Method for detecting rollover of an automotive vehicle based on a lateral kinetic energy rate threshold

A method of detecting rollover in a vehicle comprising:

• determining a lateral acceleration of said vehicle and accordingly generating a lateral acceleration signal;
• determining a roll rate of said vehicle and accordingly generating a roll rate signal;
• determining a roll angle of said vehicle and accordingly generating a roll angle signal;
• determining a trip point length related to a track width of said vehicle as a function of said lateral acceleration communicated via each said lateral acceleration signal so that said trip point length at least partially reflects any change in said track width resulting from deformation of a suspension system and wheels of said vehicle that is caused by a rollover initiation force applied to said vehicle from a substantially lateral direction;
• determining a rollover threshold according to said roll rate communicated via said roll rate signal, said roll angle signal, said trip point length and a roll moment of inertia of said vehicle;
• and
• generating a control signal according to said rollover threshold thereby indicating detected rollover of said vehicle.