Self-Propelled Vehicle Lifting Unit Haptic Stability Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-propelled vehicles with lifting units face poor lateral stability during load transport, as existing warning systems for potential toppling can be overlooked due to environmental noise or visibility issues, and conservative pre-set values limit vehicle capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled vehicle equipped with a control unit communicating with sensors to measure stability parameters, generating haptic signals on the steering member when the steering angle exceeds alert values, including vibrations or increased resistance, to effectively warn the operator of lateral instability without hindering vehicle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual or acoustic warning signals are used to alert the operator of potential vehicle toppling, then the operator can be informed of instability conditions, but the signals can be overlooked due to environmental noise, visibility issues, or operator attention
Solution Approach 1:
The warning system is segmented into multiple independent channels (visual, acoustic, and haptic) so that if one channel is blocked by environmental factors, other channels remain available to convey the warning to the operator
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wheel acts as an intermediary device that transmits haptic feedback directly to the operator's hands, which are always in contact with the steering wheel during operation, ensuring the warning is received regardless of visual or auditory environmental conditions
2Reliability
If a fixed pre-set steering angle limit is used to ensure vehicle stability, then the vehicle can be protected from toppling in hard working conditions, but the vehicle capabilities are excessively limited in light working conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The steering angle alert value is made dynamic rather than fixed, automatically adjusting based on real-time measurements of vehicle parameters (load weight, terrain inclination, vehicle speed) to provide appropriate stability protection adapted to current working conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The alert steering angle parameter is changed dynamically based on measured vehicle conditions, allowing the system to maintain safety margins in hard working conditions while permitting greater steering angles in light working conditions, thus optimizing both safety and operational capability
3Reliability
If conservative pre-set steering angle values are used to prevent toppling in all conditions, then vehicle stability is ensured, but vehicle productivity and operational efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the alert steering angle based on real-time vehicle conditions, allowing operators to maintain higher productivity in safe conditions while automatically reducing the alert threshold when stability risks are detected, thus optimizing both productivity and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures vehicle parameters and provides real-time feedback by adjusting the alert steering angle accordingly, enabling operators to understand the current stability margin and operate efficiently within safe parameters rather than being constrained by overly conservative fixed limits
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Self-propelled vehicle (1) comprising: a main frame (2), two steering wheels (3) articulated to the main frame (2), a lifting unit (4) connected to the main frame (2) and adapted to lift a load (L), a steering system (10) adapted to control the steering wheels (3) and equipped with a steering member (11), and a control unit (34) communicating with a detection sensor (33) for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheels (3) and a measuring sensor (35) adapted to measure the value of a parameter of the vehicle (1) that influences the stability of the vehicle itself, wherein the control unit (34) is configured to: calculate an alert value of the steering angle of the steering wheels (3) based on the value measured by the measuring sensor (35), and generating on the steering member (11), when the value of the steering angle detected by the detection sensor (33) exceeds the alert value, a haptic signal perceptible by a user of the vehicle (1).