A powered wheelchair is operated by sensor-based control pads that include force transducers to produce a variable output signal that is proportional to a varying force applied. The control pad provides an analog-type output that provides a variable speed signal to a controller to operate the wheelchair at a variable speed in both forward/reverse directions and in right or left turning directions.

A charger is permitted to perform external charging of a power storage device in a connector locked state in which a charging connector is locked to a charge inlet by a connector lock device. An ECU releases the connector locked state in conjunction a door unlock operation of releasing a door locked state placed by a door lock mechanism. When the external charging of the power storage device by the charger is cancelled by the connector locked state being released, a different charging stop history, depending on presence or absence of a predetermined user operation after the external charging is cancelled, is stored into a storage device.

When an occupant sensor detects no occupant on a rear seat , an output upper limit value or input upper limit value of a battery is increased to set the resulting value as a setting. When the occupant sensor detects an occupant seated on the rear seat, the output upper limit value or input upper limit value of the battery is decreased to set the resulting value as a setting.

A method for controlling an electric vehicle and the electric vehicle are provided. The method includes: under a condition in which the electric vehicle is in unlocked and motor control shielded states, first predetermined information is detected, wherein the first predetermined information is used for indicating that a rider is located on the electric vehicle; the electric vehicle is controlled to switch from the motor control shielded state to a motor control unshielded state; a predetermined control signal is received in the motor control unshielded state; and a motor of the electric vehicle is controlled to rotate according to a rotational speed corresponding to the predetermined control signal. With the disclosure, the problems of complex operation and poor user experience of a manner for controlling the electric vehicle in the related art are solved.

A powered wheelchair is operated by sensor-based control pads that include force transducers to produce a variable output signal that is proportional to a varying force applied. The control pad provides an analog-type output that provides a variable speed signal to a controller to operate the wheelchair at a variable speed in both forward/reverse directions and in right or left turning directions.

A method of prompting an operator of an electric vehicle for pre-conditioning the electric vehicle comprises monitoring a location of the electric vehicle, monitoring the temperature of an electric propulsion system within the electric vehicle, accessing historical data of driving patterns for the electric vehicle, monitoring the location of the operator of the electric vehicle, identifying a condition that indicates imminent usage of the electric vehicle based on the location of the vehicle, the location of the operator of the electric vehicle, and the historical data of driving patterns for the electric vehicle, comparing the temperature of the electric propulsion system of the electric vehicle to a pre-determined preferred operating temperature, and sending a prompt to the operator of the electric vehicle suggesting that pre-conditioning of the electric vehicle may be appropriate.

A vehicle is capable of preventing unnecessary noise from being generated by outputting a sound for guiding a charging progress state only when a user can listen to the sound output from the vehicle. The vehicle includes a charging management system configured to output an electrical signal corresponding to a charging progress state of the vehicle; a sound output system configured to output a sound corresponding to the electrical signal output from the charging management system in an active mode and not output the sound in an inactive mode; and a controller configured to determine a position of a user device based on a communication signal transmitted from the user device, and to change an operation mode of the sound output system to the inactive mode based on the user device being located outside a preset range.

A robot according to an embodiment may include at least one driving motor for providing a driving force for driving of the robot, a position detector including at least one sensor or receiver for detecting a position of the robot, a pressure detector including at least one sensor for detecting whether a user who in on board the robot gets off the robot and a processor for detecting the position of the robot through the position detector, recognizing that the user has arrived at the destination when it is detected that the user gets off the robot and recognize that the user has not arrived at the destination when it is not detected that the user gets off the robot.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.

A server informs a vehicle of chargers, the vehicle being mounted with a battery. The vehicle includes a fatigue detection device configured to detect a fatigue level of the driver. A server includes a communication device configured to receive information indicative of the fatigue level of the driver from the vehicle, and a processor configured to extract at least one charger from among multiple chargers installed within an access range of the vehicle if the driver's fatigue level is above a given reference value, and inform the vehicle of the extracted charger, the access range being determined by power stored in the battery and the current location of the vehicle.