Methods and systems for estimating an axle load of a vehicle are described. In one example, a method is disclosed wherein axle load is estimated in response to an angle between two components of an axle. The angle may change as weight is added to or removed from the axle such that axle load may be determined as a function of the angle.

An apparatus for measuring the steering angle of a wheel assembly including a suspended wheel mount and at least one suspension arm, the apparatus including a reference bracket, a rotating bracket and an angle sensor, the reference bracket and the rotating bracket each respectively including a measurement end and a mounting end, wherein the measurement ends of the reference and rotating brackets are rotatably coupled about a rotation coupling point such that the brackets can rotate with respect to one another, wherein the mounting end of the rotating bracket is coupled with the suspended wheel mount and the mounting end of the reference bracket is coupled with the suspension arm, and wherein the mounting end of the reference bracket is positioned on a plane defined by a steering axis of the suspended wheel mount and a rotation axis between the suspension arm and the suspended wheel mount.

A suspension system for a vehicle may include a knuckle rotatably supporting a wheel, and a lower control arm disposed along a vehicle's width direction and connecting the knuckle and a vehicle body, wherein the lower control arm includes a wheel-side end portion connected to a lower portion of the knuckle through a front lower external joint and a rear lower external joint, and two vehicle body-side end portions connected to the vehicle body through a front lower inner joint and a rear lower inner joint, the two vehicle body-side end portions including first and second vehicle body-side end portions, wherein the first vehicle body-side end portion among the two vehicle body-side end portions is connected to the vehicle body interposing a compliance control arm between the first vehicle body-side end portion and the vehicle body.

A suspension system for a vehicle may include a knuckle configured of rotatably supporting a wheel, and a lower control arm mounted along a vehicle's width direction and connecting the knuckle and a vehicle body, wherein the lower control arm may include a wheel-side end portion connected to a lower portion of the knuckle through a lower external joint, a vehicle body-side front end portion connected to the vehicle body through a front lower inner joint, and a vehicle body-side rear end portion connected to the vehicle body through a rear lower inner joint, wherein one of the vehicle body-side front and rear end portions is connected to a portion of the vehicle body through a compliance control arm.

An apparatus for measuring the steering angle of a wheel assembly including a suspended wheel mount and at least one suspension arm, the apparatus including a reference bracket, a rotating bracket and an angle sensor, the reference bracket and the rotating bracket each respectively including a measurement end and a mounting end, wherein the measurement ends of the reference and rotating brackets are rotatably coupled about a rotation coupling point such that the brackets can rotate with respect to one another, wherein the mounting end of the rotating bracket is coupled with the suspended wheel mount and the mounting end of the reference bracket is coupled with the suspension arm, and wherein the mounting end of the reference bracket is positioned on a plane defined by a steering axis of the suspend-wheel mount and a rotation axis between the suspension arm and the suspended wheel mount.

Systems for estimating an axle load of a vehicle wherein axle load is estimated in response to an angle between two components of an axle. The angle may change as weight is added to or removed from the axle such that axle load may be determined as a function of the angle.

An apparatus for measuring the steering angle of a wheel assembly including a suspended wheel mount and at least one suspension arm, the apparatus including a reference bracket, a rotating bracket and an angle sensor, the reference bracket and the rotating bracket each respectively including a measurement end and a mounting end, wherein the measurement ends of the reference and rotating brackets are rotatably coupled about a rotation coupling point such that the brackets can rotate with respect to one another, wherein the mounting end of the rotating bracket is coupled with the suspended wheel mount and the mounting end of the reference bracket is coupled with the suspension arm, and wherein the mounting end of the reference bracket is positioned on a plane defined by a steering axis of the suspended wheel mount and a rotation axis between the suspension arm and the suspended wheel mount.

Methods and systems for estimating an axle load of a vehicle are described. In one example, a method is disclosed wherein axle load is estimated in response to an angle between two components of an axle. The angle may change as weight is added to or removed from the axle such that axle load may be determined as a function of the angle.

A suspension operation system includes: a suspension that includes a plurality of links supporting a wheel, at least one or more of the links having an actuator increasing or decreasing its length in an axial direction; a control device that supplies a drive signal to the actuator to control operation of the suspension; and a suspension operation terminal that operates the suspension. The suspension operation terminal includes: a detector that detects operation input information to the suspension operation terminal; and a communicator that transmits information about a target posture of the wheel, the information being based on the operation input information, to the control device as an operation command. The control device includes: a first calculator that calculates the length of the actuator on the basis of the operation command; and a drive circuit that produces the drive signal on the basis of information from the first calculator.

A suspension system for a vehicle may include a knuckle configured of rotatably supporting a wheel, and a lower control arm mounted along a vehicle's width direction and connecting the knuckle and a vehicle body, wherein the lower control arm may include a wheel-side end portion connected to a lower portion of the knuckle through a lower external joint, a vehicle body-side front end portion connected to the vehicle body through a front lower inner joint, and a vehicle body-side rear end portion connected to the vehicle body through a rear lower inner joint, wherein one of the vehicle body-side front and rear end portions is connected to a portion of the vehicle body through a compliance control arm.