Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Michael Seemann

Uwe Hoffmann

Martin Saeger

Simon Baales

Mohsen Lakehal-Ayat

Matthias Dehmel

Jianbo Lu

Davor Hrovat

Eric Hongtei Tseng

Yvonne Baeumchen

Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim

Mitch McConnell

Michael Frantzen

Felix Weinreich

Fredrick V Owens

Dimitar Petrov Filev

David Michael Russell

Russ Lee Norton

Jens Dornhege

Peter W A Zegelaar

Marc Suermann

Doug Scott Rhode

Joost Potma

Toni Kymaelaeinen

Moshen Lakehal-ayat

Markus Schommer

A method for controlling a suspension system of a vehicle, as well as suspension systems, and a vehicle including a suspension system is provided. The suspension system may include at least one adjustable damping device that is controlled via a control signal, such as from a controller of the suspension system, in order to dynamically adjust the damping characteristic of the damping device. The control signal may be generated on the basis of at least one of current driving dynamics data and optically recorded information about an area of a ground surface.

Suspension system using optically recorded information, vehicles including suspension systems, and methods of using suspension systems

A method for operating a motor vehicle having an active roll control and an active steering system designed to map a steering-wheel setting angle predetermined by a driver of the motor vehicle in accordance with a predetermined steer response onto a steer angle of the motor vehicle. The method includes operating the active steering system in a normal operating mode having a normal steer response and upon determining an active roll control fault operating the active steering system in a fallback operating mode in accordance with an fallback steer response, the fallback steer response different from the normal steer response.

System and method for operating a vehicle having an active roll control system

The disclosure relates to a method and an arrangement for assessing the roadway surface being driven on by a vehicle. In a method according to the disclosure, on the basis of at least one image recorded with a camera that is present on the vehicle, the roadway surface being driven on by the vehicle is classified using a classifier. The classifier is trained on the basis of image features that are extracted from the at least one image, wherein a plurality of image details are defined in the at least one image. The extraction of image features is performed independently for each of these image details.

Method and arrangement for assessing the roadway surface being driven on by a vehicle

A vehicle can have a vibration damping system, which has a characteristic curve that is adjustable. To control the characteristic curve of the vibration damping system, information regarding a profile of a road surface in front of the vehicle is detected. At least a portion of the road surface profile can be classified according to a change in height and a length of the portion. The classification can be based on the detected information. Based on the classification of the road surface profile, the characteristic curve of the vibration damping system of the vehicle can be adjusted.

Device and method for proactive control of a vibration damping system of a vehicle

An adjustment system and method for adjusting a chassis property of a motor vehicle wherein an understeering sensitivity of the motor vehicle is increased upon detecting that a trailer has been coupled to the motor vehicle. A detection unit operates to detect when a trailer is attached or coupled to the motor vehicle.

System and method for adjusting a motor vehicle chassis

A system and method for operating a motor vehicle having an active roll control system and an air suspension system including operating the air suspension system in a normal mode, according to a normal air spring setting. Upon determining a fault or malfunction of the active roll control system operating the air suspension in a fallback mode, according to a fallback air spring setting, wherein the fallback mode is different from the normal mode.

A wheel suspension unit is disclosed. The wheel suspension unit includes a stabilizer having a first end and a second end, a wheel suspension element, and a piston-cylinder unit. The piston-cylinder unit connects an end of the stabilizer to the wheel suspension element. The piston-cylinder unit is a roll damper. The roll damper includes a plurality of roll damping valves arranged in a piston of the roll damper. Each of the plurality of roll damping valves has a non-return valve and an adjustable throttle valve. The non-return valve is arranged in series with the adjustable throttle valve.

Wheel suspension unit with stabilizer arrangement

A method for controlling an active suspension system of a vehicle during a curb parking operation, so as to position a portion of the vehicle on a street and a portion of the vehicle on a curb. The method includes steps of activating a curb parking function of the active suspension system, acquiring inputs pertinent to the curb parking operation, and determining, by a controller, if a curb parking operation is feasible for the vehicle. If a curb parking operation is deemed infeasible, an operator of the vehicle is notified that the curb parking operation is infeasible. If a curb parking operation is deemed feasible, actuatable elements of the active suspension system are controlled to facilitate curb parking.

Suspension control system to facilitate wheel motions during parking

The invention concerns a device for a vehicle, for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure, which at one end has a first means for pivoting on a sprung mass () of the vehicle and at the other end a second means for pivoting on an unsprung mass () of the vehicle, a vibration damper () damping a relative movement of the sprung mass and unsprung masses (), and a self-pumping air spring () which supports the sprung and unsprung masses () against each other in a sprung fashion. The vibration damper () according to the invention has a damping characteristic which is adjustable during operation, preferably steplessly adjustable. The invention also concerns a method for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure by means of such a device.

Height adjustment for vehicles with air spring and vibration damper

A vehicle suspension apparatus includes various elements, such as a self-pumping air spring and damper unit operating with compressed air for height adjustment of a vehicle body relative to a wheel suspension of a vehicle. The apparatus further includes at least one spring space filled with compressed air, which is at least partially bounded by at least one movable wall and a damper cylinder, which can be connected to the spring space for fluid transmission by at least one connecting valve. The damper cylinder includes a working space divided by a piston, which moves inside the working space, and fluidly connected by a throttle valve. The connecting valve and the throttle valve are each switchable valves, and one of the working spaces of the damper cylinder can be vented to the surrounding atmosphere via at least one switchable vent valve.

Air spring and damper unit with height adjustment

A wheel bearing unit comprises an inner ring and an outer ring. The outer ring is mounted rotatably and is arranged concentrically with respect to the inner ring. The inner ring serves to receive a wheel and the outer ring serves for fastening to a wheel support of a motor vehicle. The wheel bearing unit has, between the inner ring and the outer ring, a first ball row and a second ball row which is arranged parallel to the first ball row. A follower is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to an outer side of the inner ring between the first ball row and the second ball row. The follower is connected directly or indirectly to a rotor of an electric machine in a torque-transmitting manner.

Wheel bearing unit, and motor vehicle having wheel bearing unit

A method for estimating a location of a center of gravity (CG) of a sprung mass of a vehicle includes steps of a) determining whether the vehicle is stationary or moving; b) if the vehicle is stationary, calculating estimated x and y coordinates of the CG; c) storing the estimated coordinates in memory; and d) repeating steps a)-c) until the vehicle is no longer stationary.

Active suspension with load detection and adaptation

A method for controlling a vehicle includes the step of determining if a curb parking operation is feasible for the vehicle. If a curb parking operation is deemed infeasible, an operator of the vehicle is notified that curb parking is infeasible. If a curb parking operation is deemed feasible, actuatable elements of the vehicle are controlled to facilitate the curb parking operation.

A method and system for operating a motor vehicle is described. In one example, spring rates for suspension springs and damping rates for shock absorbers are adjusted in response to vertical acceleration, longitudinal angular acceleration, and lateral angular acceleration of a vehicle body in the absence of accelerometers. The system and method may improve vehicle driving dynamics and lower system cost as compared to other systems.

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Cologne, Germany

Michael Seemann