Dynamic Lean Resistance Control for Motorcycle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Saddle riding type vehicles face challenges in easily returning to a neutral position while limiting excessive leaning, as existing systems do not effectively manage the resistance to up-and-down motions of traveling members, leading to increased rider burden and potential instability during turns.
Innovation Solution
A body leaning control system that includes a support mechanism for traveling members movable up and down relative to the vehicle body, a resistance applying mechanism controlled by a lean information detecting device and controller, which adjusts resistance to inhibit excessive leaning and facilitate easy return to neutral position by applying different resistance levels based on detected lean amounts and vehicle speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a support mechanism is provided to allow traveling members to move up and down relative to the vehicle body for enabling turns by leaning, then the vehicle can make turns by leaning the body, but it becomes difficult to return to the neutral position and excessive leaning occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance applying mechanism changes the resistance parameter dynamically based on lean amount. When the lean amount exceeds a threshold, the resistance increases to inhibit further leaning and facilitate return to neutral position, resolving the contradiction between turning capability and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The lean information detecting device provides feedback on the vehicle body's lean amount to the control mechanism. This feedback loop enables the resistance applying mechanism to adjust resistance levels based on actual leaning conditions, maintaining stability while preserving turning capability
2Ease of operation
If no resistance is applied to the support mechanism, then the traveling members can move freely for turning, but the rider burden increases and excessive leaning occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance parameter is changed from zero to a controlled value when lean amount exceeds the threshold. This dynamic parameter change inhibits excessive leaning and reduces rider burden during the return to neutral position, while maintaining free movement during normal turning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance applying mechanism applies preliminary resistance before excessive leaning becomes problematic. By detecting lean amount and applying resistance when the threshold is exceeded, the system prevents excessive leaning and reduces rider burden before these issues worsen
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the rider's burden by inhibiting further leaning and allowing easy return to the neutral position, enhancing comfort and stability during turns by dynamically adjusting resistance according to lean amounts and vehicle speed.
Implementation Method 1
a resistance applying mechanism arranged to apply to the support mechanism resistance to up-and-down motions of the pair of traveling members
Implementation Method 2
a lean information detecting device arranged to detect information on a lean amount of the vehicle body
Data Source
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AI summary
A body leaning control system includes a support mechanism arranged to support at least a pair of traveling members that contact a traveling surface and are provided at opposite sides of the vehicle body to be movable up and down relative to the vehicle body, a resistance applying mechanism arranged to apply to the support mechanism a resistance to up-and-down motions of the pair of wheels, a lean information detecting device arranged to detect information on a lean amount of the vehicle body, and a controller arranged to perform control, based on detection results received from the lean information detecting device, to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is increasing, and to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a second resistance smaller than the first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is decreasing.