Abstract:
A non-linear stiffness actuator for a suspension corner employed in a vehicle includes an actuator housing and an actuator shaft configured to transmit an actuator force to the road wheel. The actuator also includes a primary elastic member assembly arranged between the actuator housing and the actuator shaft and configured to exert a primary elastic member force along the actuator shaft. The actuator additionally includes a secondary elastic member assembly configured to exert a variable secondary elastic member force acting between the actuator housing and the actuator shaft. The variable secondary elastic member force is configured to selectively contribute to and subtract from the primary elastic member force to thereby facilitate the non-linear stiffness of the actuator. A vehicle having such a non-linear stiffness actuator is also provided.
Abstract:
A lifting mechanism includes a load bearing structure, and a carrier. The carrier is configured for supporting a load. The carrier is moveable relative to the load bearing structure in a substantially vertical direction relative to a ground surface, along a vertical axis. A load carrying spring applies a spring force that biases the carrier relative to the load bearing structure in a direction along the vertical axis. A negative stiffness device interconnects the carrier and the load bearing structure. The negative stiffness device applies a device force that biases the carrier relative to the load bearing structure in a direction along the vertical axis. The device force opposes the spring force. The device force includes a magnitude that is substantially equal to the spring force in any of a plurality of different positions of the carrier relative to the load bearing structure along the vertical axis.
Abstract:
A strut assembly for a suspension corner employed in a vehicle having a vehicle body and a road wheel includes a damper. The strut assembly also includes an elastic unit having at least one spring module acting in concert with the damper to suspend the vehicle body relative to the road wheel. Each spring module has a positive stiffness spring arranged in parallel with a negative stiffness spring. A vehicle that has a suspension corner employing the elastic unit and is configured to maintain contact between the road wheel and the road surface and provide isolation of vibration between the road wheel and the vehicle body is also contemplated.
Abstract:
A system, for use in protecting an active-material actuator from overheating without using a temperature sensor. The system includes an active material being transformable between a first state and a second state in response to a pre-determined stimulus, and being pre-tensioned to at least a pre-determined threshold, yielding the pre-tensioned active material. The system also includes a processing unit configured to perform operations comprising obtaining a value for electrical resistance of the pre-tensioned active material, estimating, based on the electrical resistance obtained, an strain value for the active material, yielding an estimated strain value, and obtaining an actual strain value for the active material. The operations also include determining a difference between the estimated strain value estimated and the actual strain value and determining, based on the difference determined, whether an overheating condition exists for the active material.
Abstract:
Methods and system for vehicle control. The methods and systems determining actuator commands data based on a vehicle stability and motion control function. The vehicle stability and motion control function having planned trajectory data, current vehicle position data and current vehicle heading data as inputs, having the actuator commands data as an output and utilizing a model predicting vehicle motion including predicting vehicle heading data and predicting vehicle position data. The actuator commands data includes steering and propulsion commands. The actuator commands data includes differential braking commands for each brake of the vehicle to correct for any differential between the planned vehicle heading and the current vehicle heading data or the predicted vehicle heading data. The methods and systems output the actuator commands data to the actuator system.
Abstract:
A method of maintaining stability of a motor vehicle having a first axle, a second axle, and a steering actuator configured to steer the first axle includes determining localization and heading of the vehicle. The method also includes determining a current side-slip angle of the second axle and setting a maximum side-slip angle of the second axle using the friction coefficient at the vehicle and road surface interface. The method additionally includes predicting when the maximum side-slip angle would be exceeded using the localization, heading, and determined current side-slip angle as inputs to a linear computational model. The method also includes updating the model using the prediction of when the maximum side-slip angle would be exceeded to determine impending instability of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes correcting for the impending instability using the updated model and the maximum side-slip angle via modifying a steering angle of the first axle.
Abstract:
A limiting system for constraining a commanded steering angle for a vehicle including an electric power steering (EPS) system includes a controller in electronic communication with at least one other system of the vehicle. The controller executes instructions to receive a plurality of trajectory planning inputs that are each expressed as an array including a plurality of values, where the plurality of trajectory planning inputs includes a trajectory velocity array, a trajectory acceleration array, and a trajectory curvature array. The controller also executes instructions to determine a maximum rate of steering angle change based on the corresponding ideal rate of change of the commanded steering angle and the maximum rate change allowed by the EPS system.
Abstract:
In exemplary embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that include: one or more sensors disposed onboard a vehicle and configured to at least facilitate obtaining sensor data for the vehicle; one or more location systems configured to at least facilitate obtaining location data pertaining to a location of the vehicle; a computer memory configured to store map data pertaining to a path corresponding to the location; and a processor disposed onboard the vehicle and configured to at least facilitate: generating an elevation profile along the path using the sensor data and the map data; and providing instructions for controlling the vehicle using the elevation profile.
Abstract:
Methods and system for vehicle control. The methods and systems determining actuator commands data based on a vehicle stability and motion control function. The vehicle stability and motion control function having planned trajectory data, current vehicle position data and current vehicle heading data as inputs, having the actuator commands data as an output and utilizing a model predicting vehicle motion including predicting vehicle heading data and predicting vehicle position data. The actuator commands data includes steering and propulsion commands. The actuator commands data includes differential braking commands for each brake of the vehicle to correct for any differential between the planned vehicle heading and the current vehicle heading data or the predicted vehicle heading data. The methods and systems output the actuator commands data to the actuator system.
Abstract:
Methods and systems implemented in a vehicle involve obtaining a single camera image from a camera arranged on the vehicle. The image indicates a heading angle Ψ0 between a vehicle heading x and a tangent line that is tangential to road curvature of a road on which the vehicle is traveling and also indicates a perpendicular distance y0 from a center of the vehicle to the tangent line. An exemplary method includes obtaining two or more inputs from two or more vehicle sensors, and estimating kinematic states of the vehicle based on applying a Kalman filter to the single camera image and the two or more inputs to solve kinematic equations. The kinematic states include roll angle and pitch angle of the vehicle.