The invention relates to the field of vehicle engineering, and more particularly to gyro-stabilized two-wheeled vehicles, primarily motorcycles. A gyro-stabilizer for a two-wheeled single-track vehicle, preferably a motorcycle, is configured in the form of a gyroscope in a gimbal mount, an outer ring of which is connected by a two-way axial pivot joint to the frame of a vehicle, wherein the axis of said joint is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; an inner ring of the gimbal mount is connected by a two-way axial pivot joint to the outer ring; and a spin axis of the gyroscope is connected by a two-way axial pivot joint to the inner ring of the gimbal mount, wherein the axes of all three pivot joints are mutually perpendicular, and wherein the gyro-stabilizer has a means for locking rotation of the outer ring about the axis of the pivot joint between said outer ring and the frame of the vehicle. According to the invention, the gyro-stabilizer is disposed on the swingarm of the rear wheel and has a means for locking rotation of the inner ring about the axis of the pivot joint between said inner ring and the outer ring, wherein each locking means is in the form of a servomotor which allows the forced rotation of the corresponding ring in response to a command from a microcontroller controlling at least the speed and the permissible bank angles of the vehicle, and an additional weight is secured on the axis of the pivot joint between the inner ring and the spin axis.

A robotic motorcycle may include a chassis, driven wheel assemblies, and a control loop stabilizer. The driven wheel assemblies may each include a wheel and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to an axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a substantially vertical steering axis. A steer shaft may connect the axle to a steer assembly that controls rotation of the steer shaft about the steering axis to steer the wheel. A drive shaft may be coupled to a drive assembly that controls rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may couple the other end of the drive shaft to the axle so that rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis. The control loop stabilizer may determine parameters for the drive and steer assemblies to balance the motorcycle.

A robotic motorcycle may include a chassis, driven wheel assemblies, and a control loop stabilizer. The driven wheel assemblies may each include a wheel and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to an axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a substantially vertical steering axis. A steer shaft may connect the axle to a steer assembly that controls rotation of the steer shaft about the steering axis to steer the wheel. A drive shaft may be coupled to a drive assembly that controls rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may couple the other end of the drive shaft to the axle so that rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis. The control loop stabilizer may determine parameters for the drive and steer assemblies to balance the motorcycle.

A control path is added to a two-wheeled self-balancing vehicle that has steering augmentation and CMG or reaction wheel actuators for roll balancing. These actuators are used to damp yaw disturbances while preventing roll disturbances, based on a yaw rate disturbance signal received on the control path.

A control path is added to a two-wheeled self-balancing vehicle that has steering augmentation and CMG or reaction wheel actuators for roll balancing. These actuators are used to damp yaw disturbances while preventing roll disturbances, based on a yaw rate disturbance signal received on the control path.

A method for operating a rotating-mass device and a rotating mass device of a two-wheeled vehicle are provided. The rotating-mass device includes first and second gyroscopic instruments, each with a cardanically mounted rotating-mass device suitable for generating torque about their respective rotation axes. Pivoting of the rotating-mass devices is coordinated to influence motion of the two-wheeled vehicle about three orthogonal vehicle axes.

A method for operating a rotating-mass device and a rotating mass device of a two-wheeled vehicle are provided. The rotating-mass device includes first and second gyroscopic instruments, each with a cardanically mounted rotating-mass device suitable for generating torque about their respective rotation axes. Pivoting of the rotating-mass devices is coordinated to influence motion of the two-wheeled vehicle about three orthogonal vehicle axes.

A controller controls precession of a gyroscope that oscillates about a precession axis perpendicular to a spin axis and a roll axis of the gyroscope. To do so, the controller detects a deviation of a center of the oscillation away from a nominal center. The precession is caused by roll of the gyroscope about the roll axis and imposes decreasing amounts of damping upon the roll as the precession moves away from the nominal center. The controller reduces the deviation of the center of the oscillation by applying an asymmetric amount of braking to the precession when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction relative to when the precession and the deviation are in opposing directions.

Various embodiments of an apparatus for changing the in-air pitch and/or roll of a land craft are described herein. The apparatus may include a steering input mechanism, a support structure, and an articulator. The apparatus may include one or more of a pitch-forward input mechanism, a pitch-back input mechanism, a roll-right input mechanism, and a roll-left input mechanism. The vehicle may include a set of wheels on which the vehicle travels over ground. The steering input mechanism may receive steering inputs from a driver of the vehicle. The steering input mechanism may receive pitch and roll control inputs from the driver. The support structure may connect the steering input mechanism to the vehicle, at least one of the wheels, or the vehicle and the at least one of the wheels. The articulator may rotatably connect the steering input mechanism to the support structure.

Various embodiments of an apparatus for changing the in-air pitch and/or roll of a land craft are described herein. The apparatus may include a steering input mechanism, a support structure, and an articulator. The apparatus may include one or more of a pitch-forward input mechanism, a pitch-back input mechanism, a roll-right input mechanism, and a roll-left input mechanism. The vehicle may include a set of wheels on which the vehicle travels over ground. The steering input mechanism may receive steering inputs from a driver of the vehicle. The steering input mechanism may receive pitch and roll control inputs from the driver. The support structure may connect the steering input mechanism to the vehicle, at least one of the wheels, or the vehicle and the at least one of the wheels. The articulator may rotatably connect the steering input mechanism to the support structure.