Abstract:
A system and method of controlling a multi-wheel drive vehicle is provided. The invention is preferably applicable to the steering of such a vehicle and determines the individual velocities for each wheel drive. In this regard, the invention includes two general steps. The first step includes determining the distance of each wheel drive and a vehicle velocity reference point from a turning reference point. The second step includes ratioing each wheel drive's distance from the turning reference point with the vehicle velocity reference point's distance from the turning reference point. The ratios are then applied to a vehicle velocity associated with the vehicle velocity reference point to determine the velocity of each respective wheel drive. Once determined, the velocities are output to each wheel drive.
Abstract:
A motor and brake assembly includes a mounting member. A stator winding assembly, a brake assembly, a hub, and a rotor magnet assembly. The stator winding assembly is mounted to the mounting member. The brake assembly is operably connected to the mounting member. The hub is rotatably coupled to the mounting member. The rotor magnet assembly is mounted to an inside of a radially outer wall of the hub. The brake assembly is operable to move a component of the brake assembly between an engaged position where the component engages the inside of the radially outer hub wall and a disengaged position where the component is spaced apart from the inside of the radially outer hub wall.
Abstract:
A motor and brake assembly for use in a variety of conveyances, such as a motorized wheelchair. The assembly has a mounting member, a stator winding assembly, a brake assembly, hub rotatable about a central axis having a radially outer wall that surrounds the stator winding assembly and the brake assembly such that the stator winding assembly and the brake assembly are between the radially outer wall of the hub and the central axis, a rotor magnet assembly mounted to an inside of the radially outer wall of the hub. The stator winding is radially inward of the rotor magnet and the radially outer wall of the hub and the brake assembly can move the brake assembly between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
Abstract:
A drive motor assembly for a power driven wheelchair comprising: a stator housing for containing field coils of a stator of the motor assembly; at least one sensor disposed in the stator housing for sensing rotation of the motor; a memory storing motor error parameter data including data of errors of the at least one sensor, the memory being embedded in the stator housing; and a connection for accessing the error parameter data of the memory from the stator housing. The motor error parameter data may be accessed from the embedded memory of the drive motor by a programmed motor controller for use in controlling the drive motor. Also, the motor error parameter data may be embedded in the drive motor by the steps of: controlling the motor through at least one predetermined drive pattern; sensing motor rotation during the drive pattern and generating signals representative thereof, deriving error parameter data of the drive motor from the generated signals; programming a memory with the derived error parameter data; and embedding the memory in the drive motor.
Abstract:
A motor and brake assembly includes a mounting member. A stator winding assembly, a brake assembly, a hub, and a rotor magnet assembly. The stator winding assembly is mounted to the mounting member. The brake assembly is operably connected to the mounting member. The hub is rotatably coupled to the mounting member. The rotor magnet assembly is mounted to an inside of a radially outer wall of the hub. The brake assembly is operable to move a component of the brake assembly between an engaged position where the component engages the inside of the radially outer hub wall and a disengaged position where the component is spaced apart from the inside of the radially outer hub wall.
Abstract:
A drive motor assembly for a power driven wheelchair comprises: a stator housing for containing field coils of a stator of the motor assembly; at least one sensor disposed in the stator housing for sensing rotation of the motor; a memory storing motor error parameter data including data of errors of the at least one sensor, the memory being embedded in the stator housing; and a connection for accessing the error parameter data of the memory from the stator housing. The motor error parameter data may be accessed from the embedded memory of the drive motor by a programmed motor controller for use in controlling the drive motor. Also, the motor error parameter data may be embedded in the drive motor by the steps of : controlling the motor through at least one predetermined drive pattern; sensing motor rotation during the drive pattern and generating signals representative thereof, deriving error parameter data of the drive motor from the generated signals; programming a memory with the derived error parameter data; and embedding the memory in the drive motor.
Abstract:
A motor and brake assembly includes a mounting member. A stator winding assembly, a brake assembly, a hub, and a rotor magnet assembly. The stator winding assembly is mounted to the mounting member. The brake assembly is operably connected to the mounting member. The hub is rotatably coupled to the mounting member. The rotor magnet assembly is mounted to an inside of a radially outer wall of the hub. The brake assembly is operable to move a component of the brake assembly between an engaged position where the component engages the inside of the radially outer hub wall and a disengaged position where the component is spaced apart from the inside of the radially outer hub wall.
Abstract:
A motor and brake assembly includes a mounting member. A stator winding assembly, a brake assembly, a hub, and a rotor magnet assembly. The stator winding assembly is mounted to the mounting member. The brake assembly is operably connected to the mounting member. The hub is rotatably coupled to the mounting member. The rotor magnet assembly is mounted to an inside of a radially outer wall of the hub. The brake assembly is operable to move a component of the brake assembly between an engaged position where the component engages the inside of the radially outer hub wall and a disengaged position where the component is spaced apart from the inside of the radially outer hub wall.
Abstract:
A motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, rate-of-turn sensor, first and second speed sensors, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors in a manner that detects drift. Alternatively, the motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, first and second rate-of- turn sensors, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors in a, manner that compensates for voltage offset errors. In another arrangement, the motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, first and second rate-of-tum sensors, input device, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors and input device in a manner that controls the motors using an integrated tum rate error. Several methods for controlling each wheelchair configuration are also provided. These methods process signals associated with desired, expected, or actual turn rate to determine if the wheelchair is off course.