Motorcycle Pitch Angle Control for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for stabilizing single-track motor vehicles, such as motorcycles, during acceleration processes are inadequate in preventing uncontrollable driving situations due to the lack of effective control over pitch angle, which can lead to front wheel lifting and loss of stability during cornering.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the current pitch angle and intervenes in the vehicle's longitudinal acceleration by adjusting the braking system and engine torque to limit the pitch angle to a critical threshold, using a combination of sensors and state variables for real-time feedback and correction, ensuring the front wheel remains in contact with the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the motor vehicle longitudinal acceleration is increased to improve acceleration performance, then the acceleration capability is improved, but the pitch angle increases and may exceed the critical pitch angle causing front wheel lifting and loss of stability
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously determines the current pitch angle using sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, or camera system) and compares it with a critical pitch angle threshold. When the current pitch angle approaches or exceeds the threshold, the control unit automatically reduces engine torque and/or applies rear wheel braking to reduce longitudinal acceleration and bring the pitch angle back within safe limits. This closed-loop feedback control enables the vehicle to maintain acceleration performance while preventing pitch angle exceedance and front wheel lifting.
Solution Approach 2:
The critical pitch angle threshold is not fixed but can be varied as a function of transverse dynamic state variables such as roll angle, lateral acceleration, and yaw rate. When cornering is detected (large roll angle or lateral acceleration), the critical pitch angle is reduced to ensure the front wheel remains in contact with the ground for effective cornering force transmission. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the vehicle to adapt to different driving conditions and maintain optimal stability margins.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pitch angle is limited to a fixed critical value to ensure stability, then vehicle stability is improved, but the adaptability to different driving situations (such as cornering) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The critical pitch angle is transformed from a fixed parameter to a dynamic parameter that varies with the vehicle's operating conditions. The control unit continuously monitors transverse dynamic state variables (roll angle, lateral acceleration, yaw rate) and adjusts the critical pitch angle threshold accordingly. During cornering, when lateral forces are significant, the critical pitch angle is reduced to ensure the front wheel maintains ground contact. During straight-line acceleration, the critical pitch angle can be higher, allowing better acceleration performance. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pitch angle control system integrates multiple functions: it prevents front wheel lifting during acceleration, ensures adequate front wheel contact during cornering, and adapts to various driving conditions through a single unified control framework. The control unit uses the same basic control logic (compare current pitch angle with critical threshold, reduce acceleration if exceeded) but applies different critical threshold values based on the detected driving situation, making the system universally applicable to diverse operating conditions.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors and control mechanisms are added to control pitch angle and prevent wheel lifting, then driving safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit leverages existing multi-functional sensors already present in modern motorcycles for other purposes. The accelerometer and gyroscopic sensor are also used for ABS (anti-lock braking system) and TCS (traction control system) functions. The camera system, if used, can serve both pitch angle determination and rider behavior monitoring. By reusing existing sensors for multiple functions, the system achieves pitch angle control without adding dedicated sensors solely for this purpose, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still improving driving safety through enhanced pitch angle management.
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
This approach enhances driving safety by maintaining vehicle stability during acceleration and cornering by effectively limiting the pitch angle, thereby preventing wheel lifting and ensuring the transmission of cornering forces, with the option to adjust the critical pitch angle based on dynamic state variables and plausibility checks.
Implementation Method 1
a pitch rate sensor for determining a pitch rate
Implementation Method 2
a current pitch angle is determined from a pitch rate signal, in particular by integrating the pitch rate signal with respect to time
Implementation Method 3
an actuating element in the motor vehicle is acted upon in such a way that the motor vehicle longitudinal acceleration is reduced or limited
Implementation Method 4
Throttling of the engine torque, that is to say influencing the drive motor, for example by limiting the fuel injection or a corresponding air mass limitation in the internal combustion engine
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for stabilizing a motor vehicle, wherein the current pitch angle is determined and limited to a maximum pitch angle.