A system is provided for estimating a vehicle tow capacity. The system stores first and second acceleration profiles and a degradation factor table in a memory. The degradation factor is the difference in acceleration at the same throttle angle for a vehicle on roads with different gradients. The system determines a third acceleration profile 410 and calculates a tow capacity ratio 412 based on the first, second, and third acceleration profile, and a degradation factor. In response to the tow capacity ratio not satisfying a tow threshold 414, the system provides a warning 418. The first and second acceleration profiles may be related to the acceleration of the vehicle without and load and with maximum load, respectively. These profiles may be determined when the vehicle is manufactured. The third acceleration profile may be related to the acceleration of the vehicle when the load is connected. The system may use a navigation system to determine the road grades (gradients) or inclines along a route. The system may also determine an alternative route 420 if the tow capacity of the vehicle does not satisfy the threshold.
Vehicle tow capacity estimator
2018-05-30
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B60W CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION , Gemeinsame Steuerung oder Regelung von Fahrzeug-Unteraggregaten verschiedenen Typs oder verschiedener Funktion |