Traction control based on friction coefficient estimation
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsWilliam Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
Claims4
A method comprising:
- capturing a series of images of a surface of a road ahead of a vehicle using a first sensor;
- determining luminosity values and changes of the luminosity values within the series of images;
- comparing the luminosity values and changes of the luminosity values to values stored in a table;
- generating, with a processor in a vehicle, a first confidence value that the road the vehicle is on is of a first road surface type based on the comparison between the luminosity values and changes of the luminosity values to values stored in the table;
- estimating a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the first confidence value;
- and
- controlling, with an anti-lock brake system, torque applied to wheels of the vehicle based on the coefficient of friction.
A method comprising:
- determining a steering current draw of a vehicle;
- estimating a first confidence value that a road the vehicle is on is a road surface of a first road surface type based on the steering current draw of the vehicle;
- estimating a coefficient of friction between the road surface and tires of the vehicle based on the first confidence value;
- and
- controlling wheels of the vehicle by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.