Motorcycle Load State Determination via Suspension Spring Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
The technical problem addressed is the need to efficiently and reliably enhance riding comfort and safety for motorcycles, which vary in usage scenarios such as riding alone, with a pillion passenger, or with luggage.
Innovation Solution
A device is described that determines the load state and usage scenario of a motorcycle by measuring spring forces of the front and rear suspension systems using sensors. These measurements are then used to estimate state variables like mass and center of gravity position, allowing the vehicle to be operated accordingly or providing data for external units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the motorcycle operates in different usage scenarios (alone, with pillion, with luggage), then the riding comfort and safety vary, but the vehicle cannot automatically adapt to these different conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures spring forces from the suspension system and uses this feedback to determine the current load state and usage scenario. This real-time feedback enables the vehicle to automatically adapt its operation based on actual conditions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability by ensuring the vehicle always operates optimally for its current state.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorcycle system automatically determines its own load state and usage scenario without external intervention. The suspension system's spring force measurements enable the vehicle to self-identify its operational state and trigger appropriate control responses, making the system self-adaptive and ensuring consistent riding comfort and safety across different scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If spring force measurements are taken to determine load state, then accurate estimation of mass and center of gravity is achieved, but additional sensors and measurement systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The spring force measurement system serves multiple functions: it determines the load state, estimates mass, calculates center of gravity position, and identifies usage scenarios. By making the measurement system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate sensors for each parameter, thereby achieving high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring force measurements act as an intermediary that enables indirect determination of mass and center of gravity. Instead of directly measuring these parameters with complex sensors, the system uses the intermediary spring force data from the suspension system to calculate these parameters through physical models, simplifying the overall measurement approach while maintaining precision.
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 solution effectively increases riding comfort and safety by accurately determining the load state and usage scenario, enabling precise operation adjustments and improving overall vehicle performance.
Implementation Method 1
determine measurement values of spring forces of a suspension system of the front wheel and a suspension system of the rear wheel
Implementation Method 2
wherein g is the gravitational field strength
Data Source
AI summary
A device for determining a state of a single-track vehicle. The device is designed to capture, during a usage situation of the vehicle, measurement values of spring forces of a suspension system of a front wheel and of a suspension system of a rear wheel of the vehicle and to determine, on the basis of the measurement values of the spring forces, estimated values of a plurality of state variables of the vehicle, which each relate to the load of the vehicle. The device is also designed to operate the vehicle on the basis of the estimated values of the state variables, and/or to provide the estimated values of the state variables or data based thereon to a unit which is external to the vehicle.