Multi-functional electric module for a vehicle

A multi-functional electric module (eModule) for use with a vehicle having a chassis, a master controller, and a drive wheel having a propulsion-braking module, the eModule comprising:

• a housing;
• a lower control arm connected to the housing;
• a steering control assembly positioned with respect to the housing, and having a speed reducing gear set that is configured to provide a calibrated steering speed reduction ratio, a pair of steering controllers, and a steering motor, wherein the steering motor includes:
• an encoder read disc having a pair of encoder read heads each outputting a measured steering angle to a respective one of the pair of steering controllers;
• a rotor;
• and
• a dual-wound stator having first and second stator windings, wherein the pair of steering controllers includes a respective first and a second printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) operable to control a rotation of the rotor via control of an electrical current to a respective one of the first and second stator windings;
• a propulsion controller positioned within the housing that includes a third PCBA, wherein the propulsion controller is configured to communicate with the propulsion-braking module;
• a brake controller positioned within the housing and configured to communicate with the propulsion-braking module, wherein the brake controller includes a fourth PCBA;
• a spring-damper assembly extending between the housing and the lower control arm;
• and
• an encoder assembly disposed within the lower control arm that is configured to measure and communicate, to a master controller, a pivot angle of the lower control arm with respect to a wheel pivot axis of the drive wheel;
• wherein the steering motor rotates the eModule with respect to a steering axis in response to commands from the master controller to the pair of steering controllers, and wherein the steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the brake controller control a respective steering, propulsion, and braking function of the eModule.