MOTOR-VEHICLE WITH MULTI-MODE EXTREME TRAVEL SUSPENSION - GROUND PLANE DETECTION AND CONTROL

A ground plane detection system for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle with enhanced maneuverability characteristics of a type including a frame structure, a pair of front road engaging wheels, a pair of rear road engaging wheels. The detection system includes, a body controller configured for determining a ground plane including receiving at least one of a GPS signal and an inertial navigation system signal. The body controller is further configured for providing a roll and a pitch signal with respect to the ground plane; and the body controller combining the signals with inputs from one or more sensors detecting displacement of the front and rear road engaging wheels. The body controller is also configured to determine a terrain plane reference to the ground plane, and providing control signals to cause the vehicle to undertake an earth level orientation mode or a terrain following orientation mode.