Automotive

Protean's all-in-one drive, suspension and steering modules spin 360 degrees

Protean's all-in-one drive, suspension and steering modules spin 360 degrees
Autonomous pods could be coming at you – sideways – courtesy of the Protean360+ corner module
Autonomous pods could be coming at you – sideways – courtesy of the Protean360+ corner module
View 10 Images
Side view of the Protean wheel
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Side view of the Protean wheel
Labeled parts of the Protean corner module
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Labeled parts of the Protean corner module
Exposed cabling looks a little concerning
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Exposed cabling looks a little concerning
Wheels that turn 360 degrees
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Wheels that turn 360 degrees
Transparency view of the Protean360+ corner module
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Transparency view of the Protean360+ corner module
Electronic steering enables drive in any direction
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Electronic steering enables drive in any direction
Autonomous pods could be coming at you – sideways – courtesy of the Protean360+ corner module
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Autonomous pods could be coming at you – sideways – courtesy of the Protean360+ corner module
The Protean360+ mobility pod steering, suspension and drive module
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The Protean360+ mobility pod steering, suspension and drive module
A handy solution for tomorrow's driverless world
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A handy solution for tomorrow's driverless world
Again, those exposed cables ...
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Again, those exposed cables ...
View gallery - 10 images

Autonomous mobility pods of the future could gain themselves exceptional tight-space maneuvering capabilities if Protean's 360-degree integrated wheel systems come to fruition. Each one packs steering, suspension, motors and pneumatic ride-height adjustment into a single unit.

We first encountered Protean back in 2013 when the company began pushing its powerful hub motors for the automotive sector. But, powerful and responsive as they might be, hub motors have found it difficult to make a mark in standard automotive settings. They're obviously a lot heavier than a standard wheel, which adds weight just where you don't want it on a performance vehicle: below the suspension. They're also exposed to damage from road grime and rocks.

But autonomous people-moving pods are an emerging market that couldn't care less about unsprung weight or high speeds. The priorities for mobility pod designers will be space, efficiency and suitability for driverless solutions, and Protean's latest offering is tailor made to fit the bill.

Labeled parts of the Protean corner module
Labeled parts of the Protean corner module

The Protean360+ corner module is a self-contained, all-in-one drivetrain, suspension and steering assembly for autonomous electrics. We wrote about a similar solution from Israel's REE just last week. But where REE is looking to make the most flexible package possible, as useful for performance vehicles and heavy-hauling trucks as it is for autonomous systems, Protean is targeting its offering directly at the pods.

Each Protean360+ unit comprises a ProteanDrive hub motor, rim and tire, and a miniature double-wishbone suspension system with a damper mounted in a steering arm that can rotate the entire unit 360 degrees or pneumatically raise and lower the chassis above it.

Mount one of these on each corner of a skateboard chassis full of battery, and you get yourself a vehicle you can stick a nice big, roomy people pod on top of, with fully electronic control over drive, braking, chassis lift and steering, and each wheel being able to rotate a full 360 degrees. That means your little pod can happily move sideways in and out of tight parallel parking spots, or turn super-fast donuts on the spot as your horrified passengers vomit all over the advertising screens you've installed to squeeze a few extra bucks out of your mobility pod business.

When it stops to let people in and out, it can lower itself right down to ground level, making life easy for oldies, youngsters and wheelchair users as they hop in and out.

Again, those exposed cables ...
Again, those exposed cables ...

Currently, on Protean's diagrams, each hub motor is listed as one of Protean's Pd18 units, meaning 80 kW (107 hp) and 1,250 Nm (922 lb-ft) of torque per wheel. I probably don't have to tell you that a total of 320 kW (430 hp) and 5,000 Nm (3,688 lb-ft) is probably a wee bit excessive for a driverless pod capable of accelerating sideways. But there's no reason these couldn't be replaced with much more humble units in a production version.

Certainly, this Protean system doesn't appear as clever as REE's all-encompassing modular units, with their lightweight rims, efficient transmissions, high-speed motors and endless steering and suspension options. And we're not a huge fan of what looks like some major electrical cabling getting exposed to stones, grit and road grime. But then, the Protean system's pneumatic lift and 360-degree rotation may well prove to be killer features in the autonomous world we keep hearing is just around the corner. Time will tell.

Enjoy a video of a potential driverless future below.

Source: Protean

Protean360+ all-in-one drive, suspension and steering unit for autonomous pods

View gallery - 10 images
3 comments
3 comments
Gregg Eshelman
I want to see a real version of the T-180 suspension from the Speed Racer movie.
McDesign
Yeah, I think there's definitely potential there. As car guys, and no fans of unsprung weight, we always dismiss hub motors, but it's clear parts will continue to get lighter.
Incorporating the wheel and brake disc will go along way towards minimizing the weight penalty. Now we just need inexpensive room-temp superconductors . . .
warren52nz
That's pretty cool. Can't wait.