Vehicle corner modules and systems and methods for installation thereof

1. A vehicle corner module (VCM) reversibly connectable to a reference-frame of a vehicle platform, for regulating motion of a vehicle, via a multi-interface connection element for connection of multiple electronic and/or flow vehicle subsystems of the vehicle to the VCM, the multi-interface connection-element having a vehicle-platform-portion mountable onto the reference frame of the vehicle, the VCM comprising:

a sub-frame;

a VCM-portion of the multi-interface connection-element, mounted onto the sub-frame and adapted for connection to the vehicle-platform-portion of the multi-interface connection-element;

a motion actuator coupled to the VCM-portion of the multi-interface connection-element, the motion actuator adapted to actuate relative motion between the VCM-portion and the vehicle-platform-portion for connection therebetween;

a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub adapted for mounting of a wheel thereon; and

at least one subsystem of the vehicle, mounted onto the sub-frame, the at least one subsystem being selected from the group of subsystems consisting of a drive subsystem, a steering subsystem, a suspension subsystem, and a braking subsystem.

2. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein, when the sub-frame includes a vehicle-connection interface adapted for connection of the sub-frame to a VCM-connection interface forming part of the reference-frame.

3. The VCM of claim 2 , wherein:

the at least one subsystem comprises at least one of:

a subsystem disposed between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface; and

a subsystem mounted onto a portion of the sub-frame adapted, when the sub-frame is connected to the reference-frame, to be disposed within the reference frame, between upper and lower surfaces of the reference frame.

4. The VCM of claim 2 , wherein all of the subsystems in the plurality of subsystems are disposed between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface.

5. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems is selected from the group consisting of a power supply of the vehicle, a control-circuit of the vehicle, a computerized controller of the vehicle, a network bus of the vehicle, a network interface of the vehicle, a coolant flow subsystem of the vehicle, an oil flow subsystem of the vehicle, and a brake-fluid flow subsystem of the vehicle.

6. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems comprises an electronic subsystem selected from the group consisting of a power supply of the vehicle, a control-circuit of the vehicle, a computerized controller of the vehicle, a network bus of the vehicle, and a network interface of the vehicle.

7. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems comprises a flow subsystem selected from the group consisting of a coolant flow subsystem of the vehicle, an oil flow subsystem of the vehicle, and a brake-fluid flow subsystem of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle platform including a reference frame;

at least one vehicle corner module (VCM) connected to the reference-frame, the at least one VCM adapted for regulating motion of the vehicle, the VCM comprising:

a sub-frame;

a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub adapted for mounting of a wheel thereon; and

at least one subsystem of the vehicle, mounted onto the sub-frame, the at least one subsystem being selected from the group of subsystems consisting of a drive subsystem, a steering subsystem, a suspension subsystem, and a braking subsystem

multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems, each selected from the subsystem group consisting of a power supply, a control-circuit, a computerized controller, a network bus, a network interface, a coolant flow subsystem, an oil flow subsystem, and a brake fluid flow subsystem;

a multi-interface connection-element including:

a vehicle-platform-portion mounted onto the reference-frame and connected to the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems;

a VCM-portion mounted onto the sub-frame, and reversibly connected to the vehicle-platform-portion; and

a motion actuator adapted to actuate relative motion between the VCM-portion and the vehicle-platform-portion of the multi-interface connection-element for connection therebetween,

wherein each of the VCM-portion and the vehicle-platform-portion includes multiple connection interfaces for connection to the other of the VCM-portion and the vehicle-platform-portion, and

wherein, connection of the VCM-portion to the vehicle-platform-portion of the multi-interface connection-element result in connection of the VCM to the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein sub-frame includes a vehicle-connection interface, the reference-frame includes a VCM-connection interface, and the vehicle-connection interface is reversibly and mechanically connected to the VCM-connection interface.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each of the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems comprises an electronic subsystem selected from the group consisting of a power supply of the vehicle, a control-circuit of the vehicle, a computerized controller of the vehicle, a network bus of the vehicle, and a network interface of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each of the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems comprises a flow subsystem selected from the group consisting of a coolant flow subsystem of the vehicle, an oil flow subsystem of the vehicle, and a brake-fluid flow subsystem of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the motion actuator extends between a back portion of the VCM and a front portion of the VCM.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the motion actuator is adapted to actuate motion of the VCM-portion toward the vehicle-platform-portion.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the motion actuator is adapted to actuate motion of the vehicle-platform-portion toward the VCM-portion.

15. A multi-interface connection-element for connection of multiple electronic and/or flow vehicle subsystems of a vehicle to a Vehicle Corner Module (VCM) mounted onto a reference-frame of a vehicle platform of the vehicle, the VCM being adapted to regulate motion of the vehicle, the multi-interface connection-element comprising:

a vehicle-platform-portion mountable onto the reference frame of the vehicle, the vehicle-platform-portion comprising multiple connection interfaces, each adapted to be associated with one of the multiple electronic and/or flow vehicle subsystems;

a VCM-portion, mountable onto a sub-frame of the VCM, the VCM-portion comprising multiple corresponding connection interfaces adapted for connection to the multiple connection interfaces of the vehicle-platform-portion; and

a motion actuator adapted to actuate relative motion between the VCM-portion and the vehicle-platform-portion of the multi-interface connection-element for connection therebetween,

wherein connection of the connection interfaces of the vehicle-platform-portion to the multiple corresponding connection interfaces of the VCM-portion results in connection of the VCM to the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems.

16. The multi-interface connection-element of claim 15 , wherein connection of the connection interfaces of the vehicle-platform-portion to the multiple corresponding connection interfaces of the VCM-portion results in connection of at least one VCM-subsystem to at least one of the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems.

17. The multi-interface connection-element of claim 15 , wherein the motion actuator extends between a back portion of the VCM and a front portion of the VCM.

18. The multi-interface connection-element of claim 17 , wherein the motion actuator is disposed at a different portion of the VCM than the VCM-portion, such that motion of the VCM-portion can be actuated even when the VCM-portion is inaccessible.

19. The multi-interface connection-element of claim 17 , wherein the motion actuator comprises at least one of:

a fastener connected to the VCM-portion by a connector cable, and wherein motion of the VCM-portion is actuated by operating the fastener to transfer movement actuation forces from the fastener to the VCM-portion; and

a fastener connected to the VCM-portion by a fluid-flow conduit, and wherein motion of the VCM-portion is actuated by transmitting a fluid through the fluid-flow conduit from the fastener to the VCM-portion.

20. The multi-interface connection-element of claim 15 , wherein the motion actuator includes an electrical motor, adapted to be remotely operated by a remote controller.