Modular Metamorphic Vehicle With Changeable Wheel Track Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles face limitations in mobility due to constraints from transportability, suspension travel, tire size, and suspension linkage designs, which hinder their ability to traverse difficult terrain while meeting various operational and transport requirements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle with a changeable wheel track width and leading or trailing arm suspension system that adapts to different configurations for on-road and off-road operations, incorporating electrically driven wheels and computer-controlled suspension for enhanced mobility and stealth capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel track width is fixed in conventional vehicles, then the vehicle structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the vehicle cannot adapt to different terrains and transport modes
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension link is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to pivot about a vertical axis to change the wheel track width between narrow and wide settings. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the vehicle to adapt to different terrains and transport modes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system is divided into separable components including the suspension link, pivot mechanism, and wheel assembly. This segmentation allows the wheel track width to be adjusted by moving individual components relative to each other, providing adaptability without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Speed
If the suspension travel is limited in conventional vehicles, then the vehicle height is reduced for better transportability, but the vehicle cannot traverse difficult terrain effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system incorporates adjustable travel distance through the movable suspension link that can pivot to extend or reduce the suspension stroke. This allows the vehicle to achieve long suspension travel for off-road capability while maintaining compact height for transportability when the link is in the retracted position.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension link pivots about a vertical axis, adding a lateral dimension of movement to the traditional vertical suspension travel. This dimensional change allows the suspension travel distance to be adjusted without proportionally increasing the vehicle's overall height.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle uses fixed configuration for highway operation, then the vehicle meets transportation regulations, but the vehicle cannot optimize performance for off-road operations
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension link can be dynamically repositioned between fixed configurations (narrow for highway, wide for off-road) to optimize vehicle performance for different operational modes. This allows the vehicle to meet transportation regulations in narrow configuration while achieving optimal off-road performance in wide configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle (10) comprising a vehicle body, a suspension system coupled to the vehicle body, and a plurality of wheels (16) coupled to the suspension system comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels being located on opposite sides of the vehicle. The suspension system comprises a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels and the wheel track width is changeable between a narrow wheel track width setting (12) and a wide wheel track width setting (14) by pivoting a suspension link (18) about a vertical axis.