Surface estimation for vehicles
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsFred W. Huntzicker, Paul R. Williams, Daniel R. Gee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for estimating a characteristic of a surface of a road on which a vehicle is travelling is provided. The system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor is configured to measure information pertaining to a wheel slip for one or more wheels of the vehicle after a torque is applied. The processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to at least facilitate applying the torque for the one or more wheels of the vehicle, and estimating the characteristic of the surface of the road based at least in part on the wheel slip after the torque is applied and the torque.
Claims20
A method for estimating a characteristic of a surface of a road on which a vehicle is travelling, the method comprising;
- applying a torque of a particular magnitude for one or more wheels of the vehicle;
- determining a first wheel slip for the one or more wheels prior to applying the torque;
- determining a second wheel slip for the one or more wheels subsequent to applying the torque;
- determining a wheel slip difference between the second wheel slip and the first wheel slip;
- and
- estimating the characteristic of the surface of the road based at least in part on the wheel slip difference and the magnitude of the applied torque.
A system for estimating a characteristic of a surface of a road on which a vehicle is travelling, the system comprising:
- a sensor configured to measure information pertaining to a first wheel slip for one or more wheels of the vehicle before a torque of a particular magnitude is applied and a second wheel slip for the one or more wheels after the torque is applied;
- and
- a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to at least facilitate:
- applying the torque for the one or more wheels of the vehicle;
- determining a wheel slip difference between the second wheel slip and the first wheel slip;
- and
- estimating the characteristic of the surface of the road based at least in part on the wheel slip difference and the magnitude of the applied torque.
A vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of wheels;
- a sensor configured to measure information pertaining to a first wheel slip for one or more of the plurality of wheels before a torque of a particular magnitude is applied and a second wheel slip for the one or more wheels after a torque is applied;
- and
- a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to at least facilitate:
- applying the torque for the one or more wheels;
- determining a wheel slip difference between the second wheel slip and the first wheel slip;
- and
- estimating a characteristic of a surface of a road in which the vehicle is travelling based at least in part on the wheel slip difference and the magnitude of the applied torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.