Method and device for determining a quantity describing the height of the center of gravity of a vehicle

A method of stabilizing a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• determining a quantity describing a wheel rpm for at least one wheel of the vehicle;
• determining a quantity describing a wheel performance as a function of the determined quantity describing the wheel rpm;
• determining at least one quantity describing a height of a center of gravity of the vehicle as a function of the quantity describing the determined wheel performance;
• determining a speed quantity as a function of the determined at least one quantity describing the height of the center of gravity of the vehicle;
• determining if the vehicle has a tendency to tilt about a vehicle axis oriented in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as a function of the determined speed quantity;
• and
• initiating at least one of braking measures on at least one wheel of the vehicle, engine measures, or measures involving chassis actuators to stabilize the vehicle, if the vehicle has a tendency to tilt about the vehicle axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

A system for stabilizing a vehicle, comprising:

• a first device determining a quantity describing a wheel rpm for at least one wheel of the vehicle;
• a second device coupled to the first device, the second device determining a quantity describing a wheel performance for the at least one wheel as a function of the quantity describing the wheel rpm determined by the first device;
• a third device coupled to the second device, the third device determining at least one quantity describing a height of a center of gravity of the vehicle as a function of the quantity describing the wheel performance determined by the second device;
• a fourth device coupled to the third device, the fourth device determining a speed quantity as a function of the at least one quantity describing the height of the center of gravity of the vehicle determined by the third device;
• a fifth device coupled to the fourth device, the fifth determining if the vehicle has a tendency to tilt about a vehicle axis oriented in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as a function of the speed quantity determined by the fourth device;
• and
• a sixth device coupled to the fifth device, the sixth device for at least one of i) applying a braking force, ii) actuating a means for influencing an engine torque, and iii) actuating chassis actuator, to stabilize the vehicle if the vehicle has the tendency to tilt as determined by the fifth device.