Loss of a subsystem and interactions with external systems

A control system for a vehicle suspension system in a vehicle, the vehicle suspension system comprising a plurality of connected subsystems, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system configured to:

• determine if a first subsystem of the plurality of connected subsystems has entered a fault state, wherein the fault state is an abnormal operating state;
• determine a compensatory operating state of a further subsystem of the plurality of connected subsystems in dependence on determining that the first subsystem has entered the fault state, wherein the further subsystem operating in the compensatory operating state, with the first subsystem operating in the fault state, causes the vehicle suspension system to operate in a higher vehicle stability mode in comparison to the vehicle suspension system operating with the first subsystem operating in the fault state without the further subsystem operating in the compensatory operating state;
• and
• output, to the further subsystem, in dependence on determining the compensatory operating state, a compensatory operation signal to cause the further subsystem to operate in the compensatory operating state with the first subsystem operating in the fault state.

The control system of claim 16, wherein the higher vehicle stability mode is one or more of:

• an operation mode of the vehicle suspension system configured to reduce the magnitude of impacts on one or more other systems within the vehicle;
• an operation mode configured to maintain a current driving attribute of the vehicle;
• and
• an operation mode configured to limit operational regions of the vehicle.

The control system of claim 16, wherein one or more of the first subsystem and the further subsystem are one or more of:

• an active roll control system of the vehicle suspension system;
• an active damping system of the vehicle suspension system;
• an active springs system of the vehicle suspension system;
• a roll stability control system of the vehicle suspension system;
• a fully active suspension system;
• a directional stability control system;
• a rear wheel steering system;
• and
• an air suspension system.

A method, comprising:

• determining if a first subsystem of a plurality of connected subsystems of a vehicle suspension system has entered a fault state, wherein the fault state is an abnormal operating state;
• in dependence on determining that the first subsystem has entered the fault state, determining a compensatory operating state of a further subsystem of the plurality of connected subsystems, wherein the further subsystem operating in the compensatory operating state, with the first subsystem operating in the fault state, causes the vehicle suspension system to operate in a high vehicle stability mode in comparison to the vehicle suspension system operating with the first subsystem operating in the fault state without the further subsystem operating in the compensatory operating state;
• and
• outputting, to the further subsystem, a compensatory operation signal to cause the further subsystem to operate in the compensatory operating state with the first subsystem operating in the fault state.