Tire testing systems and methods
A manipulator assembly for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, including: a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis; a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis; a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis. Specifically, the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.
1. A manipulator assembly for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, comprising:
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis;
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis;
a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis;
wherein all degrees of freedom of the tire are independently controlled.
2. The manipulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manipulator assembly is coupled to one of a carriage assembly, a fixed base, and a moving reference.
3. The manipulator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces the manipulator assembly with respect to the one of the carriage assembly, the fixed base, and the moving reference along the global lateral y-axis.
4. The manipulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.
5. A method for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, comprising:
providing a manipulator assembly, comprising:
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis;
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis;
a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and
a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis;
wherein all degrees of freedom of the tire are independently controlled;
moving the tire using the manipulator assembly; and
collecting performance data associated with the tire.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the manipulator assembly is coupled to one of a carriage assembly, a fixed base, and a moving reference.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces the manipulator assembly with respect to the one of the carriage assembly, the fixed base, and the moving reference along the global lateral y-axis.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.