Systems and methods for free wheel towing
AssigneeRivian IP Holdings, LLC
InventorRahul Madineni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative drive unit controllers, drive units, and vehicles. In an illustrative embodiment, a drive unit controller includes a processor having computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to receive free-wheel tow mode activation information, activate a hold mode based on the received free-wheel tow mode activation information, generate a zero-speed command in response to the hold mode being activated, and send the generated zero-speed command to a stabilizing system of the associated vehicle.
Claims20
A controller comprising:
- a processor having computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- receive free-wheel tow mode activation information of an associated vehicle;
- activate a hold mode based on the received free-wheel tow mode activation information;
- generate a zero-speed command in response to the hold mode being activated;
- send the generated zero-speed command to a stabilizing system of the associated vehicle;
- compare the generated zero-speed command to a threshold value;
- and
- deactivate the hold mode in response to the generated zero-speed command being greater than the threshold value such that the processor ceases to generate the zero-speed command until the free-wheel tow mode is deselected by a user.
A drive unit comprising:
- an electric motor;
- an encoder configured to generate motor speed information of the electric motor;
- an inverter configured to control operation of the electric motor;
- and
- a controller including:
- a processor having computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- receive free-wheel tow mode activation information of an associated vehicle;
- activate a hold mode based on the received free-wheel tow mode activation information;
- generate a zero-speed command in response to the hold mode being activated;
- send the generated zero-speed command to the inverter;
- compare the generated zero-speed command to a threshold value;
- and
- deactivate the hold mode in response to the generated zero-speed command being greater than the threshold value such that the processor ceases to generate the zero-speed command until the free-wheel tow mode is deselected by a user.
A vehicle comprising:
- a human-machine interface unit configured to generate a tow mode activation signal;
- and
- a drive unit including:
- an electric motor;
- an encoder configured to generate motor speed information of the electric motor;
- and
- an inverter configured to control operation of the electric motor;
- and
- a controller including a processor having computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- receive the generated tow mode activation signal from the human-machine interface unit;
- activate a hold mode in response to the received tow mode activation signal;
- generate a zero-speed command in response to the hold mode being activated;
- send the generated zero-speed command to the inverter;
- compare the generated zero-speed command to a threshold value;
- and
- deactivate the hold mode in response to the generated zero-speed command being greater than the threshold value such that the processor ceases to generate the zero-speed command until the free-wheel tow mode is deselected by a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.