Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

David John Messih

Jianbo Lu

Erik Christopher Chubb

Albert Chenouda Salib

Keith Glenn Mattson

Ming Lang Kuang

Dale Scott Crombez

Walter Joseph Ortmann

Yanan Zhao

Michael Edward Brewer

Stanley Larue Bower

Joseph Jay Torres

Bang Kim Cao

Kirk Englert

Brandon Cameron

Doug Marsden

Paul Schmitt

William Gregory Suter

Christopher Wernette

Terrain assist apparatus and related methods for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vehicle controller configured to determine, based on vehicle sensor data, a condition of a vehicle associated with driving on sand. The vehicle controller is also to generate, via an output device, information instructing a vehicle occupant to configure a driving mode of the vehicle that is associated with controlling vehicle speed. The vehicle controller is also to control a parameter of the vehicle based on a setting of the driving mode to resolve the condition.

Terrain assist apparatus and related methods for use with vehicles

Methods and systems are provided for operating a hybrid vehicle during operating conditions where vehicle braking is requested. In one example, regenerative braking is allocated to vehicle axles responsive to wheel torques of respective vehicle axles in response to an anti-lock braking system being activated. Additionally, friction braking torque is allocated to vehicle axles responsive to the anti-lock braking system being activated.

Regenerative hybrid vehicle braking system and methods

A control system for a vehicle includes a speed sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal. A sway detection sensor generates an oscillation signal. A brake control is coupled to a vehicle brake and is associated with a trailer brake. A controller is coupled to a stability control system and brakes one or more of the vehicle brake and the trailer brake and in response to the oscillation signal.

Trailer sway control with trailer brake intervention

A method of controlling a controllable chassis system or a safety system () for a vehicle () includes determining an added mass placed on the vehicle and relative to a known vehicle mass. A vehicle characteristic is adjusted in response to the added mass. A control system () for an automotive vehicle () includes a sensor (-) that generates a signal. A controller () determines added mass on the vehicle () in response to the signal and adjusts a vehicle characteristic in response to the added mass.

Vehicle loading based vehicle dynamic and safety related characteristic adjusting system

A control system () and method for an automotive vehicle () includes a roll rate sensor () for generating a roll rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor () for generating a lateral acceleration signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor () for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor () for generating a yaw rate signal. A safety device or system () and the sensors are coupled to a controller. The controller () determines an added mass and the height of the added mass on the vehicle, or a roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and/or a roll rate parameter that take into account the added mass and height from the roll rate, the lateral acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, and the yaw rate of the vehicle, and controls the safety system in response thereto.

System and method for dynamically determining vehicle loading and vertical loading distance for use in a vehicle dynamic control system

A control system () and method for an automotive vehicle () includes a controller () that determines whether or not a potential load change has occurred in a load change detector (). A load change detector () may be coupled to various sensors to determine whether or not a change in load has occurred. If a change in load has occurred an adaptively determined roll condition parameter such as a roll acceleration coefficient, a roll rate parameter or a roll gradient may be reset. If a potential load change has not occurred, then a newly determined value for an adaptive roll condition may be included in a revised adaptive roll condition average. A safety device () may be controlled in response to the revised adaptive roll condition.

System and method for qualitatively determining vehicle loading conditions

A vehicle suspension system () includes a suspension (). A lateral acceleration sensor () generates a lateral acceleration signal. A roll rate sensor () generates a roll rate signal. A controller () detects an irregularity in the suspension in response to the lateral acceleration signal and the roll rate signal. A method of detecting suspension irregularities in a vehicle () includes the generating of a lateral acceleration signal and a roll rate signal. Roll angle is determined in response to the lateral acceleration signal and roll rate signal. A roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and a roll damping parameter are determined in response to at least the roll angle. The roll gradient, the roll acceleration coefficient, and the roll damping parameter are compared to associated nominal values. A suspension irregularity is indicated in response to the comparison.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

David John Messih