Two-Wheeled Vehicle Spring Travel Control for Rollover Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing two-wheeled vehicle systems, such as electric bicycles, face challenges in preventing rollovers due to excessive braking or acceleration forces, as they fail to effectively account for road gradients and varying loads, leading to instability and potential wheel lift-off.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating spring deflection sensors for both front and rear wheels, connected to a control unit with acceleration and yaw rate sensors, which regulate drive torque and braking forces based on real-time spring travel information to maintain wheel contact and stability across different road conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If braking forces are increased to stop the vehicle quickly, then stopping distance is reduced, but the vehicle may roll over forwards due to excessive torque

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeceleration rateVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors spring deflection from the spring sensor and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust braking force. When the spring deflection approaches the maximum value indicating impending wheel lift-off, the control unit reduces braking force to prevent forward rollover, thus maintaining stability while achieving effective deceleration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The braking system transitions from static fixed braking force to dynamic adaptive braking force based on real-time spring deflection measurements. The braking force is continuously adjusted according to the vehicle's current state, allowing optimal balance between stopping performance and rollover prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If drive torque is increased to accelerate the vehicle quickly, then acceleration performance is improved, but the vehicle may roll over rearwards due to excessive impulses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceleration rateVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit monitors spring deflection in real-time during acceleration and uses this feedback to limit drive torque. When the spring sensor indicates that maximum deflection is approaching (rear wheel lifting off), the control unit reduces drive torque to prevent backward rollover, maintaining both performance and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively limits drive torque before actual rollover occurs by monitoring spring deflection trends. The control unit anticipates the rollover risk by detecting when spring deflection approaches critical values and preemptively reduces power output, preventing the unstable state rather than reacting after it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If spring deflection sensors are added to monitor wheel contact, then rollover prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverollover prevention reliabilityVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring sensor acts as an intermediary element that indirectly measures wheel contact status and rollover risk. Instead of directly detecting wheel-ground contact, the system measures spring deflection, which serves as a reliable proxy indicator. This intermediary approach provides accurate rollover prevention data while keeping the sensing mechanism simple and integrated into the existing suspension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3077261B1Two-wheeled vehicle with spring travel-based drive and braking power limitation and control unit therefor
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3077261B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3077261B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a two-wheeled vehicle comprising a first spring device (4) of a front wheel (5) and a second spring device (6) of a rear wheel (7), and at least one acceleration and yaw rate sensor (3), which are arranged on a vehicle frame (8) and are operatively connected to a regulation device, characterized in that the first (4) and the second (6) spring device is each provided with a spring travel sensor (1, 2) which is operatively connected to the regulation device.