A self-propelled device is disclosed that includes a center of mass drive system. The self-propelled device includes a substantially cylindrical body and wheels, with each wheel having a diameter substantially equivalent to the body. The self-propelled device may further include an internal drive system with a center of mass below a rotational axis of the wheels. Operation and maneuvering of the self-propelled device may be performed via active displacement of the center of mass.

Disclosed are a foot plate for a self-balancing scooter, and a self-balancing scooter. The foot plate (1) for a self-balancing scooter comprises a main body (10) and touch control portions (11). A front side and a rear side of a lower surface of the main body are both connected to the touch control portions, which protrude downwards and are used to trigger a sensor on a self-balancing scooter. The touch control portions at the front side and the rear side of the lower surface of the foot plate for a self-balancing scooter are capable of directly triggering corresponding sensors. The foot plate is applicable to twisting scooters having a left scooter portion and a right scooter portion which are capable of twisting relatively. No additional components are required, and users just need to install the foot plate on a self-balancing scooter. The foot plate has a simple and logic structure, and a self-balancing scooter adopting the foot plate is compact in overall structure, easy to install, convenient to operate, better in control performance, and longer in service life.

A vehicle comprising a framework in form of beam, wheel, drive and braking system, while the vehicle is partially loaded with the weigh of user and the user stands on roller skates and holds the vehicle on the beam so that the wheel is behind the user and contacts with its tire the road surface; and when the user activates the drive, the wheel starts rotating and, as a result of friction between the wheel's tire and the road surface, there arises a force making the vehicle with user move. Additionally, another technique for operation of the same vehicle is being offered, at which the vehicle on the move is positioned in the front of user.

A pedal connection mechanism includes a left and a right pedal, and a transverse connecting member. The first cylindrical shaft is provided along the bottom of the left pedal. The left side of the top wall of the transverse connecting member is provided with the first support member. The second cylindrical shaft is provided along the bottom of the right pedal. The right side of the top wall of the transverse connecting member is provided with the second support member. The present invention further provides an electric balancing vehicle using this pedal connection mechanism. The left pedal and the right pedal are not connected with each other through an intermediate shaft. Their motion statuses are controlled respectively by the left foot and the right foot independently. The transverse connecting member shares the weight of a human body. The force distributes evenly. The balancing vehicle is flexible and durable.

A pedal connection mechanism, includes a left and a right pedal, and a transverse connecting member. The first cylindrical shaft is provided along the bottom of the left pedal. The left side of the top wall of the transverse connecting member is provided with the first support member. The second cylindrical shaft is provided along the bottom of the right pedal. The right side of the top wall of the transverse connecting member is provided with the second support member. The present invention further provides an electric balancing vehicle using this pedal connection mechanism. The left pedal and the right pedal are not connected with each other through an intermediate shaft. Their motion statuses are controlled respectively by the left foot and the right foot independently. The transverse connecting member shares the weight of a human body. The force distributes evenly. The balancing vehicle is flexible and durable.

An intake cam is positioned between first and second shaft supports that support an intake camshaft. An exhaust cam is positioned between third and fourth shaft supports that support an exhaust camshaft. An ignition plug unit extends between the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft and inward of the intake cam and the exhaust cam with a cylinder axis defining a reference position. A cylinder head includes a joint plane that is joined to a cylinder body. In a case where a virtual plane is defined by the joint plane and is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis, a distance between a portion, closest to the virtual plane, of the intake camshaft and the virtual plane is less than a distance between a portion, farthest from the virtual plane, of the intake port and the virtual plane.

An intake cam is positioned between first and second shaft supports that support an intake camshaft. An exhaust cam is positioned between third and fourth shaft supports that support an exhaust camshaft. An ignition plug unit extends between the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft and inward of the intake cam and the exhaust cam with a cylinder axis defining a reference position. A cylinder head includes a joint plane that is joined to a cylinder body. In a case where a virtual plane is defined by the joint plane and is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis, a distance between a portion, closest to the virtual plane, of the intake camshaft and the virtual plane is less than a distance between a portion, farthest from the virtual plane, of the intake port and the virtual plane.

Foot placement sensor and self-balancing vehicles having same. The foot placement sensor may be configured in or with a self-balancing transportation device that has a least a first foot platform. The sensor may include an emitter of electromagnetic radiation (or other suitable signal) that is propagated, at least in part, over a portion of the foot platform and a receptor positioned to receive this emission. Interruption of the emitted radiation at the receptor may indicate the presence of a user's foot at the platform. One suitable emission type is infrared light, among other suitable types. Various embodiments are disclosed including in two-wheel, one-wheel and paired-wheel self-balancing vehicles.

In a method for driving stabilization of a motorized two-wheeled vehicle, in which two gyroscopes situated side-by-side are present having axes of rotation in parallel to each other, the gyroscopes each being tiltable about a tilting axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and the tilting axes of the two gyroscopes also being parallel to each other, the gyroscopes rotating about their axes of rotation in directions of rotation opposite to each other, and in the case of a detected unstable driving behavior of the two-wheeled vehicle, the two rotating gyroscopes are tilted about their respective tilting axis at a first angular velocity, the tilting directions being counter to each other; and the two gyroscopes are subsequently tilted back again at a second angular velocity about their respective tilting axis into their original orientation.

A multi-phase multi-pole electric machine attached to a vehicle. The multi-phase multi-pole electric machine includes rotor, stator with five phase windings, machine controller, and torque sensors. The machine controller controls the flow of current. The torque sensors sense the torque exerted by the vehicle and transmits the information to the machine controller. The machine controller provides four degree of control through injection of five phase currents and thus providing higher torque.