Methods and systems for determining road surface information in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method includes: determining at least one condition assessment value based on steering data; determining a feature set to include at least one of self-aligning torque (SAT), slip angle, SAT variance, steering rate, and lateral acceleration based on the condition assessment value; processing steering data obtained during a steering maneuver and associated with the feature set using a pattern classification technique; and determining a surface type based on the processing.

A method is for operating a vehicle which has actuators for influencing a driving behavior of the vehicle. The method includes sensing a setpoint for the driving behavior, in particular a steering angle set by a driver, and depending on the setpoint for the driving behavior, a first pilot control variable is determined using a model for the vehicle. Depending on the first pilot control variable, a second pilot control variable is determined using at least two partial models for the driving behavior of the vehicle, which differ due to the use of at least one of the actuators. Depending on the first pilot control variable and depending on the second pilot variable, a first setpoint for a first actuator is determined. The first setpoint is output in order to actuate the first actuator.

A method for assisting a driver in controlling a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a road wheel and at least one vehicle sensor configured to provide vehicle condition data, the road wheel comprising a tyre sensor configured to output tyre operation data, the method comprising: receiving tyre operation data from the tyre sensor during the vehicle being controlled along at least one lap of a track; receiving vehicle condition data from at least one vehicle sensor during the vehicle being controlled along at least one lap of the track; determining, based on the tyre operation data and vehicle condition data, an intervention the driver should make during a future lap of the track; and communicating the intervention to the driver.

A leaning vehicle includes a leaning body frame, a left inclining wheel, a right inclining wheel, an another inclining wheel, a linkage mechanism, a leaning posture control actuator, a left inclining wheel torque applying unit, a right inclining wheel torque applying unit, and an integrated control device. The integrated control device controls a left inclining wheel torque applied to a left inclining wheel and a right inclining wheel torque applied to a right inclining wheel based on a lean torque applied to the linkage mechanism by the leaning posture control actuator. Alternatively, the lean torque applied to the linkage mechanism by the leaning posture control actuator may be based on the left inclining wheel torque applied to the left inclining wheel by the left inclining wheel torque applying unit and the right inclining wheel torque applied to the right inclining wheel by the right inclining wheel torque applying unit.

A control system for a steering system of a vehicle, the control system comprising: a processing module configured to obtain an indication of a proximity of a road wheel of the vehicle to a limit of adhesion, and to generate a driver feedback signal in the event that the road wheel is at or beyond the limit of adhesion; and an output arranged to issue the driver feedback signal.

Methods and systems are provided for an improved system and method for validating vehicle lateral velocity estimation. The provided system and method employ an efficient validation algorithm to detect lateral velocity estimation faults. The method and system are robust to road uncertainties and do not require redundant estimations or measurements. The provided system and method offer a technological solution for real time validation of lateral velocity estimation using already existing vehicle sensors, and are independent of (i) road condition information, (ii) wheel torque information, (iii) tire model information, and (iv) tire wear information.

The present disclosure discloses an electric vehicle and an active safety control system and method thereof. The system includes: a wheel speed detection module configured to detect a wheel speed to generate a wheel speed signal; a steering wheel rotation angle sensor and a yaw rate sensor module, configured to detect state information of the electric vehicle; a motor controller; and an active safety controller configured to receive the wheel speed signal and state information, obtain state information of a battery pack and state information of four motors, obtain a first side slip signal or a second side slip signal according to the wheel speed signal, the state information, the battery pack and the four motors, and according to the first side slip signal or the second side slip signal, control four hydraulic brakes of the electric vehicle and control the four motors by using the motor controller.

A leaning posture control device controls a leaning posture of a left-right-inclined-wheel-equipped leaning vehicle. The leaning posture control device controls a torque of at least one of a left inclined wheel or a right inclined wheel arranged in a left-right direction of the vehicle so as to suppress a change in a lean of the lean body frame in a left direction or right direction of the vehicle while the lean body frame is leaned, based on a physical quantity concerning side-slip, in the left direction of the vehicle or in the right direction of the vehicle, of the left inclined wheel, the right inclined wheel, and another inclined wheel disposed ahead of or behind the left inclined wheel and the right inclined wheel.

A method and system for controlling a vehicle to improve vehicle dynamics are provided. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of sensors which monitor vehicle dynamics by monitoring at least wheel and steering movements associated with a vehicle system used in controlling vehicle dynamics by control outputs from a holistic vehicle control system. Then, estimating states of the vehicle from computations of longitudinal and latitudinal velocities, tire slip ratios, clutch torque, axle torque, brake torque, and slip angles derived from the data sensed by the sensors from the wheel and steering movements. Finally, formulating a model of vehicle dynamics by using estimations of vehicle states with a target function to provide analytical data to enable the model of vehicle dynamics to be optimized and for using the data associated with the model which has been optimized to change control outputs to improve in real-time the vehicle dynamics.

A coordinated control method for electric vehicles having independent four-wheel driving and steering, comprising the steps of: calculating to obtain a desired value of yaw velocity according to the steering angle and the current vehicle driving speed, and limiting the desired value of yaw velocity according to the current road adhesion condition; constructing an optimization problem according to the current vehicle motion state and the desired value of yaw velocity, and solving the optimization problem to obtain a desired active rear wheel steering angle control variable and a desired additional yaw moment control variable; calculating to obtain an additional torque of each wheel according to a desired additional yaw moment control variable, obtaining a desired active rear wheel steering angle, and sending the additional torque of each wheel and the desired active rear wheel steering angle to an executor of the vehicle for performing a coordinated control.