Failure mode operation for an electric vehicle
First Claim
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1. An electric traction vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle platform;
a communication network;
a power source coupled to the vehicle platform;
a power storage unit coupled to the vehicle platform;
a plurality of drive wheels rotatably mounted on the vehicle platform;
a plurality of electric motors which are used to drive the drive wheels, the electric motors receiving power from the power source and/or the power storage unit; and
one or more microprocessor based modules coupled to the communication network, the modules being used to provide control information to control the output of the electric motors, the modules being configured to vary the control information based on whether the power storage unit is online or offline due to a failure in a power distribution and control system.
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Abstract
An electric vehicle is described herein which includes a microprocessor based interface module which is used to control electric motors coupled to drive wheels. The interface module is configured to include a backup communications link to allow an operator to control the vehicle in situations where control information is unavailable over a primary communications network.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electric traction vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle platform; a communication network; a power source coupled to the vehicle platform; a power storage unit coupled to the vehicle platform; a plurality of drive wheels rotatably mounted on the vehicle platform; a plurality of electric motors which are used to drive the drive wheels, the electric motors receiving power from the power source and/or the power storage unit; and one or more microprocessor based modules coupled to the communication network, the modules being used to provide control information to control the output of the electric motors, the modules being configured to vary the control information based on whether the power storage unit is online or offline due to a failure in a power distribution and control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for controlling an electric traction vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a vehicle platform, a power source coupled to the vehicle platform, a power storage unit coupled to the vehicle platform, a plurality of drive wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle platform, and a plurality of electric motors which are used to drive the drive wheels, the electric motors receiving power from the power source and/or the power storage unit, a power distribution and control system which is used to control the power output to the power source to provide variable power output from the power source; determining that a failure has occurred in the power distribution and control system, the failure resulting in power from the power storage unit being unavailable to power the electric motors; and controlling the electric motors to compensate for the power from the power storage unit being unavailable. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling an electric traction vehicle, the method comprising:
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transmitting torque output control information over a communication network to one or more microprocessor based interface modules which are used to control the torque output of a plurality of electric motors, the electric motors being coupled to and configured to drive a plurality of drive wheels; determining that a failure has occurred so that the torque output control information is unavailable over the communication network; controlling the torque output of the plurality of electric motors using torque output control information received by the one or more interface modules over a second communication link. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification