Provided is a steering control device that controls a steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle and that is capable of reducing erroneous detection of a grip state and improving the robustness in controlling a steering reaction force. The control device includes a road surface axial force calculation circuit that calculates a road surface axial force, based on road surface information. The control device includes a second estimated axial force calculation circuit that calculates a lateral force applied to a rack shaft, based on a yaw rate and a lateral acceleration. The control device includes a grip factor calculation circuit that calculates a grip factor, based on the road surface axial force and the lateral force. The control device varies the steering reaction force in accordance with the grip factor.

Provided is a steering control device that controls a steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle and that is capable of reducing erroneous detection of a grip state and improving the robustness in controlling a steering reaction force. The control device includes a road surface axial force calculation circuit that calculates a road surface axial force, based on road surface information. The control device includes a second estimated axial force calculation circuit that calculates a lateral force applied to a rack shaft, based on a yaw rate and a lateral acceleration. The control device includes a grip factor calculation circuit that calculates a grip factor, based on the road surface axial force and the lateral force. The control device varies the steering reaction force in accordance with the grip factor.

A device for estimating a factor of one-side pull to be generated at a vehicle includes one or more sensors, a calculator, and an estimator. The one or more sensors are configured to detect an acting force on one or more sensors wheels. The calculator is configured to calculate a position of a center of a ground contact load based on information outputted by the one or more sensors. The estimator is configured to estimate the factor based on a lateral displacement of the center of the ground contact load.

A device for estimating a factor of one-side pull to be generated at a vehicle includes one or more sensors, a calculator, and an estimator. The one or more sensors are configured to detect an acting force on one or more sensors wheels. The calculator is configured to calculate a position of a center of a ground contact load based on information outputted by the one or more sensors. The estimator is configured to estimate the factor based on a lateral displacement of the center of the ground contact load.

An over actuated system capable of controlling wheel parameters, such as speed (e.g., by torque and braking), steering angles, caster angles, camber angles, and toe angles, of wheels in an associated vehicle. The system may determine the associated vehicle is in a rollover state and adjust wheel parameters to prevent vehicle rollover. Additionally, the system may determine a driving state and dynamically adjust wheel parameters to optimize driving, including, for example, cornering and parking. Such a system may also dynamically detect wheel misalignment and provide alignment and/or corrective driving solutions. Further, by utilizing degenerate solutions for driving, the system may also estimate tire-surface parameterization data for various road surfaces and make such estimates available for other vehicles via a network.

The invention relates to a method of controlling steering of a vehicle (1), comprising the steps of: acquiring (S1) a signal indicative of a driver request indicative of a desired wheel angle of a turnable vehicle wheel (5); determining (S2), based on the signal indicative of the driver request, a control signal for an actuator (13) coupled to the turnable vehicle wheel to achieve the desired wheel angle; controlling (S3) the actuator (13) using the control signal; detecting (S4) an abrupt wheel disturbance event; and in response to detecting the abrupt wheel disturbance event: acquiring (S5), from a lane detecting arrangement (19), a signal indicative of a lane curvature ahead of the vehicle (1); and controlling (S6) the actuator (13) based on the lane curvature ahead of the vehicle (1).

The invention relates to a method of controlling steering of a vehicle (1), comprising the steps of: acquiring (S1) a signal indicative of a driver request indicative of a desired wheel angle of a turnable vehicle wheel (5); determining (S2), based on the signal indicative of the driver request, a control signal for an actuator (13) coupled to the turnable vehicle wheel to achieve the desired wheel angle; controlling (S3) the actuator (13) using the control signal; detecting (S4) an abrupt wheel disturbance event; and in response to detecting the abrupt wheel disturbance event: acquiring (S5), from a lane detecting arrangement (19), a signal indicative of a lane curvature ahead of the vehicle (1); and controlling (S6) the actuator (13) based on the lane curvature ahead of the vehicle (1).

A method for determining whether hands of an operator of a vehicle are positioned on a hand wheel of the vehicle is provided. The method generates a first frequency content below a first frequency from a hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a second frequency content above a second frequency from the first frequency content of the hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a hands on wheel (HOW) estimate signal based on the first frequency content and the second frequency content by determining a first contribution of the first frequency content to the HOW estimate signal, determining a second contribution of the second frequency content to the HOW estimate signal, and combining the first contribution and the second contribution to generate the HOW estimate signal. The method causes a system in a vehicle to operate based on the HOW estimate signal.

A method for determining whether hands of an operator of a vehicle are positioned on a hand wheel of the vehicle is provided. The method generates a first frequency content below a first frequency from a hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a second frequency content above a second frequency from the first frequency content of the hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a hands on wheel (HOW) estimate signal based on the first frequency content and the second frequency content by determining a first contribution of the first frequency content to the HOW estimate signal, determining a second contribution of the second frequency content to the HOW estimate signal, and combining the first contribution and the second contribution to generate the HOW estimate signal. The method causes a system in a vehicle to operate based on the HOW estimate signal.

A vehicle disturbance detection apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit determines whether a disturbance occurs in a vehicle based on detection signals from a sensor device. The disturbance is a lateral external force that causes the vehicle to veer in a direction different from a direction expected by a driver. The electronic control unit determines that the disturbance occurs in the vehicle when a disturbance determination condition is established in a relationship between a calculated yaw rate and an actual yaw rate. The disturbance determination condition includes a cant traveling exclusion condition that is not established when the vehicle veers by traveling along a cant road but is established when the vehicle veers by receiving a crosswind.