A preview road surface detection device of a vehicle of the present invention includes: a distance sensor that is disposed in a vehicle member and detects a distance to a measurement point on a road surface nearer to a front part of the vehicle, corresponding to at least a central portion of a contact patch to the road surface of a wheel of the vehicle; and a distance calculator that calculates a road surface distance from the vehicle member to the measurement point, based on a value detected by the distance sensor. A displacement of the road surface nearer to the front part of the vehicle is detected as a road surface condition. The displacement of the road surface is calculated from the road surface distance and a vehicle height of the vehicle member when the distance sensor detects the distance.

An aerocar with a dual mode suspension system configured to operate in a roadable mode and a flight mode. The aerocar may include a front suspension assembly having a front axle, and a rear suspension assembly having a rear axle. A conduit system provides a hydraulic fluid in fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly. An auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir is provided in fluid communication with the conduit system, and configured to selectively maintain or interrupt fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly to adjust damping of the front suspension assembly. A controller may be provided, configured to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid from the rear suspension assembly to the front suspension assembly, for example, when a stroke of the rear suspension exceeds a predetermined value during landing.

A system for improving performance or efficiency of operation of a vehicle. The system includes a sensor configured to detect current vehicle speed data and current vehicle slope data. The system includes a pedal control unit configured to detect current pedal position data. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to determine expected driving power demand based on current vehicle speed data and vehicle slope data. The ECU is configured to determine detected driving power demand based on current pedal position data. The ECU is configured to detect a drafting condition when the expected driving power demand exceeds the detected driving power demand. The ECU is configured to adjust, when the drafting condition is detected, at least one of a chassis control setting, an engine control setting, a transmission control setting, or a hybrid control setting to improve performance or efficiency of operation of the vehicle.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes: comparing a measured acceleration value associated with a movement of a vehicle component of a vehicle with a predetermined acceleration threshold value that corresponds to the vehicle component, wherein the vehicle component is coupled with a frame of the vehicle via at least one vehicle suspension damper; monitoring a state of at least one valve within at least one vehicle suspension damper of the vehicle, wherein the state controls a damping force within the at least one vehicle suspension damper; and based on the comparing and the monitoring, regulating damping forces within the at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating the at least one valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of the frame is reduced.

A vehicle height adjustment device includes a changer, a vehicle height controller, and a malfunction detector. The changer is drivable when supplied with a current and configured to change a relative position of a body of a vehicle relative to an axle of a wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle height controller is configured to perform such control that a target current set based on the relative position is supplied to the changer so as to control a vehicle height, which is a height of the body of the vehicle. The malfunction detector is configured to detect a failure to make the target current flow to the changer.

Power equipment such as a riding mower 2 is provided with a center pivot axle 16 for non-driven wheels 9 thereof and a rigid axle 14 for driven wheels 8. A control unit 1 of the power equipment is configured to accelerate the left driven wheel when a right end up roll angle of the center pivot axle is detected by an axle sensor 25, and to accelerate the right driven wheel when a left end up roll angle of the center pivot axle is detected by the axle sensor when substantially no steering input of a steering device 22 is detected by a steering sensor 24 so that the power equipment may maintain a straight course.

Embodiments relate to a suspension actuator system for a vehicle that includes an active control element, a passive control element and an adaptive damper which are mounted in series with one another along with a parallel spring.

A system for improving performance or efficiency of operation of a vehicle. The system includes a sensor configured to detect current vehicle speed data and current vehicle slope data. The system includes a pedal control unit configured to detect current pedal position data. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to determine expected driving power demand based on current vehicle speed data and vehicle slope data. The ECU is configured to determine detected driving power demand based on current pedal position data. The ECU is configured to detect a drafting condition when the expected driving power demand exceeds the detected driving power demand. The ECU is configured to adjust, when the drafting condition is detected, at least one of a chassis control setting, an engine control setting, a transmission control setting, or a hybrid control setting to improve performance or efficiency of operation of the vehicle.

A suspension control device includes an actuator configured to change an up/down stroke of a suspension, a front sensor, and a control device configured to estimate a displacement in a vertical direction of a road surface based on a detection result of the front sensor, thereby controlling the actuator. When the control device determines that a step portion in which a wheel comes into contact with two points of the road surface viewed in a direction along a rotational axis of the wheel exists ahead of a vehicle, the control device controls a force generated by the actuator so that, when the wheel comes into contact with the two points, the wheel rolls about the point without substantially pressing the point toward the travel direction of the vehicle.

A ground movement system for a land transport vehicle (2) capable of levitating, the vehicle having a plurality of wheels including at least one actuated wheel (3), a drive device (6) for driving the actuated wheel and/or a brake (8) for braking the actuated wheel (3), a vertical positioning actuator (9) arranged to move the actuated wheel (3) vertically relative to a fuselage of the vehicle (2), and control means arranged to act, during an acceleration stage and/or during a braking stage of the vehicle, to control the vertical positioning actuator (9) as to adjust the vertical position of the actuated wheel in order to increase the load carried by the actuated wheel and thus increase the maximum force that can be transmitted to the ground by the actuated wheel so as to increase the maximum drive and/or braking torque that can be produced by the drive device (6) and/or by the brake (8) without the actuated wheel (3) skidding or slipping.