Control system having independent communication networks for vehicles
An example control system includes: a first communication network having a first communication bus; a second communication network having a second communication bus, independent from the first communication bus; a plurality of devices that are communicatively coupled to the first communication bus, such that each device of the plurality of devices is in direct communication with other devices of the plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices include: at least one drive motor controller of an electric motor that drives the vehicle, wherein the at least one drive motor controller is communicatively coupled to the first communication bus and the second communication bus; and at least one input device that commands movement of the vehicle, wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled directly to the at least one drive motor controller via the second communication bus.
1 . A control system for a vehicle, the control system comprising:
a first communication network having a first communication bus;
a second communication network having a second communication bus, independent from the first communication bus;
a plurality of devices that are communicatively coupled to the first communication bus such that each device of the plurality of devices is in direct communication with other devices of the plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices include: at least one drive motor controller of an electric motor that drives the vehicle, wherein the at least one drive motor controller is communicatively coupled to the first communication bus and the second communication bus; and
at least one drive input device that commands movement of the vehicle, wherein the at least one drive input device is communicatively coupled directly to the at least one drive motor controller via the second communication bus such that a command from the at least one drive input device to the at least one drive motor controller is independent and isolated from the first communication network.
2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of devices further comprise:
a display device connected to the first communication bus only and configured to display information received via the first communication bus from the plurality of devices including the at least one drive motor controller.
3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of devices further comprise:
a display device connected to both the first communication bus and the second communication bus, wherein the display device is configured to display information received via the first communication bus and the second communication bus.
4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive motor controller comprises:
a first drive motor controller controlling a first electric motor driving a first wheel or track of the vehicle; and
a second drive motor controller controlling a second electric motor driving a second wheel or track of the vehicle.
5 . The control system of claim 4 , wherein the first drive motor controller is communicatively coupled to the second drive motor controller via the first communication bus only.
6 . The control system of claim 4 , wherein the first drive motor controller is communicatively coupled to the second drive motor controller via both the first communication bus and the second communication bus.
7 . The control system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one drive input device includes (i) a first drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the first drive motor controller via the second communication bus, and (ii) a second drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the second drive motor controller via the second communication bus.
8 . The control system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a third communication network having a third communication bus, independent from the first communication bus and the second communication bus, wherein the at least one drive input device includes (i) a first drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the first drive motor controller via the second communication bus, and (ii) a second drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the second drive motor controller via the third communication bus.
9 . A vehicle comprising:
a first wheel or track;
a second wheel or track;
a first communication network having a first communication bus;
a second communication network having a second communication bus, independent from the first communication bus;
at least one drive motor controller configured to control at least one electric motor that propels the first wheel or track and the second wheel or track, wherein the at least one drive motor controller is communicatively coupled to the first communication bus and the second communication bus; and
at least one drive input device operated by an operator of the vehicle to command movement of the vehicle, wherein the at least one drive input device is communicatively coupled directly to the at least one drive motor controller via the second communication bus such that a command from the at least one drive input device to the at least one drive motor controller is independent and isolated from the first communication network.
10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising:
a display device connected to the first communication bus only and configured to display information received via the first communication bus from the at least one drive motor controller.
11 . The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising:
a display device connected to both the first communication bus and the second communication bus, wherein the display device is configured to display information received via both the first communication bus and the second communication bus.
12 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one drive motor controller comprises:
a first drive motor controller controlling a first electric motor driving the first wheel or track; and
a second drive motor controller controlling a second electric motor driving the second wheel or track of the vehicle.
13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first drive motor controller is communicatively coupled to the second drive motor controller via the first communication bus only.
14 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first drive motor controller is communicatively coupled to the second drive motor controller via both the first communication bus and the second communication bus.
15 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the at least one drive input device includes (i) a first drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the first drive motor controller via the second communication bus, and (ii) a second drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the second drive motor controller via the second communication bus.
16 . The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third communication network having a third communication bus, independent from the first communication bus and the second communication bus, wherein the at least one drive input device includes (i) a first drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the first drive motor controller via the second communication bus, and (ii) a second drive input device communicatively coupled directly to the second drive motor controller via the third communication bus.
17 . A method comprising:
communicatively coupling at least one drive motor controller to: (i) a first communication bus of a first communication network of a vehicle, and (ii) a second communication bus of a second network of the vehicle, wherein the second communication bus is independent from the first communication bus; and
communicatively coupling at least one drive input device, which commands movement of the vehicle, to the at least one drive motor controller via the second communication bus such that a command from the at least one drive input device to the at least one drive motor controller is independent and isolated from the first communication network.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one drive motor controller comprises: (i) a first drive motor controller controlling a first electric motor driving a first wheel or track of the vehicle, and (ii) a second drive motor controller controlling a second electric motor driving a second wheel or track of the vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises:
communicatively coupling the first drive motor controller to the second drive motor controller via the first communication bus only; or
communicatively coupling the first drive motor controller to the second drive motor controller via both the first communication bus and the second communication bus.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one drive motor controller comprises (i) a first drive motor controller controlling a first electric motor driving a first wheel or track of the vehicle, and (ii) a second drive motor controller controlling a second electric motor driving a second wheel or track of the vehicle, wherein the at least one drive input device comprises: (i) a first drive input device, and (ii) a second drive input device, and wherein the method further comprises:
communicatively coupling the first drive input device directly to the first drive motor controller via the second communication bus; and
communicatively coupling the second drive input device directly to the second drive motor controller via the second communication bus.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a third communication network having a third communication bus, independent from the first communication bus and the second communication bus, wherein the at least one drive motor controller comprises (i) a first drive motor controller controlling a first electric motor driving a first wheel or track of the vehicle, and (ii) a second drive motor controller controlling a second electric motor driving a second wheel or track of the vehicle, wherein the at least one drive input device includes (i) a first drive input device, and (ii) a second drive input device, wherein the method further comprises:
communicatively coupling the first drive input device directly to the first drive motor controller via the second communication bus; and
communicatively coupling the second drive input device directly to the second drive motor controller via the third communication bus.