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US-12623893-B2 - Vehicle self-leveling for overlanding vehicles

US12623893B2US 12623893 B2US12623893 B2US 12623893B2US-12623893-B2

Abstract

Systems and methods of leveling a vehicle are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: provide a plurality of air bag jacks under the vehicle; determine roll and pitch information of the vehicle; determine, using a computing system, an amount of air-adjustment to make for one or more of the plurality of air bag jacks, based on the roll and pitch information, to level the vehicle; and activate, via the computing system, an air compressor to make the determined air-adjustment.

Inventors

  • Ryan C. Harris

Assignees

  • TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230412

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method of leveling a vehicle, comprising: providing a plurality of inflatable air bag jacks between a vehicle wheel and ground beneath the vehicle wheel; determining roll and pitch information of the vehicle using a roll/pitch sensor located in or on the vehicle; determining, using a computing system, an amount of air-pressure adjustment to make for one or more of the plurality of inflatable air bag jacks, based on the roll and pitch information, to level the vehicle; activating, via the computing system, an air compressor configured to provide variable air-pressure levels to make the determined air-pressure adjustment; and using feedback from the roll/pitch sensor to adjust the air pressure in each inflatable air bag jack until the vehicle achieves a level condition.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a selected inflatable air bag jack of the plurality of inflatable air bag jacks to adjust and opening a pneumatic solenoid valve corresponding to the selected inflatable air bag jack to permit air-pressure adjustment.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising closing the opened pneumatic solenoid valve after air-pressure adjustment is made to the selected inflatable air bag jack.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining roll and pitch information of the vehicle subsequent to making the determined air-pressure adjustment to identify a level condition of the vehicle.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the identified level condition of the vehicle serves to confirm that the vehicle is level.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the identified level condition of the vehicle serves to identify that a non-level condition of the vehicle exists indicating that a further air-pressure adjustment needs to be made to level the vehicle.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein upon the identification that a non-level condition of the vehicle exists, the method further comprises repeating, using the steps of determining using the computing system, activating, and determining roll and pitch information of the vehicle subsequent to making the determined air-pressure adjustment, until the vehicle achieves the level condition.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising pressing a start mechanism to initiate the method.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the start mechanism is provided via a physical controller within the vehicle.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the start mechanism is provided via a representation of a text command or controller on a graphical user interface of a multimedia display within the vehicle.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the air compressor is located in the vehicle.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of inflatable air bag jacks are in direct physical contact with one of the vehicle wheel, frame of the vehicle, and a body of the vehicle.
  13. 13 . A vehicle control system for leveling a vehicle, comprising: one or more processors; and memory coupled to at least one of the one or more processors to store instructions, which when executed by the at least one of the one or more processors, cause the at least one of the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising: determining, using a computing system, an amount of air-pressure adjustment to make for one or more of a plurality of inflatable air bag jacks provided between a vehicle wheel and a surface beneath the vehicle wheel, based on roll and pitch information of the vehicle obtained using a roll/pitch sensor located in or on the vehicle, to level the vehicle; activating, via the computing system, an air compressor configured to provide variable air pressure levels to make the determined air-pressure adjustment; using feedback from the roll/pitch sensor to adjust the air pressure in each inflatable air bag jack until the vehicle achieves a level condition.
  14. 14 . The vehicle control system of claim 13 , wherein the air compressor is located in the vehicle.
  15. 15 . The vehicle control system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of inflatable air bag jacks are in direct physical contact with one of the vehicle wheel, frame of the vehicle, and a body of the vehicle.
  16. 16 . The vehicle control system of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise: initiating the operation responsive to a start mechanism being pressed, wherein the start mechanism is provided via a physical controller within the vehicle, or via a representation of a text command or controller on a graphical user interface of a multimedia display within the vehicle.
  17. 17 . A leveling system for leveling a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of inflatable air bag jacks positioned between a vehicle wheel and a surface beneath the vehicle wheel; an air compressor communicatively coupled to the plurality of inflatable air bag jacks; a roll/pitch sensor, located in or on the vehicle, that determines roll and pitch information of the vehicle; and a computing system configured to: determine an amount of air-pressure adjustment to make for one or more of the plurality of inflatable air bag jacks, based on the roll and pitch information of the vehicle, in order to level the vehicle; activate the air compressor to make the determined air-pressure adjustment; and use feedback from the roll/pitch sensor to adjust the air pressure in each inflatable air bag jack until the vehicle achieves a level condition.
  18. 18 . The leveling system of claim 17 , wherein the air compressor is located in the vehicle.
  19. 19 . The leveling system of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of inflatable air bag jacks are in direct physical contact with one of the vehicle wheel, frame of the vehicle, and a body of the vehicle.
  20. 20 . The leveling system of claim 17 , further comprising: a start mechanism to initiate leveling the vehicle, wherein the start mechanism is provided via a physical controller within the vehicle, or via a representation of a text command or controller on a graphical user interface of a multimedia display within the vehicle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to leveling of a vehicle, and in particular, some implementations may relate to self-leveling of a vehicle using air bag jacks. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART In certain situations, it may become necessary or desirable to ensure a vehicle is properly level. For example, when an occupant uses a vehicle to camp in or sleep in/on (or otherwise spend time in/on), keeping the vehicle as level as possible would be ideal. A vehicle that is not level would make for an uncomfortable environment for the occupant, especially when the occupant attempts to camp or sleep within the vehicle. However, leveling a vehicle can be quite difficult and time-consuming. It is common to use leveling blocks or even logs or rocks placed under various portions of a vehicle in an effort to make a vehicle level. But these items may be in short supply, and often are cumbersome and heavy to reliably orient and stack under a vehicle in a stable and efficient manner. Moreover, there is no indication that serves to confirm the status of the leveling process, or that the vehicle has actually been made level. Better methods are needed to level a vehicle overall. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to various embodiments of the disclosed technology, a method of leveling a vehicle, comprises: providing a plurality of air bag jacks under the vehicle; determining roll and pitch information of the vehicle; determining, using a computing system, an amount of air-adjustment to make for one or more of the plurality of air bag jacks, based on the roll and pitch information, to level the vehicle; and activating, via the computing system, an air compressor to make the determined air-adjustment. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining a selected air bag jack of the plurality of air bag jacks to adjust and opening a pneumatic solenoid valve corresponding to the selected air bag jack to permit air-adjustment. In one embodiment, the method yet further comprises closing the opened pneumatic solenoid valve after air-adjustment is made to the selected air bag jack. In some embodiments, the determination of the roll and pitch information of the vehicle is made using a roll/pitch sensor. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining roll and pitch information of the vehicle subsequent to making the determined air-adjustment to identify a level condition of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the identified level condition of the vehicle serves to confirm that the vehicle is level. In another embodiment, the identified level condition of the vehicle serves to identify that a non-level condition of the vehicle exists indicating that a further air-adjustment needs to be made to level the vehicle. Upon the identification that a non-level condition of the vehicle exists, the method may further comprise repeating, using the steps of determining using the computing system, activating, and determining roll and pitch information of the vehicle subsequent to making the determined air adjustment, until the vehicle is level. In some embodiments, the method further comprises pressing a start mechanism to initiate the method steps. The start mechanism may be provided via a physical controller within the vehicle, or via a representation of a text command or controller on a graphical user interface of a multimedia display within the vehicle. According to additional embodiments of the disclosed technology, a vehicle control system for leveling a vehicle, comprises: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor to store instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor is caused to perform operations. The operations comprise: determining, using a computing system, an amount of air-adjustment to make for one or more of a plurality of air bag jacks provided under the vehicle, based on roll and pitch information of the vehicle, to level the vehicle; and activating, via the computing system, an air compressor to make the determined air-adjustment. According to further embodiments of the disclosed technology, a leveling system for leveling a vehicle, comprises: a plurality of air bag jacks positioned under the vehicle; an air compressor communicatively coupled to the plurality of air bag jacks; a roll/pitch sensor that determines roll and pitch information of the vehicle; and a computing system. The computing system is configured to: determine an amount of air-adjustment to make for one or more of the plurality of air bag jacks, based on the roll and pitch information of the vehicle, in order to level the vehicle; and activate the air compressor to make the determined air-adjustment. Other features and aspects of the disclosed technology will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the disclosed technology.