Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100289229 | REAR SUSPENSION WITH SEMI-ACTIVE TOE FORCE COMPLIANCE CONTROL - Herein, a particular vehicle suspension control arm in a suspension having multiple control arms is designed to create a range of available axial stiffness levels which relates to a range of toe change at the wheel under to lateral loading. In particular, a semi-active device is arranged on a given suspension control arm to allow a change in stiffness that produces a desirable amount of toe change under the presence of lateral loading. This suspension arrangement, when applied to the rear axle of an automobile, has significant merit in being able to enhance maneuverability and stability over a large range of operating conditions at a minimal level of control input energy and with robust failsafe operation. | 11-18-2010 |
20100318241 | VEHICLE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLED VEHICLES - A vehicle system and method includes a primary vehicle (PV) and an auxiliary vehicle (AV) selectively connectable to the primary vehicle. The PV and AV vehicles each having an ECU, a propulsion system a braking system, and a directional control system for steering at least one wheel thereon. The ECU of the PV and the ECU of the AV in communication with one another to form an interactive control system that control operation of the systems of the PV and the AV when connected to one another. The vehicle system also includes a docking system for connecting the AV and the PV. The docking system includes an automatic docking actuator that automatically connects the AV to the PV when actuated. Optionally, a remote control device communicates with the ECU of the AV for controlling the AV through the ECU of the AV when disconnected from the PV. | 12-16-2010 |
20110024999 | FRICTION CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE SUSPENSION - A vehicle suspension friction control apparatus includes a first link having a first end and a second end, and a second link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first link is mounted to one of a steering knuckle or a lower control arm connected to a lower part of the steering knuckle. The first end of the second link is mounted to the other of the steering knuckle or the lower control arm. A friction control joint connects the second end of the first link and the second end of the second link for controlling friction between the steering knuckle and the lower control arm. | 02-03-2011 |
20110079942 | ISOLATION SYSTEM FOR REDUCED VIBRATIONS IN A VEHICLE INTERIOR - A vibration isolation scheme includes an interior sled mounted to a vehicle body by one or more sled isolators having damping properties. The sled floats with respect to the vehicle body to isolate vehicle occupants from vibrations otherwise transmitted from the vehicle body. The sled isolators can be located at specific vibrational nodes to target a particular frequency or a range of frequencies. The damping properties of the sled isolators can attenuate vibrations in ranges outside the target frequencies. | 04-07-2011 |
20120245796 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TRAILER CONNECTED TO A VEHICLE - An articulated vehicle system can include a first vehicle selectively and pivotally connected to a second vehicle. A first powertrain can be mounted on the first vehicle to drive a wheel mounted on the first vehicle. A second powertrain can be mounted on the second vehicle to drive a wheel mounted on the second vehicle independent from the drive of the wheel of the first vehicle. The vehicle system may also include a controller in electrical communication with each of the first powertrain, second powertrain, and steering mechanism to assist in steering and power distribution, especially when reversing the vehicle system. | 09-27-2012 |
20120265402 | VEHICLE SYSTEMS CONTROL FOR IMPROVING STABILITY - Improved methods of controlling the stability of a vehicle are provided via the cooperative operation of vehicle stability control systems such as an Active Yaw Control system, Antilock Braking System, and Traction Control System. These methods use recognition of road surface information including the road friction coefficient (mu), wheel slippage, and yaw deviations. The methods then modify the settings of the active damping system and/or the distribution of drive torque, as necessary, to increase/reduce damping in the suspension and shift torque application at the wheels, thus preventing a significant shift of load in the vehicle and/or improving vehicle drivability and comfort. The adjustments of the active damping system or torque distribution temporarily override any characteristics that were pre-selected by the driver. | 10-18-2012 |
20140372028 | TARGET RECOGNITION AND LOCALIZATION METHODS USING A LASER SENSOR FOR WHEELED MOBILE ROBOTS - A localization scheme and method using a laser sensor for indoor wheeled mobile robots (IWMR), which need to localize themselves for working autonomously, is provided. In this method, a laser sensor moves inside an onboard guide way and its distance measurements are used to robustly detect and recognize a unique target based on edge detection and pattern recognition techniques. From the distance measurements with respect to the recognized target, a kinematic model is developed to determine the IWMR orientation and location in the global co-ordinates (in 2-D). Such target recognition and localization methods are validated with experimental results. | 12-18-2014 |