System and method for predicting tire forces using tire deformation sensors

A vehicle control system, comprising:

• a force prediction unit for being placed in circuit communication with a tire deformation sensor and at least one other sensor, receiving a tire deformation input from the tire deformation sensor, and receiving at least one other tire sensor input from the at least one other sensor, said force prediction unit comprising a preprogrammed processor receiving the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input, said force prediction unit characterized by implementing preprogrammed equations having constants determined from previously collected data to determine from at least the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input an output corresponding to a predicted lateral force acting on a tire.

A vehicle control system, comprising:

• a force prediction unit for being placed in circuit communication with a tire deformation sensor and at least one other sensor, receiving a tire deformation input from the tire deformation sensor, and receiving at least one other tire sensor input from the at least one other sensor, said force prediction unit comprising a preprogrammed processor receiving the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input, said force prediction unit characterized by implementing preprogrammed equations having constants determined from previously collected data to determine from at least the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input an output corresponding to a predicted vertical force acting on a tire.

A vehicle control system comprising:

• (a) a force prediction unit for being placed in circuit communication with a tire deformation sensor and at least one other sensor, receiving a tire deformation input from the tire deformation sensor, and receiving at least one other tire sensor input from the at least one other sensor, said force prediction unit comprising a preprogrammed processor receiving the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input, said force prediction unit characterized by implementing preprogrammed equations having constants determined from previously collected data to determine from at least the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input an output corresponding to a predicted lateral force acting on a tire and outputting a predicted lateral force output corresponding to the predicted lateral force acting on the tire;
• and
• (b) a control unit in circuit communication with said force prediction unit for receiving the predicted lateral force output and for being placed in circuit communication with vehicle actuators, said control unit characterized by altering the dynamic state of the vehicle via the actuators responsive at least in part to the predicted lateral force output from the force prediction unit.

A vehicle control system comprising:

• (a) a force prediction unit for being placed in circuit communication with a tire deformation sensor and at least one other sensor, receiving a tire deformation input from the tire deformation sensor, and receiving at least one other tire sensor input from the at least one other sensor, said force prediction unit comprising a preprogrammed processor receiving the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input, said force prediction unit characterized by implementing preprogrammed equations having constants determined from previously collected data to determine from at least the tire deformation input and the at least one other sensor input an output corresponding to a predicted vertical force acting on a tire and outputting a predicted vertical force output corresponding to the predicted vertical force acting on the tire;
• and
• (b) a control unit in circuit communication with said force prediction unit for receiving the predicted vertical force output and for being placed in circuit communication with vehicle actuators, said control unit characterized by altering the dynamic state of the vehicle via the actuators responsive at least in part to the predicted vertical force output from the force prediction unit.

A method of training a neural network to determine the circumferential torque or longitudinal force acting on a tire from a tire deformation sensor and at least one other sensor, comprising the steps of:

• (a) collecting tire deformation input from a tire deformation sensor and at least one other tire sensor input from at least one other sensor;
• (b) collecting an input corresponding to the circumferential torque or longitudinal force acting on the tire;
• (c) training the neural network to predict the circumferential torque or longitudinal force acting on a tire using as training data at least the collected tire deformation input, the collected at least one other tire sensor input, and the collected input corresponding to the circumferential torque or longitudinal force acting on the tire.