Load estimating device for vehicle

A load estimating device for a vehicle including a component that is be subjected to loads caused by a temperature change,

• the load estimating device comprising:
• a load estimator configured to estimate a total load that is a sum of the loads received by the component,
• wherein the load estimator extracts a plurality of extremum values including a local maximum value and a local minimum value in the temperature change of the component,
• wherein the load estimator extracts a plurality of pairs of a temperature change amplitude and a change starting temperature, such that the temperature change amplitude is a difference between the local maximum value and the local minimum value that are adjacent in time series to each other, and such that the change starting temperature is one of the local maximum value and the local minimum value that is earlier than the other of the local maximum value and the local minimum value in time series,
• wherein the load estimator compares each one of the plurality of pairs of the extracted temperature change amplitude and the extracted change starting temperature, with a plurality of sections that are different in terms of a temperature-change amplitude range and a change-starting temperature range,
• wherein the load estimator increases a frequency in a corresponding one of the plurality of sections for each one of the plurality of pairs of the extracted temperature change amplitude and the extracted change starting temperature, such that the extracted temperature change amplitude and the extracted change starting temperature of each one of the plurality of pairs fall within the temperature-change amplitude range and the change-starting temperature range of the corresponding one of the plurality of sections, respectively, and
• wherein the load estimator estimates the total load, based on the frequency in each one of the plurality of sections.