Motorcycle Emergency Braking Control With Front-First Force Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Straddle-type vehicles, such as motorcycles, experience unstable postures and reduced braking efficiency due to automatic emergency deceleration systems that apply braking force to both wheels, leading to discomfort for the rider.

Innovation Solution

A controller that initially distributes braking force only to the front wheel during automatic emergency deceleration and gradually increases the rear wheel's share, preventing force buildup in the front wheel's brake mechanism, which is more favorable for braking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic emergency deceleration operation is executed with braking force applied to both wheels, then braking efficiency is improved, but vehicle stability deteriorates and rider comfort worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamic control by initially applying braking force only to the front wheel during automatic emergency deceleration, then gradually transitioning to include the rear wheel as the operation progresses. This dynamic, time-dependent braking strategy resolves the contradiction by preventing sudden vehicle instability at braking onset while maintaining high braking efficiency throughout the deceleration process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If braking force is applied only to the rear wheel, then vehicle stability is improved, but braking efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidbraking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts braking force distribution over time, starting with rear-wheel-only braking for stability, then progressively adding front-wheel braking as the emergency deceleration progresses. This temporal progression allows the system to maintain stability while ultimately achieving high braking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by first engaging the rear brake before the front brake during automatic emergency deceleration. This preliminary engagement of the rear brake prevents sudden vehicle instability, and the front brake is subsequently engaged to maximize braking efficiency as the operation continues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If braking force is applied only to the front wheel, then braking efficiency is improved, but force buildup in brake mechanism causes discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking efficiencyVSAvoidbrake force buildup
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically controls the front brake engagement timing, initially applying front-wheel braking force but then progressively reducing it as the emergency deceleration progresses and rear-wheel braking takes over. This dynamic adjustment prevents excessive force buildup in the front brake mechanism while maintaining overall braking efficiency through coordinated front and rear brake operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3988409B1Control device and control method for controlling travel of a straddle-type vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3988409B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3988409B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3988409B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention obtains a controller and a control method capable of appropriately executing automatic emergency deceleration operation of a straddle-type vehicle. In the controller according to the present invention, when the automatic emergency deceleration operation of the straddle-type vehicle is executed, at a braking start time point at which a braking force starts being generated on at least one of wheels, braking force distribution between the front and rear wheels is brought into an initial state where the braking force is generated on the front wheel. In the control method according to the present invention, when the automatic emergency deceleration operation of the straddle-type vehicle is executed, at the braking start time point at which the braking force starts being generated on at least one of the wheels, the braking force distribution between the front and rear wheels is brought into the initial state where the braking force is generated on the front wheel.