Omni-direction wheel system and methods for controlling the omni-direction wheel system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11267283-B2
Application number	US-201916376981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2019
Priority date	Apr 5, 2019
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to an omni-direction wheel system and methods for controlling the omni-direction wheel system. The omni-direction wheel system includes a plurality of suspension systems that operate independently of one another. Each suspension system may include an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees about a vertical axis based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub. The suspension system may further include an in-wheel motor configured to rotate with the wheel and drive the wheel about a horizontal axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An omni-direction wheel system having a plurality of suspension systems that operate independently of one another, each suspension system comprising:
an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees about a vertical axis based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub; and
an in-wheel motor configured to rotate with the wheel and drive the wheel about a horizontal axis;
wherein the suspension system further comprises a smart tire mounted on the wheel and configured to morph into different configurations based on one or more conditions, wherein the smart tire and the in-wheel motor form a modular unit;
wherein the suspension system further comprises a torque arm for controlling a range of motion of the smart tire, a magnetic-controlled shock damper for controlling an elevation change of the smart tire, a main strut for controlling compression, and a rotary damping wheel hub for damping a rotation of the smart tire;
wherein the main strut is pivotably coupled to the torque arm and the rotary damping wheel hub.

2. The omni-direction wheel system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic controlled shock damper is configured to control the elevation change based on terrain information provided by a sensor.

3. The omni-direction wheel system of claim 2 , wherein the magnetic controlled shock damper is configured to move a vehicle body toward a level orientation when the terrain information indicates a gradient or traverse angle.

4. The omni-direction wheel system of claim 2 , wherein the magnetic controlled shock damper is configured to exert a vertical force responsive to a control signal.

5. The omni-direction wheel system of claim 1 , wherein the smart tire comprises a plurality of reconfigurable scales.

6. The omni-direction wheel system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of reconfigurable scales are configured to modified to adjust at least one of a structure of the smart tire, a density of the smart tire, or a ground pressure of the smart tire.

7. The omni-direction wheel system of claim 5 , wherein modifying the plurality of reconfigurable scales comprises changing at least one of a tread pattern or a sidewall pattern of the smart tire by modifying an arrangement of the plurality of reconfigurable scales.

8. The omni-direction wheel system of claim 3 , wherein modifying the structure of the smart tire comprises adjusting an aspect ratio of the smart tire.

9. A suspension system comprising:
an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees about a vertical axis based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub;
an in-wheel motor configured to drive the wheel about a horizontal axis;
a smart tire mounted on the wheel and configured to morph into different configurations based on one or more conditions, wherein the smart tire and the in-wheel motor form a modular unit; and
a torque arm for controlling a range of motion of the smart tire, a magnetic-controlled shock damper for controlling an elevation change of the smart tire, a main strut for controlling compression, and a rotary damping wheel hub for damping a rotation of the smart tire;
wherein the smart tire comprises a plurality of reconfigurable scales configured to be modified to adjust at least one of a structure of the smart tire, a density of the smart tire, or a ground pressure of the smart tire.

10. A vehicle comprising:
one or more sensors configured to obtain information related to one or more conditions associated with the vehicle or an environment of the vehicle;
an omni-direction wheel system having a plurality of suspension systems that operate independently of one another, each suspension system comprising an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub; and
a processor configured to process the information obtained from the one or more sensors to control the omni-direction wheel system;
wherein the smart tire comprises a plurality of reconfigurable scales.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the omni-direction wheel system is configured to rotate each wheel to such that the vehicle is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the suspension system further comprises a smart tire configured to morph into different configurations based on the one or more conditions, an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub, a torque arm for controlling a range of motion of the smart tire, a magnetic-controlled shock damper for controlling an elevation change of the smart tire, a main strut for controlling compression, and a rotary damping wheel hub for damping a rotation of the smart tire.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the suspension system further comprises an in-wheel motor, wherein the smart tire and the in-wheel motor form a modular unit.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of reconfigurable scales are configured to be modified to adjust at least one of a structure of the smart tire, a density of the smart tire, or a ground pressure of the smart tire based on the information obtained from the one or more sensors.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hsu Ricky Jukuei

Classifications

• B60K17/30

  the ultimate propulsive elements, e.g. ground wheels, being steerable · CPC title

• B60G2202/20

  Type of damper · CPC title

• B60K7/0007

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B60B19/006

  Magnetic wheels · CPC title

• B60G2202/42

  Electric actuator · CPC title