Three-axle commercial vehicle with enhanced functionality and steering redundancy
by Daniel E. Williams
International Journal of Vehicle Autonomous Systems (IJVAS), Vol. 13, No. 4, 2017

Abstract: This paper presents a new means of steering redundancy for autonomous three-axle vehicles that also cost effectively increases vehicle functionality. Functional enhancements to increase manoeuvrability and decrease tyre wear are already appreciated in niche vehicle markets and are reviewed in this work. Steering the rear axle to provide redundancy in event of a primary steering axle failure has recently been suggested. This prior work is built upon to present a new three-axle vehicle configuration that improves manoeuvrability, increases payload capacity, and provides better redundant directional control while maintaining the tyre wear improvements existing in rear axle steer vehicles. Some of these same benefits could be achieved by steering the rear of a two-axle vehicle, but it is shown that the concept creates more value when applied to three-axle vehicles thereby uniquely improving the value proposition for autonomous commercial vehicles.

Online publication date: Fri, 06-Oct-2017

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Vehicle Autonomous Systems (IJVAS):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

    Username:        Password:         

Forgotten your password?


Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com