Methods and apparatus to control stability of a vehicle and trailer
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsKeith Weston, Matthew Johnson, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Brendan Diamond
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus to control stability of a vehicle and trailer are disclosed. An example apparatus to control stability of a vehicle and trailer includes stability monitoring circuitry to determine, based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, whether a vehicle stability condition associated with the vehicle is satisfied, and stability control circuitry to, in response to the vehicle stability condition not being satisfied, adjust a load distribution on front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle by adjusting a vehicle pitch.
Claims20
An apparatus to control stability of a vehicle and trailer, the apparatus comprising:
- stability monitoring circuitry to:
- determine, based on first sensor data obtained from one or more sensors of the vehicle when the vehicle is stationary, a starting pitch of the vehicle;
- and
- determine, based on second sensor data obtained from the one or more sensors when the vehicle is moving, whether a vehicle stability condition associated with the vehicle is satisfied;
- and
- stability control circuitry to;
- when the vehicle stability condition is not satisfied, adjust a load distribution on front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle by adjusting a vehicle pitch;
- and
- when the vehicle stability condition is satisfied, return the vehicle pitch to the starting pitch.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause processor circuitry to:
- determine, based on first sensor data obtained from one or more sensors of a vehicle when the vehicle is stationary, a starting pitch of the vehicle;
- determine, based on second sensor data obtained from the one or more sensors when the vehicle is moving, whether a vehicle stability condition associated with the vehicle is satisfied;
- when the vehicle stability condition is not satisfied, adjust a load distribution on front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle by adjusting a vehicle pitch;
- and
- when the vehicle stability condition is satisfied, return the vehicle pitch to the starting pitch.
An apparatus comprising:
- memory;
- instructions;
- and
- processor circuitry to execute the instructions to:
- determine, based on first sensor data from one or more sensors of a vehicle when the vehicle is stationary, a starting pitch of the vehicle;
- determine, based on second sensor data obtained from the one or more sensors when the vehicle is moving, whether a vehicle stability condition associated with the vehicle is satisfied;
- when the vehicle stability condition is not satisfied, adjust a load distribution on front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle by adjusting a vehicle pitch;
- and
- when the vehicle stability condition is satisfied, return the vehicle pitch to the starting pitch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.