Sensor networks for vehicle dynamics control systems: A monitoring perspective

In modern vehicles an increasing number of control systems is based on measurements of signals describing vehicle dynamics. Correspondingly, a large number of sensors is required. To spare on weight and even more important on costs, car manufacturers require joint processing of sensors, i.e. the individual sensors related to certain control systems should become part of a sensor network. In the paper at hand the possibilities and shortcomings of such an approach are examined from a sensor monitoring and estimation perspective. Especially, redundant and model based failure detection are considered. The focus is on signals and sensors related to vehicle dynamics and the corresponding question of fall back strategies in case of sensor failure. Corresponding problems are addressed by a suitable sensor network architecture.