Steerable Vehicle Wheel Speed Control for Slip Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drivetrain control systems for vehicles with multiple driven wheels struggle to minimize wheel slip during turns without increasing complexity, leading to increased fuel consumption and tire wear due to fixed wheel speed ratios and lack of adaptability to varying steering angles and wheelbases.
Innovation Solution
A steerable vehicle system with a control unit that registers steering angle, wheelbase, and wheel track parameters to calculate and adjust wheel speeds for each driven wheel, automatically recalculating speeds when the wheelbase changes, using a combination of Ackerman and articulated steering devices and propulsion units to minimize wheel slip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed ratio between rear driven axles and front wheels is used, then the drivetrain control is simple, but wheel slip occurs during turns leading to increased fuel consumption and tire wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic wheel speed control by continuously adjusting the rotation speeds of individual driven wheels based on real-time steering angle and wheelbase parameters. The control system calculates optimal wheel speeds dynamically during vehicle operation, allowing the drivetrain to adapt to turning conditions and minimize wheel slip, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining manageable system complexity through centralized control logic.
2Device complexity
If wheel speeds are not compensated for wheel path differences during turns, then the drivetrain control is simple, but wheel slip occurs leading to increased tire wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts wheel speeds based on steering angle and wheelbase to compensate for the different path lengths traveled by inner and outer wheels during turns. This dynamic speed compensation prevents wheel slip and reduces tire wear while maintaining simple drivetrain control architecture through centralized control logic that calculates optimal speeds in real-time.
3Loss of energy
If the control system calculates wheel speeds based on steering angle and wheelbase, then wheel slip is minimized, but the handling complexity of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically registers altered wheelbase parameters and recalculates wheel speeds without requiring manual intervention from the driver or operator. The system self-adjusts to changing vehicle configurations (such as bogie lift positions) by detecting wheelbase changes and dynamically recalculating optimal wheel speeds, thereby minimizing wheel slip and fuel consumption while maintaining simple vehicle handling for the operator.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the control system is adaptable to varying wheelbase configurations, then wheel slip is minimized in all configurations, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various wheelbase configurations (different bogie lift positions, multiple steering devices, variable frame lengths) through a single unified control architecture. The system universally applies the same control logic of registering wheelbase parameters and recalculating wheel speeds, thereby achieving adaptability to all configurations without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and device for controlling wheel speed individually for each driven wheel (3, 6, 7, 23, 27, 26, 32, 33, 34) in a steerable vehicle (1, 21, 31, 85) comprising a front axle (2, 22, 81) and at least two rear axles (4, 5, 25, 82, 83) and having all wheel drive, said method comprising the steps of: -registering parameters and value of said parameters: a. steering angle of the vehicle, b. wheelbase of the vehicle and c. wheel track of the vehicle; -based upon said parameter values continuously during vehicle traveling calculating a wheel speed for each of said driven wheel which will minimize wheel slip; -controlling wheel speed individually for each said driven wheel in accordance with said calculated wheel speeds and; -if said wheelbase is altered, then automatically registering said altered wheelbase value and based on said new prevailing parameter values recalculating said wheel speeds for each driven wheel accordingly.