System and method for vehicle load management

Abstract

A method for analyzing and managing a vehicle load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle having a fluid suspension system, the method including sampling, at a manifold of the fluid suspension system, a set of fluid pressures corresponding to a set of fluid springs of the fluid suspension system, wherein the set of fluid springs supports the vehicle load; determining an existing stiffness distribution, the existing stiffness distribution including a stiffness value associated with each of the set of fluid springs; determining a contextual dataset during vehicle operation; determining a desired stiffness distribution based on the contextual dataset; automatically controlling the set of fluid springs at the plurality of actuation points based on the desired stiffness distribution, wherein controlling the set of fluid springs includes setting the stiffness value of the fluid spring associated with each of the plurality of actuation points.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for analyzing and managing loading of a vehicle, the vehicle having a fluid suspension system supporting a vehicle load, the method comprising:
 determining a set of loading criteria;   sampling, at a manifold of the fluid suspension system of the vehicle during vehicle loading, a set of fluid pressures corresponding to a set of fluid springs of the fluid suspension system;   determining a first load arrangement based on the set of fluid pressures, wherein the first load arrangement comprises a coordinate mapping between a first discrete portion of the vehicle load and a first location within a cargo compartment of the vehicle;   determining a second load arrangement based on the set of loading criteria, wherein the second load arrangement comprises a second coordinate mapping between a second discrete portion of the vehicle load and a second location within the cargo compartment of the vehicle;   determining a loading instruction set based on the second load arrangement and the first load arrangement; and   providing the loading instruction set to a user of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the set of loading criteria comprises receiving weight-limit data associated with a geographic location of the vehicle along a planned route of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a dynamical model of vehicle operation, wherein the dynamical model is based on the loading criteria. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining the second load arrangement based on the dynamical model in combination with the first load arrangement, and generating loading instructions based on a difference between the first load arrangement and the second load arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first discrete portion of the vehicle load and the second discrete portion are the same portion of the vehicle load. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising minimizing an angular difference between a vector normal to a base of the cargo compartment and a gravity vector by actuating the set of fluid springs in response to placement of at least one of the first load portion and the second load portion within the cargo compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring, in substantially real-time, the set of pressure values during vehicle loading, determining a real-time load arrangement, generating a comparison between the real-time load arrangement and the second load arrangement, and providing a notification to the user based on the comparison, wherein the notification indicates a degree of user compliance with the loading instruction set. 
     
     
         8 . A method for analyzing and managing a vehicle load carried by a vehicle, the vehicle having a fluid suspension system, the method comprising:
 sampling, at a manifold of the fluid suspension system, a set of fluid pressures corresponding to a set of fluid springs of the fluid suspension system, wherein the set of fluid springs supports the vehicle load at a plurality of actuation points;   determining an existing stiffness distribution, the existing stiffness distribution comprising a stiffness value associated with each of the set of fluid springs, based on the set of fluid pressures;   determining a contextual dataset, in substantially real-time, during vehicle operation;   determining a desired stiffness distribution based on the contextual dataset;   automatically controlling the set of fluid springs at the plurality of actuation points based on the desired stiffness distribution, wherein controlling the set of fluid springs comprises setting the stiffness value of the fluid spring associated with each of the plurality of actuation points.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the contextual dataset comprises an anticipated terrain feature, and wherein determining the contextual dataset is based on a planned route of the vehicle and terrain features associated with the planned route. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anticipated terrain feature comprises a banked roadway, and wherein automatically controlling the set of fluid springs comprises setting a first stiffness value of a first subset of the plurality of actuation points at a first side of the vehicle, and setting a second stiffness value of a second subset of the plurality of actuation point at a second side of the vehicle opposing the first side. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the contextual dataset comprises an indication that the vehicle being loaded, and wherein automatically controlling the set of fluid springs comprises maintaining a base surface of a cargo compartment of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to a gravity vector during loading, wherein the vehicle load comprises discrete load portions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising automatically deploying, using the fluid suspension system, a lift axle based on the satisfaction of a deployment criterion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the deployment criterion comprises the desired stiffness distribution including a stiffness value exceeding a threshold stiffness value at a fluid spring of the set of fluid springs. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the deployment criterion comprises a planned route of the vehicle including vehicle travel in a geographic region associated with a regulatory rule set, the regulatory rule set including a weight-per-axle limit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising automatically retracting, using the fluid suspension system, a lift axle based on the satisfaction of a retraction criterion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the retraction criterion comprises a planned route of the vehicle including a turn exceeding a threshold turn angle, and wherein automatically retracting the lift axle is performed within a time period proximal to and preceding a time point at which the turn is made by the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising automatically adjusting a fluid pressure in at least one tire of the vehicle, using the fluid suspension system, based on the contextual data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the contextual data comprises a total weight of the vehicle load. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing a notification to a user of the vehicle, wherein the notification comprises a fraction of the vehicle load supported by each of the fluid springs of the set of fluid springs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing the notification comprises graphically rendering the notification at a device associated with the user, and further comprising: receiving input from the user at the device, and actuating the set of fluid springs based on the input.