A vehicle control system has a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system 28, a transmission controller 30, a steering controller 48, a brakes controller 62 and a suspension controller 82. These subsystem controllers are each operable in a plurality of subsystem modes, and are all connected to a vehicle mode controller 98 which controls the modes of operation of each of the subsystem controllers so as to provide a number of driving modes for the vehicle. Each of the modes corresponds to a particular driving condition or set of driving conditions, and in each mode each of the functions is set to the function in mode most appropriate to those conditions.

A method, apparatus and vehicle for controlling a ride level for a vehicle having at least one first axle having a first air suspension and/or one second axle having a second air suspension, a parking brake and an operating brake, including: reading a ride level variation signal, indicating a ride level variation to be performed; providing a parking break release signal to an interface to a parking brake valve that, responding to the ride level variation signal, releases and engages the parking brake installation, the parking brake release signal being for actuating the parking brake valve for releasing the parking brake installation; and providing a first control signal to an interface to a first valve of the first air suspension and/or a second control signal to an interface to a second valve of the second air suspension while using the ride level variation signal for performing the ride level variation.

A method, apparatus and vehicle for controlling a ride level for a vehicle having at least one first axle having a first air suspension and/or one second axle having a second air suspension, a parking brake and an operating brake, including: reading a ride level variation signal, indicating a ride level variation to be performed; providing a parking break release signal to an interface to a parking brake valve that, responding to the ride level variation signal, releases and engages the parking brake installation, the parking brake release signal being for actuating the parking brake valve for releasing the parking brake installation; and providing a first control signal to an interface to a first valve of the first air suspension and/or a second control signal to an interface to a second valve of the second air suspension while using the ride level variation signal for performing the ride level variation.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for proving operation of a vehicle towing an implement. A hitch assembly can be used to adjust or distribute a vertical downward force that an attached implement applies to the frame of a vehicle towing the implement. A sensor assembly can identify the torque that is being applied to the front and rear axles. The torque data can be used to generate adjustments to the vertical load actuator, which can to adjust an amount of load applied to the front and/or rear axles. In this way, vertical load may be efficiently distributed between the front and rear axles automatically.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for proving operation of a vehicle towing an implement. A hitch assembly can be used to adjust or distribute a vertical downward force that an attached implement applies to the frame of a vehicle towing the implement. A sensor assembly can identify the torque that is being applied to the front and rear axles. The torque data can be used to generate adjustments to the vertical load actuator, which can to adjust an amount of load applied to the front and/or rear axles. In this way, vertical load may be efficiently distributed between the front and rear axles automatically.

A vehicle position estimation method includes: acquiring time-series data of a parameter related to a vertical motion of a wheel while the vehicle is traveling; acquiring the parameter around the vehicle, as a reference parameter, from a parameter map indicating a correspondence relationship between the parameter and a position; estimating a vehicle position based on a comparison between the time-series data of the parameter and time-series data of the reference parameter. Meanwhile, road surface roughness around the vehicle in a lateral direction and a lateral position of the vehicle in a road are recognized by using a recognition sensor installed on the vehicle. When the road surface roughness is less than a threshold, a lateral position component of the estimated vehicle position is replaced with the lateral position recognized by using the recognition sensor.

A vehicle suspension control device includes: an actuator configured to apply a control force in a vertical direction between an unsprung structure and a sprung structure; and an electronic control unit configured to control the actuator so as to generate the control force according to a required control amount for reducing vibration of the sprung structure. The required control amount includes at least two control terms of a displacement term, a velocity term, and an acceleration term related to displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the sprung structure. The electronic control unit calculates a magnitude of a frequency component of each of a plurality of frequency bands included in road surface vibration information, and determines a control gain of each of the at least two control terms so as to change based on the magnitude of the frequency component of each of the plurality of frequency bands.

A towable vehicle including a chassis, at least two wheels and a suspension assembly supporting each wheel. The suspension assembly includes a swing arm pivotally mounted to the chassis, an axle mounted proximate an end of the swing arm, the wheel being mounted on the axle, at least one shock absorber extending from the chassis to the swing arm, an airbag swing arm mounting pivotally coupled to the swing arm, an airbag chassis mounting coupled to the chassis, an airbag coupled to the airbag swing arm and airbag chassis mountings so that inflation of the airbag allows a suspension height to be adjusted over an operating range and a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the chassis and the airbag swing arm mounting to maintain an orientation of the airbag swing arm mounting over the operating range.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a combined suspension and steering module is disclosed that is positionable between an in-hub motor and a body of a vehicle. The module includes a housing, an actuator connected to the housing and including first and second components, and a steering system that is in mechanical cooperation with the actuator to rotate at least one of the first and second components in relation to the housing. The second component is axially movable in relation to the first component and is configured for connection to the in-hub motor to transmit rotational force from the actuator to the in-hub motor to cause angular displacement of the in-hub motor to thereby steer the vehicle.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a combined suspension and steering module is disclosed that is positionable between an in-hub motor and a body of a vehicle. The module includes a housing, an actuator connected to the housing and including first and second components, and a steering system that is in mechanical cooperation with the actuator to rotate at least one of the first and second components in relation to the housing. The second component is axially movable in relation to the first component and is configured for connection to the in-hub motor to transmit rotational force from the actuator to the in-hub motor to cause angular displacement of the in-hub motor to thereby steer the vehicle.