Vehicle Lean Mechanism Steering Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles that lean during turning often experience a decrease in driving stability due to inappropriate changes in wheel direction, leading to instability, particularly at higher velocities and angular velocities.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle configuration with a steered wheel and a lean mechanism, where the intersection point of the turning axis and the ground is ahead of the wheel's contact surface, and a changing device that adjusts the turn resistance force based on vehicle velocity and angular velocity to control the steering angle, preventing premature leaning and maintaining stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the steering angle changes freely following vehicle body lean, then the vehicle can respond quickly to turning inputs, but driving stability deteriorates due to inappropriate wheel direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the turn resistance force based on vehicle velocity and angular velocity. The control device modifies the resistance force parameter in real-time to optimize the balance between responsive steering and driving stability across different operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the turn resistance force adjustable and variable rather than fixed. The resistance force changes dynamically according to vehicle velocity and angular velocity, allowing the steering system to adapt its characteristics based on current operating conditions
2Ease of operation
If the turn resistance force is kept constant, then the steering system is simple to control, but the steering angle changes prematurely at high velocities causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static turn resistance force into a dynamic parameter that automatically adjusts with vehicle velocity and angular velocity. This allows the system to maintain simple operation while adapting its characteristics to prevent premature steering angle changes at high velocities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to detect vehicle velocity and angular velocity, then using this information to continuously adjust the turn resistance force. The control device receives feedback about the current operating state and modifies the resistance force accordingly to maintain stability
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes: a vehicle body; three or more wheels; an operation input unit to be operated to input a turning direction; and a lean mechanism for leaning the vehicle body in its width direction. Within at least partial range of vehicle velocity, the vehicle is configured to travel in a mode in which the vehicle body is leaned by the lean mechanism according to an input into the operation input unit, and a steering angle of a steered wheel changes following a lean of the vehicle body. And, the vehicle includes a changing device for changing a turn resistance force acting between the vehicle body and the steered wheel.