Autonomous vehicle braking and steering system
AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid Leslie Agnew, Jeremy J. McClain, Jeffrey William Weber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering system for a vehicle includes a front wheel supported for rotation about a first axis and a pivot axis transverse to the first axis and spaced inboard of a centerline of the front wheel. The front wheel is movable about the pivot axis to change direction of the vehicle. A brake coupled to the front wheel provides braking rotation of the front wheel and a controller controls operation of the brake to generate a desired braking force in a direction determined to adjust a vehicle direction.
Claims15
A steering system for a vehicle comprising:
- a front wheel supported for rotation about a first axis;
- a pivot axis transverse to the first axis and spaced inboard of a centerline of the front wheel, wherein the front wheel is movable about the pivot axis to change direction of the vehicle;
- a brake coupled to the front wheel for braking rotation of the front wheel;
- a controller controlling operation of the brake to generate a desired braking force in a direction determined to adjust a vehicle direction.
A steering system for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a front wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- a pivot axis transverse to the axis of rotation, the pivot axis disposed inboard of a centerline of the front wheel;
- an electric motor coupled to the front wheel for rotating the front wheel about the pivot axis;
- a brake coupled to the front wheel for controlling rotation of the front wheel about the axis of rotation;
- and
- a controller for controlling the brake to generate a braking force on the front wheel to generate a change in vehicle direction responsive to the electric motor failing to provide a desired control of the front wheel.
A method steering a vehicle comprising the steps of:
- supporting a front wheel for rotation about a first axis and pivotal movement about a pivot axis transverse to the first axis, wherein the pivot axis is disposed inboard of a centerline of the front wheel;
- and
- generating a braking force on the front wheel to generate a desired first moment force about a center point of the vehicle and a second moment force on the front wheel about the pivot axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.