Vehicle and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle 10 with a first alteration device 12 arranged on the front axle 12a and a second alteration device 14 arranged on the rear axle 14a, by which the vehicle's body 16 is adjustable relative to a ground 18. Wherein depending on detected acceleration parameters by a sensor device 22, the first alteration device and / or the second alteration device are configured to create a relative motion between each other to adjust the inclination of the vehicle’s body relative to the ground. The system may use either an extension or retraction motion to adjust the vehicle body relative to the ground and compensate for any detected additional weight within the body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle according to claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for adjusting a vehicle's body, such as a driver assistance system, a corresponding computer program product, and a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] In the state of the art, adjustments of a vehicle relative to the underlying ground are already known. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to provide a possibility by which a situational adjustment of the vehicle relative to the ground is enabled to enhance safety by mitigating disruptive motions such as pitch motion and pitch oscillation.

[0004] This objective is accomplished through a vehicle with the features of claim 1 as well as by a method according to the present invention and by utilizing a corresponding driver assistance system, a computer program product, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Advantageous embodiments of the invention may be found in the dependent claims.

[0005] The present invention relates to a vehicle with a first alteration device arranged on the front axle and a second alteration device arranged on the rear axle, by which the vehicle's body is adjustable relative to a ground on which the vehicle is sustained via respective wheels attached to the front axle and / or the rear axle. Depending on detected acceleration parameters by a sensor device, the first alteration device and / or the second alteration device are configured to create a relative motion between each other to adjust the inclination of the vehicle’s body relative to the ground. In some embodiments, the determined relative motion may be based upon driver actions such as braking, road conditions such as bumps or snow, and / or other detectable actions that may impact motion.

[0006] In other words, the present invention relates to the vehicle with the first alteration device or modification device located on the front axle and the second alteration device or second modification device situated on the rear axle. These devices allow for adjusting the inclination of the vehicle body relative to the ground on which the vehicle is sustained or supported by the respective wheels. Furthermore, these devices allow the adjusting of the inclination of the vehicle's body depending on detected acceleration parameters by a sensor system or sensor device of the vehicle, which also may be a system already attached to the vehicle. The relative motion between the modification devices is configured based on the detected acceleration parameters and may be configured based on the detected additional weight within the vehicle body.

[0007] There are some applications, which may be set up to adjust the inclination of the vehicle's body.

[0008] In a first application a pitch motion mitigation may be set up. By generating the relative movement between the front and rear axles, it is possible to create a positive and / or negative pitch motion for the vehicle and therefore, it may be used to mitigate pitch motion resulting from acceleration, deceleration and / or road roughness. This leads to a smoother ride quality and reduces vertical oscillation.

[0009] In a second application, a road impact mitigation may be set up. If it is set up to detect a roughness in front of the vehicle, it is possible to preload the vehicle and reduce bouncing when running over obstacles on the road, such as speed bumps or potholes. With the method, it is possible to create positive and / or negative pitch motions to smooth out the ride when going over these obstacles and other obstacles such as snow, sand or rocks. The roughness detection method could involve cameras, lidar, sonar and other devices and / or methods to pre-control the pitch motion before encountering the obstacle. For example, the road impact mitigation may be automatically triggered based on sensors on the front and / or rear axles such as a speed sensor to detect if the vehicle has too much slip in one or more wheels. In some embodiments, the detection methods may be combined to identify the potential environment. This results in a smoother ride quality and reduces vertical oscillation through additional detection methods.

[0010] In a third application a bouncing car may be set up. It is proposed to set up a mechanism that may create positive and negative pitch motions, allowing to accumulate pitching energy and generate a resonance to make the car bounce by timing the generation of positive and negative pitch motion. For example, if the vehicle is bouncing off the ground only on one side of the vehicle, the alteration or mitigation device may be used to maintain some contact with the ground and a wheel to balance the vehicle similar to a segway. In another example, if the vehicle is bouncing off the ground on all sides of the vehicle, one or more alteration devices may be used to generate rotational movement to balance the vehicle and to ensure that the vehicle can safely land on the ground on four wheels. The alteration device may also use the steering wheel to generate roll motion to balance the vehicle in a roll direction.

[0011] With a novel electric drive train, independently controlled front and rear axles, the proposed control system may achieve additional functionalities like pitch motion mitigation, road impact mitigation, or creating a bouncing car or vehicle without the need for additional active suspension or air suspension systems. This provides customers with a higher ride quality and more experience without requiring additional hardware. The invention requires additional algorithms and software to realize the desired functionalities. It may introduce an additional complexity into the system and requires coordination with all other drive train components, especially in different terrain, weather conditions, scenarios with split friction coefficients, or highly dynamic situations.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a method for adjusting a vehicle's body, in which a first alteration device arranged on the front axle and a second alteration device arranged on the rear axle are modified, thereby adjusting the body relative to a ground on which the vehicle is supported by respective wheels attached to the front axle and / or rear axle. The method is characterized in that depending on detected acceleration parameters by a sensor device, the first alteration device and / or the second alteration device are configured to create a relative motion between each other to adjust the inclination of the vehicle's body relative to the ground.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a driver assistance system for operating the method for adjusting a vehicle's body, a computer program product comprising program code means for performing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product.

[0014] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone may be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The novel features and characteristic of the present disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0016] The drawings show in:

[0017] Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a sequence of vehicles according to the present invention, by which the vehicle's body is adjustable relative to a ground on which the vehicle is supported by respective wheels;

[0018] Fig. 2 another schematic diagram of a vehicle, wherein an adjustment relative to an upcoming obstacle is shown; and

[0019] Fig. 3 another schematic diagram of a sequence of vehicles representing a bouncing motion.

[0020] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0022] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0023] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0024] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0025] In Fig.1 a series of vehicles 10 is shown, each showcasing a mechanism that enables the adjustment of corresponding vehicle's bodies 16 in relation to the ground. Therefore a vehicle 10 with a first alteration device 12 arranged on the front axle 12a and a second alteration device 14 arranged on the rear axle 14a is presented, by which the vehicle's body 16 is adjustable relative to a ground 18 on which the vehicle 10 is sustained via respective wheels 20 attached to the front axle 12a and / or the rear axle 14a. Depending on detected acceleration parameters by a sensor device 22, the first alteration device 12 and / or the second alteration device 14 are configured to create a relative motion between each other to adjust the inclination of the vehicle's body 16 relative to the ground 18. These adjustments are achieved through the alteration devices 12, 14, which may include suspension systems, hydraulics, and / or other mechanical devices. This vehicle 10 aims to enhance the adaptability and safety by allowing it to respond to tensioned conditions on the ground 18 or on the road or the presence of possible obstacles.

[0026] This vehicle 10 is shown three times in Fig. 1 simplifying different stages or configurations of this present invention, demonstrating how the vehicle's body 16 may be dynamically adjusted based on the situational requirements. This adaptability is particularly needed in scenarios, where maintaining a specific distance from obstacles or the ground 18 or the terrain is needed for safety and performance reasons. Additionally, the vehicle 10 has various practical applications, one of which is a pitch motion mitigation. When the vehicle 10 is braking, the momentum may cause the vehicle 10 to pitch forward. In such cases, the alteration devices 12, 14 are configured to react to the detection of the forward pitch motion by the sensor device creating a relative extension motion between the front axle 12a and the rear axle 14a to mitigate this forward pitch motion. Similar logic may also be applied when the vehicle 10 is accelerating, where the alteration devices 12, 14 may respond accordingly to maintain stability and safety. Therefore, Fig. 1, provides an overview of the adaptable vehicle's body 16 and its adjustments and applications, including mitigation pitch motion during braking and acceleration for improving the vehicle's 10 handling and safety.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a scenario where the vehicle 10 encounters an obstacle on the road. The vehicle's 10 adaptive devices 12, 14 are activated to respond to this obstacle. The vehicle detects the presence of the obstacles and assesses this situation, wherein based on the obstacle's proximity and the vehicle's speed, it decides to adjust the vehicle's body 16 to mitigate the impact or improve ride comfort. For instance, if the obstacle is detected to be a significant road bump or rough terrain, the vehicle may instruct the vehicle's suspension system or the alteration devices 12, 14 to create a relative compression motion between the front and rear axles 12a, 14a. This adjustment helps to absorb the shock from the obstacle, providing a smoother ride and reducing the bouncing effect on the vehicle's occupants.

[0028] In Fig. 3 the vehicles 10 shown are referred to a bouncing situation. This unusual situation is set up by car enthusiasts for example, wherein an active suspension system or the alteration devices 12, 14 are activated intentionally to make their vehicle 10 bounce, similar to hydraulic low rider vehicles. This bouncing car application concept enables a continuously controlled compression and extended motion at the right frequency, matching the vehicle's natural frequency, wherein it is possible to make the vehicle bounce without the need for any active suspension system and / or other alteration devices. This may create an entertaining driving experience for those who appreciate such customized vehicle behavior.

[0029] In summary, the present invention is proposed that enables various applications for the relative movement of the front and rear axles of a vehicle 10. These applications include improving vehicle stability, mitigating motion during acceleration and deceleration, reducing road impact such as speed bumps and potholes and creating unique and entertaining drive experience, such as intentionally making the vehicle bounce, without the need for specialized active suspension systems. Signs vehicle first alteration device front axle second alteration device rear axle vehicle's body ground wheels sensor device

Claims

1. A vehicle (10) with a first alteration device (12) arranged on the front axle (12a) and a second alteration device (14) arranged on the rear axle (14a), by which the vehicle's body (16) is adjustable relative to a ground (18) on which the vehicle (10) is sustained via respective wheels (20) attached to the front axle (12a) and / or the rear axle (14a), wherein depending on detected acceleration parameters by a sensor device (22), the first alteration device (12) and / or the second alteration device (14) are configured to create a relative motion between each other to adjust the inclination of the vehicle’s body (16) relative to the ground (18).

2. The vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thata relative extension motion is provided to adjust the inclination.

3. The vehicle (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thata relative compression motion is provided to adjust the inclination.

4. The vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe relative motion between the first alteration device (12) and / or the second alteration device (14) is configured depending on a detected additional weight within the vehicle’s body (16).

5. Method for adjusting a vehicle's body (16), in which a first alteration device (12) arranged on the front axle (12a) and a second alteration device (16) arranged on the rear axle (16a) are modified, thereby adjusting the vehicle’s body (16) relative to a ground (18) on which the vehicle (10) is sustained by respective wheels (20) attached to the front axle (12) and / or the rear axle (14), characterized in that, depending on detected acceleration parameters by a sensor device (22), the first alteration device (12) and / or the second alteration device (14) are configured to create a relative motion between each other to adjust the inclination of the vehicle body (16) relative to the ground (18).

6. A driver assistance system for operating a method according to claim 5.

7. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to claim 5.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 7.

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