System and method for automatic control of vehicle turn assist feature
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsZubair Feroz, Bang Kim Cao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle control system may include a mode selector including at least a turn assist mode selectable by an operator of the vehicle to activate a turn assist feature, a controller to employ the turn assist feature by directing application of braking torque to an inside rear wheel of the vehicle during a turn when a trigger condition for implementing the turn assist feature may be detected, and a mu detection module to estimate mu conditions of a surface on which the vehicle may be operating. The controller may further automatically generate a blocking signal to block operation of the turn assist feature responsive to the mu detection module estimating a minimum mu value of the surface that may be less than a threshold mu value.
Claims20
A vehicle control system, the system comprising:
- a mode selector including at least a turn assist mode selectable by an operator of a vehicle to activate a turn assist feature;
- a controller to employ the turn assist feature by directing application of braking torque to an inside rear wheel of the vehicle during a turn when a trigger condition for implementing the turn assist feature is detected;
- and
- a mu detection module to estimate mu conditions of a surface on which the vehicle is operating,
- wherein the controller further automatically generates a blocking signal to block operation of the turn assist feature responsive to the mu detection module estimating a minimum value of the surface that is less than a threshold mu value.
A method of automatically controlling application of a turn assist feature in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- estimating mu conditions of a surface on which the vehicle is operating via a mu detection module;
- receiving a mode selection selecting a turn assist mode;
- receiving steering wheel angle and vehicle speed information to determine if a trigger condition for implementing the turn assist feature is met during a turn;
- in response to the trigger condition for implementing the turn assist feature being detected, applying a negative torque to an inside rear wheel;
- and
- automatically generating a blocking signal to block operation of the turn assist feature responsive to the mu detection module estimating a minimum mu value of the surface that is less than a threshold mu value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.