Patent classifications
B60L2200/14
VEHICLE RIDER DETECTION USING STRAIN GAUGES
An electric vehicle may include a board having two deck portions each configured to receive a foot of a rider, and a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions. A motor assembly may drive the wheel assembly in response to board orientation and rider presence information. A rider detection mechanism may include one or more strain gauges, and may be configured to detect rider presence and rider weight information. A responsiveness of the motor may be automatically adjusted based on the rider weight information.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE
An electric vehicle is provided with a highly simple and convenient structure for detachably retaining a battery, and enabling the vehicle to be lifted by hand. A battery case of the electric vehicle includes an upper extension (80F, 80G) including an upper member (80G) configured to be gripped by a hand for lifting the vehicle, and defining a gripping space (112) for receiving the hand between an upper surface of the battery received in the battery case and the upper member, and a latching structure (102, 106, 120) is provided between an upper part of the battery and an opposing part of the battery case, the latching structure including an operating member (104) positioned inside the gripping space.
Powered unicycle device
A self-balancing powered unicycle device (100) having a single hubless wheel is disclosed. The self-balancing powered unicycle device comprises: a single wheel (120); a motor adapted to drive the wheel; a balance control system adapted to maintain fore-aft balance of the unicycle device; at least one foot platform (165) for supporting a user of the unicycle device; and a casing (110) adapted to cover at least a portion of the outer rim of the wheel. The self-balancing powered unicycle device further comprises at least one energy storage device compartment (150A, 150B) protruding outward from a side of the casing (110) and adapted to house an energy storage device for powering the unicycle device.
Single-wheeled balance vehicle
A single-wheeled balance vehicle comprises a motor, pedals, a wheel, a power module and a control module. The motor comprises a motor housing and a spindle. The power module and the control module are fixed to the spindle. The power module comprises at least one power unit. The control module comprises a first control unit electrically connected to the power unit and the motor. The two ends of the spindle are fixedly connected to the pedals respectively. The wheel is of a hollow structure having two ends formed with openings, is arranged on the motor housing in a sleeving manner and is fixedly connected to the motor housing. The power module and the control module are located in the wheel. Miniaturization of the single-wheeled balance vehicle is facilitated, and the service life of the single-wheeled balance vehicle is prolonged.
AUTONOMOUS SCOOTER
Respectively a rider of the autonomous scooter may select a manual drive mode to drive without any assistance, or the rider may control the autonomous scooter remotely by a smartphone when riding or not aboard via a smartphone APP whereby the rider may engage a user interface system providing virtual driving control settings linked with an autonomous drive system to control the autonomous scooter, or the rider can manually control the autonomous scooter. Primarily elements of the autonomous scooter may comprise a platform defined by a front end and a rear end, a deck section to place the rider's feet thereon, and having a base supporting a steering column. Accordingly the steering column is rotatably connected by a motorized wheel adapter configured to turn a suspension fork arrangement containing at least one motorized wheel thus steering and balance control of the autonomous scooter, or the steering column is connected to a truck arrangement containing two motorized wheels, whereby the two motorized wheels provide balance and differential propulsion for steering the autonomous scooter. The motorized wheel adapter and the motorized wheels are systematically controlled by an autonomous drive system adapted to control the autonomous scooter during autonomous drive mode setting.
DISMOUNT CONTROLS FOR ONE-WHEELED VEHICLE
A control system for a tiltable vehicle may include a motor controller configured to respond to backward or reverse operation of the vehicle by hindering a responsiveness of the control system (e.g., proportionally) and/or eventually disengaging a drive motor of the vehicle. Accordingly, a user may intuitively and safely dismount the vehicle by selectively commanding reverse operation. In some examples, the backward direction may be user-defined.
Self-stabilizing skateboard
A self-propelled, one-wheeled vehicle may include a board having two deck portions each having a concave front footpad configured to receive a foot of a rider, and a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions. The concave front footpad has a rider detection sensor in the form of a membrane switch conforming to the shape of the footpad (e.g., facilitated by one or more slots formed in the membrane switch). A motor assembly drives the vehicle in response to board orientation and rider detection information. The vehicle may have a secondary battery chargeable via a three-pin charging port including an input pin, a ground pin, and an identification pin configured to receive an expected identification signal from an external charging circuit.
SURFACE DETECTION FOR MICROMOBILITY VEHICLES
Various implementations include approaches for training a surface detection classifier and detecting characteristics of a surface, along with related micromobility vehicles. Certain implementations include a method including: comparing: i) detected movement of a micromobility (MM) vehicle or a device located with a user at the MM vehicle while operating the MM vehicle, with ii) a surface detection classifier for the MM vehicle; and in response to detecting that the MM vehicle is traveling on a restricted surface type for a threshold period, performing at least one of: a) notifying an operator of the MM vehicle about the travel on the restricted surface type, b) outputting a warning at an interface connected with the MM vehicle or the device, c) limiting a speed of the MM vehicle, or d) disabling operation of the MM vehicle.
Dismount controls for one-wheeled vehicle
A control system for a tiltable vehicle may include a motor controller configured to respond to backward or reverse operation of the vehicle by hindering a responsiveness of the control system (e.g., proportionally) and/or eventually disengaging a drive motor of the vehicle. Accordingly, a user may intuitively and safely dismount the vehicle by selectively commanding reverse operation. In some examples, the backward direction may be user-defined.