension system, wherein the set of fluid springs supports the vehicle load; determining an existing stiffness distribution, the existing stiffness distribution including a stiffness value associated with each of the set of fluid springs; determining a contextual dataset during vehicle operation; determining a desired stiffness distribution based on the contextual dataset; automatically controlling the set of fluid springs at the plurality of actuation points based on the desired stiffness distribution, wherein controlling the set of fluid springs includes setting the stiffness value of the fluid spring associated with each of the plurality of actuation points.

Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a wheel, a vehicle body frame supported by the wheel, a suspension device connecting the wheel to the vehicle body frame, and an acceleration sensor mounted on the suspension device. The suspension device includes: a below-shock absorber member including an arm swingably connecting the wheel to the vehicle body frame; and a shock absorber connecting the below-shock absorber member to the vehicle body frame. The acceleration sensor is mounted on the arm.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes operating a braking system in robotic control state, determining that an emergency stop state is to be entered by the braking system, entering the emergency stop state upon determining that all conditions from a group of state entry conditions are satisfied, decelerating the vehicle using the braking system while in the emergency stop state, determining, while in the emergency stop state, that all conditions from a group of state exit conditions are satisfied, and exiting the emergency stop state in response to determining that all conditions from the group of state exit conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: A suspension system, which is used together with a vehicle including a vehicle body, a front wheel, and a rear wheel, includes a mechanical damping force variable shock absorber disposed between the vehicle body and the front wheel and configured to mechanically change a damping force, and a damping force adjustable shock absorber disposed between the vehicle body and the rear wheel and configured to adjust a damping force by an actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a suspension system, a sensor for measuring a vibration signal produced from the suspension system, and a microphone for measuring a noise signal in an interior of the vehicle caused by the vibration signal, wherein the sensor is installed at an interior sensor position determined based on an analysis of a level of contribution of the vibration signal to the noise signal, from among candidate sensor positions in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: The height of a vehicle can be estimated inexpensively by: detecting a wheel speed, which is a speed of each wheel; performing frequency analysis of the detected wheel speed of a pair of left and right wheels and calculating respective wheel speed characteristics of the left and right wheels at a gain-specific frequency; calculating a left-right wheel speed gain difference on the basis of the calculated wheel speed characteristics of the left and right wheels; and estimating the vehicle height on the basis of a corresponding relationship between a wheel height of the wheel with respect to a vehicle body and a value (wheel speed/road surface input gain) that is based on wheel speed and a road surface input that is inputted from the road surface to the wheels, and on the basis of the left-right wheel speed gain difference.

Abstract: An active suspension system for a vehicle including elements for developing and executing a trajectory plan responsive to the path on which the vehicle is traveling. The system may include a location system for locating the vehicle, and a system for retrieving a road profile corresponding to the vehicle location.

Abstract: A surface vehicle capable of overcoming obstacles is disclosed in which the vehicle accelerates vertically while having a horizontal velocity. The vehicle has a frame and at least three wheels attached to the frame to which a horizontal propulsion system is coupled. Further, a vertical propulsion system is coupled to the frame and the wheels. The vertical propulsion system is capable of providing a force to such wheels normal to the surface so that the vehicle separates from the surface. The vehicle has an electronic control unit coupled to the vertical propulsion system to automatically control its operation. Further, sensors are used to evaluate the characteristics of the surface that pertain to supporting a vertical acceleration/deceleration.

Abstract: An active suspension system and method for controlling the height of a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the active suspension system receives information from one or more input sources, including both internal and external vehicle inputs, and uses that information to actively control the vehicle height. By doing so, the active suspension system can reduce aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and improve the vehicle's fuel economy, ride comfort, handling, and other aspects of operation. Some examples of external vehicle inputs that may be used include: short-range road and vehicle information, as well as long-range traffic, road and route information.

Abstract: A sprung mass velocity estimating apparatus used in a four-wheeled vehicle to estimate a sprung mass velocity of a point of a vehicle body corresponding to each wheel of the vehicle, includes a state quantity detecting unit which detects a state quantity of the vehicle, a base value calculating unit which calculates a sprung mass velocity base value for each of the four vehicle body points based on a detection result of the state quantity detecting unit by using a prescribed oscillation model, and a sprung mass velocity calculating unit which calculates the sprung mass velocity for each vehicle body point by mutually adjusting the sprung mass velocity base values for the four vehicle body points such that the four vehicle body points are located on a common flat plane.

Abstract: A surface vehicle capable of overcoming obstacles is disclosed in which the vehicle accelerates vertically while having a horizontal velocity. The vehicle has a frame and at least three wheels attached to the frame to which a horizontal propulsion system is coupled. Further, a vertical propulsion system is coupled to the frame and the wheels. The vertical propulsion system is capable of providing a force to such wheels normal to the surface so that the vehicle separates from the surface. The vehicle has an electronic control unit coupled to the vertical propulsion system to automatically control its operation.

Abstract: A device and a method for influencing the spring force characteristic of an active chassis of a motor vehicle are provided. A wheel spring device is arranged between a vehicle body and a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle. The spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device can be modified by controlling an actuating device. A sensor detects a prediction variable representing the vertical profile of a route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A control device controls the actuating device as a function of the detected prediction variable in such a way that the spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device is adapted in a predictive fashion to the course of the sensed vertical profile of the route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An automated vehicle suspension system includes an elongated and linear drive axle having opposed end portions pivotally connected to a selected portion of a vehicle and laterally extending outwardly therefrom respectively. The system further includes a mechanism for detecting uneven road surfaces. The detecting mechanism is coupled to the drive axle and housed proximate to a vehicle's wheel. The system further includes a mechanism for automatically articulating the wheel about the drive axle such that the wheel can be selectively raised and lowered from equilibrium to offset an impact force associated with the uneven road surfaces when the vehicle travels thereover during driving conditions. A wheel hub interface is laterally secured to the detecting mechanism such that the drive axle can be maintained at a substantially stable position. A wheel mount is threadably coupled to one end portion of the drive axle and outwardly spaced from the wheel hub interface.

Abstract: A roll stability control system for an automotive vehicle includes an external environment sensing system, such as a camera-based vision system, or a radar, lidar or sonar-based sensing system that generates image, radar, lidar, and/or sonar-based signals. A controller is coupled to the sensing system and generates dynamic vehicle characteristic signals in response to the image, radar, lidar, or sonar-based signals. The controller controls the rollover control system in response to the dynamic vehicle control signal. The dynamic vehicle characteristics may include roll related angles, angular rates, and various vehicle velocities.

Abstract: An active suspension system for a vehicle including elements for developing and executing a trajectory plan responsive to the path on which the vehicle is traveling. The system may include a location system for locating the vehicle, and a system for retrieving a road profile corresponding to the vehicle location.

Abstract: A suspension control system and a suspension control method for a vehicle control the suspension based on the condition of the road surface traveled by the vehicle in addition to information pertaining to a corner obtained from a navigation device when the vehicle approaches the corner. A microprocessor controls damping forces of suspension devices on the basis of a degree of irregularity of the road surface detected immediately preceding entry of the automobile into a turn around the corner, and corner information from the navigation device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the elevation of a vehicle body in the event of a collision includes devices for sensing information concerning objects approaching the vehicle. Sensed information may include, for example, the relative speed, distance and contour of the approaching object. Based on this information, a control unit determines whether a collision is likely. If so, the point of impact, as well as an optimal vehicle height for the collision are determined based on the sensed information, such that the impact between the object and the vehicle occurs in a portion of the vehicle which has greater reinforcement.

Abstract: A suspension system (20) controls the amount of compressible fluid (42) within struts (28) to determine spring rate coefficients (Ks) and dampening coefficients (Bs) for the struts (28). The spring rate and dampening coefficients (Ks, Bs) are selected to provide forces (F) which are a sum of several components, which include a desired target static force (Fd) for balancing various forces acting upon a vehicle chassis, comparison of the target strut force (Fd) to the actual force (F) applied by the respective struts (28), comparison of velocity ({dot over (z)}5) of the chassis relative to a selected reference datum, and a ride height error (erh). Frequency dependant filtering decreases the spring rate coefficients (Ks) when changes in position (Zs) are detected at frequencies (&ohgr;) beneath a threshold level (&ohgr;K), and decreases the dampening coefficients (Bs) when changes in velocity ({dot over (z)}s) are detected at frequencies (&ohgr;) above a threshold level (&ohgr;B).