US 12,044,599 B2
Wheel system for use with a guide soft target
Jordan Y. Silberling, Redondo Beach, CA (US); Joseph Kelly, Lakewood, CA (US); John Lenkeit, San Pedro, CA (US); Nathan Watanabe, Northridge, CA (US); and Kyle Nagao, Torrance, CA (US)
Assigned to Dynamic Research, Inc., Torrance, CA (US)
Appl. No. 18/277,055
Filed by Dynamic Research, Inc., Torrance, CA (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 15, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/049943
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 11, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/091401, PCT Pub. Date May 25, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/349,680, filed on Jun. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/281,548, filed on Nov. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0044746 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G01M 17/007 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 17/007 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for testing vehicle crash avoidance technologies in a subject vehicle, the system comprising:
a dynamic motion element (DME);
a guided soft target (GST), the GST comprising:
a soft body removably attachable to the DME such that the soft body detaches from the DME when the GST collides with a subject vehicle;
an axle connected to the soft body positioned substantially perpendicular to a soft body longitudinal axis;
a tire body rotatably connected to the axle comprising an outer surface concentric with the axle and encircling the axle;
a ground-contacting tire ridge extending from and encircling the outer surface, and constructed to contact the ground when the soft body is attached to a DME;
wherein the ridge is comprised of a ridge material and has a ridge width, and wherein the ridge material and ridge width are selected to (1) permit the tire body to slide in a direction parallel to the axle while minimizing movement or inclination of the tire body about the soft body longitudinal axis, and (2) rotate the tire body about the axle as the DME moves.