The present invention relates to a wheel arm forklift truck (1), preferably as an automated guided vehicle, comprising a front end (10c) having at least, preferably exactly, two steerable drive rollers (11a, 11b); comprising at least one first wheel arm (10a) which extends in a straight line away from the front end (10c) and is fixedly connected to the front end (10c), wherein the first wheel arm (10a) has at least, preferably exactly, one first roller (12a); and comprising at least one first fork arm (15a) which is located above the first wheel arm (10a) in the vertical direction (Z) and is designed to be raised and lowered in the vertical direction (Z). The wheel arm forklift truck (1) is characterized in that the first roller (12a) of the first wheel arm (10a) is steerable through at least 90°.

A steering unit for a vehicle, notably a bus. The steering unit is coupled with a suspension system and comprises: a support formed by a passenger platform and a wheel housing, a longitudinal axis, a steering knuckle with an in-wheel engine defining a transversal rotation axis which is arranged transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis, an actuator mechanism adapted for pivoting the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle further comprises a lever which is linked to the actuator mechanism and which includes a transversal portion extending transversally along the in-wheel engine. The steering unit is adapted for an articulated bus with at least two bodies, said bodies each exhibits four or eight identical and independent steering units.

A braking device is mounted on a vehicle having two or more rows of right and left wheels, electric brakes, and at least one steering actuator. The steering actuator is capable of turning at least one row of the right and left wheels regardless of a steering wheel operation. The braking device includes a braking control unit configured to control a braking force of the electric brake for each of the wheels and operation of the steering actuator. When an abnormality detector detects an abnormality in the electric brakes, the braking control unit switches to an abnormal-time braking control different from a normal state control, at least controlling the steering actuator so as to suppress an influence on the vehicle due to the abnormality.

An embodiment independent corner module includes a knuckle unit positioned at an inward area of a wheel, an upper arm fastened between an upper end of the knuckle unit and a vehicle body, a lower arm fastened between a lower end of the knuckle unit and the vehicle body, a steering unit configured to input a steering angle to the knuckle unit by being rotated with respect to the lower arm, and a rack steering unit positioned under the steering unit and fastened to the knuckle unit, the rack steering unit being configured to apply a rotating force to the knuckle unit by varying a length thereof.

The technology relates to fine maneuver control of large autonomous vehicles that employ multiple sets of independently actuated wheels. The control is able to optimize the turning radius, effectively negotiate curves, turns, and clear static objects of varying heights. Each wheel or wheel set is configured to adjust individually via control of an on-board computer system. Received sensor data and a physical model of the vehicle can be used for route planning and selecting maneuver operations in accordance with the additional degrees of freedom provided by the independently actuated wheels. This can include making turns, moving into or out of parking spaces, driving along narrow or congested roads, construction zones, loading docks, etc. A given maneuver may include maintaining a minimum threshold distance from a neighboring vehicle or other object.

An embodiment independent corner module includes a knuckle unit positioned at an inward area of a wheel, an upper arm fastened between an upper end of the knuckle unit and a vehicle body, a lower arm fastened between a lower end of the knuckle unit and the vehicle body, a steering unit configured to input a steering angle to the knuckle unit by being rotated with respect to the lower arm, and a rack steering unit positioned under the steering unit and fastened to the knuckle unit, the rack steering unit being configured to apply a rotating force to the knuckle unit by varying a length thereof.

A suspension system for liftable steerable axles has at least one steering knuckle; at least one pistonless bellows air spring actuator (ie., damper air spring); and a steering axle structure that has, at each end, a kingpin housing boss, a kingpin fixed into the kingpin boss, and a pair of steering knuckles that rotate around the kingpin and are supported by the kingpin housing; wherein the steering knuckles are connected at the bottom of each other side to side by a tie rod assembly that respond to each others rotational inputs; and further having the damper air spring being connected to the steering knuckle so that, given a supplied pneumatic air force, the damper air spring stabilizes and dampens the steering road inputs when in motion.

Some embodiments may provide a suspension unit that may include a rail having a longitudinal axis, a sliding member slidably connected to the rail, and shock absorption and springing means adapted to damp motions and support forces along the longitudinal axis of the rail, wherein, the rail and the sliding member are shaped to have transverse cross-sectional profiles that prevent a rotational movement of the sliding member with respect to the rail about the longitudinal axis of the rail. In some embodiments, the suspension unit may be part of an in-wheel system further including at least a steering unit.

The invention relates to a load-carrying vehicle part with a first and a second wheel pair (10, 11), which are suspended in a respective bogie element (20) on each side of a frame member (14), a suspension (15) between each bogie element (20) and the frame member (14) on each side of the vehicle part to manipulate the frame member relative to the respective wheel pairs (10, 11), or support the frame member in a springing manner, each suspension (15) comprises a first and a second rocker arm (26A, 26B), wherein the first rocker arm is located in front of the second rocker arm viewed in the normal forward direction of driving of the vehicle part, that each rocker arm (26A, 26B) with its one end is pivotably in a joint (27, 27) in the frame member (14) and with its other end is pivotably in a joint (28, 28) in the bogie element (20) a first spring leg (25A) and a second spring leg (25B), wherein each spring leg with its one end (30) is articulately fastened to the frame member (14) and with its other end (31) is articulately fastened in a rocker arm (26A, 26B), a motion conversion arrangement (29) capable of converting a rotary motion in a joint (27, 28) for one of the rocker arms (26A, 26B) to a forward and backward translation motion.

Steering a vehicle in an electronic steering mode of operation that includes a front axle steering system, a rear axle steering system, one or more vehicle environment sensors, and a controller operatively coupled with the front axle steering system, the rear axle steering system, and the vehicle environment sensors. Commanding the vehicle to operate at a desired vehicle speed, detecting a lateral force acting on the vehicle in response to input from the vehicle environment sensors, and determining an actual lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a predicted lateral acceleration of the vehicle from the desired vehicle speed. Determining a lateral acceleration error by comparing the predicted lateral acceleration to the actual lateral acceleration, and determining if the lateral acceleration error exceeds a lateral acceleration limit, then turning both of the front axle steering system and the rear axle steering system to a crab steering correction angle.