Abstract: A mobility device includes at least two drive wheels mounted on a shaft; a drive controller drivingly coupled to the shaft; a seat mounted to a tilt mechanism such that the seat is able to tilt in a forward, backward, left and right directions as a result of the user shifting their body weight in either of those directions; a weight displacement sensor connectable to the tilt mechanism and the drive controller such that upon sensing a weight displacement of a user in a particular direction the weight displacement sensor causes the drive controller to impart drive to the drive wheels to move the mobility device in the direction of the sensed displaced weight of the user so that the mobility device is able to be driven in a forward and backward direction and steered in a left or right direction.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering system steers vehicle wheels in response to the operation of an operation member for steering a vehicle. The system includes a rutted road judging unit which judges whether the vehicle is driving on a rutted road or not, and a steering enhancement control unit which enhances steering of vehicle wheels in response to operation of the operation member when the rutted road judging unit judges that the vehicle is driving on a rutted road than when the rutted road judging unit judges that the vehicle is not driving on a rutted road.

Abstract: The control apparatus for an electric power steering system is designed to satisfy the first spec that a first relation characteristic between speed of the electric motor to generate steering assist force and the steering wheel torque is the same as a basic relation characteristic in which the electric motor is driven in accordance with a basic assist amount calculated on the basis of the measured steering torque not corrected by an assist compensation amount calculated depending on the operating state of the electric power steering system, and to satisfy the second spec that a second relation characteristic between speed of the electric motor and a road surface reaction force is such that speed of the electric motor is suppressed compared to a case where the electric motor is driven in accordance with the basic relation characteristic.

Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle having a unique suspension system for enabling handicapped individuals or invalids to easily access the vehicle and be self-transportable over ground or an ice surface.

Abstract: Vehicles with open loop hydraulic steering systems may suffer from jerky steering due to the necessity to have safety valves in the open loop system to prevent uncontrolled vehicle movement. Traditional open loop steering arrangements allow steering by controlling fluid quantities flowing from the pump to the drive motors. The disclosed vehicle has an open loop hydraulic drive system including first and second variable displacement motors for driving ground engaging mechanisms at first and second sides of the vehicle, respectively. The system includes a control mechanism configured for steering the vehicle by changing the displacement of one of the first and second motors. This allows the operator to change the drive motor speed range during travel.

Abstract: A steering system for tracked vehicles having two brake circuits which is activated after a failure of the primary steering mechanism. The steering system includes a steering switch (L) that can be controlled by a steering axle which, in the event of primary steering system failure, acts upon the brakes of the vehicle in such a manner that rotation of the steering axle results in a braking action upon a track on the inside of a curve.

Abstract: A driving force control device for an electric vehicle in which a left wheel is driven by a left in-wheel motor and a right wheel is driven by a right in-wheel motor includes a driving force difference setting section. The driving force difference setting section is configured to set a driving force difference between a driving force outputted from the left in-wheel motor and a driving force outputted from the right in-wheel motor when a lateral acceleration is detected acting on the vehicle, the driving force difference being set to generate a restoring moment against the vehicle corresponding to the lateral acceleration.

Abstract: A method and system are described for calibrating speed controls for a vehicle having a pair of drive means on opposite sides of the vehicle driven by independent speed controls and where relative speed of the drive means is used to direct the vehicle. In one aspect, angular motion of the vehicle is detected using at least one of a gyroscopic angular sensor and a pair of accelerometers to determine a rate of yaw; a speed control output for controlling the relative speed is adjusted so that the rate of yaw is lower than a threshold when speed control inputs for controlling the relative speed are equal; and one or more speed control adjustment parameters are determined and stored for use during operation for controlling the relative speed of the drive means. A microcontroller may be used to receive sensor outputs (e.g. from the gyroscope and/or accelerometers) and speed control inputs and to determine the speed control adjustment.

Abstract: Steering angle is determined by the combined use of a potentiometer and a rotary encoder, and the correction of the error in the determination of the steering angle based on the time-dependent change of the potentiometer.

Abstract: The electrical wheelchair with spliced front wheel drive and rear wheel drive of the invention comprises a wheel frame and a chair. The wheel frame has a hollow column with a locating ring on its top and a plurality of locating chute on the ring rim. A semi-circular protrusion is placed on the surface of the locating ring. The wheel frame provides a power rod for controlling the moving direction of the wheelchair. There are two foldable footplates erected, one in the front side and the rear side and the footplate is folded when not in use. Beneath the chair, there is rotary shaft inserted in the hollow column. Along the side of the rotary shaft, there install two locating seats, a control stick passing through the holes of the locating seats. The control stick is operated to engage or disengage the locating ping from the locating chute. On the correspondent opposite position of the locating ring, there installs a micro switch.

Abstract: A turn-limited column assembly comprises a column rotatable about an axis. The column rotates a first plate that defines a first spiral track. The first plate rotates relative to a second plate that defines a second spiral track. The plates are arranged such that the spiral tracks overlap to define an intersection, whereat a sliding element is disposed. The column is rotatable between a first stop wherein the sliding element is disposed between the inboard ends of the spiral tracks and a second stop wherein the sliding element is disposed between the outboard ends of the spiral tracks.

Abstract: A control apparatus comprises a target steering angle operation unit for operating target steering angles of front wheels and rear wheels, a steering increase/steering return determination unit for determining as to whether steering wheel manipulation is in an increasing state or in a return state, a target rotation center azimuth operation unit for operating a target rotation center azimuth so that a rotation center azimuth &thgr; is decreased in a case of steering increase and a rotation center azimuth &thgr; is increased in a case of steering return, a vehicle behavior estimation unit for estimating a vehicle behavior based on the target rotation center azimuth, a corrected target rotation center azimuth operation unit for operating a corrected target rotation center azimuth so that the vehicle behavior does not exceed a specified value, and a corrected target steering angle operation unit for operating a corrected target steering angle realizing the corrected target rotation center azimuth.

Abstract: In a steering device for vehicle, the movement of a steering actuator, which is driven in accordance with the rotating operation of an operating member, is transmitted to the vehicle wheels such that the steering angle changes without mechanically coupling the operating member to the wheels. A target yaw rate, which accords with a load torque, that is sum of the control torque generated by an operating actuator and driver operating torque, and an operating angle of the operating member resulting from the functioning of this load torque, are computed. The steering actuator is controlled such that the vehicle yaw rate follows the target yaw rate. The operating actuator is controlled such that the operating angle follows a target operating angle of the operating member corresponding to a behavior index value comprising at least yaw rate of the vehicle.

Abstract: A steering column differential angle position sensor includes an upper flux shutter and a lower flux shutter, both of which form a plurality of similarly shaped openings. Receiver and transmitter coils are coaxially aligned with the shutters. The transmitter coil provides a magnetic field around the shutters, with changes in the field being sensed by the receiver coil upon differential motion of the flux shutters. Using the output of the receiver coil, the torque on a steering column that is mechanically coupled to the shutters can be obtained.

Abstract: A motorized scooter is disclosed that comprises a steering shaft mounted for rotation about its axis. A tiller is connected to said steering shaft to rotate said steering shaft, and pivotable relative to said steering shaft. A pivot block is mounted on the free end of said steering shaft, a pair of forks on said tiller straddle the pivot block, and a pivot pin passes through the forks and the pivot block. The pivot block has a pair of lubricating plates of low-friction material on either side of it, so that the forks rest on said lubricating plates, to facilitate pivoting of said steering column. A strut of variable length is connected to the tiller and to said steering shaft so that pivoting of the tiller requires a change in the length of said strut. The strut comprises an inner shaft and an outer sleeve movable along said shaft to vary the length of said strut.