Vehicle Center of Gravity Control for Turning Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles with narrow tread, high center of gravity, or high steering speed experience instability during turns, leading to uncomfortable sensations for occupants due to centrifugal forces acting on the outer side of the turning locus.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle configuration with a steerable wheel, non-steerable wheel, inclination actuator, and control apparatus that moves the center of gravity towards the steering direction at the initial stage of steering, using counter-steering to generate acceleration towards the turning locus inner side, thereby improving stability and turning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the vehicle body is inclined toward the inner side of a turning locus to improve turning performance, then the turning performance is improved, but the vehicle stability becomes low especially when the tread is narrow, the center of gravity is high, or the steering speed is high
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus performs preliminary action by moving the center of gravity toward the steering direction at the initial steering stage before the vehicle body begins to incline. This preliminary center of gravity movement generates acceleration toward the turning-locus inner side, creating a stabilizing effect that prevents instability during subsequent body inclination maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the center of gravity position in real-time during steering operations. The control apparatus continuously monitors steering stage and adjusts center of gravity movement accordingly, transitioning from active center of gravity control at the initial stage to natural body inclination at later stages, optimizing both stability and turning performance throughout the maneuver.
2Speed
If the vehicle body is inclined toward the inner side of a turning locus, then the turning performance is improved, but the occupant experiences uncomfortable sensation and uneasiness due to centrifugal force
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus performs preliminary action by moving the center of gravity toward the steering direction at the initial steering stage before the vehicle body begins to incline. This preliminary center of gravity movement generates acceleration toward the turning-locus inner side, creating a stabilizing effect that prevents instability during subsequent body inclination maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the center of gravity position in real-time during steering operations. The control apparatus continuously monitors steering stage and adjusts center of gravity movement accordingly, transitioning from active center of gravity control at the initial stage to natural body inclination at later stages, optimizing both stability and turning performance throughout the maneuver.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vehicle maintains stability and comfort by smoothly inclining towards the turning locus inner side, even with narrow tread or high center of gravity, without compromising drivability or risk aversion ability.
Implementation Method 1
because of an influence of centrifugal force toward the outer side of a turning locus (hereinafter referred to as the 'turning-locus outer side'), a stability of vehicle tends to be low
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a steering section and a main body section connected together; a steerable wheel which is rotatably mounted to the steering section and which steers the vehicle body; a non-steerable wheel which is rotatably mounted to the main body section; a steering apparatus for inputting a steering instruction information; an inclination actuator apparatus for inclining the steering section or the main body section in a turning direction; a steering actuator apparatus for varying a steering angle of the steerable wheel based on the steering instruction information inputted from the steering apparatus; and a control apparatus which controls the inclination actuator apparatus and the steering actuator apparatus. The control apparatus controls a center of gravity to move in a steering direction included in the steering instruction information at an initial steering stage so that an acceleration toward turning-locus inner side is generated.