Vehicle Stability Prediction
Application



A lift truck with NREC's stability prediction system

The Problem
For vehicles operating on slopes, the inherently "reduced stability margin” significantly increases the likelihood of rollover or tipover.

Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are not the only wheeled vehicles that traverse rough terrain and steep slopes. Contemporary, driver-operated mining, forestry, agriculture and military vehicles do so, as well, and frequently at high speeds over extended periods of time. Cranes, excavators and other machines that lift heavy loads also are subject to dramatically increased instability when operating on slopes. Slopes are only one factor to consider. Preventing vehicular tipover on flat surfaces (inside a warehouse, for example) is just as important, especially when considering that market forces reward manufacturers of lift trucks that are smaller, lift heavier loads and lift those loads higher than could be done previously.

The Solution
NREC experts devised a solution featuring a combination of sophisticated software and hardware, including inertial sensors and an inclinometer-type pendulum at the vehicle’s center of gravity.

During vehicular operation, the system continuously and actively calculates stability margin measurements to trigger an alarm, drive a "governor” device or alter the suspension. It calculates lateral acceleration as either curvature or speed increase. When state-of-motion activity reaches rollover / tipover vulnerability, the system recognizes the situation and triggers the desired action.

This system can be deployed on robotic and driver-operated vehicles (including cars) and machinery (cranes, excavators, lift trucks, pallet jacks, etc.).