In various examples, the ride quality of an autonomous vehicle is improved by selecting a lateral lane position based at least in part on measured road-condition information. In various examples, information describing the condition of a road is obtained by measuring vehicle motion and road noise using sensors on the vehicle. This information is stored in association with the lateral lane position of the vehicle to produce a profile describing expected ride quality as a function of lateral lane position. In some examples, this information is uploaded and aggregated on a remote server to produce a lateral profile of road condition using information collected by many vehicles.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine vehicle trailer weight. An example apparatus includes a first sensor disposed on a hitch coupled to a vehicle to measure a first rate of change of a weight of the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a second sensor disposed on a chassis of the vehicle to measure a second rate of change of the weight of the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a controller to monitor the first rate of change and the second rate of change to determine if the vehicle is improperly loaded.

A system that identifies road conditions associated with a road surface is provided. The system includes a first sensor recording a first motion amount related to a head of a rider and at least a second sensor recording at least a second motion amount of a portion of a vehicle. The system also includes a comparison manager determining a severity level based on a comparison between the first motion amount and the second motion amount. Also included is a notification manager providing recommendations to the rider based on the severity level. Additionally, an implementation manager may dynamically implement one or more actions based on the severity level.

A method of providing road and vehicle diagnostics, includes providing a vehicle axle system having a first axle half shaft housing, a second axle half shaft housing and a differential housing. Attached to one or more of the housings is one or more tri-axis accelerometers. In communication with the accelerometers is one or more data processors configured to receive and analyze data from the accelerometers. An occurrence of one or more road events is determined by one or more spikes in the Z-direction of the data collected from the accelerometers. A depth of the road event is determined by a magnitude of the positive and negative changes in acceleration of the spike in the Z-direction and a length of road event is determined by an amount of time between two spikes of opposite magnitudes in said Z-direction. Once identified, the time and geographic location of the road event is identified.

Systems and methods for operating an engine and a torque converter are presented. In one example, slip of a torque converter is adjusted via at least partially closing or opening a torque converter clutch in response to vehicle vibration. The vehicle vibration may be based on road surface conditions and an actual total number of operating cylinders of the engine.

The invention relates to a method for determining a type of the road on which a vehicle is driving. The method comprises sensing a sound of a wheel of the vehicle which is rolling on the road by means of a microphone and/or sensing a vertical acceleration of the vehicle by means of a vertical acceleration sensor or sensing a suspension of the vehicle by means of a suspension sensor and determining the type of the road on the basis of the sensed sound and/or the sensed acceleration or the sensed suspension. Further, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the aforesaid method.

A motion detection device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect static capacitance, and a sensor bracket to which the plurality of sensor electrodes are attached. The sensor bracket is provided with an engagement portion to be engaged with an engaged portion of each of the sensor electrodes. The engagement portion of the sensor bracket and the engaged portion of the sensor electrode are formed in a shape that allows mutual engagement between regular combinations and regulates mutual engagement other than the regular combinations.

A wheel end module for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a processing device, a radar module arrange to transmit a radar signal towards a surface supporting the vehicle and to receive backscatter from the radar signal, and a load sensing arrangement. The processing device determines a parameter related to a normal force associated with at least one wheel of the heavy-duty vehicle by the load sensing arrangement, determines a parameter related to a friction coefficient of the surface by the radar module. The processing device determines a wheel force generating capability of the at least one wheel, based on the normal force related parameter and on the friction coefficient related parameter. The wheel end module outputs the wheel force generating capability on an output interface of the wheel end module.

A computer implemented method for determining a road friction condition associated with at least one wheel on a heavy-duty vehicle includes transmitting a radar signal by at least one polarimetric radar transceiver towards a surface supporting the vehicle, and receiving backscatter from the transmitted radar signal, where the radar signal comprises a first polarization component and a second polarization component different from the first polarization component, processing the received backscatter by a processing device to determine a friction parameter related to the road friction condition of the surface, monitoring the friction parameter over time to detect change in the friction parameter, and in case change in the friction parameter is detected, triggering friction estimation by a secondary physical friction estimation system.

A vehicle includes a body including suspension components, multiple wheels coupled to the body, a suspension sensor coupled to one of the suspension components or at least one of said multiple wheels, a camera, a display connected to the camera to display at least part of the camera view, a processor receiving inputs from the suspension sensor, and memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes a program from which an actual horizontal wheel position relative to a path of travel of the vehicle is determined as a function of a vertical position of the at least one of said multiple wheels. And the processor causes an image representative of the actual horizontal wheel position to appear on the display, and wherein vertical is in the direction of gravity and horizontal is perpendicular to the direction of gravity.