Novel In-Wheel Motor Electric Wheel Design

Supervisor: Professor Zhichao Hou

🚗 Novel In-Wheel Motor Electric Wheel Design

During my undergraduate studies at Tsinghua University, I collaborated with my classmates and best friends, Yudi Qin and Yuanji Zou, on a research project developing next-generation in-wheel motor technology to improve vehicle dynamics, vibration performance, and system integration. As a core team member, I contributed to the design, vibration analysis, and system-level optimization. This joint work was recognized at the national level and became one of the most unforgettable and rewarding experiences of my college years.

Yudi, Yuanji (left), Lingsheng (right)

🔹 Research Focus

• Proposed a new vibro-dynamic configuration that introduced additional degrees of freedom and optimized modal characteristics.
• Designed a two-stage suspension in-wheel motor architecture to overcome the major challenge of vibration amplification (0.5–25 Hz) in conventional hub motors.
• Developed system-level evaluation metrics and applied multi-objective optimization algorithms to balance ride comfort, safety, and energy efficiency.
• Built prototypes, conducted bench testing, and validated through CarSim–Simulink simulations, demonstrating >70% reduction in motor/body vibration compared to conventional designs.

🔹 Key Innovations

• Two-stage suspension structure inside the hub motor, significantly reducing vibration transmission.
• Integrated flexible transmission mechanism for compact, lightweight, and cost-effective design.
• System-level optimization platform for rapid parameter matching across different vehicle types.
• Distributed drive control algorithms improving energy efficiency (>10%) and enabling advanced maneuvers (on-spot turning, lateral movement, obstacle crossing).

🔹 Achievements

• Patents: 10 patent applications (9 Chinese patents, 1 PCT international patent).
• Publications: 1 paper (Proc. IMechE Part D: J. Automobile Engineering, 2020) and 1 conference paper.
• Competitions:
  • Tsinghua University Challenge Cup (2018) – Special Award (Top 2%)
  • Beijing Challenge Cup (2019) – Special Award (Top 3%)
  • National Challenge Cup (2019) – Special Award (Top 1%)

🔹 Skills & Tools

• Mechanical design & dynamics: wheel–suspension integration, vibration reduction mechanisms.
• Optimization & modeling: multi-objective optimization, system-level parameter matching.
• Prototype development & testing: bench experiments, iterative design validation.
• Simulation & control: CarSim–Simulink co-simulation.

Software Used:

• MATLAB/Simulink – control algorithms, data analysis, optimization
• SolidWorks / CAD tools – structural design and finite element analysis (FEA)