Dr. Ing. H.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft

Ing. H.c.f. Porsche Ag

Volker Berkefeld

Stefan Jacobi

This invention provides an arrangement which compensates for the dynamic effects of cross winds on the steering of a vehicle. A single differential pressure sensor is connected with pressure measuring points arranged symmetrically on the forward portion of the vehicle body. The differential pressure detected by the pressure sensor is used to determine the yaw angle velocity and acceleration caused by the force of the cross wind on the vehicle body, which information is provided to a steering control element that adjusts the steering angle of the vehicle to reduce the yaw angle to approach zero.

Method and apparatus for minimizing effects of cross wind on vehicle

A sensor arrangement for detecting the influence of cross wind on the handling of a motor vehicle comprising pressure measuring points situated on opposite sides of the vehicle for the measuring of the air pressure existing in the area of the outer skin of the vehicle body. The pressure measuring points are constructed as bores in the outer skin of the vehicle body. A differential pressure sensor, which detects the differential pressure (Dp) between two vehicle sides, is arranged centrally between two pressure measuring points, and is connected with the two bores by way of hoses or lines which, if possible, should have the same length. For detecting the vehicle's entry into and emergence from a cross wind gust, the sensor filters the detected values of the wind cross force by means of a low pass filter and compares them with the filtered values that were detected immediately before. When the difference between the amounts of the filtered values rises, entry into a cross wind gust is recognized, and when the values fall, emergence form a cross wind gust is recognized.

Sensor for detecting the influence of cross wind on a vehicle

An active four-wheel steering system for motor vehicles has steering devices for the front wheels and the rear wheels. These devices operate as a function of driving condition quantities fed to an electronic control unit. A variable wheel steering angle relationship with respect to the front wheels is adjusted, in which case the input signal concerning the steering wheel angle from a steering wheel angle sensor and the additional signal concerning the vehicle speed from a speed sensor is fed to a first function calculation task apparatus of the control unit. This function calculation task apparatus generates a first output signal for the lateral acceleration which, as an input signal, together with the additional input signal of the vehicle speed, is fed to a second function calculation task apparatus. In order to take a driving speed change into account, the output signal concerning the lateral acceleration, together with a signal from the driving speed change, is fed to the third function calculation task apparatus. This input signal, computed in the first function calculation task apparatus, and the input signals concerning the speed change, computed in the third function calculation task apparatus, are converted to an output signal additional rear wheel steering angle, which is overlayed on the output signal rear wheel steering angle. The sum of these output signals, as the steering angle signal, are fed to the control unit for the control of the hydraulic steering device for the rear wheels.

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Renningen, Germany

Volker Berkefeld