870 results about "Steering linkage" patented technology

A vehicle control system that selectively provides rear-wheel steering to prevent a vehicle-trailer from jackknifing during a back-up maneuver. The system senses a steering angle of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle and a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. The system calculates an equilibrium hitch angle that is a steady-state hitch angle position based on the steering angle and the vehicle speed, and a pseudo-equilibrium hitch angle that is a steady-state hitch angle at a maximum rear-wheel steering input based on the steering angle and the vehicle speed. The system then determines whether the rear-wheel steering should be provided based on a predetermined relationship between the sensed hitch angle, the equilibrium hitch angle and the pseudo-equilibrium hitch angle.

A system and a method are provided for estimating an actual hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. A hitch sensor on the vehicle continuously senses a measured hitch angle and a steering sensor continuously senses a steering angle of steered wheels of the vehicle. A controller determines an offset between the measured hitch angle and the actual hitch angle when the measured hitch angle and the steering angle are substantially constant while the vehicle and trailer are reversing.

A land vehicle includes an improved construction that can space a steering linkage from the terrain even though an engine for the vehicle has an oil pan positioned at a lower portion of the engine and the steering linkage passes below the engine. The land vehicle includes a drive unit that depends from a body frame and abuts the terrain. The body frame carries the engine. The oil pan is positioned generally at a bottom of the engine and lubricant oil temporarily accumulates in the oil pan. A steering assembly is connected to the body frame for steering movement. The steering assembly includes a pair of skis and a steering linkage extending through the body frame and arranged to steer the skis. The steering linkage and the oil pan, at least in part, are generally horizontally juxtaposed with each other.

The vehicle maneuver assistance device includes: a plurality of external environment imaging units; a converter that performs a view point conversion; a display unit provided in an interior of the present-vehicle; a steering angle status value detector which detects status values of the steering angle representing an actual steering angle of the present-vehicle, and outputs a steering angle status value; a display controller that causes the display unit to display the converted image, and, overlaid thereon, a guidance display which assists a parking maneuver of the present-vehicle, wherein the display controller controls the guidance display according to the steering angle status value, so that the guidance display includes: an initial positioning guide line representing an initial location of the present-vehicle at the beginning of the parking maneuver; and a steering-switching start positioning guide line representing a starting location of a quick steering direction switching.

A vehicle control apparatus that controls a vehicle provided with a steering force applying device capable of applying steering force to induce a change in a steering angle of a steered wheel to the steered wheel, includes a difference detecting device that detects a positional difference that determines a relative positional relationship between a target running path to be maintained and the vehicle; a determining device that determines a control amount of the steering force applying device based on the detected positional difference; a controller that maintains a running path of the vehicle on the target running path by controlling the steering force applying device according to the determined control amount; a steering input detecting device that detects a steering input to a steering input device by a driver; and a correcting device that corrects a determining reference of the control amount of the steering force applying device such that, when a steering input is detected while the running path is maintained on the target running path, this steering input is reflected.

A one-wheeled vehicle includes electric motors, a self-balancing system, and steering mechanism, wherein the electric motors and self-balancing system are disposed within the wheel of the one-wheeled vehicle. Side stirrup legs, which have foot pegs suitable for placement of a rider's feet while riding, are pivoted with respect to the wheel forks, such that the side stirrup legs may be rotated backwards and act as a kickstand for the one-wheeled vehicle. The side stirrup legs may be weighted with, for example, one or more batteries may be attached to the side stirrup legs to provide a weight distribution such that the one-wheeled vehicle does not fall forward when parked. A computational resource such as a microcontroller, or microprocessor-based controller, receives input signals indicative of operation of the twist throttle and brake, and responsive thereto produces signals to adjust the tilt angle relative to the acceleration and thereby reduce the need for a rider to lean forward or backwards.

A trailer and hitch system for a mobile robot. The trailer includes a front Ackerman steering linkage, a releasable locking mechanism for releasably positioning the Ackerman steering linkage in a turned position to arrest the trailer, a tow bar extending upwardly from the Ackerman steering linkage and terminating in a lunette ring, and spaced skid members extending downwardly and rearwardly. The mobile robot includes a hitch assembly for the lunette ring. The hitch assembly has a frame including a slot for the lunette ring and a guide portion for guiding the lunette ring into the slot, a latch pivotable with respect to the frame and biased to close the slot, and a decoupling mechanism configured to move the latch to release the lunette ring from the slot. A robot arm is maneuverable to engage the decoupling mechanism.

According to the present invention, a control unit of an electric power steering apparatus transmitting a steering assist force generated by a motor to a steering mechanism so as to reduce a steering force, the control unit includes a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle, a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque, a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed, and a control means for controlling the motor on the basis of the steering angle, a steering angular speed, the steering torque and the vehicle speed, and the control means has a handle return control function, and corrects a steering feeling in accordance with the steering angle on the basis of the handle return control function.

The invention discloses a steering-by-wire feeling device based on parameter estimation and a control method thereof. The steering-by-wire feeling device comprises a steering wheel as well as a steering angle sensor, a torque sensor, a steering column, a steering feeling motor, a steering feeling controller and so on, wherein the steering angle sensor, the torque sensor, the steering column, the steering feeling motor and the steering feeling controller are connected with the steering wheel; the steering-by-wire feeling device further comprises a set of clutch; the controller is used for detecting an error of a current state; the clutch is controlled to switch to a spare motor steering mode. A planning method comprises the steps of measuring a signal through the sensor, estimating through Kalman filtering so as to obtain a current automobile state variable, figuring out automobile steering resistance moment, and compensating and revising steering feeling through an automobile speed, a variable transmission ratio and a lateral acceleration so as to obtain a current desired steering wheel moment value. According to the steering-by-wire feeling device based on the parameter estimation and the control method thereof, disclosed by the invention, the working mode can be switched through the additionally arranged clutch to assure that a normal steering function can be still guaranteed to provide reliable steering feeling when a steering-by-wire mode has a fault; meanwhile, a driver can obtain good road surface information during normal driving so that the maneuverability and the comfort of the automobile are improved.

A new and novel device for controlling a steering characteristic of a vehicle such as automobile so as to enhance an effect of suppressing a change in a behavior of the vehicle body due to a difference between driving and braking forces on the left and right wheels is characterized in that the device makes an amount of controlling the steering characteristic smaller as an index indicating an amount of a shift of vertical loads between the left and right wheels is increased. The steering characteristic is modified through controlling steering assist torque or a steering angle of the steered wheels. The steering assist by the steering control device is fully effective when the vehicle is running on a straight road having surfaces of different frictional coefficients while less effective on a curved road having a uniform frictional surface, preventing undesirable and unexpected modification of the steering characteristic during turning of the vehicle.

In a front wheel suspension on a motorcycle, the front wheel is mounted in rearward-sloping supporting members which, in turn, are mounted on the chassis of the vehicle by bearing units comprising link elements and a springing function. The supporting member and the wheel are turnable about a steering line which slopes in a corresponding manner to the supporting members. The bearing units form separate upper and lower bearing units, which are provided with bearing units in or about which the supporting members and the wheel are turnable. Preferably, the upper bearing unit of the bearing units acts as a combined bearing and steering linkage member for the supporting members. The bearing units are torsionally rigid in their respective planes, which extend through the respective securement points or bearings of the bearing units in the chassis and the supporting members. The upper bearing unit of the bearing units is arranged compliantly for torsion or turning motions which arise in the bearing unit when the supporting member and hence the wheel are allotted steering or turning motions or assume steering or turning positions which differ from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

The present invention discloses a dual steering system including a first front wheel and a second front wheel, a lateral steering linkage connecting the first and second front wheels, a first steering system with a first steering wheel and a power steering module that assists steering inputs applied to the first steering wheel, and a second steering system with a second steering wheel and a torque sensor in communication with the power steering module of the first steering system and monitoring steering inputs applied to the second steering wheel, whereby the power steering module may provide power assist to the steering inputs applied to the second steering wheel.

A suspension and steering subassembly for a heavy truck is provided including a subframe. The subframe includes first and second side members extending substantially in the direction of vehicle travel and first and second cross members extending substantially perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel. The first and second cross members are integral with the first and second side members such that the subframe is a unitary member. The first and second side members and the first and second cross members are further configured to receive first and second lower suspension control arms, first and second upper suspension control arms, and a portion of the steering linkage for the vehicle. The subframe may further be configured to receive a steering gear and one or more strut rods to provide fore / aft support to the subframe.

A motor vehicle control system operable in a steering assist mode in which the system is configured to: detect steering angle; and control a distribution of torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle in dependence on the detected steering angle thereby to induce a turning moment in the direction of turn indicated by the steering angle.

A drive assist device includes: a overhead image generating unit that generates a vehicle periphery overhead image; a forward trajectory setting unit that sets a forward trajectory serving as an expected trajectory in the travel direction of the vehicle occurring when the turning based on a calculated steering angle; a reverse trajectory setting unit that sets a reverse trajectory serving as an expected trajectory in the travel direction of the vehicle or in the opposite direction as the travel direction of the vehicle occurring when turning based on a steering angle in the opposite direction as the calculated steering angle; and a image synthesizing unit that generates a drive assist overhead image for display in a monitor by synthesizing the forward trajectory and the reverse trajectory with the vehicle periphery overhead image.

An assisting command value calculating unit calculates a first assisting factor on the basis of the value of a torque differential control volume added to a basic assist control volume based on a steering torque value, while increasing or decreasing, on the basis of an assisting gradient, the torque differential control volume based on a torque differential value. The pinion angle F / B control unit calculates a pinion angle command value, capable of being converted to a steering angle of the steering wheel, on the basis of the steering torque and the first assisting factor, and executes rotational angle feedback control. The assisting command value calculating unit calculates an assisting command value on the basis of the value of a second assisting factor, calculated by the pinion angle F / B control unit, added to the first assisting factor.

A bicycle simulation apparatus includes: a steering angle sensor which detects a steering angle of handlebars; a visual display which displays scenes based on a simulated travel speed and the steering angle of the handlebars; and a crank position detector which detects rotational positions of cranks. The crank position detector includes two detected protrusions on a crankshaft and left and right approach sensors. A warning section of a main controller issues warnings if it is determined that the steering angle exceeds a predetermined angle to the left or right during simulated traveling, and if it is also determined by the crank position detector that the crank is directed downward during a sharp turning operation of the handlebars. The bicycle simulation apparatus enables a more realistic driving simulation in consideration of rotational positions of simulator pedals and cranks.

Motor-generators are incorporated in front wheels and drive the front wheels, respectively. An ECU determines whether or not a steering apparatus including a steering actuator, a tie rod and a steering angle sensor has failed, based on an operation angle of a steering wheel from a steering wheel angle sensor and a steering angle of the front wheels from the steering angle sensor. When the ECU determines that the steering apparatus has failed, the ECU provides torque difference for a torque instruction for the motor-generators in accordance with the operation angle of the steering wheel.

An automatic steering apparatus that can suppress steering wheel vibration and that can also smooth angular control. In the automatic steering apparatus, a motor that steers steered wheels is controlled by a control unit. Information from an angle sensor that generates a signal that corresponds to a steering angle of the steered wheels is sent to the control unit. The control unit corrects a target steering angle of the steered wheels such that angular acceleration of the target steering angle is less than or equal to a limiting value. The control unit controls the motor such that the steering angle of the steered wheels tracks the corrected target steering angle based on the information from the angle sensor.

In an outboard motor control system having two outboard motors each mounted on a stern of a boat, there is provided a controller that controls operation of steering actuators to regulate steering angles of the outboard motors such that lines extending from axes of rotation of the propellers of the outboard motors intersect at a desired point. With this, it becomes possible to freely adjust the stream confluence point of the outboard motors, thereby improving boat driving stability and providing enhanced auto-spanker performance.

A system and method for estimating vehicle lateral velocity and surface coefficient of friction using front and rear axle lateral force versus side-slip angle tables and sensor measurements. The sensor measurements include lateral acceleration, yaw-rate, longitudinal speed and steering angle of the vehicle. The method includes calculating front and rear axle lateral forces and front and rear side-slip angles on the axles of the vehicle. The method also includes identifying two equations from the calculated lateral forces and the vehicle measurements. The method provides tables that identify a relationship between the calculated front and rear axle lateral forces and the front and rear side-slip angles, and determines the vehicle lateral velocity and surface coefficient of friction from the tables.

In a steering control device, a road surface reaction force torque calculation module (52) uses a vehicle speed, steering angle, and vehicle model to calculate a caster-trail-caused torque, a self-aligning torque, and a road surface reaction force torque. A reaction force command current calculation module (53) uses the road surface reaction force torque and the vehicle speed to calculate a reaction force command current.

A motor is driven based on an axis current value in a rotating coordinate system that rotates in accordance with a control angle that is a rotational angle used in a control. The control angle is calculated by adding an addition angle to an immediately preceding value of the control angle in each predetermined calculation cycle. A command steering torque is set based on a predetermined steering angle-torque characteristic. The addition angle is calculated based on the deviation of a detected steering torque from a command steering torque. The addition angle based on the deviation is changed when a predetermined condition is satisfied.