4d vehicle steering

Ideas about how a world with more than three spatial dimensions would work - what laws of physics would be needed, how things would be built, how people would do things and so on.

4d vehicle steering

Postby DonSoreno » Tue Sep 17, 2024 12:13 pm

I made some "diagrams" in blender.
A steering axis would be very similar to the 3d, case.
car_steering_only_roll_4d.jpg
In this case the car is spiraling in the left-right/ana-kata plane.
(34.53 KiB) Not downloaded yet


car_steering_4d.jpg
The steering axle, top-down view (3d projection). Wheels: dark grey
steering linkage: red
steering knuckle: blue
axle: light gray.
(26.93 KiB) Not downloaded yet


car_steering_4d_4wheels.jpg
same color scheme, but 4 wheels.
(43.37 KiB) Not downloaded yet


car_steering_no_roll_4wheels.jpg
when steering, without roll (rotation in left-right,ana-kata plane)
(34.04 KiB) Not downloaded yet


car_steering_only_roll_4d.jpg
In this case the car is spiraling in the left-right/ana-kata plane.
(34.53 KiB) Not downloaded yet


Such a vehicle can turn left,right,ana,kata and by rotating the steering linkage, it can roll/spiral in the left/right/ana/kata plane.
The connection to the steering wheel, could be through a spherindrical rod, and we could use a 2d rack and pinion to connect it to the steering linkage (red).

Thoughts?
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Re: 4d vehicle steering

Postby quickfur » Thu Sep 19, 2024 5:25 pm

The surface of a 4D road has 3D extent, so steering on a 4D road is analogous to flying in space in a 3D rocket; the possible motions are identical. So in theory, any controls that parallel the controls of a 3D rocket would work.

This assumes, however, that 4D roads are built as 3D surfaces with 3 degrees of freedom. But the point of having a road (rather than an open field) is to direct vehicles to travel along a 1D direction, and only occasionally allow switching lanes and/or turning at a fork in the road. So you really only need the ability to turn in 2 degrees of freedom (since the cross-section of the road is 2D); the rest of the possible motions are superfluous. For this, a simple joystick-like steering would suffice.

Note that due to the extra dimension of space, we never actually need any intersections or elevated ramps. Intersections can be replaced with on-ramps and off-ramps that connect with the perpendicular road, and these ramps do not need to be elevated; they can be built entirely at ground level without intersecting each other. Thus, no intersections are needed, neither are traffic lights (except lights for controlling congestion when merging onto busy roads).

All of the above, however, assume a direct analogy with 3D roads. However, Keiji has discovered an alternative system with uniquely 4D properties: the planar rail system. This is a hybrid between a 3D railway track and an open road where you can turn wherever you want. Thanks to the extra dimension of space, you can have both properties at the same time. A planar rail road is one where one of the 3 degrees of freedom is constrained by a rail, so the vehicle ends up having only 2 dimensions of freedom, one for forward motion and one for lateral motion. This system is advantageous over a completely open 3D road because in an open road, you have 2 degrees of freedom of turning, which can be confusing because your orientation w.r.t. the road will change the meaning of the lateral dimensions. For example, if you approach a fork that splits left and right, the left turn may take you to city A and the right turn may take you to city B. But if you approach the road with a 180° rotated orientation, your left/right will be swapped, and turning left will take you to city B instead of city A. In a planar rail system, the rail can restrict the orientation of the vehicle so that it always approaches a fork in the same orientation. The vehicle will still be able to make turns because there's still an extra dimension to turn in, in addition to the forward direction. So you never have to worry about vehicles approaching a fork in the wrong orientation (think about how confusing road signs would be in that case!).

And for the planar rail road system, you don't need any special controls; a 2D steering wheel works just fine!
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Re: 4d vehicle steering

Postby wendy » Wed Oct 02, 2024 1:28 pm

With multidimebsion steeruing, it is better if there is no across rotation. that is you reduce spce by vertical , and forward, this in 3d leave left right. so the steering device turns progressive hardee to where the top of the wheel is so you would turn the steering so that the np point in sort of the direction. You dont want any rotation in the across hedrix, it is not a tumble dryer/ so we dont emuly tricky mabouvers that the red maces night do at an airshow.
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