Three-Axis Joystick With Segmented Flanges For EV Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional joysticks, such as the 2 DoF tilt joystick, are not fast enough and lack precision to fully exploit the responsiveness of electric vehicle (EV) systems, as they require significant arm movement and have a limited tilt range, making them unsuitable for rapid and precise driving.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held controller with a joystick that allows movement in three dimensions, utilizing a configuration of interconnected flanges (yaw, pitch, and roll) with sensors to measure rotations, enabling finer control over vehicle steering and acceleration/deceleration, and incorporating a curved rack and pinion mechanism for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a 2 DoF tilt joystick is used, then the controller is more compact and easier to manufacture, but the operating speed is insufficient and precision is low
Solution Approach 1:
The joystick is divided into three independent rotational degrees of freedom (pitch, roll, yaw), each controlled by separate sensors and flanges. This segmentation allows each axis to operate independently, enabling faster response times while maintaining a compact structure that is feasible to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from 2 DoF to 3 DoF by adding the yaw axis (rotation around the vertical axis) to the existing pitch and roll axes. This dimensional enhancement allows the joystick to achieve faster operating speeds and higher precision without significantly increasing overall complexity or manufacturing difficulty.
2Device complexity
If a 2 DoF tilt joystick is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the steering precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Steering precision is improved by segmenting the control into three independent rotational axes (pitch, roll, yaw), each measured by dedicated sensors. This allows precise measurement of small angular changes on each axis while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Mechanical measurement systems are replaced with electronic sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) that digitally measure rotational movements. This substitution enhances steering precision significantly while actually reducing mechanical complexity by eliminating complex mechanical linkages and measurement mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If a steering wheel is used, then the steering range is large (900 degrees), but the operating speed is slow due to significant arm movement required
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism transitions from two-dimensional steering wheel rotation to three-dimensional joystick movement with pitch, roll, and yaw axes. This allows the driver to achieve full steering range through combined rotational movements rather than large circular motions, significantly reducing arm movement distance and increasing operating speed while maintaining ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The joystick design allows dynamic adjustment of steering angle through three independent rotational axes. The system can achieve any steering angle through various combinations of pitch, roll, and yaw movements, enabling faster and more flexible control compared to the fixed circular path of a steering wheel, while maintaining intuitive operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A controller having a joystick which can be moved in three dimensions is disclosed. The joystick is connected by a Y (yaw) link which is, in turn, connected to a P (pitch) link, which is, in turn connected to an R (roll) link. The R link is rotatable about a fixed-position mounting base. Alternately, the joystick is connected by an R (roll) link which is, in turn, connected to a P (pitch) link, which is, in turn connected to an Y (yaw) link. The Y link is rotatable about a fixed-position mounting base. In either of these manners, one can rotate a joystick around any of three axes. When used to control a vehicle, rotation around the yaw and roll axes can steer (with one being more fine-tuned steering), and rotation around the pitch axis can control acceleration and deceleration.