Though a legged robot has high terrain adaptability as compared with a wheeled vehicle, its moving speed is considerably low in general. For attaining a high moving speed with a legged robot, a dynamically stable gait, such as running for a biped robot and a trot gait or a bound gait for a quadruped robot, is a promising solution. However, the energy efficiency of the dynamically stable gait is...

A new reinforcement learning algorithm is introduced which can be applied over a continuous range of actions. The learning algorithm is reward-inaction based, with a set of probability density functions being used to determine the action set. An experimental study is presented, based on the control of a semi-active suspension system on a road going, four wheeled, passenger vehicle. The control ...

Individuals using wheeled mobility devices (WMDs) often use them as motor vehicle seats during transportation. Wheelchair occupant restraint systems (WORSs), consisting of upper torso and pelvic restraints, are usually mounted to the structure of transit vehicles to secure individuals within their wheelchair seats. This preliminary study attempts to evaluate the use and satisfaction of currentl...

This article presents an innovative legged-wheeled system, designed to be applied in a hybrid robotic vehicle’s locomotion as its driving member. The proposed system will capable combine the advantages of legged and wheeled systems, having 3DOF connected through combination both rigid non-rigid joints. configuration provides vehicle ability absorb impacts selected external disturbances. A state...

The controllers for active safety systems of motorcycles cannot be synthesized regardless by a suitable analytic dynamic model of the vehicle. Generally the analytical study and analysis of critical driving situations, falls and accidents is a complex task, since these events take place due to the simultaneity of different and complex phenomena. An analytical model able to capture the dynamics ...

The purpose of brake is to decelerate a vehicle by transforming the kinetic energy of the vehicle to heat via friction and dissipating that heat to the surroundings. As a part of an automobile, brake materials have additional requirements like resistance to corrosion, light weight, long life, low noise, stable friction, low wear rate and acceptable cost versus performance. Selection of the mate...

OBJECTIVE To investigate comparative road user crash and fatality rates in Japan between 2000 and 2010 in the elderly and young. METHODS Data from the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Vital Statistics Database and the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis were used to calculate crash rates by age group, vehicle, and license category. RESULTS Fatal crash rates ...

This paper presents a monocular visual odometry algorithm that incorporates a wheeled vehicle model for ground vehicles. The main innovation of this algorithm is to use the single-track bicycle model to interpret the relationship between the yaw rate and side slip angle, which are the two most important parameters that describe the motion of a wheeled vehicle. Additionally, the pitch angle is a...