In-Wheel Drive Arrangement With Continuous 360° Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive arrangements in vehicles, particularly for driverless technology, face challenges in achieving high manoeuvrability and efficient resource distribution without mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic stress, especially with the removal of conventional steering components.
Innovation Solution
A drive arrangement incorporating an in-wheel electric motor with a rotatable interface that allows continuous 360-degree steering, providing drive torque while ensuring stress-free transmission of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic resources to the suspension and braking systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate control units are used for different drive components, then each component can be controlled independently and reliably, but the overall system complexity increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control units into a single integrated control unit that controls the internal combustion engine, electric machine, and generator together. This integration reduces the number of separate control units from three to one, thereby reducing system complexity and space requirements while maintaining the ability to independently control each drive component through coordinated control strategies
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate control units are used for different drive components, then each component can be controlled independently, but the space required in the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple control units into one integrated control unit, reducing the total space occupied by control electronics in the vehicle. The integrated design allows compact arrangement of control circuits while maintaining flexible control capabilities for each drive component through software-based control strategies
3Device complexity
If a single control unit is used for all drive components, then system complexity and space requirements are reduced, but the control precision for each individual component may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated control unit implements segmented control strategies for different drive components, with dedicated control algorithms and processing channels for the internal combustion engine, electric machine, and generator. This allows precise independent control of each component while maintaining system integration, as each component's control requirements are addressed through specialized control routines within the unified control architecture
Data Source
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AI summary
A drive arrangement for a vehicle, the drive arrangement comprising a rotatable interface arranged to be mounted to the vehicle, wherein the rotatable interface is rotatably coupled to a mounting arm to allow continuous rotation of the mounting arm in a clockwise and anti clockwise direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse axis of the vehicle; and a first electric motor having a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator is coupled to the mounting arm to allow the axis of the rotor to be substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotatable interface, wherein the rotor is arranged to be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle to allow the electric motor to provide drive torque to the wheel.