APC systems and methods using vehicle mass to assess boardings and alightings of passengers on transit vehicles (e.g., buses). Vehicle mass is determined based on signaled information indicative of a pressure in one or more air bag circuits of an air ride suspension system of the vehicle. In some embodiments, pressure information from three air bag circuits of the vehicle are monitored and reviewed to determine vehicle mass. The passenger count can be estimated based on determined vehicle mass by an Additional Mass Method or an Event-Based Method for example.

Methods related to the control of vehicle systems while a vehicle is traveling along a road surface are disclosed. In some implementations, data related to the road surface ahead of the vehicle is separated into first and second frequency ranges. Commands for a vehicle system may then be determined for the different frequency ranges and the vehicle system may be controlled based at least in part on the separate commands for the separate frequency ranges. This may include determining a combined system command based at least in part on the separate commands for the separate frequency ranges in some implementations.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

An approach to setting a cruise control speed based on identifying a vehicle operator and analyzing metadata associated with the vehicle operator. The identity of the vehicle operator and any passengers is determined based on identity sensors in the vehicle or by manual identity entry. Metadata, associated with the vehicle operator, is retrieved from the metadata database, located either locally or remotely. The metadata is analyzed based on factors such as the current route and the identity of any passengers. The cruise control speed is set based on the results of the analysis. Any changes to the setting are updated in the metadata database.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

Realized is a technique for estimating a state quantity of a vehicle, which technique is applicable to estimation of a vehicle weight and allows an increase in accuracy and speed of the estimation. A state quantity estimating device includes a data storing section (101), a predictive quantity computing section (102), an obtaining section (107), a Kalman gain computing section (103), an estimated quantity computing section (104) which calculates an estimated state quantity and estimated covariance, and a process noise covariance correcting section (106) which corrects process noise covariance. The estimated state quantity, the estimated covariance, and the process noise covariance, each of which has been calculated or corrected, are written in the data storing section (101) as a state quantity, state covariance, and process noise covariance, respectively, and are used in a next computation for estimating a state quantity.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for controlling an active suspension of a vehicle, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system configured to: determine whether a transient suspension disturbance to the vehicle is from within a cabin of the vehicle; and control a variable force parameter of the active suspension in dependence on whether the transient suspension disturbance is from within the cabin of the vehicle.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.