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My first question, on seeing a picture of the drive, was how this allowed the wheel to be turned for steering - this is, after all, the difficult part of drivin

My first question, on seeing a picture of the drive, was how this allowed the wheel to be turned for steering - this is, after all, the difficult part of driving the front wheels (if you are not using an in-hub motor) and is why a CV joint, and not just any universal joint, is needed (when turning sharply, the wheel axis is nowhere near parallel to the motor axis.) Neither the article nor the video mentioned steering, however, and neither did the video demonstrate it, despite showing an all-wheel drive installation. It even has an animation of vehicles going around a curve with all the wheels resolutely pointing straight ahead!

atomicUpdate 3y ago
It also (conveniently) ignores that a wheel's camber changes when it moves up and down, due to suspension geometry. It's certainly an interesting idea for sure, and any efficiency improvements here could help ICE vehicles as well. There's likely a reason these are just renders in a video though. Hopefully they are able to work out these details, and eventually provide a real physical demonstration of these use-cases.
- Descon 3y ago
  I just assumed that the drive shaft between the motor and their uni wheel system would have a universal joint in it that would solve both of these issues, would it not? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_joint https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_joint
audunw 3y ago
In the video you can see the motors turning with the wheels. So there’s no problem there at all. I think this would make most sense with an axial flux motor. That’d keep the package quite compact. I’m guessing the camper changes mentioned could also be handled by the motor pivoting up and down as well. But I can’t say for sure if that makes sense.
- mannykannot 3y ago
  I just replayed it on a big screen, and I see what you are saying - it is visible between about 5:15 and 5:20.

atomicUpdate 3y ago

It also (conveniently) ignores that a wheel's camber changes when it moves up and down, due to suspension geometry. It's certainly an interesting idea for sure, and any efficiency improvements here could help ICE vehicles as well. There's likely a reason these are just renders in a video though. Hopefully they are able to work out these details, and eventually provide a real physical demonstration of these use-cases.

Descon 3y ago
I just assumed that the drive shaft between the motor and their uni wheel system would have a universal joint in it that would solve both of these issues, would it not? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_joint https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_joint

audunw 3y ago

In the video you can see the motors turning with the wheels. So there’s no problem there at all. I think this would make most sense with an axial flux motor. That’d keep the package quite compact. I’m guessing the camper changes mentioned could also be handled by the motor pivoting up and down as well. But I can’t say for sure if that makes sense.

mannykannot 3y ago
I just replayed it on a big screen, and I see what you are saying - it is visible between about 5:15 and 5:20.