Nissan has announced that its e-4ORCE technology is used by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to control the prototype lunar rover’s driving force, enabling it to properly drive in extreme conditions, such as the rugged, volcanic landscape of Miyakejima, a Japanese volcanic island.
In December 2021, the vehicle maker unveiled a lunar rover prototype jointly developed with JAXA at its Nissan Futures event in Japan. The company has been working with JAXA on driving the controllability of the rovers since January 2020.
Its research applies the motor control technology it has developed through its production of mass-market electric vehicles such as the LEAF and the e-4ORCE all-wheel control technology featured on the all-new Ariya electric crossover. In particular, it is e-4ORCE that is boosting the lunar rover’s performance over tricky terrain.
The e-4ORCE controls front and rear drive force and left and right braking, enabling precise cornering and reduced steering correction even on tough roads. Moreover, the technology can control the motor down to 1/10,000 a second, enabling precise response on any road surface and making driving in rough terrain easier.
Interestingly, the second-gen e-POWER with a VC turbo engine lowers the RPMs, and the frequency of the engine starts. A much quieter cabin is achieved by cancelling engine noise by emitting an opposite soundwave.
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