Systems and methods for controlling wheel motion during a collision

A system for controlling wheel motion during a collision, the system comprising:

• a vehicle frame;
• a wheel assembly;
• and
• a retaining member connected between the vehicle frame and the wheel assembly to control motion of the wheel during a collision with an object, wherein the retaining member forces the wheel assembly into a preferred path during the collision;
• wherein the retaining member includes one or more of:
• a first attachment point connecting the retaining member to the vehicle frame, the first attachment point being selected to control motion of the wheel assembly during the collision by controlling an arc motion of the wheel assembly towards the vehicle frame;
• a second attachment point connecting the retaining member to the wheel assembly, the second attachment point being selected to control motion of the wheel assembly during the collision by controlling a rotation of the wheel assembly towards the vehicle frame;
• and
• one or more break-away connections attaching the retaining member to the vehicle frame and/or to the wheel assembly, the one or more break-away connections being selected to control motion of the wheel assembly during the collision by modifying the arc motion of the wheel assembly towards the vehicle frame.

A method for controlling wheel motion during a collision, the method comprising:

• providing a retaining member for connection between a vehicle frame and a wheel assembly to control motion of the wheel assembly during a collision of a vehicle with an object;
• and
• tuning motion of the wheel assembly in response to impact with the object by controlling one or more parameters of the retaining member to force the wheel assembly into a preferred path during the collision, wherein tuning motion of the wheel assembly comprises:
• selecting a first attachment point connecting the retaining member to the vehicle frame to control an arc motion of the wheel assembly towards the vehicle frame;
• selecting a second attachment point connecting the retaining member to the wheel assembly to control a rotation of the wheel assembly towards the vehicle frame;
• and
• selecting one or more break-away connections attaching the retaining member to the vehicle frame and/or to the wheel assembly to modify the arc motion of the wheel assembly towards the vehicle frame.