Control of independent steering actuators to improve vehicle stability and stopping
First Claim
1. A method of directional control of a motor vehicle moving through a turn, comprising:
- angling a first steerable wheel with respect to a first pivot to brake said motor vehicle;
steering said motor vehicle with a second steerable wheel opposite said first steerable wheel with respect to a second pivot, said first and second pivots substantially aligned defining a lateral direction relative to the motor vehicle;
wherein said angling a first steerable wheel is in response to an operator input to a braking system within the motor vehicle.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An independent steering and/or braking control to improve motor vehicle stability and stopping utilizes a steer-by-wire system that includes a steering input system, a controller in electronic communication with the steering input system, and a plurality of roadwheel systems. Each of the roadwheel systems is in electronic communication with the controller, and each roadwheel system includes a steering actuator and a steerable wheel rotatably and operably connected to the steering actuator. The steerable wheel is configured to be angled independent of other steerable wheels and relative to a direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A method of stopping the motor vehicle as it travels includes angling a pair of the steerable wheels thereof in opposing directions. The direction of the motor vehicle can also be controlled by angling the pair of steerable wheels in opposing directions and adjusting the angle of the pair of steerable wheels If the motor vehicle is articulating a turn, its direction of travel can also be controlled by angling one of the steerable wheels and steering with the other of the steerable wheels. In addition, the angle of the steerable wheels can be adjusted to compensate for lateral disturbance without driver involvement.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of directional control of a motor vehicle moving through a turn, comprising:
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angling a first steerable wheel with respect to a first pivot to brake said motor vehicle;
steering said motor vehicle with a second steerable wheel opposite said first steerable wheel with respect to a second pivot, said first and second pivots substantially aligned defining a lateral direction relative to the motor vehicle;
wherein said angling a first steerable wheel is in response to an operator input to a braking system within the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of decelerating a moving motor vehicle, comprising:
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sensing an operator input to a braking system within the motor vehicle; and
angling a pair of independently steerable wheels in opposing directions to brake the motor vehicle, said pair of independently steerable wheels configured to change a travel direction of the motor vehicle, wherein an amount of said angling of said pair of steerable wheels is variable in direct response to said sensing an operator input to a braking system within the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification