Safe and Stable Narrow Tilting Commuter Vehicles

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Narrow vehicles like motorcycles can promote significantly improved highway utilization through the use of half-width lanes. However, in order for the general public to adopt this form of personal transportation, narrow vehicles should perceptibly provide the same ease of use and the same level of safety as passenger sedans. This project explores some fundamental technologies that can make the development of such a prototype narrow vehicle feasible. The project aims to develop a concept narrow vehicle that will be relatively tall compared to its track width so as to provide a travel height that is comparable to that of other vehicles on the highway. To help the driver balance a relatively tall, narrow vehicle, it will incorporate an electronic tilt control system that ensures tilt stability. The tilt control system will balance the vehicle and improve ease of use, especially on curves where the vehicle must lean into the curve to ensure tilt stability. The vehicle will be designed to provide crash protection for its occupants that is significantly superior to that of a motorcycle. Several fundamental challenges are addressed in this exploratory project in order to make the development of the concept narrow vehicle described above a practical reality. These include the development of a direct tilt control system that can operate with a compact motor, synchronization of the tilting of the vehicle with its turning so as to minimize actuator effort and the development of a steer-by-wire system in which the front wheel steering angle is used to control tilt while at the same time perceptibly allowing the driver to use the steering angle for purposes of lateral control.Significant matching funds for the project are provided by the ITS Institute, University of Minnesota. Successful completion of the exploratory project will enable the research team to solicit funding from industries for further development as well as to write regular full proposals to NSF and other funding agencies. The project promotes cross-disciplinary research by combining significant activities in controls, dynamics, sensor electronics and vehicle design. In addition to its direct impact on transportation through the development of a new personal transportation vehicle, the project is also likely to contribute to improvement of other highway vehicle systems in general.