# US 11,897,519 B2 · Hybrid drive by wire system for track vehicle operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,519 B2 - Document ID: US11897519B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/976,587 - Filed: 2018-03-02 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-02 - Assignees: St Engineering Land Systems Ltd - Applicants: St Engineering Land Systems Ltd - Inventors: Tze Meng Jensen Chew; Fu-Jun Timmy Low - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897519B2 ## CPC - B60W 60/005: {Handover processes (Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227)} - B62D 1/22: Alternative steering-control elements, e.g. for teaching purposes - B60R 16/023: for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems - B60W 10/10: including control of change-speed gearings - B60W 10/18: including control of braking systems - B60W 10/20: including control of steering systems - B62D 5/001: {Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup} - B62D 11/003: {Electric or electronic control systems} - B60W 2510/20: Steering systems - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system and method for utilizing multiple driver stations in a track vehicle is described. A primary driver station can utilize controls with hybrid drive by wire (DbW) functionality (i.e. hydro-mechanical and electric control). A secondary driver station and a tertiary driver station can utilize controls with DbW (i.e. electronic) control systems. The secondary and tertiary driver stations can be adapted for autonomous driving. The invention also includes a method of transfer between driver stations with safeguards for safety and reliability. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for transferring driving control of a moving vehicle from a first driver station to a second driver station, said system comprising: a platform manager to confirm that parking brake settings are the same at the first driver station and the second driver station; and a transmission control module for checking shutdown faults; wherein said transmission control module provides requirements to complete the transfer, and wherein said transmission control module disables the first driver station and enables the second driver station after the requirements are satisfied, and wherein each of the first driver station and second driver station comprise manual controls for steering, braking, gear selection and acceleration, wherein upon the transfer of driving control the first driver station's controls for steering, acceleration and gear selection are disabled and the control for braking remain functional. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the requirements include a maximum vehicle speed and an absence of transmission shutdown faults. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the maximum vehicle speed is 32 kilometers per hour. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second driver station comprises controls for a park brake, service brake and emergency brake, wherein at the second driver station steering, gear selection and acceleration is operated through electrical connections, wherein the park brake and service brake are operated through electrical connections and the emergency brake is operated through hydraulic connections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at the first driver station steering is operated through hydro-mechanical connections, braking is operated through hydraulic connections, gear selection is operated through electrical connections and acceleration is operated through electrical connections. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first driver station comprises a hydro-mechanical steering unit, and wherein the second driver station comprises a multifunctional control handle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the steering unit comprises a sensor assembly to send signals to the transmission control module and wherein the multifunctional control handle comprises position sensors to send signals to the transmission control module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein at the point of during transfer the vehicle's steering will correspond to the steering angle of the multifunctional control handle and the gear selection at the second driver station will be at the same position as the first driver station. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein once requirements are satisfied for transfer a driver at the second driver station takes over mobility control of the vehicle from a driver at the first driver station. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a driver at the second driver station uses drive by wire technology to control the vehicle through an analog network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a third driver station. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein a driver at the third driver station uses drive by wire technology to control the vehicle through a Controller Area Network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein a hydraulic brake remains active at each of the first driver station, the second driver station and the third driver station. ### Claim 14 A method of transferring control of a moving vehicle from a first driver station to a second driver station during mobile operation of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps: initiating a request for transfer; confirming that a parking brake setting at the first driver station matches a parking brake setting at the second driver station; and upon satisfying requirements for transfer, disabling the first driver station and enabling the second driver station, wherein each of the first driver station and second driver station comprise manual controls for steering, braking, gear selection and acceleration, wherein upon the transfer of driving control the first driver station's controls for steering, acceleration and gear selection are disabled and the control for braking remain functional. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein an alert is activated if the first driver station and the second driver station have different parking brake settings. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the requirements for transfer comprise a maximum speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the maximum speed is 32 kilometers per hour. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the requirements for transfer comprise a confirmation of the absence of active transmission shutdown faults. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second driver station is assigned a gear selection setting equal to a setting at the first driver station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of transferring control of the moving vehicle from a first driver station to a third driver station. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising a step of transferring control of the moving vehicle from a second or third driver station to a first driver station. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more requirements for transfer comprise a confirmation from an operator at the first driver station. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first driver station comprises a hydro-mechanical steering unit, and wherein the second driver station comprises a multifunctional control handle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the steering unit comprises a sensor assembly to send signals to the transmission control module and wherein the multifunctional control handle comprises position sensors to send signals to the transmission control module. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein at the point of during transfer the vehicle's steering will correspond to the steering angle of the multifunctional control handle and the gear selection at the second driver station will be at the same position as the first driver station. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein once requirements are satisfied for transfer a driver at the second driver station takes over mobility control of the vehicle from a driver at the first driver station. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein at the first driver station steering is operated through hydro-mechanical connections, braking is operated through hydraulic connections, gear selection is operated through electrical connections and acceleration is operated through electrical connections. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second driver station comprises controls for a park brake, service brake and emergency brake, wherein at the second driver station steering, gear selection and acceleration is operated through electrical connections, wherein the park brake and service brake are operated through electrical connections and the emergency brake is operated through hydraulic connections.