The vehicle includes a seating section provided in a main body and configured such that a driver is able to take a seat by straddling the same, foot placement sections located beneath the seating section to be respectively provided at left and right positions of sides of the main body with the seating section interposed therebetween, feet of the seated driver being placed on the foot placement sections, and a grip section located in front of the seating section and disposed above the seating section, the grip section being gripped with a hand of the driver so as to be operated, an acceleration operation being performed by tilting the grip section in a forward direction, a deceleration operation being performed by tilting the grip section in a rearward direction.

A drive handle located behind an operator seat comprises a throttle used to drive a lift truck in reverse without requiring the operator's foot to actuate a floor-based throttle.

Systems and methods for power wheelchairs are disclosed including, for example, a controller connected to an input device and comprising logic reading input signals from the input device to control speed and direction of the power wheelchair, logic changing the input device from speed and direction control to audible message output control, and logic reading input signals from the input device to output one or more audible messages.

An electric vehicle for personal transportation includes an inflatable body that is airtight and a chassis. The chassis is made of two box-like structures connected together with a hinge so that when rotated together around the hinge the two box-like structures form an enclosure configured to hold the inflatable body when the inflatable body is deflated. The inflatable body preferably holds a number of independent air bags or chambers formed in the shape of an automobile and includes a driver's compartment with a driver's seat. A front-end chamber of the electric vehicle inflates a collision air-bag through a flowable connection when the front-end chamber is impacted in a front-end collision. A suspension system may be present for each wheel. The suspension system includes an arm between two tubular bearings. The arm is made of an air-chamber bag partially contained by a sheet-metal cap providing rigidity.

Techniques for automatic control of a vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle may include a removable input device having various modes of operation. For example, a coupled mode of operation may control the vehicle when an operator is in an operator area of the vehicle, while a remote mode of operation may enable vehicle control when the operator is outside of the operator area. The vehicle may include object sensors to detect a target such as the removable input device or an operator device. Accordingly, the vehicle may automatically follow the target. The vehicle may also identify obstacles, in response to which manual control of the vehicle may at least temporarily be provided to the operator, after which automatic control may resume.

A controller allows an occupant, who is seated in a seat, to conveniently manipulate a traveling function and various convenience functions, which are provided in an internal, by use of a single control unit so that the convenience in using convenience functions, such as autonomous driving functions, manual traveling functions, air conditioning, sound, and internal brightness, may be improved, improving the satisfaction of the occupant.

Techniques for automatic control of a vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle may include a removable input device having various modes of operation. For example, a coupled mode of operation may control the vehicle when an operator is in an operator area of the vehicle, while a remote mode of operation may enable vehicle control when the operator is outside of the operator area. The vehicle may include object sensors to detect a target such as the removable input device or an operator device. Accordingly, the vehicle may automatically follow the target. The vehicle may also identify obstacles, in response to which manual control of the vehicle may at least temporarily be provided to the operator, after which automatic control may resume.

An integrated control apparatus for an autonomous vehicle is configured to perform acceleration, deceleration and steering operations of a vehicle by manipulating a joystick lever. Upon steering operation, feedback control for a steering motor is performed using a torque sensor module 800 to realize more precise steering feeling. A sensor configured to detect acceleration or deceleration position of the joystick lever and a sensor configured to detect a steering position of the joystick lever share a single position sensor PCB.

A vehicle control station includes a hand rest and at least one micro-joystick positioned relative to the hand rest such that the hand rest is configured to locate an operator's hand and fingers in position to operate the at least one micro-joystick. A function enable switch may be configured to activate the at least one micro-joystick.

A method is for operating a vehicle operating device. The vehicle operating device is for influencing a longitudinal and/or lateral movement of a vehicle. The vehicle operating device includes at least one operating unit, which can be manually actuated for controlling multiple vehicle functions. In at least one actuation state, in which one of the vehicle functions is actively controlled by the operating unit, at least one control variable of a non-actively controlled vehicle function is modified, such that an unintentional actuation and/or activation of the non-actively controlled vehicle function is impeded and/or prevented.