초록

A system and method for vehicle mobility traction/ride control. The system includes a mode controller configured to output control signals to a variety of vehicle control subsystems in response to operator mode selection input.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes, comprising the steps of: receiving a user input to initiate a determination of at least one vehicle ride characteristic; outputting a control signal to confi

What is claimed is: 1. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes, comprising the steps of: receiving a user input to initiate a determination of at least one vehicle ride characteristic; outputting a control signal to configure a vehicle subsystem according to one of said user-selectable vehicle traction control modes; receiving a first input indicative of a chassis height with respect to at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle traction control mode, and a second input indicative of a weight on at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle traction control mode; and determining said at least one vehicle ride characteristic based on said first and second inputs. 2. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction modes according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of repeating said outputting, said receiving, and said determining for each remaining user-selectable vehicle traction control mode. 3. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 1, wherein said receiving occurs in response to a user selection entered using at least a first keypad. 4. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle ride characteristic is one of a three-dimensional center of gravity of said vehicle and said weight on at least one axle. 5. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 4, further comprising: controlling said vehicle in one of said user-selectable vehicle traction modes using a controller, further comprising the steps of: controlling at least one vehicle ride characteristic for a run flat operation mode; and calculating the three-dimensional vehicle center of gravity; selecting a vehicle traction control mode in the controller using at least a first input keypad; communicating vehicle ride information to the user; and controlling the operation of at least one vehicle ride characteristic with the controller. 6. A method for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle ride characteristic is used to control one or more vehicle subsystems selected from the group consisting of: a central tire inflation system, an active damper system, and a chassis management system. 7. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction modes, comprising: input means for receiving a user input to initiate a determination of at least one vehicle ride characteristic; means for outputting a control signal to configure a vehicle subsystem according to one of said user-selectable vehicle traction control modes; means for receiving a first input indicative of a chassis height with respect to at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle traction control mode, and a second input indicative of a weight on at least one axle when said vehicle subsystem is configured according to said one user-selectable vehicle traction control mode; and means for determining said at least one vehicle ride characteristic based on said first and second inputs; wherein said user-selectable vehicle traction control modes includes a run flat control mode, and wherein said means for outputting a control signal is configured, in response to receiving a corresponding run flat user input via said input means, to lower a ride height on first, second and third corners of the vehicle with respect to a fourth corner that is closest to a flat tire. 8. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction modes according to claim 7, further comprising means for repeating said outputting, said receiving, and said determining for each remaining user-selectable vehicle traction control mode. 9. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 7, wherein said at least one vehicle ride characteristic is one of a three-dimensional center of gravity of said vehicle and said weight on at least one axle. 10. A system for determining vehicle ride characteristics corresponding to user-selectable vehicle traction control modes according to claim 7, wherein said at least one vehicle ride characteristic is used to control one or more vehicle subsystems selected from the group consisting of: a central tire inflation system, an active damper system, and a chassis management system. 11. A system for modifying vehicle ride characteristics based on user input, comprising: a vehicle mode controller; a user input apparatus coupled to the vehicle mode controller, said user input apparatus including at least a first keypad; and at least one vehicle subsystem controlled by the vehicle mode controller, wherein said first keypad receives a selection of a user-selectable vehicle traction/ride control mode, said vehicle mode controller outputs control information to said at least one vehicle subsystem based on said selected vehicle traction/ride control mode, said vehicle mode controller calculates a three-dimensional center of gravity of a vehicle based on a weight on at least one axle and a chassis height with respect to at least one axle, and said vehicle mode controller outputs the three-dimensional center of gravity, and said vehicle mode controller controls said vehicle subsystem based on said three-dimensional center of gravity. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle mode controller and the at least one vehicle subsystem are configured to provide vehicle traction control. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle subsystems comprise: a ride height adjustment system; a differential control system; a tire inflation system; an anti-lock braking system; and a stability control system. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle mode controller provides a run flat vehicle ride control mode. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle mode controller is configured to further perform: a chassis height above axle calculation; and a weight on axle calculation.