Vehicle Sideslip Angle Estimation with Roll Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for estimating a vehicle's sideslip angle, particularly in commercial vehicles, are hindered by the influence of frame roll on yaw rate and lateral acceleration sensors, leading to measurement errors and instability in estimation, especially with varying payload and nonlinear tire characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A method using axle distance, track width, rolling tire radius, and steering wheel angle, with two iterations and a regulation method based on physical constraints, to estimate the sideslip angle and calculate lateral velocity and acceleration parallel to the road surface, ensuring continuous and accurate estimation without cumulative errors or phase delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If frame-mounted sensors (yaw rate and lateral acceleration) are used in commercial vehicles, then vehicle stability control functions can be implemented, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to frame roll influence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor implementationVSAvoidlateral acceleration measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful frame roll component from the lateral acceleration measurement by introducing a separate roll angle sensor. This allows the system to isolate and remove the frame roll influence from the lateral acceleration signal, thereby recovering the true lateral acceleration value that would otherwise be contaminated by frame motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The roll angle sensor acts as an intermediary that measures the frame roll separately. This intermediate measurement is then used to compensate for the frame roll effect in the lateral acceleration calculation, enabling accurate lateral acceleration determination despite the sensors being mounted on the rolling frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If iterative non linear closed loop observer is used for sideslip estimation, then estimation can be performed with available sensors, but cumulative errors and instability occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveestimation capabilityVSAvoidestimation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the estimated sideslip angle and its derivative are continuously refined based on the relationship between lateral acceleration, yaw rate, and vehicle dynamics. The system uses the corrected lateral acceleration (free from frame roll effects) as feedback to maintain estimation accuracy over time and prevent cumulative errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary correction of the lateral acceleration signal by removing frame roll effects before using it in the sideslip estimation process. This preliminary action ensures that the input data to the estimation algorithm is accurate and free from systematic errors that would otherwise lead to instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If payload varies in commercial vehicles, then vehicle capacity is improved, but inertia and center of gravity position change causing measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload capacityVSAvoidsensor signal accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adopts a dynamic approach by continuously estimating the sideslip angle based on real-time sensor measurements rather than relying on fixed vehicle parameters. This dynamic estimation adapts to changing payload conditions, center of gravity positions, and inertia variations, maintaining accuracy despite the vehicle's varying operational state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2684753B1Method for estimating a vehicle's sideslip angle
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP2684753B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2684753B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2684753B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention refers to a method for estimating a vehicle's, or, in a vehicle trailer combination having a tractor vehicle and a towed trailer, a tractor vehicle's sideslip angle, the method comprising the steps of: a) Gaining the following vehicle parameters from the vehicle: Axle distance, track width, rolling tire radiuses, and steering wheel angle, b) Measuring signals for the longitudinal velocity (19), the steering wheel angle (20) and the yaw rate (14) of the vehicle, where c) the method for estimating operates with two iterations in each processing step, where a processing step is done by a vehicle's onboard integrated processing unit in real time, where c1)a first iteration (21) estimates the vehicle sideslip angle's next value on the basis of the gained vehicle parameters and the measured signals, c2)a second iteration (26) estimates a mass specific cornering stiffness parameter on the basis of the gained vehicle parameters and the measured signals, where c3)between the two iterations, a regulation method (23) is inserted, which is based on constraints, which are originated from physical laws such as continuity or maximum possible adhesion coefficient, where a first regulation step calculates threshold values for the vehicle sideslip angle that are based on kinematical conditions, an a following regulation step investigates that the continuity of the vehicle sideslip angle can be held or not with the calculated maximum and minimum vehicle sideslip angles, and if yes then saturates the first iteration's result.