A dual-mode active rear-wheel steering device, including: a steering motor, a main shaft, an intermediate gear, a transmission gear, a planetary gear coupling mechanism and a mode switching assembly. An output end of the steering motor is provided with a first input gear. An end of the main shaft drives a first rear wheel to rotate by a two-stage gear transmission system and a first rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism, and the other end of the main shaft drives a second rear wheel to rotate by the planetary gear coupling mechanism and a second rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism. The intermediate gear, the transmission gear and a sun gear of the planetary gear coupling mechanism are provided on the main shaft. The intermediate gear meshes with the first input gear.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.

A wheel drive module (1) is provided for driving and steering a wheel (30), comprising the wheel (30), a first drive motor (11), a second drive motor (21), and a transmission. The wheel (30) can be driven and steered simultaneously by the first drive motor (11) and the second drive motor (21) via the transmission, wherein a first motor shaft (12) for driving the transmission extends from the first drive motor (11) in a first motor shaft direction (12′), a second motor shaft (22) for driving the transmission extends from the second drive motor (21) in a second motor shaft direction (22′), the first motor shaft direction (12′) and the second motor shaft direction (22′) are opposite each other, and the first drive motor (11) and the second drive motor (21) extend parallel to the first and second motor shaft directions (12′, 22′) over a common overlap section (Ü).

A universal axle-hub assembly is provided for an off-road vehicle. The universal axle-hub assembly comprises a wheel hub that receives a constant velocity (CV) axle snout into an opening extending through an axle support of the wheel hub. An outboard-most portion of the opening is a splined portion that engages with similar splines disposed on an outboard-most portion of the CV axle snout. An inboard-most portion of the opening is a smooth portion that receives a smooth portion of the CV axle snout. The axle support extends through an entirety of the width of a bearing that supports the wheel hub, such that the bearing supports the smooth portion of the CV axle snout and substantially eliminates shear forces acting on the splined portion of the CV axle snout. A bearing carrier supports the bearing and may be fastened onto a trailing arm or a spindle of the off-road vehicle.

The present disclosure provides a machine and mechanism of an electrically controlled low-unsprung-mass wheel unit for vehicles. The design incorporates independent propulsion/braking, axle control, steering, and suspension (IPASS) of each wheel during vehicle movement. The purpose of the design is for a traction-adaptively-optimization (TAO) control which include but not limited as the following: 1) better road surface gripping and ride quality by lower unsprung mass; 2) safer, quicker, and sharper turning ability—transformative turning; 3) adaptive obstacle avoidance; 4) a list of new, unique, and advanced vehicle motion features. The mechanism comprises at least: an axle adjustment that controls the distance of a wheel from the vehicle body, which allows for the outward extension of the wheel via a slider. The slider is connected to a linear actuator, which is powered by the first independent electric motor for track width adjustment. A steering system includes a pinion, powered by the second independent motor, rolls against an inner gear at the top of the unit turn in opposing directions. Hiding the motor and gears in the hollow shaft results in an extremely low profile. A propulsion system, powered by the third independent electric motor, controls the wheel's forward and backward motions using a spline, bevel gear reducer, and planetary gear reducer. Each wheel unit also has an independent suspension system located inside the wheel rim. The suspension uses a hydraulic dampening and supporting system and springs to absorb the shock from vertical movement when driving on uneven surfaces.

Respectively a rider of the autonomous scooter may select a manual drive mode to drive without any assistance, or the rider may control the autonomous scooter remotely by a smartphone when riding or not aboard via a smartphone APP whereby the rider may engage a user interface system providing virtual driving control settings linked with an autonomous drive system to control the autonomous scooter, or the rider can manually control the autonomous scooter. Primarily elements of the autonomous scooter may comprise a platform defined by a front end and a rear end, a deck section to place the rider's feet thereon, and having a base supporting a steering column. Accordingly the steering column is rotatably connected by a motorized wheel adapter configured to turn a suspension fork arrangement containing at least one motorized wheel thus steering and balance control of the autonomous scooter, or the steering column is connected to a truck arrangement containing two motorized wheels, whereby the two motorized wheels provide balance and differential propulsion for steering the autonomous scooter. The motorized wheel adapter and the motorized wheels are systematically controlled by an autonomous drive system adapted to control the autonomous scooter during autonomous drive mode setting.

The present disclosure in at least one embodiment provides a corner module for a vehicle, including a front-wheel corner module configured to drive a front wheel and including a front-wheel inwheel motor installed on the front wheel to generate a driving force and a friction braking device configured to generate a braking force on the front wheel, a rear-wheel corner module configured to drive a rear wheel and including a rear-wheel inwheel motor installed on the rear wheel to generate a driving force, a driving information detector configured to detect driving information of the vehicle, and an electronic control unit configured to control the front-wheel corner module to form a friction braking force by using the driving information and to control the rear-wheel corner module to form a regenerative braking force, wherein the front-wheel corner module uses the front-wheel inwheel motor that is provided with a lower specification than the rear-wheel inwheel motor to save the manufacturing cost, and the rear-wheel corner module has no friction braking device installed so that the rear-wheel inwheel motor is undamaged by heat.

A utility vehicle includes: a power unit that outputs drive power; a drive shaft that receives the drive power transmitted from the power unit; a front axle that receives the drive power transmitted from the drive shaft; a right front wheel connected to the front axle; a left front wheel connected to the front axle; a right clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the right front wheel; a left clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the left front wheel; a clutch actuator that actuates the left clutch and the right clutch; and a controller that controls the clutch actuator.

A utility vehicle includes: a power unit that outputs drive power; a drive shaft that receives the drive power transmitted from the power unit; a front axle that receives the drive power transmitted from the drive shaft; a right front wheel connected to the front axle; a left front wheel connected to the front axle; a right clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the right front wheel; a left clutch configured to disable power transmission from the drive shaft to the left front wheel; a clutch actuator that actuates the left clutch and the right clutch; and a controller that controls the clutch actuator.

A suspension element includes a housing, a first joint, and a second joint. The housing is configured to couple a tractive element assembly to a vehicle. The housing has a first end configured to engage a portion of the vehicle and a second end configured to interface with the tractive element assembly. The first joint includes a first actuator and a first resilient member. The first actuator is configured to facilitate linear extension and retraction of the suspension element. The second joint includes a second actuator and a second resilient member. The second actuator is configured to facilitate rotational movement of the suspension element. The first resilient member and the second resilient member are configured to support a static load of the vehicle.