Abstract: A tire tester includes a plurality of tire holding units attached to a movable member or a towed member and each configured to detachably hold a tire, and one or more load measuring units for measuring a load acting on the tire. The plurality of tire holding units include a first tire holding unit configured to detachably hold a first tire, and one or more second tire holding units each configured to detachably hold a second tire. The second tire holding unit holds the second tire to generate a force opposite to a lateral component force generated by steering the first tire. The tire holding units are arranged such that at least one tire holding unit is disposed on each right and left side of the movable member or the towed member with respect to a center line passing through a lateral center thereof.

Abstract: During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

Abstract: A tire tester includes a plurality of tire holding units attached to a movable member or a towed member and each configured to detachably hold a tire, and one or more load measuring units for measuring a load acting on the tire. The plurality of tire holding units include a first tire holding unit configured to detachably hold a first tire, and one or more second tire holding units each configured to detachably hold a second tire. The second tire holding unit holds the second tire to generate a force opposite to a lateral component force generated by steering the first tire. The tire holding units are arranged such that at least one tire holding unit is disposed on each right and left side of the movable member or the towed member with respect to a center line passing through a lateral center thereof.

Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle in which the state of contact between an electric connection arm and an external power line can be stabilized during traveling of the electric vehicle. In the electric vehicle, when the free end of an electric connection arm contacts an external power line during traveling of the electric vehicle, a posture control device controls the posture of the vehicle body so that the rotation angle of the electric connection arm approaches a target rotation angle or a target rotation angle range.

Abstract: During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

Abstract: During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

Abstract: During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

Abstract: Provided are an external power supply apparatus and a vehicle power supply method, whereby a power reception circuit of an electric vehicle can be projected or a configuration of the electric vehicle can be simplified. An external power supply apparatus is provided with: a power supply unit, which is provided along a traveling path, and which supplies power to a power reception unit of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is traveling; and a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the power supply unit. The power supply unit includes a plurality of divided power supply units that are divided along the traveling path. The voltage applying unit applies the voltage such that the voltage to be applied to the divided power supply units becomes higher in the traveling direction of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle in which the state of contact between an electric connection arm and an external power line can be stabilized during traveling of the electric vehicle. In the electric vehicle, when the free end of an electric connection arm contacts an external power line during traveling of the electric vehicle, a posture control device controls the posture of the vehicle body so that the rotation angle of the electric connection arm approaches a target rotation angle or a target rotation angle range.

Abstract: Provided are an external power supply apparatus and a vehicle power supply method, whereby a power reception circuit of an electric vehicle can be projected or a configuration of the electric vehicle can be simplified. An external power supply apparatus is provided with a power supply unit, which is provided along a traveling path, and which supplies power to a power reception unit of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is traveling; and a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the power supply unit. The power supply unit includes a plurality of divided power supply units that are divided along the traveling path. The voltage applying unit applies the voltage such that the voltage to be applied to the divided power supply units becomes higher in the traveling direction of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

Abstract: A power plant capable of achieving downsizing thereof. The power plant 1 is comprised of a double pinion gear 14 formed by first and second pinion gears P1 and P2 integrally formed with each other, a pinion gear P in mesh with the first pinion gear P1, a rotatable carrier member 13 rotatably supporting the double pinion gear 14 and the pinion gear P, a rotatable sun gear S in mesh with the pinion gear P, a rotatable first ring gear R1 in mesh with the first pinion gear P1 and connected to one SRR of the two rotating shafts, a rotatable second ring gear R2 in mesh with the second pinion gear P2 and connected to the other SRL of the two rotating shafts, a first energy input/output device 11 connected to the carrier member 13 and capable of inputting and outputting rotational energy, and a second energy input/output device 12 connected to the sun gear S and capable of inputting and outputting rotational energy.

Abstract: A power plant capable of achieving downsizing thereof. The power plant 1 is comprised of a double pinion gear 14 formed by first and second pinion gears P1 and P2 integrally formed with each other, a pinion gear P in mesh with the first pinion gear P1, a rotatable carrier member 13 rotatably supporting the double pinion gear 14 and the pinion gear P, a rotatable sun gear S in mesh with the pinion gear P, a rotatable first ring gear R1 in mesh with the first pinion gear P1 and connected to one SRR of the two rotating shafts, a rotatable second ring gear R2 in mesh with the second pinion gear P2 and connected to the other SRL of the two rotating shafts, a first energy input/output device 11 connected to the carrier member 13 and capable of inputting and outputting rotational energy, and a second energy input/output device 12 connected to the sun gear S and capable of inputting and outputting rotational energy.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes: a road-wheel turning mechanism mechanically separated from, but electrically connected to a steering wheel; a first rotation shaft connected to the steering wheel; a second rotation shaft connected to the road-wheel turning mechanism; and a connection mechanism for interconnecting the first and second rotation shafts in such a manner that the first and second rotation shafts can rotate idle relative to each other within a range of a predetermined relative rotational angle.

Abstract: A control means for controlling actuators of a vehicle creates a time series of a future behavior of the vehicle using a vehicle model. A state amount of the vehicle model is initialized on the basis of a state amount of the vehicle, and the future behavior is created starting from the initial state amount. The future behavior is created such that operation commands of the actuators in the vehicle model at the current time coincide with or approximate basic values based on operation of a manipulating device, such as a steering wheel of the vehicle. It is evaluated whether vehicle motion, road surface reaction force, and wheel sliding, in the created future behavior satisfy predetermined restrictive conditions. Based on the evaluation result, the operation commands of the actuators are successively decided. This permits ideal travel of the vehicle to be achieved by properly predicting future behaviors of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotatable grip (ancillary operation member) is provided on a part of a steering wheel body of a steering wheel (main operation member) for turning wheels. When the grip is rotated, a difference is generated between left and right wheels, and a yaw moment generated with this difference can assist or suppress the turning of a vehicle. Because the grip constitutes a part of the steering wheel body, it is possible to rotate the grip to assist or suppress the turning of the vehicle, while operating the steering wheel to turn the vehicle. Because both the steering wheel body and the grip can be operated by the same hand of a driver, operational burden on the driver is alleviated. Thus, it is possible to concurrently provide an excellent operability of the main operation member for controlling a kinetic state of the vehicle, and an excellent operability of the ancillary operation member for controlling the operation of a yaw moment generating device.

Abstract: Provided is a lightweight, compact power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle which permits a simplified construction of a speed changing unit that establishes a plurality of gear shift stages and a reduced size of a motor. The power transmission device is provided with a first speed changing unit which has a first input shaft 3 connected to a power shaft 6 of an internal combustion engine 1 and which establishes a plurality of gear shift stages, and a second speed changing unit which has a second input shaft 4 connected to a power shaft of a motor 2 and which establishes a plurality of gear shift stages which is different from that of the first speed changing unit. The power transmission device is provided with a connecting unit 13 which disconnectably connects the first input shaft 3 and the second input shaft 4.

Abstract: Provided is a transmission for a hybrid vehicle which permits a compact, lightweight structure and yet allows the power of an internal combustion engine to be disconnected and which is capable of efficiently transmitting power without complicating the control. The transmission includes a speed changing unit which has a first input shaft 3 connected to a power shaft 6 of an internal combustion engine 1 and a second input shaft 4 connected to a power shaft of a motor 2 and which establishes a plurality of gear shift stages. A one-way clutch 7 is interposed between the power shaft 6 of the internal combustion engine 1 and the first input shaft 3. The one-way clutch 7 disengages the connection between the power shaft 6 of the internal combustion engine 1 and the first input shaft 3 when the rotational speed of the power shaft 6 of the internal combustion engine 1 is lower than the rotational speed of the first input shaft. 3.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes: a road-wheel turning mechanism mechanically separated from, but electrically connected to a steering wheel; a first rotation shaft connected to the steering wheel; a second rotation shaft connected to the road-wheel turning mechanism; and a connection mechanism for interconnecting the first and second rotation shafts in such a manner that the first and second rotation shafts can rotate idle relative to each other within a range of a predetermined relative rotational angle.