Continental Teves, Inc.

William Skellenger

Christian H P Schumacher

Robert D Kostadina

Martin Kuemmel

Markus E Schneider

Mile Jokic

A vehicle includes multiple wheels, a locking drive differential, and a stability controller. A first wheel is mechanically coupled to a second wheel. The locking drive differential mechanically couples the second wheel to a third wheel. The stability controller is coupled to the third wheel. The stability controller is programmed to attain a slip rate of about the first and the second wheel at the third wheel, which stabilizes the vehicle in an over-steer condition. The method applies a modulated stability pressure to the third wheel until the third wheel attains about the combined slip rate of the first wheel and the second wheel and a fourth wheel is rotating at about the velocity of the vehicle.

Vehicle control of a locked drive system

A method of determining the direction of travel of a vehicle independent of the transmission gear position. A plurality of yaw rate values are utilized, which are summed or integrated over a period of time to generate a plurality of yaw rate sum values. The sign of each yaw rate sum value is compared. This comparison of the signs of each yaw rate sum value results in a confidence value that is used to determine the direction of travel. Preferably, the actual gear position, a calculated gear ratio, and the vehicle's velocity are used to build confidence in the resulting confidence value given above.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

William Skellenger