Advanced Steering System - ASS

Advanced Steering System - ASS

 

The ASS building blocks are:

 

• Compact Steering System using an actuator inside the wheel hub

• Compact Homokinetic System when front and/or rear wheel are used for combined steering and drive

• Actuators which by changing the length of connecting rods, extend or reduce trail, rake, height of centre of gravity and length of wheelbase

 

In order to maintain the steering angle of the wheel(s) and the steering input from the rider perfectly synchronously,

ASS is equipped with a monitor device ECU. The ECU will monitor the steering angle and apply corrections if needed. Combined with radar, lidar, sonar, GPS, IMU, vision systems, sensors… self-steering or -driving is the logic next step.

 

Both wheels can be linked to the central frame by means of a single or double-sided swing arm. The wheel spindle (front and rear) is connected to the swing arm or directly to the frame, by means of a rocker arm and a connecting rod. Changing the length of the connecting rod using an actuator makes it possible to alter rake, trail, centre of gravity and wheelbase. Higher rake, trail and wheelbase numbers give more comfort and straight-line stability often needed at higher speeds. Lower numbers are better for direct and fast steering needed on twisty road or circuit. The ECU might steer the connecting rod actuators CRF (front) and CRR (rear) using additional data originating from steering angle and other sensors such as speed, acceleration, braking force, position of the throttle, lean angle, IMU and other. 

 

The steer on top of the steering ECU box steers the wheel(s). Besides hydraulic lines or electrical wires there is no physical connection between wheels and steer. As such the steer might be positioned in any chosen place and position depending on the driver’s choice (touring, city, highway…) and driving mode (road, rain, sport, race, off-road…). 

 

Steering and driving being easy to combine, 2-wheel steering and 2-wheel drive are possible.

  

How does it work?

 

The figures and movies shown here might give a good insight of what is made possible through ASS. Here both wheels are used to steer the motorcycle and only the rear wheel is used for drive. Depending on whether a single- or double-sided swing arm is chosen by the designer, the Compact Homokinetic System is positioned inside or outside the wheel spindle. The figures and movies are showing how ASS might look like using a single-sided swing arm.

 

Click here to look at drawings of ASS

Click here to look at figures of ASS

Click here to look at movies of ASS

  

Future models

 

ASS offers a significant freedom for design as all the available space between the front and rear wheel/swingarm might be used freely without having to consider necessary space for front fork, external actuators, linkage rods, levers and pivots between the steering device and the wheels. For example, the steering device (Steer and ECU box) might be easily transferred from front to back and every position in between, based on the preferences of the customer.

 

ASS makes two wheels drive possible: combining steering and drive the customer might opt for front wheel drive and/or rear wheel drive. This might be especially useful for electric powered motorcycles. Two small electric motors might be used, one front one rear, making optimal use of battery power possible: full power using two-wheel drive or eco-mode drive using front or rear wheel drive only.

 

ASS comes in multiple versions: As already stated many ASS versions (step-by-step development) are possible as shown in the table below.

 

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All the above versions might be equipped with the well-known combustion engine or with one or two electrical engines with battery-pack. Any optional accessory can be added at any time before and after the purchase of the motorbike.

 

ASS takes motorcycle design to a new level combining in an intelligent way the Compact Steering System with the Compact Homokinetic System. ASS makes it possible to combine 1 or 2-wheel steering with 1 or 2-wheel drive. As an additional option the electronically controlled adjustment of the frame geometry is made possible.