A method for obtaining reference signals for vehicle control systems, in function of a vehicle geographical position along a travel route, includes providing data relating to the vehicle and data relating to a route to travel, and determining a vehicle driving force reference signal and a vehicle speed reference signal through a first optimisation process configured to optimise the driving force along the travel route. An engaged gear reference signal, in function of the positions of the vehicle along the travel route, is determined through a second optimisation process configured to optimise fuel consumption of the vehicle along the travel route. The second optimisation process is subsequent to the first optimisation process, and the data relating to the travel route, as well as the driving force reference signal and the speed reference signal, is received as input, determined through the first optimisation process.

The present invention achieves a technique that not only makes it possible to reduce sensor-related cost but also makes it possible to estimate a ground contact load of a vehicle with sufficiently high accuracy. A ground contact load estimation device (100) causes an acquisition section to acquire a physical quantity related to a vehicle, causes a reference inertia load calculation section (111) to calculate a reference inertia load with use of the physical quantity, uses the physical quantity to cause a correction value calculation section (112) to calculate an inertia load correction value, and causes an inertia load estimation section (110) to estimate an inertia load by adding the inertia load correction value to the reference inertia load.

A method for monitoring vehicle inertia parameters in real-time includes receiving at least one lateral dynamic value. The method also includes calculating at least one vehicle inertia parameter value using the at least one lateral dynamic value. The method also include determining a difference between the calculated at least one vehicle inertia parameter value and a corresponding baseline vehicle inertia parameter value. The method also includes, based on a comparison between the difference between the calculated at least one vehicle inertia parameter value and the corresponding baseline vehicle inertia parameter value and a threshold, selectively controlling at least one vehicle operation based on the calculated at least one vehicle inertia parameter value.

A system includes an inertial navigation system module (INS module) that detects vehicle yaw rates and vehicle lateral speeds, a controller circuit communicatively coupled with the INS module. The controller circuit determines a tire cornering stiffness (C.sub.f, C.sub.r) based on vehicle physical parameters and vehicle dynamic parameters. The controller circuit determines a vehicle moment of inertia (k) based on the vehicle physical parameters, the vehicle dynamic parameters, and the tire cornering stiffness (C.sub.f, C.sub.r).

A method for controlling an automated or autonomous locomotive device, including automatically ascertaining a deviation from a predefined trajectory, the deviation requiring a return of the locomotive device to the predefined trajectory; automatically calculating a jerk as an input variable, as a function of the deviation from the predefined trajectory; automatically calculating an unconstrained correcting variable for the return to the predefined trajectory, as a function of a weighted sum that includes a weighted summand of the input variable and a weighted summand of the state for the return path; automatically calculating a constrained correcting variable regarding the jerk; the unconstrained correcting variable being manipulated via a cascade that includes multiple stages having one saturation function per stage; integrating the constrained correcting variable, to obtain a constrained return trajectory to the predefined trajectory; automatically steering the locomotive device to the predefined trajectory by way of the constrained return trajectory.

A method for obtaining reference signals for vehicle control systems, in function of a vehicle geographical position along a travel route, includes providing data relating to the vehicle and data relating to a route to travel, and determining a vehicle driving force reference signal and a vehicle speed reference signal through a first optimisation process configured to optimise the driving force along the travel route. An engaged gear reference signal, in function of the positions of the vehicle along the travel route, is determined through a second optimisation process configured to optimise fuel consumption of the vehicle along the travel route. The second optimisation process is subsequent to the first optimisation process, and the data relating to the travel route, as well as the driving force reference signal and the speed reference signal, is received as input, determined through the first optimisation process.

A remote driving device configured to remotely operate a vehicle includes a remote operation device, a reaction force unit, a receiver, and a processor. The remote operation device is operated by an operator in order to remotely operate the vehicle. The reaction force unit is configured to generate an operation reaction force to be applied to the remote operation device. The receiver is configured to receive a parameter affecting vehicle characteristics of the vehicle from the vehicle. The processor is configured to control the reaction force unit so as to generate a magnitude of the operation reaction force according to the received parameter.

A loading calculation module includes a storage unit, an inertial sensing unit and a calculation unit. The first storage unit is configured to store a relationship between an engine performance and a load, a sprung mass, a centroid distance between a sprung centroid, a rotation center and a moment of inertia. The inertial sensing unit is configured to detect a tilt angle, a tilt angular velocity, a tilt angular acceleration and a lateral acceleration. The calculation unit is configured to obtain a load corresponding to the engine performance according to the relationship between the engine performance and the load; and obtain a load position according to the moment of inertia, the tilt angle, the tilt angular velocity, the tilt angular acceleration, the lateral acceleration, the load and the centroid distance.

A computer implemented method for controlling a vehicle includes obtaining a value of the mass of the vehicle, receiving a plurality of time sequential measured first values of one or more further state parameters, calculating a first plurality of time sequential values of the vehicle mass, including a first calculated mass value, using the plurality of measured first values of the one or more further state parameters, the non-linear model, and an extended Kalman filter with a first filter tuning, with the obtained mass value as a start value, receiving a plurality of time sequential measured second values of the one or more of the further state parameters, and calculating a second plurality of time sequential values of the vehicle mass, including a second calculated mass value, using the plurality of measured second values of the one or more further state parameters, the non-linear model, and an extended Kalman filter with a second filter tuning, with the first calculated mass value as a start value, wherein the second filter tuning is made less aggressive than the first filter tuning.

Systems and methods for detecting snow and ice accumulation on a vehicle. In particular, systems and methods are provided for utilizing on-board sensors to automate the process of detecting snow and ice accumulation on surfaces of an autonomous vehicle. Additionally, systems and methods are provided for utilizing on-board sensors to monitor snow and ice accumulation on surfaces of an autonomous vehicle. Automating the detection and monitoring of snow and ice accumulation on a vehicle can minimize physical inspections and unnecessary interruptions to vehicle operation in wintry conditions.