Military vehicle having cooperative control network with distributed I/O interfacing

• US 6,421,593 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pierce Manufacturing Incorporated (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pierce Manufacturing Incorporated (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Inventors: Kempen, Gary M., Squires, Bradley C., Lorrig, Michael E., Gauerke, David L. M., Pillar, Duane R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/384,393
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/32, 701/36, 180/271, 180/333, 180/89.1, 280/727, 280/762
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/043 with additional means for keeping the receptacle substantially vertical during raising
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/045 Four-bar linkages

Abstract

A military vehicle comprises a vehicle power distribution and control system which includes a plurality of input and output devices and a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules that collect data from the plurality of input devices and that distribute power to the plurality of output devices. The interface modules are distributed throughout the vehicle and are locally placed with respect to the plurality of input and output devices. In one embodiment, the control system is capable of dynamically reconfiguring itself in the event that a master interface module is damaged. In another embodiment, the control system includes an additional layer of fault management that is utilized when the input states of one or more input devices is undetermined.

Claims

1. A wrecker vehicle comprising:

(A) a power source;

(B) a power transmission link;

(C) a communication network;

(D) a chassis;

(E) a first plurality of input devices, said first plurality of input devices being mounted on said chassis;

(F) a first plurality of output devices, said first plurality of output devices being mounted on said chassis;

(G) a first microprocessor-based interface module, said first interface module being mounted on said chassis, said first interface module being coupled to said communication network, said first interface module being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said first interface module being coupled to said first plurality of input devices and said first plurality of output devices by way of a first set of respective dedicated communication links, and said first interface module receiving power from said power source and controlling distribution of power to said first plurality of output devices based at least in part on signals received by way of said communication network;

(H) a wrecker variant module, said wrecker variant module being mounted on said chassis and the weight of said variant module being supported by said chassis, said wrecker variant module including a mechanical drive device capable of imparting motion to a towed vehicle to provide said vehicle with a first type of functionality, said wrecker variant module being removable and replaceable with other variant modules having other different types of mechanical drive devices to form other vehicles with other different types of functionality;

(I) a second plurality of input devices, said second plurality of input devices being mounted on said wrecker variant module;

(J) a second plurality of output devices, said second plurality of output devices being mounted on said wrecker variant module;

(K) a second microprocessor-based interface module, said second interface module being mounted on said wrecker variant module, said second interface module being coupled to said communication network, said second interface module being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said second interface module being coupled to said second plurality of input devices and said second plurality of output devices by way of a second set of respective dedicated communication links, and said second interface module receiving power from said power source and controlling distribution of power to said second plurality of output devices based at least in part on signals received by way of said communication network; and

(L) a plurality of additional microprocessor-based interface modules, said plurality of interface modules being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said plurality of additional interface modules being interconnected to each other and to said first and second interface modules by way of said communication network, and each of said plurality of additional interface modules being coupled to respective ones of a plurality of additional input devices and a plurality of additional output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links.

2. A multipurpose modular vehicle system for providing a multipurpose vehicle, comprising:

(A) a wrecker variant module, said wrecker variant module including a tow mechanism capable of towing another vehicle to provide said vehicle with a first type of functionality;

(B) a pumper variant module, said pumper variant module including a pump capable of pumping fluid to provide said vehicle with a second type of functionality;

(C) a chassis, said chassis being capable of removably receiving said wrecker variant module and supporting the weight of said wrecker variant module to provide a first vehicle with wrecker functionality, and said chassis being capable of removably receiving said pumper variant module and supporting the weight of said pumper variant module to provide a second vehicle with pumper functionality;

(D) a power source;

(E) a power transmission link;

(F) a communication network;

(G) a first connector;

(H) a first plurality of input devices, said first plurality of input devices being mounted on said chassis;

(I) a first plurality of output devices, said first plurality of output devices being mounted on said chassis;

(J) a first microprocessor-based interface module, said first interface module being mounted on said chassis, said first interface module being coupled to said communication network, said first interface module being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said first interface module being coupled to said first plurality of input devices and said first plurality of output devices by way of a first set of respective dedicated communication links, and said first interface module receiving power from said power source and controlling distribution of power to said first plurality of output devices based at least in part on signals received by way of said communication network;

(K) a second connector;

(L) a second plurality of input devices, said second plurality of input devices being mounted on said wrecker variant module;

(M) a second plurality of output devices, said second plurality of output devices being mounted on said wrecker variant module;

(N) a second microprocessor-based interface module, said second interface module being mounted on said wrecker variant module, said second interface module being capable of being coupled to said communication network by way of said first and second connectors when said wrecker variant module is mounted on said chassis, said second interface module being capable of being coupled to said power source by way of said first and second connectors when said wrecker variant module is mounted on said chassis, said second interface module being coupled to said second plurality of input devices and said second plurality of output devices by way of a second set of respective dedicated communication links, and said second interface module being capable of receiving power from said power source and controlling distribution of power to said second plurality of output devices based at least in part on signals received by way of said communication network;

(O) a third connector;

(P) a third plurality of input devices, said third plurality of input devices being mounted on said pumper variant module;

(Q) a third plurality of output devices, said third plurality of output devices being mounted on said pumper variant module;

(R) a third microprocessor-based interface module, said third interface module being mounted on said pumper variant module, said third interface module being capable of being coupled to said communication network by way of said first and third connectors when said pumper variant module is mounted on said chassis, said third interface module being capable of being coupled to said power source by way of said first and third connectors when said wrecker variant module is mounted on said chassis, said third interface module being coupled to said third plurality of input devices and said third plurality of output devices by way of a third set of respective dedicated communication links, and said third interface module being capable of receiving power from said power source and controlling distribution of power to said third plurality of output devices based at least in part on signals received by way of said communication network;

(S) a plurality of additional microprocessor-based interface modules, said plurality of additional interface modules being mounted on said chassis, said plurality of additional interface modules being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said plurality of additional interface modules being interconnected to each other and to said first interface module by way of said communication network, and each of said plurality of additional interface modules being coupled to respective ones of a plurality of additional input devices and a plurality of additional output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links; and

(T) a plurality of operator input devices, said plurality of operator input devices having different functionality depending on whether said wrecker variant module or said pumper variant module is mounted on said chassis;

wherein, if said wrecker variant module is mounted on said chassis, said second interface module communicates configuration information pertaining to said wrecker variant module to said first interface module and said first interface module communicates configuration information pertaining to said chassis to said second interface module; and

wherein, if said pumper variant module is mounted on said chassis, said third interface module communicates configuration information pertaining to said pumper variant module to said first interface module and said first interface module communicates configuration information pertaining to said chassis to said third interface module.

3. A military vehicle comprising:

a power distribution and control system, the power distribution and control system further including

(A) a power source;

(B) a power transmission link;

(C) a plurality of input devices;

(D) a plurality of output devices;

(E) a communication network;

(F) a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, said plurality of interface modules being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said plurality of interface modules being interconnected to each other by way of said communication network, each of said plurality of interface modules being coupled to respective ones of said plurality of input devices and to said plurality of output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links;

wherein said plurality of interface modules cooperate to control said plurality of output devices based on input status information from said plurality of input devices;

wherein said military vehicle is a multipurpose modular vehicle and comprises a chassis and a variant module, said variant module being mounted on said chassis and the weight of said variant module being supported by said chassis, said variant module including a mechanical drive device capable of imparting motion to solid or liquid matter that is not part of said vehicle to provide said vehicle with a first type of functionality, said variant module being removable and replaceable with other variant modules having other different types of mechanical drive devices to form other vehicles with other different types of functionality;

wherein said plurality of interface modules includes a first subplurality of interface modules at front locations of said vehicle and a second subplurality of interface modules at rear locations of said vehicle, with at least one of said plurality of interface modules being located on said variant module, such that said plurality of interface modules are distributed throughout said vehicle; and

wherein each respective interface module is locally disposed with respect to the respective input and output devices to which said respective interface module is coupled so as to permit, by way of said respective dedicated communication link, distributed data collection from said respective input devices to said respective interface module and distributed power distribution from said respective interface module to said respective output devices.

4. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3,

wherein one of said plurality of interface modules is a master interface module,

wherein remaining ones of said plurality of interface modules are each capable of serving as replacement master interface modules,

wherein said control system is dynamically reconfigurable, such that said control system is capable of responding to a failure of said master interface module by designating another interface module as a new master interface module,

wherein said plurality of interface modules are physically and functionally interchangeable units, and

wherein said plurality of interface modules each have a mastership rank that is defined by a physical location on said communication network where said plurality of interface modules are connected to said communication network, such that said exchanging the location of two of said interface modules on said communication network causes said two interface modules to exchange mastership ranks.

5. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein each respective one of said plurality of interface modules includes a respective control program that is executable by a respective microprocessor of each said respective interface module, and wherein each said respective interface module executes said respective control program to control a respective subset of said plurality of output devices based on input status information from said plurality of input devices.

6. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of interface modules is physically and functionally interchangeable with each remaining one of said plurality of interface modules.

7. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said plurality of interface modules are physically and functionally interchangeable with interface modules utilized by the other variant modules.

8. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3,

wherein said military vehicle is substantially free of circuit breakers and relays.

9. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3,

wherein said plurality of output devices include first and second output devices, and

wherein, for said first and second output devices, said control system includes control logic to control said first and second output devices when at least some of said plurality of input devices have an input state that is undetermined.

10. A military vehicle as defined in claim 9 wherein for at least one I/O state of said vehicle in which an input state of one of said plurality of input devices is undetermined, said input state of said one input device is assumed by said control system to be a first state for purposes of said first output device and is assumed by said control system to be a second different state for purposes of said second output device.

11. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said variant module is one of a wrecker variant module, a dump truck variant module, a water pump variant module, and a telephone variant module.

12. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said variant module is a wrecker variant module and provides said military vehicle with wrecker vehicle functionality.

13. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said variant module is a dump truck variant module and provides said military vehicle with dump truck functionality.

14. A military vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said variant module is a pumper variant module and provides said military vehicle with pumper vehicle functionality.

15. A multipurpose modular vehicle comprising:

a chassis and a variant module, said variant module being mounted on said chassis and the weight of said variant module being supported by said chassis, said variant module including a mechanical drive device capable of imparting motion to solid or liquid matter that is not part of said vehicle to provide said vehicle with a first type of functionality, and said variant module being removable and replaceable with other variant modules having other different types of mechanical drive devices to form other vehicles with other different types of functionality, and wherein said chassis and said variant module in combination include a power distribution and control system, said power distribution and control system further including

(A) a power source;

(B) a power transmission link;

(C) a plurality of input devices;

(D) a plurality of output devices;

(E) a communication network;

(F) a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, said plurality of interface modules being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said plurality of interface modules being interconnected to each other by way of said communication network, and each of said plurality of interface modules being coupled to respective ones of said plurality of input devices and to said plurality of output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links;

wherein said plurality of interface modules cooperate to control said plurality of output devices based on input status information from said plurality of input devices,

wherein said plurality of interface modules includes a first subplurality of interface modules at front locations of said vehicle and a second subplurality of interface modules at rear locations of said vehicle, such that said plurality of interface modules are distributed throughout said vehicle; and

wherein each respective interface module is locally disposed with respect to the respective input and output devices to which said respective interface module is coupled so as to permit, by way of said respective dedicated communication link, distributed data collection from said respective input devices to said respective interface module and distributed power distribution from said respective interface module to said respective output devices.

16. A vehicle system as defined in claim 15, wherein said chassis and said variant module respectively include first and second mating connectors, and wherein said first connector is also functionally and physically mateable with connectors used by the other variant modules.

17. A vehicle system as defined in claim 15, wherein said interface modules are interchangeable with interface modules used by the other variant modules.

18. A vehicle system as defined in claim 15, wherein said control system includes a plurality of switches that are located in a driver area of said vehicle, and wherein said plurality of switches has variable functionality depending-on which variant module is mounted on said chassis.

19. A multipurpose modular vehicle as defined in claim 15,

wherein said variant module is one of a wrecker variant module, a dump truck variant module, a water pump variant module, and a telephone variant module.

20. A method of operating a military vehicle comprising:

(A) providing a vehicle power distribution and control system, said system comprising a plurality of input and output devices and a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules that collect data from said plurality of input devices and distribute power to said plurality of output devices, said plurality of interface modules including a first subplurality of interface modules at front locations of said vehicle and a second subplurality of interface modules at rear locations of said vehicle, such that said plurality of interface modules are distributed throughout said vehicle and are locally placed with respect to said plurality of input and output devices;

(B) configuring said power distribution and control system, including configuring each of said plurality of interface modules, each of said plurality of interface modules being configured after power-up during an initialization sequence and according to a location of each said interface module on said military vehicle; and

wherein said military vehicle is a multipurpose modular vehicle and comprises a chassis and a variant module, said variant module being mounted on said chassis and the weight of said variant module being supported by said chassis, said variant module including a mechanical drive device capable of imparting motion to solid or liquid matter that is not part of said vehicle to provide said vehicle with a first type of functionality, and said variant module being removable and replaceable with other variant modules having other different types of mechanical drive devices to form other military vehicles with other different types of functionality, and

wherein said configuring step includes determining which type of variant module is mounted to said chassis, and configuring after power-up during an initialization sequence an interface module disposed on said chassis in accordance with said type of variant module, said interface module being one of said plurality of interface modules.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein said variant module is one of a wrecker variant module, a dump truck variant module, a water pump variant module, and a telephone variant module.

22. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising downloading firmware into at least one of said plurality of interface modules, said firmware being downloaded from a remote location by way of the Internet.

23. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising downloading firmware into at least one of said plurality of interface modules, said firmware being downloaded from a remote location by way of a telephone link.

24. A multipurpose modular vehicle system for providing a multipurpose vehicle, comprising:

(A) a power source;

(B) a power transmission link;

(C) a communication network;

(D) a chassis;

(E) a first plurality of input devices, said first plurality of input devices being mounted on said chassis;

(F) a first plurality of output devices, said first plurality of output devices being mounted on said chassis;

(G) a first microprocessor-based interface module, said first interface module being mounted on said chassis, said first interface module being coupled to said communication network, said first interface module being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said first interface module being coupled to said first plurality of input devices and said first plurality of output devices by way of a first set of respective dedicated communication links, and said first interface module receiving power from said power source and controlling distribution of power to said first plurality of output devices based at least in part on signals received by way of said communication network;

(H) a plurality of means for providing said vehicle with particular types of functionality, said plurality of means for providing being removable and replaceable with each other to form vehicles with different types of functionality, at least one of said means for providing being mounted on said chassis;

(I) a second plurality of input devices, said second plurality of input devices being mounted on said at least one means for providing;

(J) a second plurality of output devices, said second plurality of output devices being mounted on said at least one means for providing;

(K) a second microprocessor-based interface module, said second interface module being coupled to said communication network, said second interface module being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said second interface module being coupled to said second plurality of input devices and said second plurality of output devices by way of a second set of respective dedicated communication links, and said second interface module receiving power from said power source and controlling distribution of power to said second plurality of output devices based at least in part on signals received by way of said communication network; and

(L) a plurality of additional microprocessor-based interface modules, said plurality of interface modules being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said plurality of additional interface modules being interconnected to each other and to said first and second interface modules by way of said communication network, and each of said plurality of additional interface modules being coupled to respective ones of a plurality of additional input devices and a plurality of additional output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links.

25. A military vehicle as defined in claim 24, wherein said at least one means for providing is a wrecker variant module and provides said military vehicle with wrecker vehicle functionality.

26. A military vehicle as defined in claim 24, wherein said at least one means for providing is a dump truck variant module and provides said military vehicle with dump truck functionality.

27. A military vehicle as defined in claim 24, wherein said at least one means for providing is a pumper variant module and provides said military vehicle with pumper vehicle functionality.

28. A military vehicle as defined in claim 24, wherein at least one of said plurality of additional interface modules is mounted on said at least one means for providing in addition to said second variant module, such that said at least one means for providing comprises at least two interface modules.

29. A military vehicle as defined in claim 28, wherein said first interface module, said second interface module, and said plurality of additional interface modules are all physically and functionally interchangeable.

30. A method comprising:

(A) providing a multipurpose modular vehicle comprising a chassis and a variant module, said variant module being mounted on said chassis and the weight of said variant module being supported by said chassis, said variant module including a mechanical drive device capable of imparting motion to solid or liquid matter that is not part of said vehicle to provide said vehicle with a first type of functionality, said variant module being removable and replaceable with other variant modules having other different types of mechanical drive devices to form other vehicles with other different types of functionality, said vehicle further comprising a power distribution and control system, said power distribution and control system further including a power source, a power transmission link, a plurality of input devices, a plurality of output devices, a communication network, and a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, said plurality of interface modules being coupled to said power source by way of said power transmission link, said plurality of interface modules being interconnected to each other by way of said communication network, and each of said plurality of interface modules being coupled to respective ones of said plurality of input devices and to said plurality of output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links;

(B) configuring said power distribution and control system, including

(1) accessing a plurality of unique codes, said accessing step being performed by said plurality of interface modules, wherein each respective one of said plurality of interface modules accesses a unique code that is a function of a location of said respective interface module on said vehicle, and configuring each of said plurality of interface modules based in part on which unique code is accessed, and

(2) exchanging configuration information pertaining to said chassis and said variant module, said exchanging step being performed by first and second ones of said plurality of interface modules, said first one of said plurality of interface modules being located on said chassis and said second one of said plurality of interface modules being located on said variant module, wherein said first one of said plurality of interface modules provides said second one of said plurality of interface modules with configuration information pertaining to said chassis, and wherein said second one of said plurality of interface modules provides said first one of said plurality of interface modules with configuration information pertaining to said variant module; and

(C) controlling said plurality of output devices based on input status information from said plurality of input devices, said controlling step being performed by said plurality of interface modules;

wherein said plurality of interface modules includes a first subplurality of interface modules at front locations of said vehicle and a second subplurality of interface modules at rear locations of said vehicle, with at least one of said plurality of interface modules being located on said variant module, such that said plurality of interface modules are distributed throughout said vehicle; and

wherein each respective interface module is locally disposed with respect to the respective input and output devices to which said respective interface module is coupled so as to permit, by way of said respective dedicated communication link, distributed data collection from said respective input devices to said respective interface module and distributed power distribution from said respective interface module to said respective output devices.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein said information provided by said first one of said plurality of interface modules to said second one of said plurality of interface modules comprises information pertaining to engine size of an engine of said chassis.

32. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein said information provided by said second one of said plurality of interface modules to said first one of said plurality of interface modules comprises information pertaining to a weight of said variant module.

33. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein said accessing step is performed by all of said plurality of interface modules.

34. A method as defined in claim 30, further comprising downloading firmware into at least one of said plurality of interface modules, said firmware being downloaded from a remote location by way of the Internet.

35. A method as defined in claim 30, further comprising downloading firmware into at least one of said plurality of interface modules, said firmware being downloaded from a remote location by way of a telephone link.