Improvements to vehicle handling

• Main Authors: Konrad Kral, Philip Guest, Robert Patching, William Burdock
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.06.2017
• Subjects: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ORDIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TOTHE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

The invention resides in a system and method for determining the manner or behaviour in which a vehicle 10 is driven. The system comprises a processor comprising an input configured to receive dynamic ride data from at least one on-board vehicle dynamic ride sensor 16, wherein the processor is configured (i) to calculate an output signal which is indicative of whether the dynamic ride data exceeds at least one dynamic ride data threshold value for a predetermined period of time; and (ii) to compare the output signal with at least one output threshold to determine the manner in which the vehicle is driven. The processor comprises an output configured to send a control signal to one or more vehicle components, namely the adaptive or active suspension system 18, in order to inhibit lowering of the vehicle ride height, wherein the control signal is indicative of the manner in which the vehicle is driven. The dynamic ride data may comprise the lateral acceleration experienced by the vehicle.