Rear Wheel Steering Control for Adjustable Vehicle Dynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor vehicle control systems fail to offer significantly different driving sensations, as they cannot adjust the dynamic behavior to mimic either a sports car or a limousine, and existing rear wheel steering control methods do not allow drivers to customize driving modes effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling the dynamic behavior of a vehicle with rear wheel steering, where the rear wheel setpoint is linked to the front wheel setpoint via an adjustable parameter, allowing drivers to choose from various driving modes by modifying the 4WD control, including the use of a control unit with sensors and actuators to adjust the steering angle and damping for enhanced maneuverability and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional motor vehicle control systems use fixed dynamic behavior parameters, then the vehicle maintains stable operation, but the driver cannot experience significantly different driving sensations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving mode varietyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustability of the adjustment parameter that links rear wheel steering angle to front wheel steering angle. This allows the vehicle's dynamic behavior to change in real-time based on driver selection, enabling multiple driving modes (sporty, economical, neutral) without requiring fundamentally different control systems. The parameter can be modified via a simple driver command interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the steering control parameter - specifically the gain factor relating front wheel steering angle to rear wheel steering angle. By offering different values for this parameter (e.g., higher gain for sporty mode, lower gain for economical mode), the system provides dramatically different driving sensations while using the same physical hardware, thus avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If rear wheel steering control uses a fixed adjustment parameter, then the vehicle achieves stable behavior, but the driver cannot customize driving modes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver control flexibilityVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the rear wheel steering control parameter based on driver selection rather than using a fixed value. The control unit receives a command from the driver and modifies the adjustment parameter accordingly, allowing easy customization of driving modes while maintaining reliability through controlled parameter transitions and validated mode switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The single rear wheel steering control system serves multiple functions by accepting different adjustment parameters. The same physical control mechanism handles various driving modes (sporty, economical, neutral) by varying the parameter value, making the system universal and eliminating the need for separate control systems for each mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the adjustment parameter linking rear wheel steering to front wheel steering is made variable, then different driving sensations are achieved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving mode selectionVSAvoidcontrol parameter management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention manages control complexity by focusing on a single critical parameter - the adjustment factor linking front and rear wheel steering angles. Rather than managing multiple complex parameters, the system varies this one parameter to achieve different driving modes, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed to handle multiple driving modes through a universal parameter adjustment mechanism. The same control hardware and software structure manages all driving modes by simply changing the adjustment parameter value, avoiding the need for separate control systems for each mode and thereby limiting the increase in complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3201017B1Method for regulating the behaviour of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 RENAULT SA
  • EP3201017B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3201017B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3201017B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling the dynamic behaviour of a motor vehicle, especially by means of the turn angle of the rear steered wheel (a2) for a vehicle comprising at least three steered wheels, wherein the setting for the rear wheels (a2) is related to the setting for the front wheels (ai) by a regulating parameter (Tgs) that can have different values, these values being accessible by the user by means of a control, according to the mode of behaviour of the vehicle desired by the user.