Steering actuated wheel lift identification for an automotive vehicle

Abstract

A system for an automotive vehicle that includes a roll control system (16) and a wheel lift detector (20) is provided for an automotive vehicle (10). The automotive vehicle (10) has wheels (12) that when lifted from the road plane have less steering effort associated therewith. Preferably, each of the steered wheels (12) has a steering actuator (42) and an actuator sensor (30) for monitoring the steering effort. The load of the steering actuator (42) is monitored and the actuator (42) having the lightest load is determined. A steering perturbation is applied to the steering actuator and the steering effort is monitored during the perturbation. If the steering effort during the perturbation is lower than a lift threshold, then lift will be indicated. If the steering effort is greater than a lift threshold, then contact has been maintained with the road surface. In response to the indication of lift, corrective measures may be taken such as applying a counter steering effort or applying brakes in a predetermined fashion so as to counter the roll effect.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.