초록 ▼

System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also receives data from another vehicle. The method then modifie

System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also receives data from another vehicle. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined location and on data received from another vehicle, the characteristics including a suspension dampening characteristic, a spring rate characteristic, ABS braking characteristics, stability control system characteristics, a seat shock absorber characteristic, etc.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: receiving, at a first computer in a first vehicle driving off-road, global positioning system (GPS) data;the first computer automatically determining a location of the first vehicle driving off-road based on said received GPS data, said determined location having an unpaved a

1. A method comprising: receiving, at a first computer in a first vehicle driving off-road, global positioning system (GPS) data;the first computer automatically determining a location of the first vehicle driving off-road based on said received GPS data, said determined location having an unpaved and off-road ground surface;the first computer automatically identifying terrain map information associated with said determined unpaved and off-road location of the first vehicle;based on the identified terrain map information, the first computer automatically determining a surface traction characteristic of the unpaved and off-road ground surface at the determined location;the first computer automatically retrieving weather information associated with the determined unpaved and off-road location; andthe first computer automatically transmitting said surface traction characteristic information and said weather information from the first vehicle driving off-road to a second vehicle driving off-road;a second computer receiving said transmitted data at the second vehicle driving off-road;selecting, by an operator of the second vehicle driving off-road, an operation mode of the second vehicle;at the second computer in the second vehicle driving off-road, combining the surface traction characteristic information received from the first vehicle, the weather information received from the first vehicle, and the operation mode selected by the operator of the second vehicle driving off-road; andresponsive to said combining, the second computer automatically modifying at least one operating characteristic of the second vehicle driving off-road. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying takes place automatically at the second vehicle, the second vehicle being driven separately from the first vehicle. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the received data include the determined terrain and the weather information. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said retrieved weather information includes current weather information, and said method further comprises: determining if said current weather information is to be updated; andupdating said current weather information if it is determined that said current weather information is to be updated. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said updating further includes: storing previously updated current weather information as historical weather information;receiving one or more weather inputs;determining updated weather information based on said one or more weather inputs;setting, as said current weather information, said determined updated weather information; andstoring said current weather information. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one modified operating characteristic of the second vehicle comprises an operating characteristic of a braking system. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one modified operating characteristic of the second vehicle further comprises an operating characteristic of a traction control system. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the determined surface traction characteristic and the retrieved weather information associated with the determined unpaved and off-road location, formulating at the first vehicle a first command effective to modify operating characteristics of the first vehicle and a second command effective to modify operating characteristics of the second vehicle, the transmitted data consisting of said second command, the second vehicle being driven separately from the first vehicle. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received data comprises a command from the first vehicle effective to modify the at least one operating characteristic of the second vehicle, the command being based on the determined surface traction characteristic and the retrieved weather information associated with the determined unpaved and off-road location, the second vehicle being driven separately from the first vehicle. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to retrieving the weather information, transmitting weather information to the first vehicle, the weather information being transmitted to the first vehicle by an extraterrestrial source. 11. A system comprising: means for receiving global positioning system (GPS) data;means for storing terrain map information;means for determining an unpaved and off-road location of a first land vehicle based on received GPS data, said location having an unpaved and off-road ground surface;means for identifying terrain map information associated with the determined unpaved and off-road location;means for determining a surface traction characteristic based on the identified terrain map information;means for retrieving weather information, said weather information including at least one of current weather information and historical weather information; andmeans for transmitting data representing said determined surface traction characteristic and said weather information from the first land vehicle to a second land vehicle. 12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising at said second land vehicle: means for receiving the data transmitted from the first land vehicle; andmeans for modifying at least one operating characteristic of the second land vehicle in real time in response to the received data. 13. A computer readable medium encoded with programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform at least the following operations: receiving, at a first vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data;determining a location of said first vehicle based on said received GPS data, said location having an unpaved and off-road ground surface;identifying terrain map information associated with said determined unpaved and off-road location;determining a surface traction characteristic based on the identified terrain map information, the terrain including surface traction characteristics at said determined unpaved and off-road location; andwirelessly transmitting said determined surface traction characteristics and weather information associated with the determined unpaved and off-road location from said first vehicle to a second vehicle. 14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to retrieve weather information associated with the determined location, and to transmit said retrieved weather information to the second vehicle, the second vehicle driving independently of the first vehicle. 15. The computer readable medium according to claim 14, wherein retrieving weather information includes sensing current weather conditions with sensors on said first vehicle. 16. A system for adjusting vehicular operating characteristics, the system comprising: a first vehicle comprising:means for obtaining data representing a condition of ground over which the first vehicle passes, the ground being off-road and unpaved, the ground condition comprising a traction condition of the unpaved and off-road ground;means for transmitting said obtained data to a second vehicle, said data including data from a ground traction sensor onboard the first vehicle;a second vehicle comprising:means for receiving from the first vehicle the transmitted data representing the condition of the unpaved ground over which the first vehicle passed; andmeans for adjusting operating characteristics of the second vehicle automatically in response to the received data,wherein said means for obtaining data includes the ground traction sensor onboard the first vehicle. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the obtained data indicates a level of slipperiness of the unpaved ground under the first vehicle. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second vehicle is towed by the first vehicle. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitted data are transmitted wirelessly from the first vehicle to the second vehicle. 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the transmitted data are transmitted wirelessly.