# US 10,246,139 B2 · Method and apparatus for controlling vehicle tractive effort

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- Number: US 10,246,139 B2
- Document ID: US10246139B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/216,238
- Filed: 2016-07-21
- Published: 2017-03-30
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-25
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Joshua R. Auden; Jason D. Fahland; David Dominguez; Edward T. Heil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246139B2

## CPC

- B62D 35/00: Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
- B62D 35/005: {Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)}
- B62D 35/007: {Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)}
- B62D 37/02: by aerodynamic means
- Y02T 10/82: Elements for improving aerodynamics
- Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A multi-wheeled vehicle employing an active aerodynamic control system is described. A method for controlling the vehicle and the active aerodynamic control system includes determining states of parameters related to ride and handling of the vehicle, and determining a current tractive effort based upon the states of parameters related to ride and handling of the vehicle. A desired tractive effort is determined based upon an operator desired acceleration, and an available tractive effort is determined based upon an available downforce transferable to the wheels from the active aerodynamic control system and downforces of the wheels. The active aerodynamic control system controls the downforce on one of the wheels to control the current tractive effort responsive to the desired tractive effort.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of controlling a vehicle having an active aerodynamic feature including a moveable front spoiler assembly disposed on a front end of the vehicle and a moveable rear spoiler assembly disposed on a rear end of the vehicle, the method comprising;
determining a current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle;
determining an operator desired acceleration of the vehicle;
sensing a current speed of the vehicle;
defining a target aerodynamic force based upon the current speed of the vehicle, the current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and the operator desired acceleration of the vehicle; and
sending a first control signal to the moveable front spoiler assembly to adjust a position of the moveable front spoiler assembly and sending a second control signal to the moveable rear spoiler assembly to adjust a position of the moveable rear spoiler assembly to achieve the target aerodynamic force.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein determining the current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle includes sensing a rotational speed of each wheel of the vehicle and communicating the sensed rotational speed of each wheel to the vehicle controller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method set forth in claim 2, further comprising calculating the current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle from the sensed rotational speed of each wheel of the vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle includes one of a positive longitudinal acceleration and a negative longitudinal acceleration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein determining the operator desired acceleration includes sensing a position of a brake pedal of the vehicle and a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle and communicating the sensed position of the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal to a vehicle controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method set forth in claim 5, wherein determining the operator desired acceleration comprises determining the operator desired acceleration based upon the position of the accelerator pedal, the position of the brake pedal, and the current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the operator desired acceleration includes one of a positive longitudinal acceleration and a negative longitudinal acceleration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, further comprising sensing a current first position of the moveable front spoiler assembly and a current second position of the moveable rear spoiler assembly and communicating the sensed first and second positions to a vehicle controller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method set forth in claim 8, further comprising calculating a current aerodynamic force generated by the moveable front spoiler assembly and the moveable rear spoiler assembly based on the first and second positions and the current speed of the vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, wherein defining the target aerodynamic force comprises defining the target aerodynamic force based upon the current aerodynamic force generated by the moveable front spoiler assembly and the moveable rear spoiler assembly at the current speed of the vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein defining the target aerodynamic force comprises correlating the current speed of the vehicle, the current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and the operator desired acceleration to the target aerodynamic force with a target aerodynamic force listed in at least one look-up table stored in a memory of the vehicle controller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the steps of defining the target aerodynamic force and sending the first and second control signals to the active aerodynamic feature to re-position the active aerodynamic feature to achieve the target aerodynamic force are continuously repeated as the current speed of the vehicle changes over time, the current longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle changes over time, and the operator desired acceleration changes over time.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the target aerodynamic force is at least one of an aerodynamic downforce and an aerodynamic drag force.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the moveable front spoiler assembly includes a first winglet disposed on a left side of the front end of the vehicle and a second winglet disposed on a right side of the front end of the vehicle;
and wherein sending a first control signal to the moveable front spoiler assembly to adjust a position of the moveable front spoiler assembly comprises controlling the first winglet and controlling the second winglet to achieve the target aerodynamic force.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the target aerodynamic force comprises a downforce, and wherein the controlling the first winglet and controlling the second winglet to achieve the target aerodynamic force comprises controlling the first winglet to achieve the target aerodynamic force on the left side of the front end of the vehicle and controlling the second winglet to achieve the target aerodynamic force on the right side of the front end of the vehicle.