Electric Vehicle Yaw Control for Tight-Space Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles face difficulties in navigating narrow spaces due to large turning radii, requiring multi-point turns, which can be challenging and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vehicle yaw mode in electric vehicles, allowing the vehicle to pivot around a point under the chassis by independently controlling front and rear driveshafts, wheels, and brakes, enabling reduced turning radii through controlled torque distribution and braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional steering is used to turn the vehicle, then the vehicle can be steered by turning front wheels, but the turning radius becomes large and maneuvering in narrow spaces becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's drive system is segmented into independent wheel motors, allowing each wheel to be controlled independently. This segmentation enables the vehicle to perform yaw maneuvers by applying torque to individual wheels, achieving tight turning radii without relying on traditional front-wheel steering alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle dynamically switches between normal steering mode and yaw mode based on operational needs. In yaw mode, the system dynamically applies torque to wheels and activates brakes to create a pivot point under the chassis, enabling the vehicle to rotate in place or with minimal radius, thus adapting to narrow space constraints.
2Productivity
If multi-point turns are performed to navigate narrow paths, then the vehicle can eventually change direction, but the maneuver becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for turns by pre-positioning the pivot point under the chassis through coordinated brake and torque application before the actual turning maneuver begins. This preliminary setup allows the vehicle to execute single-point yaw turns instead of complex multi-point turns, significantly reducing the time and complexity of directional changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors vehicle position, orientation, and wheel torque during yaw maneuvers, providing real-time feedback to adjust torque distribution and brake application. This feedback mechanism ensures precise control during turning operations, enabling efficient navigation through narrow paths with minimal corrective maneuvers.
3Length of moving object
If independent torque control of wheels is implemented to enable yaw mode, then reduced turning radii are achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor system serves multiple functions: it provides propulsion during normal driving and enables yaw maneuvers by independently controlling wheel torque. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanical steering components, as the same motor system handles both driving and turning operations, thereby managing complexity while achieving reduced turning radii.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical steering linkages with an electrically-controlled torque distribution system. Instead of using complex mechanical steering gears and linkages to turn wheels, the system uses electric motors to apply differential torque to wheels, achieving turning through electromagnetic control rather than mechanical transmission, thus reducing mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided herein for operating an electric vehicle in a vehicle yaw mode. The electric vehicle includes a normal driving mode where the electric vehicle is steered by turning the steerable wheels (e.g., left or right) and vehicle yaw mode where the vehicle controls the torque applied to each wheel. In response to receiving input to initiate vehicle yaw mode and yaw direction, the system determines the inner wheels and the outer wheels and provides forward torque to the outer wheels of the vehicle and backward torque to the inner wheels of the vehicle to rotate the vehicle.