Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Joshua Rajasingh

Andrew D Niedert

Anton Rogness

Elliott Pearson

Peter Simeon Lazarevski

Rinku Patel

Salvador Padilla

Erick Michael Lavoie

Luke Niewiadomski

Rudi Todd Ansbacher

Elliot Pearson

Anton L Rogness, Ii

Lucian K M Lippok

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a suspension airbag, a pump fluidly coupled to the suspension airbag, the pump to control a fluid pressure in the suspension airbag to cause ride height adjustments for a vehicle, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and processor circuitry to calculate a weight of the vehicle based on an offset between (a) a first motor input that causes the vehicle to rise or lower when the vehicle is unloaded and (b) a second motor input that causes the vehicle to rise or lower when the vehicle is carrying a load.

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight

An example apparatus includes a profile manager to determine whether a user of a vehicle has a corresponding profile stored in memory based on a personalized vehicle key associated with the user, in response to determining that the profile for the user is not available, receive one or more inputs from the user via a display, the one or more inputs including a loading condition threshold and a corresponding response to exceeding the loading condition threshold, and generate the profile for the user based on the one more inputs from the user; and a vehicle feature modifier to modify a feature of the vehicle when a load condition of the vehicle satisfies the loading condition threshold to limit or disable operation of the vehicle based on the corresponding response to exceeding the loading condition threshold, the feature modified based upon the profile.

Methods and apparatus to modify vehicle function based on loading conditions

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine vehicle trailer weight. An example apparatus includes a first sensor disposed on a hitch coupled to a vehicle to measure a first rate of change of a weight of the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a second sensor disposed on a chassis of the vehicle to measure a second rate of change of the weight of the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a controller to monitor the first rate of change and the second rate of change to determine if the vehicle is improperly loaded.

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle trailer weight

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate an augmented environment including a weight indicator for a vehicle. An example disclosed system includes a camera to capture image data including a first location of an object in a vehicle, processor circuitry to execute instructions to generate a map of loads on the vehicle, and a user interface to present an augmented environment identifying the first location of the object and a load correlated with the object, the load correlated with the object based on the map of loads.

Methods and apparatus to generate an augmented environment including a weight indicator for a vehicle

Methods and apparatus to generate an augmented environment including a weight indicator for a vehicle are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes memory including stored instructions, a processor to execute the instructions to generate a map of loads on a vehicle based on load data associated with a sensor of the vehicle, determine a load condition of the vehicle based on the map of loads, correlate a first load of the map of loads with an object identified using live video data received from a camera, and generate an augmented environment identifying at least one of a location of the object, the first load correlated with the object, or the load condition.

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vehicle controller configured to control a motor operatively coupled to a suspension system to raise or lower a vehicle. The vehicle controller is to also determine a first parameter of the motor while controlling the motor to raise or lower the vehicle when the vehicle is unloaded. The vehicle controller is to also determine a second parameter of the motor while controlling the motor to raise or lower the vehicle when the vehicle is at least partially loaded. The vehicle controller is to also calculate a weight of the vehicle based on the first and second parameters of the motor.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate a single pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver, the sensor to measure one or more loads on the hitch receiver. An example apparatus includes a load sensing pin coupled to a hitch receiver of a vehicle, the load sensing pin disposed in a cavity of a crossbar that is to couple the hitch receiver to the vehicle, wherein the load sensing pin is to measure a load transferred from the hitch receiver to the crossbar.

Methods and apparatus for a single pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate an augmented environment including a weight indicator for a vehicle. An example disclosed apparatus includes a sensor interface to receive load data associated with a vehicle, and receive live video data from a camera, the live video data including a location of an object in the vehicle, a load mapper to generate a map of loads on the vehicle based on the load data, an object-to-weight correlator to correlate a load of the map of loads with the object, and an augmented reality generator to generate an augmented environment identifying the location of the object and the load correlated with the object.

A vehicle system comprises a hitch mounted on a vehicle and at least one sensor in connection with the hitch. A controller is configured to identify a force applied to the hitch via the at least one sensor. In response to the force, the controller is further configured to approximate a direction of the force. Based on the direction, the controller generates instructions identifying a height adjustment of a coupler of a trailer.

System and methods for detection and response to interference between trailer coupler and hitch ball

Methods and apparatus to compensate for body roll in vehicle weight calculations are disclosed. An example method includes receiving sensor data from sensors of a vehicle, determining a weight of the vehicle and determining a body roll of the vehicle. The example method further includes comparing the body roll to a threshold and, if the body roll satisfies the threshold, adjusting the determined weight of the vehicle based on the determined body roll and properties of a suspension system of the vehicle.

Methods and apparatus to compensate for body roll in vehicle weight calculations

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to modify vehicle function based on loading conditions. An example apparatus includes a vehicle load condition manager programmed to modify a feature of a vehicle when a load condition of the vehicle satisfies a threshold, wherein at least one of the feature or the threshold is based upon a profile of a user of the vehicle.

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight information based on ride height are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a weight calculator to determine a relationship between ride height information and weight of a vehicle and a compensation calculator to adjust the relationship based on compensation factors and calculate vehicle weight information for the vehicle based on the adjusted relationship, the compensation factors based on vehicle sensor data. The example apparatus further includes a calculation adjustor to adjust the vehicle weight information calculation of the weight calculator or the compensation calculator based on driver behavior.

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight information based on ride height

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for categorization of vehicle loading and display thereof. An example method includes comparing a summation of first load data and second load data to a threshold, the first or second load data associated with input from a vehicle sensor or a user interface, sorting the first and second load data into one or more categories, each of the categories based on input associated with the first load data or the second load data, the load data including vehicle load data or external vehicle load data, and displaying the sorted load data.

Methods and apparatus for categorization of vehicle loading and display thereof

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatically calibrating electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibrator programmed to modulate a trailer brake gain value based upon a derivative of a trailer hitch force and apply a pressure to a brake of a trailer based on the gain value.

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Joshua Rajasingh