Leaning Vehicle Lean Control for Easier Boarding Without Extra Actuators

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing leaning vehicles with lean actuators for vehicle body design lack flexibility in design variations, as separate actuators are required for motion and non-motion states, necessitating additional space for installation.

Innovation Solution

A leaning vehicle design that utilizes a single lean actuator for both traveling and non-traveling states, incorporating a detection device to control the lean angle based on rider intentions, eliminating the need for a separate actuator and increasing design freedom by integrating the actuator's functionality for both scenarios.

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 gets off, then the rider can get on or off more easily, but the device complexity increases and installation space is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of getting on or offVSAvoidactuator quantity

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 gets off. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate actuator for boarding/alighting operations, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the function of controlling the vehicle body angle during traveling with the function of controlling the vehicle body angle during boarding/alighting into a single lean actuator. By combining these two functions into one device, the overall system complexity is reduced and installation space is optimized

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 gets off, then the rider can get on or off more easily, but the installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of getting on or offVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

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 gets off. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate actuator for boarding/alighting operations, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the function of controlling the vehicle body angle during traveling with the function of controlling the vehicle body angle during boarding/alighting into a single lean actuator. By combining these two functions into one device, the overall system complexity is reduced and installation space is optimized

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the lean actuator is used for both traveling and non-traveling states, then the design freedom increases, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign freedomVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on the vehicle state. When the vehicle is traveling, the control device controls the lean actuator to maintain a predetermined lean angle. When the vehicle is not traveling and the rider gets on or off, the control device controls the lean actuator to maintain the vehicle body in an upright position. This dynamic adaptation allows the same actuator to handle different scenarios without requiring overly complex control logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device uses detection information about the vehicle state (traveling or not traveling) to adjust its control strategy. Based on this feedback, the control device determines whether to maintain a predetermined lean angle or maintain an upright position, enabling the lean actuator to adapt to different operating conditions with manageable control complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11794846B2Leaning vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A leaning vehicle including a vehicle body, front and rear wheels, a leaning mechanism that causes the vehicle body and the front and rear wheels to lean left or right when the leaning vehicle turns left or right, a lean actuator, a support stand, a detection device that detects a getting on intention input and or a getting off intention input, which respectively indicate that a rider of the leaning vehicle intends to get on and off the leaning vehicle, and a control device configured to control the lean actuator to thereby control a lean angle of the vehicle body while the vehicle body is in motion, based on a manipulation that the rider performs for turning in the left or right direction, and control the lean angle of the vehicle body while the leaning vehicle is not in motion, based on a detection result of the detection device.