Adaptive Cruise Brake Bias for Motorcycle Posture Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Straddle-type vehicles, such as motorcycles, experience unstable posture and reduced braking efficiency during adaptive cruise control due to automatic braking, which affects rider comfort and braking performance, as the front-wheel brake mechanism is more favorable for braking than the rear-wheel mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A controller that initiates adaptive cruise control by distributing braking force initially to the front wheel and gradually increases the rear wheel's share over time, preventing force buildup in the front-wheel brake mechanism and stabilizing the vehicle's posture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If braking force is applied to the front wheel during adaptive cruise control, then braking efficiency is improved, but the straddle-type vehicle exhibits unstable behavior and rider comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking efficiencyVSAvoidrider comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the braking force distribution adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically changes the braking force distribution ratio between front and rear wheels based on vehicle state, transitioning from front-wheel predominant braking to a more balanced distribution to maintain stability while preserving braking efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of braking force distribution ratio between front and rear wheels. By adjusting this parameter dynamically during adaptive cruise control, the system optimizes both braking efficiency and vehicle stability, resolving the contradiction between effective braking and rider comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If braking force is applied only to the rear wheel to improve rider comfort, then rider comfort is improved, but braking efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverider comfortVSAvoidbraking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the braking force distribution ratio between front and rear wheels during adaptive cruise control. Rather than applying braking force only to the rear wheel, the controller maintains a dynamic balance that preserves the front wheel's contribution to braking efficiency while adding rear wheel braking to improve stability and rider comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Extent of automation

If automatic braking is applied during adaptive cruise control, then adaptive cruise control functionality is improved, but vehicle stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptive cruise control functionalityVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the braking force distribution ratio adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically changes the braking force distribution ratio between front and rear wheels based on vehicle state, transitioning from front-wheel predominant braking to a more balanced distribution to maintain stability while preserving braking efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback by monitoring vehicle state during adaptive cruise control and adjusting the braking force distribution ratio accordingly. The controller receives feedback about vehicle behavior and modifies the braking distribution to maintain stability, creating a closed-loop control system that resolves the contradiction between automation and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3988408B1Control device and control method for controlling travel of a straddle-type vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3988408B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3988408B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3988408B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention obtains a controller and a control method capable of appropriately executing adaptive cruise control of a straddle-type vehicle. In the controller and the control method according to the present invention, when braking forces are generated on at least one of wheels of the straddle-type vehicle during the adaptive cruise control, in which the straddle-type vehicle is made to travel according to a distance from the straddle-type vehicle to a preceding vehicle, motion of the straddle-type vehicle, and a rider's instruction, at a braking start time point at which the braking force starts being generated on at least one of the wheels, braking force distribution between the front and the rear wheel is brought into an initial state where the braking force is generated on the front wheel.