Solution of steering angle based on homogeneous transformation

Steering Angle is related to the design and optimization of steering mechanism and suspension, but it is not equal to the angle of knuckle around kingpin because of the existence of wheel alignment parameters. To calculate the steering angle, this paper derives based on homogeneous transformation its function expression by analyzing spatial geometric relation between the two angles and calculating coordinates related to steering trajectory of wheel center. Then, multi-body model of McPherson suspension with steering system is built and the calculation correctness is verified by comparing the function curve plotted by MATLAB software with the curve simulated by Adams/Car software. The calculation and simulation indicate that between the two angles, there is a ratio which is related to wheel alignment parameters and greater than 1.

Automobile Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing

With over thirty years of experience in the design, development, and patenting of some products in the field of wheel alignment, the author shares his knowledge on the importance of wheel maintenance to the overall performance of a vehicle. From the ancient bullock carts to chariots to automobiles, wheels have undergone many changes to serve the purpose of mankind's mobility. Mobility is inevitable in today's life. A world without wheels is unimaginable. Every vehicle owner expects his tires to last longer and perform better. But improper wheel alignment and wheel balancing can drastically impact the wear and tear on a tire. This book walks the readers through the basics to techniques for wheel alignment on light vehicles, commercial vehicles, and trailers. In addition, illustrations present various types of tire wear and the cause of each. Finally, the author delves into tire safety from understanding how air pressure effects a tire to the importance of tire rotation.

Impacts of various shaped Cu-nanomaterial on the heat transfer over a bilateral stretchable surface: Numerical investigation

The heat transport in the nanofluids attained much interest of the researchers and engineers due to broad uses in medical sciences, paint industries, aerodynamics, wheel alignment and manufacturing of aircraft parts. Therefore, keeping in mind the paramount significance of the heat transfer, the study of Cu-nanomaterials based nanofluid is conducted. The governing nanofluid model transformed in dimensionless version via similarity transformations. For numerical simulation of the dynamics of Cu-H2O, RK technique with shooting algorithm is employed and presented behavior of the fluid motion, temperature, wall shear stresses and local thermal performance rate via graphical aid. It is noted that the heat transfer augmented promptly by increasing [Formula: see text] and volumetric fraction of Cu nanomaterial. Further, graphical and tabular comparison is also provided under certain assumptions which authenticate the study.

Research on Self-Aligning Flanges Based on Piezoelectric Actuators Applied to Precision Grinding Machines

Laser fusion research requires a large number of high-precision large-diameter aspherical components. To improve the grinding efficiency in the component production process, the manual operation time during the grinding process needs to be reduced. The grinding process requires the installation of the dressed grinding wheel onto the grinding machine spindle, and the off-line dressing results in installation errors during the loading and unloading process, which requires more time for manual alignment. To achieve self-aligning, the circumferential contour of the grinding wheel was first restored by the reversal method, then noise reduction and circle fitting were performed to obtain the eccentricity value and eccentricity position between the flange and the spindle, and finally, the flange was adjusted finely by three piezoelectric actuators installed inside the flange to reduce the eccentricity. Three repetitive experiments were conducted to verify that the self-aligning flange can reduce the eccentricity value by retracting the piezoelectric actuators so that the proper alignment between the flange and the spindle could meet the requirements; the average eccentricity value of the three experiments decreased by 74%, which greatly improved the efficiency of the grinding wheel alignment.

IoT for wheel alignment monitoring system

A great deal of previous research into wheel alignment has focused on techniques of the alignment, which involve big, bulky and high cost to maintain. Even though several approaches are required, the works are tedious and only performed in spacious area and trained mechanics. IoT is the alternatives due to the evolution of smartphone with numerous sensors to support and assist the research and development for IoT applications in vehicles. In this work, smaller and portable wheel alignment monitoring system is introduced by using communication protocol between sensors, microcontroller and mobile phone application. Thus, graphical user interface (GUI) is utilized to the system via wireless communication technology using TCP/IP Communication Protocol. The system has been tested to suit the functioning architecture system for the wheel alignment to provide the user awareness on early detection of wheel misalignment. In addition, the application has been successfully integrated with Android mobile application via TCP/IP communication protocol and view the results in smart phone in real-time.

CHARACTERIZING DRIVER TAKE-OVER ACCURACY: EFFECT OF AGE, SEX, STARTLE, AND SECONDARY TASK

The Acoustic Startling Pre-stimulus (ASPS, i.e. a loud sound preceding a physical perturbation was previously found to accelerate take-over actions in adults but not teens in autonomous vehicle scenarios. It is not clear if the ASPS also influences the accuracy of the take-over response across ages and sexes. Therefore the aims of this study are: to characterize take-over accuracy across age/experience and sex and to examine the effect of the ASPS and a secondary task on steering wheel alignment in autonomous vehicle take-over scenarios. Fourteen adult (7 males and 13 teenage (6 males drivers volunteered for this study. Participants were instructed to align a marker on the steering wheel with a marker on a lateral post as fast as they could, when a sled perturbation started. Two of the conditions included the ASPS. Two of the conditions involved mobile texting while the sled started moving. The angle between the steering wheel and the lateral post was used to quantify overshooting, undershooting, or correct alignment during steering. Results showed that adult female subjects reached correct alignment slightly more frequently than any other group, while male adult drivers decreased their alignment error after the first trial. Both female and male adult drivers had a reduced alignment angle when the first trial had an ASPS compared to when the first trial had no ASPS while teen drivers performed similarly with ASPS or without. This study showed that take-over accuracy and steering control are influenced by sex, age/experience, and a startle-based warning.