A method for the computer-aided estimation or determination of a value for the total mass of a vehicle system, comprising a towing vehicle and possibly at least one trailer coupled to the towing vehicle, wherein physical data relating to the vehicle system, which change depending on a load of the vehicle system and a number of trailers coupled to the towing vehicle are captured, and a first value for the total mass of the vehicle system is estimated or determined as part of a first estimation or determination at a first point in time, in particular irrespective of the physical data, wherein the first value is retained as a valid value for the total mass of the vehicle system or is used as an initial value for a further determination or estimation of the total mass of the vehicle system if it has been identified.

In a method of creating a database for preview vibration damping control, road surface displacement-associated information detected by a detection device is acquired, positional information capable of identifying a position where the road surface displacement-associated information is detected is acquired, a road surface displacement-associated value associated with a vertical displacement of a road surface is calculated based on the road surface displacement-associated information, and a set of data obtained by linking the road surface displacement-associated value and the positional information with each other is stored into a storage device as part of a database. When it is determined that the magnitude of the road surface displacement-associated value exceeds a permissible reference value set in advance, the magnitude of the road surface displacement-associated value is corrected in a reducing manner, prior to the step of storing the set of data into the storage device.

In various examples, the ride quality of an autonomous vehicle is improved by selecting a lateral lane position based at least in part on measured road-condition information. In various examples, information describing the condition of a road is obtained by measuring vehicle motion and road noise using sensors on the vehicle. This information is stored in association with the lateral lane position of the vehicle to produce a profile describing expected ride quality as a function of lateral lane position. In some examples, this information is uploaded and aggregated on a remote server to produce a lateral profile of road condition using information collected by many vehicles.

The invention relates to a method for safely parking a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises at least two vehicle axles, on each of which at least one axle load sensor is arranged. The method comprises the steps of: detecting the axle loads occurring on the at least two vehicle axles with the aid of the axle load sensors (S1); determining an axle load ratio for at least one of the vehicle axles on the basis of the detected axle loads (S2); and outputting a warning if the determined axle load ratio falls below a predetermined limit value (S3). As a result, it is possibleon the basis of the on-board weighing system usually present in commercial vehiclesto warn the driver of potentially critical parking positions, in particular on downhill slopes. The invention also relates to a corresponding warning device for carrying out this method and to a vehicle comprising such a warning device.

Methods and apparatus to prevent trailer sway are disclosed. An example apparatus to prevent trailer sway of a trailer coupled to a vehicle includes prediction circuitry to predict, based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, whether a trailer sway condition associated with the vehicle is likely to occur, and control activation circuitry to, in response to the prediction that the trailer sway is likely to occur, activate at least one vehicle control of the vehicle to prevent the trailer sway condition from occurring, the at least one vehicle control to include applying torque to at least one of one or more trailer wheels of the trailer or one or more vehicle wheels of the vehicle.

A vehicle stability control device has: a front active stabilizer installed on a front wheel side; a rear active stabilizer installed on a rear wheel side; a turning device for turning the front and rear wheels; and a control device configured to perform load distribution control in conjunction with turning control that actuates the turning device, when a difference in braking force between left and right sides of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value during braking. A first side is one of the left and right sides with a greater braking force, and a second side is the other of the left and right sides. In the load distribution control, the control device actuates the rear active stabilizer in a direction to lift up the first side and actuates the front active stabilizer in a direction to lift up the second side.

A representation of a first set of weights associated with a vehicle prior to a drive are received, the vehicle including a plurality of axles, a plurality of wheels attached to the plurality of axles, and a load. A warning is caused to be output in response to at least one weight from the first set of weights being outside a predetermined range. Longitudinal and lateral dynamics associated with the vehicle during the drive are determined. A second set of weights associated with at least one axle from the plurality of axles during the drive are determined. A determination is made if at least one remedial action should be performed based on the longitudinal dynamics, the lateral dynamics, and the second set of weights. In response to determining that the at least one remedial action should be performed, the at least one remedial action is caused to be performed.

A traction control system for a motor vehicle includes a controller configured to initiate a traction control intervention at one or more vehicle wheels. The controller is configured to inhibit the traction control intervention in dependence on a reduced wheel load condition in said one or more wheels. The reduced wheel load condition is identified based on at least one of a signal indicative of vehicle pitch and a signal indicative of vehicle heave.

Longitudinal acceleration, intended travel angle, wheel speed, and requested drive torque signals are measured for a vehicle. The longitudinal acceleration, intended travel angle, wheel speed, and requested drive torque signals are then evaluated. A brake torque is calculated as a function of a propulsive torque, wherein the propulsive torque is produced by a power source for the vehicle. The brake torque is applied when the longitudinal acceleration signal exceeds a longitudinal acceleration threshold, the intended travel angle signal is between intended travel angle limits, the wheel speed signal is less than a minimum speed threshold, the requested drive torque signal exceeds a requested drive torque threshold, and a torque threshold is exceeded.

A method for determining a wheel load acting on a vehicle wheel having a rim, a tire mounted on the rim and a sensor unit mounted at the wheel, includes determining a tire pressure of the tire using the sensor unit, determining a tire footprint of the tire using the sensor unit when the vehicle is driving, determining the wheel load based on a predetermined relationship between the wheel load, the tire pressure and the tire footprint, analyzing temporal variations of the tire pressure during a standstill of the vehicle for determining one or more parameters indicating temporal variations of the tire pressure. A change of the wheel load during the standstill is estimated based on the determined parameters. A device for determining a wheel load and a method and a device for determining a weight of a vehicle are also provided.