Initializing and actively adjusting brake force distribution to optimize brake wear and performance

A method for initializing and actively adjusting brake force distribution (BFD) in a host vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting static and dynamic state information about the host vehicle with one or more sensors integrated into the host vehicle;
• altering the static and dynamic state of the host vehicle with one or more actuators integrated into the host vehicle;
• executing, with a processor of a controller, program code portion stored in memory of the controller, the controller further having one or more input/output (I/O) ports in communication with the one or more sensors and the one or more actuators, the program code portions including a brake force distribution (BFD) application comprising control logic for:
• performing an off-line optimization of BFD;
• computing real-time wear of brake components;
• performing brake component wear checks;
• performing a mileage interval adjustment of BFD based on the real-time wear of brake components and the off-line optimization of the BFD;
• selectively engaging an auto-trim mode of the BFD application;
• and
• selectively engaging a manual trim mode of the BFD application;
• and adjusting the BFD of the host vehicle to automatically compensate for brake wear imbalances front-to-rear and side-to-side of the host vehicle, thereby delaying brake service intervals, causing brake components to have a lengthened service life, and maintaining and improving host vehicle braking performance.

A method for initializing and actively adjusting brake force distribution (BFD) in a host vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting static and dynamic state information about the host vehicle with one or more sensors integrated into the host vehicle, the one or more sensors;
• altering the static and dynamic state of the host vehicle with one or more actuators integrated into the host vehicle;
• executing, with a processor of a controller, program code portion stored in memory of the controller, the controller further having one or more input/output (I/O) ports in communication with the one or more sensors and the one or more actuators, the program code portions including a brake force distribution (BFD) application comprising control logic for:
• performing an off-line optimization of BFD, including:
• determining an optimized or idealized BFD for the host vehicle, wherein the optimized or idealized BFD defines an initial calibration for BFD across the one or more actuators of a braking system of the host vehicle, wherein the optimized or idealized BFD respects predetermined boundaries, including predetermined drivability boundaries and predetermined test procedures;
• computing real-time wear of brake components, including:
• obtaining, from the one or more sensors, brake component wear information;
• and
• modeling brake component wear though a detailed model of the braking system, including predefined and adaptable front and rear brake thermal cooling performance expectations, front and rear brake component wear characteristics, and road load losses;
• performing brake component wear checks, including:
• performing brake component wear checks based on calibrated time intervals and calibrated host vehicle mileage, wherein:
• the calibrated time intervals further comprise at least one of a predetermined time interval and an adjustable time interval;
• and wherein:
• the calibrated mileage intervals further comprise at least one of a predetermined host vehicle mileage interval and an adjustable host vehicle mileage interval;
• detecting a brake component wear imbalance, including comparing a normalized wear to a calibratable threshold wear, and upon determining that the normalized wear is greater than the calibratable threshold wear, initializing a diagnostic process that informs a host vehicle operator of the brake component wear imbalance through one or more of a visual, audible, and haptic feedback presented through a human-machine interface (HMI) of the host vehicle;
• performing a mileage interval adjustment of BFD, including:
• determining that measured or computed brake component wear rates indicate a severe duty cycle of usage, and that brake component wear rates are elevated above predetermined normal or standard wear rates;
• and
• increasing a frequency of brake component wear checks above a predetermined frequency of brake component wear checks;
• and
• increasing a frequency of BFD trim adjustments above a predetermined frequency of BFD trim adjustments;
• selectively engaging an auto-trim mode of the BFD application, including:
• determining, within the auto-trim mode, that a brake request is below a calibrated threshold, and upon determining that the brake request is below the calibrated threshold, trimming the BFD to compensate for wear imbalances;
• and upon determining that the brake request is not below the calibrated threshold, blends BFD back to a baseline BFD;
• and
• selectively engaging a manual trim mode of the BFD application, including:
• prompting, within the manual trim mode, the vehicle operator to make a manual BFD selection via one or more HMIs of the vehicle, including:
• manually selecting a front-to-rear BFD;
• and
• manually selecting a side-to-side BFD, wherein each of the front-to-rear and side-to-side BFDs are bounded by predefined drivability limits, avoid excessive yaw rates, and avoid path deviations during braking;
• prompting, within the manual trim mode, the vehicle operator to select from at least a static BFD and a dynamic BFD;
• causing, in the static BFD, the vehicle operator to select a static BFD, including a static front-to-rear BFD and a static side-to-side BFD;
• causing, in the dynamic BFD, the vehicle operator to select a gain, wherein the gain changes side-to-side BFD according to current host vehicle steering control directions;
• and
• causing, in either the static BFD or the dynamic BFD, the BFD to remain within predefined boundary conditions tied to at least one of:
• predetermined host vehicle use cases including race track, off road, and service/diagnostic uses;
• and
• adjusting the BFD of the host vehicle to automatically compensate for brake wear imbalances front-to-rear and side-to-side of the host vehicle, thereby delaying brake service intervals, causing brake components to have a lengthened service life, and maintaining and improving host vehicle braking performance.