WO-2026096437-A2 - WINCH SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

Provided herein is an apparatus, system, and method for operation of a vehicle winch, and more particularly, for controlling a winch power supply to a winch of a vehicle based on one or more conditions of the vehicle or an environment of the vehicle. Methods can include: receiving an indication that the winch is present; receiving an input indicating winch operation is requested; determining at least one condition of a vehicle associated with the winch; and enabling power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying a predetermined requirement. The at least one condition can include a vehicle speed, and where the predetermined requirement comprises a vehicle speed below a predetermined threshold.

Inventors

• DAVIS, DANIEL
• RANGEL, VICTOR
• Greskamp, Christoph
• MORTON, BRYAN
• SEELY, JASON

Assignees

• SCOUT MOTORS INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251028

Priority Date

20241031

Claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus for controlling a winch system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising at least one processor; and memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to: determine that operation of a winch is requested; determine at least one condition of the vehicle associated with the winch in response to the determination that operation of the winch is requested; and enable power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying a predetermined requirement.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein causing the controller to enable power to the winch comprises causing the controller to provide a signal to at least one of a relay or a solenoid connecting a power source to the winch.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of a vehicle operating mode, a vehicle speed, a vehicle power mode, or a vehicle power status.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one condition comprises a vehicle speed, and wherein the predetermined requirement comprises a vehicle speed below a predetermined threshold.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one condition comprises a vehicle power mode, wherein the vehicle power mode comprises at least an off mode, an accessory enable mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle cannot be driven, and a run mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle can be driven, wherein the predetermined requirement comprises the vehicle operating in the run mode.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one condition is determined based on one or more signals received from at least one sensor of the vehicle. 33 AttyDktNo. 075790/619541
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to: determine at least one condition of an environment of the vehicle and enable power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying the predetermined requirement and the at least one condition of the environment of the vehicle satisfying a predefined criteria.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the predefined criteria comprises an absence of people or wildlife objects within an area of concern comprising a predefined area proximate the winch of the vehicle.
9. 9. A vehicle comprising: a winch; a winch power supply; and a winch controller configured to: determine that operation of a winch is requested; determine at least one condition of the vehicle in response to the determination that operation of the winch is requested; and enable power to the winch from the winch power supply in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying a predetermined requirement.
10. 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one condition of the vehicle comprises a speed of the vehicle, and wherein the predetermined requirement comprises a speed of the speed of the vehicle below a predetermined threshold.
11. 11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one condition comprises a vehicle power mode, wherein the vehicle power mode comprises at least an off mode, an accessory enable mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle cannot be driven, and a run mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle can be driven, wherein the predetermined requirement comprises the vehicle operating in the run mode.
12. 12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the winch controller is further configured to: 34 AttyDktNo. 075790/619541 determine at least one condition of an environment of the vehicle and enable power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying the predetermined requirement and the at least one condition of the environment of the vehicle satisfying a predefined criteria.
13. 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the predefined criteria comprises an absence of people or wildlife objects within an area of concern around the winch.
14. 14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the winch power supply comprises a winch battery and a battery charger and wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle and further comprises: an electric powertrain comprising a battery and at least one electric motor; a direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) converter, wherein DC to the DC-to-AC converter is provided by the battery, and wherein the AC is provided to the battery charger.
15. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the battery comprises a high-voltage battery of over 100-volts, wherein the winch battery comprises a relatively lower-voltage battery of less than 50-volts.
16. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising: an accessory system comprising an accessory battery, wherein the accessory battery comprises a relatively lower-voltage battery of less than 50-volts.
17. 17. A method of operating a winch comprising: determining that the winch is present; receiving an input indicating winch operation is requested; determining at least one condition of a vehicle associated with the winch; and enabling power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying a predetermined requirement. 35 AttyDktNo. 075790/619541
18. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one condition comprises a vehicle speed, and wherein the predetermined requirement comprises a vehicle speed below a predetermined threshold.
19. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one condition comprises a vehicle power mode, wherein the vehicle power mode comprises at least an off mode, an accessory enable mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle cannot be driven, and a run mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle can be driven, wherein the predetermined requirement comprises the vehicle operating in the run mode.
20. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: determining at least one condition of an environment of the vehicle and enabling power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying the predetermined requirement and the at least one condition of the environment of the vehicle satisfying a predefined criteria.

Description

WINCH SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE BACKGROUND [0001] Vehicles, and particularly vehicles designed for off-road use, can be equipped with powered winches. A powered winch can be used for a variety of purposes on a vehicle including, primarily, the extraction of stuck vehicles. “Extracting” a stuck vehicle can generally refer to self-recovery (e.g., in which a vehicle extracts itself from a stuck position) and/or assisted recovery (e.g., in which a second vehicle helps to extract a first vehicle from a stuck position). For example, vehicle self-recovery can involve extricating a vehicle using the vehicle’s equipped winch from a location or position from which the vehicle is incapable of advancing itself out of using only the motive force of the wheels and tires. A winch can be employed for vehicle self-recovery by securing a cable of the winch to a stationary object and drawing the cable into the winch to pull the vehicle out of the immobile position. Similarly, a winch on a first vehicle can be used to help extract a second vehicle from a stuck position, in which case the winch on the first vehicle is attached to the second vehicle instead of or in addition to being attached to a stationary object. A winch system can optionally be used for navigating challenging terrain where tire traction may not be effective in overcoming obstacles, such as in rock crawling. In such an embodiment, the winch system can aid propulsion. SUMMARY [0002] A system and method are therefore provided for operation of a vehicle winch, and more particularly, for controlling a winch power supply to a winch of a vehicle based on one or more conditions of the vehicle or an environment of the vehicle. An embodiment provided herein includes an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code instructions, the computer program code instructions configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: determine that operation of a winch is requested; determine at least one condition of the vehicle associated with the winch in response to the operation of the winch is requested; and enable power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying a predetermined requirement. AttyDktNo. 075790/619541 [0003] Causing the controller of some embodiments to enable power to the winch includes causing the controller to provide a signal to at least one of a relay or a solenoid connecting a power source to the winch. According to some embodiments the at least one condition includes one or more of a vehicle operating mode, a vehicle speed, a vehicle power mode, or a vehicle power status. According to certain embodiments the at least one condition includes a vehicle speed, and wherein the predetermined requirement comprises a vehicle speed below a predetermined threshold. [0004] According to some embodiments the at least one condition includes a vehicle power mode, wherein the vehicle power mode comprises at least an off mode, an accessory enable mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle cannot be driven, and a run mode wherein accessories are powered and the vehicle can be driven, wherein the predetermined requirement includes the vehicle operating in the run mode. According to certain embodiments the at least one condition is determined based on one or more signals received from at least one sensor of the vehicle. [0005] The apparatus of an example embodiment is further configured to determine at least one condition of an environment of the vehicle and enable power to the winch in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying the predetermined requirement and the at least one condition of the environment of the vehicle satisfying a predefined criteria. According to some embodiments the predefined criteria comprises an absence of people or wildlife objects within an area of concern comprising a predefined area proximate the winch of the vehicle. [0006] Embodiments provided herein include a vehicle including: a winch; a winch controller; and a winch power supply, wherein the winch controller is configured to: determine that operation of a winch is requested; determine at least one condition of the vehicle in response to the input indicating operation of the winch is requested; and enable power to the winch from the winch power supply in response to the at least one condition of the vehicle satisfying a predetermined requirement. [0007] According to some embodiments the at least one condition of the vehicle includes a speed of the vehicle, and wherein the predetermined requirement includes a speed of the speed of the vehicle below a predetermined threshold. The at least one condition of an example embodiment includes a vehicle power mode, where the vehicle 2 AttyDktNo. 075790/619541 power mode comprises at least an off mode, an accessory enable mode where accessories are powered and the vehicle cannot be driven