tilting vehicles and the x prize

Tilting Vehicles...and the X Prize.

The "term"...

This term "tilting vehicle" covers many forms of vehicle that are designed to tilt INTO a corner not
roll away from the corner. So a car rolls outwards in a corner , a tilting vehicle tilts inwards.
Tilting vehicles are narrow and are efficient forms of transport for one or two people.

The " simple car."..

A motorcar is simple and effective , but it is dynamically inferior because it acts contrary to natural
design   [ animals running,birds flying etc ]. It needs to be wide or else it will capsize.

The "inefficiency"..

This is not necessarily a bad thing IF it is designed to carry 4 people and IF there are 4 people in it.
The trouble is that   for 90% of its operating life a car carries ONE person. So it is VERY inefficient
in the role that it is actually being used for.   When its not being used it takes up a lot of valuable
space just sitting about.

The "reality"

So a motorcar designed for 4 is pushing air aside the same no matter how much space remains
unused inside it . It takes up a lot of space to park and requires a wide lane to drive on. This is
clearly inefficient and cant be tolerated IF we are serious about efficient transport. Are we?

The "extreme"

The other extreme is a motorcycle. This is the fundamental form of tilting vehicle. It has been
around for a long time. It shows perfect dynamics but is crippled by the difficult control
requirements placed on the rider. The rider must balance the vehicle onto its path. This is not overly
difficult once learned, but in emergency conditions the control of this type of tilting vehicle is VERY
difficult. Indeed in certain conditions control is impossible because if traction is diminished
sufficiently [as is common experience ] the vehicle will simply fall down no matter what the rider
does. This is self evident.

The "problem"

Now we come to the problem which causes so much confusion. Some motorcycles are given an
extra front wheel but the control of the vehicle is identical. [ Piaggio Mp3,etc ]. These vehicles have
been around for about 50 years in various forms.

The "Myth"

Many people credit these types with "more roll stability" but this is impossible.[ except when
stationary and " tiltlocked" . Some aspects of dynamic stability are improved . . but
When you add a laterally spaced wheel and retain manual countersteer [balancing control] you
achieve little in fundamental vehicle control improvement. A grip increase in some conditions of
heavy braking will show. But... as we were taught in school traction/ friction is NOT dependent
primarily on surface area. Traction depends on the coefficient of friction X weight. So it doesn't
matter how many wheels you have the vehicle can loose traction   and fall down just the same as a
normal bike. Counterintuitive? Yes it is , but thats life.

The "problem extended.."

Now we have the extended foolishness of the "enclosed motorcycle" ie the "Ecomobile" which
needs a weeks training to get launched off its outriggers and falls over anyway. These specialty
vehicles are not practical for average people with general skills. These types demand very high
skill levels

The "consequence"

These   manual countersteered vehicles then mesh with an inability of the general public to
appreciate the reasons for their limitations. This " public perception " then delays the introduction
of proper TILTING VEHICLES.

The "proper way?"

What IS a "proper" control system for a tilting vehicle? Well its exactly the same as for a car , its
"simple steer"!
.
The "difficulty"

A   "proper" tilting vehicle control system is NOT easy to come up with. Brinks Dynamics have one
and they use it on the CARVER.   BMW tried one on the CLEVER and it was a failure. Mercedes
tried one on the Life Jet and it was a failure. These vehicles failed NOT because there was no need
for them in the market, they failed simply because those in charge did not understand simple steer
tilting dynamics.

But the penny is slowly dropping?.

The "bold move"

The X PRIZE foundation recently introduced plans for an efficiency race for production ready
vehicles and wisely banned vehicles that required balancing by the driver.   This is a very welcome
acknowledgement that these types will never replace the motorcar. It is the MOTORCAR we need
to replace.   Motorcycles will likely always be a part of our transport system, but the inherent faults
of these vehicles wont attract motorcar drivers.

The "realisation"

It IS possible for a narrow TvA tilting vehicle to outperform a motorcar in all areas
of stability and safety, AND be easy to drive..... Our future depends on clear
thinking.

"lets see what happens" .....