Full size vehicle remote control technology

• US 6,923,281 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US10/202,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20030047362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/904, 180/167, 180/169, 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 180/298, 180/89.1, 180/89.17, 180/299, 348/42, 348/46, 348/47, 348/36, 348 37- 39, 348/113, 348/115, 348/118, 701/2, 701/36, 701/48, 701/101, 701/102, 701/115, 296/35.3
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/18 Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/462 Toe-in/out
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/40 Type of actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/10 Mounting of suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/14 Mounting of suspension arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/16 Mounting of vehicle body on chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/20 Mounting of accessories, e.g. pump, compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/202 of cables
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/99 : Suspension element selection procedure depending on loading or performance requirements, e.g. selection of damper, spring or bush
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 : Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/50 : Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 : Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 : Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/802 : Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/90 : System Controller type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 : Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 : ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/963 : Steer-by-wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/18 : with two or more pivoted arms, e.g. parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/003 : of adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 : for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 : Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 : of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 : of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 : one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 : the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 : the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 : rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 : Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/065 : employing disc B60T1/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 : by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 : Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 : characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 : with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/82 : Brake-by-Wire, EHB
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/00 : Brake-action initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 : by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 : Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 : including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 : including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 : including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/28 : including control of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 : Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 : Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 : Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/00 : Power-assisted or power-driven steering for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; fluid-pressure servomotors in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/18 : Steering knuckles; King pins
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle chassis is controlled remotely using a drive-by-wire system and a propulsion system, such as fuel cell technology. The remote control feature takes advantage of drive-by-wire technology in that the control signals used in powering, driving and controlling a chassis are electrical as opposed to mechanical signals. In this manner, the electrical impulses are used to remotely control the vehicle, which enables remote movement of the chassis during manufacturing, assembly, and shipping, as well as parking and docking and undocking of the chassis with a corresponding body.

Claims

1. A method of controlling movement of a vehicle chassis comprising:

providing a rolling chassis with a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted to the suspension system;

an energy conversion system mounted to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel, and controllable by wire;

a by-wire steering system operably connected to at least one wheel;

a by-wire braking system operably connected to at least one wheel;

an attachment interface having connection components at which a vehicle body is releasably matable to the chassis, the connection components including a control signal receiving electrical connector engageable with a complementary electrical connector on the vehicle body;

a computer operably connected to the control signal receiving electrical connector, energy conversion system, steering system and braking system, and configured to receive and process control signals from the control signal receiving electrical connector and communicate processed control signals to the energy conversion system, steering system, and braking system; and

remotely controlling movement of the chassis by sending control signals to the control signal receiving electrical connector to operate the energy conversion system, steering system and braking system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion system includes a traction motor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer is programmable and configured to accept programs through the control signal receiving electrical connector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of remotely controlling movement comprises wirelessly controlling by configuring the control signal receiving electrical connector to receive wireless control signal input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling movement of the chassis remotely during a vehicle manufacturing process.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling movement of the chassis remotely during shipment.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling movement of the chassis remotely via a cable connected to the control signal receiving electrical connector to carry non-mechanical control signals to the chassis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of remotely controlling is characterized by controlling the chassis using only necessary chassis components which later cooperate between an attached body and the chassis for transmitting control signals to the chassis from a driver.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing control signals to the control signal receiving electrical connector from an overhead cable extending from the ceiling of a manufacturing facility.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing control signals to the control signal receiving electrical connector from a floor track in a manufacturing facility.

12. A method of controlling movement of a vehicle chassis comprising:

providing a rolling chassis with a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted to the suspension system;

an energy conversion system mounted to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel, and controllable by wire;

a by-wire steering system operably connected to at least one wheel;

a by-wire braking system operably connected to at least one wheel;

a control signal receiving electrical connector;

a computer operably connected to the control signal receiving electrical connector, energy conversion system, steering system and braking system, and configured to receive and process control signals from the control signal receiving electrical connector and communicate processed control signals to the energy conversion system, steering system, and braking system;

remotely controlling movement of the chassis by sending control signals to the control signal receiving electrical connector to operate the energy conversion system, steering system and braking system; and

providing a wheeled control signal generator connected to the control signal receiving electrical connector to provide control signals to the chassis during a vehicle manufacturing process.

13. A method of controlling movement of a vehicle chassis comprising:

providing a rolling chassis with a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted to the suspension system;

an energy conversion system mounted to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel, and controllable by wire;

a by-wire steering system operably connected to at least one wheel;

a by-wire braking system operably connected to at least one wheel;

a control signal receiving electrical connector;

a computer operably connected to the control signal receiving electrical connector, energy conversion system, steering system and braking system, and configured to receive and process control signals from the control signal receiving electrical connector and communicate processed control signals to the energy conversion system, steering system, and braking system;

remotely controlling movement of the chassis by sending control signals to the control signal receiving electrical connector to operate the energy conversion system, steering system and braking system; and

stacking a plurality of additional chassis on said mobile chassis and remotely controlling movement of the stack of chassis during a manufacturing, assembly, delivery or shipping process.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of additional stacked chassis do not include tires.