A propulsion device for a bicycle can include a mounting assembly for releasably coupling the propulsion device to the bicycle, a motor, a power source selectively providing power to the motor, a gear assembly, and two frictional drive components coupled to the gear assembly. The two frictional drive components can be movable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. In the engaged configuration, the two frictional drive components are frictionally engaged with a side of a wheel of the bicycle such that the wheel is arranged between the two frictional drive components. In the disengaged configuration the two frictional drive components are disengaged from the wheel. The motor can drive the gear assembly: (i) to move the two frictional drive components into the engaged configuration, and (ii) to rotate at least one of the two frictional drive components to rotate the wheel of the bicycle.

A solar-powered vehicle that includes a body having a front end, rear end, top and opposing sides; two or more wheels; and a first and second solar panel assembly respectively disposed on the opposing sides of the body.

Embodiments of a friction drive system include a battery, a drive motor, a control unit, and a speed wheel. When the friction drive system is mounted on a wheeled vehicle, the speed wheel provides an accurate measurement of the vehicle speed by maintaining contact with a tire of the vehicle. An automatic traction control system, which may be part of the control unit, compares the speed of the speed wheel with the speed of the drive motor to determine whether slippage is occurring. If slippage is detected, then embodiments of an automatic traction control system automatically increase an amount of normal force between a contact surface on the drive motor and the tire, by advancing a position of the drive motor relative to a fixed mounting point. If no slippage is detected, then embodiments of an automatic traction control system automatically reduce the amount of normal force, by retracting a position of the drive relative to a fixed mounting point. In embodiments of a friction drive system, the relative position of the drive motor may be controlled by powering a worm gear motor attached to a worm gear in response to commands from the control unit.

A solar-powered vehicle that includes a body having a front end, rear end, top and opposing sides; two or more wheels; and a first and second solar panel assembly respectively disposed on the opposing sides of the body including a first side and a second side.

The disclosure relates to improved friction drive systems, control algorithms for friction drive systems, and automatic traction control for friction drive systems. Embodiments of friction drive systems and methods may improve control over an amount of normal force between a contact surface on a friction drive (e.g., disposed on a drive motor) and a tire or wheel of a wheeled vehicle. Embodiments of friction drive systems and methods may dynamically adjust the normal force between the contact surface and the tire or wheel in response to rapidly changing conditions, such as weather, road surface, and/or tire inflation. Embodiments of an automatic traction control system may adjust the normal force to avoid slippage while minimizing tire wear and maximizing battery efficiency. Embodiments of friction drive systems and methods may allow a user to calibrate or adjust the amount of normal force delivered based on their preferences or based on a selected mode of operation.

The disclosure relates to improved fastening mechanisms having both sufficient stiffness to bear a load and the ability to fit securely on a wide-range of sizes and shapes of tubing, including tapered tubing. Embodiments include a fastening mechanism with a first body part having a first inner surface, and a second body part having a second inner surface. A first fastening set may be disposed at a first end of the first and second body parts. A second fastening set may be disposed at a second end of the first and second body parts. The first and second fastening sets may be capable of securing the first and second body parts about a central tube, which may have tapered dimensions. The first inner surface and the second inner surface may each have a first subsurface and a second subsurface, the first subsurfaces may have a first contour, the second subsurfaces may have a second contour, and the first contour may fit a different size and shape of tubing than the second contour.

The disclosure relates to improved friction drive systems, control algorithms for friction drive systems, and automatic traction control for friction drive systems. Embodiments of friction drive systems and methods may improve control over an amount of normal force between a contact surface on a friction drive (e.g., disposed on a drive motor) and a tire or wheel of a wheeled vehicle. Embodiments of friction drive systems and methods may dynamically adjust the normal force between the contact surface and the tire or wheel in response to rapidly changing conditions, such as weather, road surface, and/or tire inflation. Embodiments of an automatic traction control system may adjust the normal force to avoid slippage while minimizing tire wear and maximizing battery efficiency. Embodiments of friction drive systems and methods may allow a user to calibrate or adjust the amount of normal force delivered based on their preferences or based on a selected mode of operation.

An electric motorcycle includes an electric motor disposed in a hub assembly of a wheel of the motorcycle; a plurality of internal cables connected to the electric motor, a first connector assembly disposed in the hub assembly and connecting the internal cables to a plurality of external cables, a second connector assembly disposed on the suspension and connecting the external cables to a plurality of upper cables, a plurality of rigid tubes inside which said upper tubes are disposed in such a way that the upper cables come out of the rigid tubes in correspondence of an upper part of the suspension, support and guide means connected to the suspension and suitable for supporting and guiding the rigid tubes, and an electric power system and a control unit disposed in the motorcycle and connected to the upper cables coming out of the rigid tubes.

An electric motorcycle includes an electric motor disposed in a hub assembly of a wheel of the motorcycle; a plurality of internal cables connected to the electric motor, a first connector assembly disposed in the hub assembly and connecting the internal cables to a plurality of external cables, a second connector assembly disposed on the suspension and connecting the external cables to a plurality of upper cables, a plurality of rigid tubes inside which said upper tubes are disposed in such a way that the upper cables come out of the rigid tubes in correspondence of an upper part of the suspension, support and guide means connected to the suspension and suitable for supporting and guiding the rigid tubes, and an electric power system and a control unit disposed in the motorcycle and connected to the upper cables coming out of the rigid tubes.

An inverted pendulum vehicle has a vehicle body frame, a main wheel combining a plurality of driven rollers arranged along a circle, a pair of drive disks rotatably supported by the vehicle body frame around a laterally extending rotational center line, a plurality of drive rollers arranged rotatably on each drive disk along a circumferential direction and configured to engage the driven rollers of the main wheel, a drive unit for individually driving the drive disks, a control unit for controlling the drive units under an inverted pendulum control, a tail wheel arm having a base end pivotally attached to a part of the vehicle body frame around a laterally extending pivot center line, a tail wheel rotatably supported by the tail wheel arm and a skid member attached to the tail wheel arm, the skid member including a pair of side walls slanting outward toward upper edges thereof.