Deployable Vehicle Bracing Assembly for High-Wind Rollover Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face a high risk of rolling over during severe weather conditions, particularly high winds, as drivers are typically trained to stop at gas stations or under overpasses, but even these locations may not provide sufficient protection against strong winds.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle bracing system with deployable braces that extend from the vehicle's frame to the ground, providing lateral stability by countering wind forces, activated by sensors or weather data to stabilize the vehicle during extreme weather.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle stops at gas stations or under overpasses during severe weather, then the vehicle can wait for the storm to pass, but the high winds can still be sufficiently strong to roll the vehicle over
Solution Approach 1:
The bracing assembly deploys braces in advance to counteract the expected wind forces before they can cause the vehicle to roll over. The braces are positioned to provide preemptive structural support against the harmful wind forces, preventing the instability that would otherwise occur during severe weather conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects severe weather conditions and automatically deploys the bracing assembly before the wind forces become critical. This preliminary deployment ensures that the braces are already in place to provide stability when the high winds hit, preventing the vehicle from rolling over rather than reacting after instability begins.
2Reliability
If the vehicle deploys braces to counteract wind forces, then the vehicle stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracing assembly is divided into multiple independent braces that can be selectively deployed on different sides of the vehicle. Each brace operates as a separate module, allowing the system to provide stability through segmented structural support rather than requiring a single complex bracing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracing assembly is automatically deployed through the control system when severe weather conditions are detected, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system monitors weather data and autonomously activates the braces, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for vehicle bracing is provided. The system includes a vehicle including a front section, a rear section, a first side section, and a second side section opposing the first side section. The system includes a bracing assembly coupled to the vehicle. The bracing assembly includes a first brace and a second brace each capable of being selectively positioned in a retracted position or a deployed position. The system includes a processing device that executes instructions to perform operations that include, in response to a signal from the processing device, selectively positioning the first and second braces in the deployed position such that the first brace extends on the first side section of the vehicle and the second brace extends on the second side section of the vehicle. In the deployed position, the first and second braces stabilize the vehicle.