Lean Actuator Control for Stable Leaning Vehicle Boarding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing leaning vehicles with lean actuators lack flexibility in design due to the need for separate actuators for motion and stationary operations, limiting the degree of freedom in vehicle body design.

Innovation Solution

A leaning vehicle with a single lean actuator that controls the vehicle body's angle both during travel and when the rider is getting on or off, eliminating the need for additional actuators and allowing for increased design variations by integrating a detection system to manage the actuator's operation based on rider intentions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate actuator is provided for controlling the vehicle body angle when the rider gets on or off, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases and the degree of freedom in design of the vehicle body decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of getting on or offVSAvoidnumber of actuators
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lean actuator is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the vehicle body angle during traveling and also controls the vehicle body angle when the rider gets on or off the vehicle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate actuator for stationary operations, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the function of the lean actuator (for traveling) with the function of a hypothetical actuator for getting on/off operations. By combining these functions into a single actuator system, the overall device complexity is reduced and the degree of freedom in vehicle body design is increased

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If a separate actuator is provided for controlling the vehicle body angle when the rider gets on or off, then the ease of operation is improved, but the degree of freedom in design of the vehicle body decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of getting on or offVSAvoiddegree of freedom in design
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lean actuator is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the vehicle body angle during traveling and also controls the vehicle body angle when the rider gets on or off the vehicle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate actuator for stationary operations, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the function of the lean actuator (for traveling) with the function of a hypothetical actuator for getting on/off operations. By combining these functions into a single actuator system, the overall device complexity is reduced and the degree of freedom in vehicle body design is increased

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4209407B1Leaning vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4209407B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4209407B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4209407B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a leaning vehicle including a lean actuator for leaning a vehicle body. A leaning vehicle includes a vehicle body, a front wheel, a rear wheel, a leaning mechanism, a lean actuator, and a control device. The leaning mechanism causes the vehicle body, the front wheel, and the rear wheel to lean in a vehicle left direction when the vehicle turns in the vehicle left direction, and causes the vehicle body, the front wheel, and the rear wheel to lean in a vehicle right direction when the vehicle turns in the vehicle right direction. The lean actuator is connected to the leaning mechanism, and imparts a force to a leaning operation of the vehicle body, the front wheel, and the rear wheel. The control device controls the lean actuator. A getting on/getting off intention input indicates an intention of a rider of the leaning vehicle to get on or get off the vehicle. The control device controls the lean actuator so as to control a lean angle of the vehicle body while the vehicle is not in motion.