Banked curve detection using vertical and lateral acceleration

A banked curve detection system for determining operation of a vehicle in a banked curve to maintain operation of an electronic stability control, the system comprising:

• a vertical acceleration sensor secured to the vehicle for sensing a vertical acceleration of the vehicle;
• a lateral acceleration sensor secured to the vehicle for sensing a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;
• and
• a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
• determine a reference lateral acceleration value for the vehicle based on parameters that do not include lateral acceleration;
• determine whether the vertical acceleration is greater than a previous vertical acceleration and whether the lateral acceleration is greater than a previous lateral acceleration;
• determine whether the vertical acceleration is greater than a constant vertical acceleration value;
• determine whether the lateral acceleration is less than a threshold percentage of the reference lateral acceleration value;
• and
• provide a banked curve signal indicating that the vehicle is entering or on a banked turn when:
• 1) the sensed vertical and lateral acceleration are greater than the previously sensed vertical and lateral acceleration, 2) the vertical acceleration is greater than the constant vertical acceleration value, and 3) the lateral acceleration is less than the threshold percentage of the reference lateral acceleration value.

A method for determining that a vehicle is entering a banked curve, comprising:

• determining a reference lateral acceleration value for the vehicle based on parameters that do not include lateral acceleration and include steering angle;
• sensing a vertical acceleration for the vehicle and shifting the vertical acceleration and sensing another vertical acceleration;
• sensing a lateral acceleration for the vehicle and shifting the lateral acceleration and sensing another lateral acceleration;
• and
• determining whether the sensed vertical acceleration is greater than the previously shifted vertical acceleration and whether the lateral acceleration is greater than the previously shifted lateral acceleration;
• determining whether the vertical acceleration is greater than a constant vertical acceleration value;
• determining whether the lateral acceleration is less than a threshold percentage of the reference lateral acceleration value;
• incrementing a counter when 1) the sensed vertical and lateral acceleration are greater than the shifted vertical and lateral acceleration, 2) the sensed vertical acceleration is greater than the constant vertical acceleration value, and 3) the sensed lateral acceleration is less than the threshold percentage of the reference lateral acceleration value;
• and
• decrementing the counter when at least one of the sensed vertical acceleration is not greater than the constant vertical acceleration value and the sensed lateral acceleration is not less than or equal to the threshold percentage of the reference lateral acceleration value, occurs.