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.

Articles of clothing include modules for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or for performing other functions. Such clothing systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for example, to confirm whether the module and clothing are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems may sense interactions between the module and a module securing element of the clothing to activate or deactivate functions of the module.

Methods and apparatus are discussed for an electric powered personal transportation vehicle with electric motors powered by one or more batteries. A set of universal battery mounting hole locations and a reserved space for one or more battery housings exist on a board for the personal transportation vehicle. The reserved space on the board for the one or more battery housings that house one or more battery packs is set to not interfere with an operation of the motors or the wheels. A first battery pack containing the one or more batteries differs in at least one of i) a different amp-hour capacity, ii) a different length, width, or height, and iii) a different shape than another battery pack designed to be physically contained in the one or more battery housings and electrically connect with corresponding electrical connections in the one or more battery housings.

A system for control of a mobility device comprising a controller for analyzing data from at least one sensor on the mobility device, wherein the data is used to determine the gait trajectory of a user. The gait data is then used to provide motion command to an electric motor on the mobility device.

A ski binding release system includes a spring that is releasably maintained in a first state using a pyrotechnic fastener. In the first state, a ski boot is secured in the ski binding. The pyrotechnic fastener is electrically coupled to an activation circuit. The activation circuit includes a battery, a plurality of sensors, a switch, and a controller. When the controller determines that the skier has fallen, the controller generates an output signal that transitions the switch from a disconnected state to a connected state. In the disconnected state, the pyrotechnic fastener is electrically disconnected from the battery. In the connected state, the pyrotechnic fastener is electrically connected to the battery. Electrical energy from the battery causes the pyrotechnical fastener to explode to transition the spring from the first state to a second state to release the ski boot from the ski binding.

A personal conveyance including a flexible substrate, a wheel and an electric motor mounted to a first wheel assembly, the wheel rotatably supported by the first wheel assembly and the electric motor configured to drive the wheel, wherein the first wheel assembly is mounted to the flexible substrate, a battery mounted to the flexible substrate and configured to power the electric motor, and a processor configured to control operation of the electric motor.

A self-balancing board is provided, comprising a primary wheel assembly, a platform, at least one sensor, a controller, a first auxiliary wheel assembly, and a first brake element. The primary wheel assembly comprises a primary wheel and a motor driving the primary wheel. The platform is secured to the primary wheel assembly and has a foot deck. The at least one sensor senses the orientation of the platform. The controller receives data from the at least one sensor and controls the motor in response to the received data. The first auxiliary wheel assembly is secured to the platform distal the primary wheel assembly, and is elevated from contacting a flat surface upon which the primary wheel rests when the foot deck is parallel to the flat surface. The first brake element is manually movable relative to the first auxiliary wheel assembly to engage the first auxiliary wheel assembly to provide resistance to rotation of the first auxiliary wheel assembly.

A self-balancing vehicle includes a vehicle body having a housing with left and right sides which are independently moveable. A unitary support bar is disposed within the housing, and a left drive wheel and an opposed right drive wheel are each coupled to the support bar. A bracket encircles the support bar; the bracket has a cylindrical body formed with a slot through the body. A set screw is fixed to the support bar and is received within the slot to limit rotational movement of the support bar with respect to the bracket.

Some aspects include a ski binding system using controllable electromagnets, alone or in combination with permanent magnets, as means of attaching or releasing a ski boot to a ski during use. Some aspects include a ski binding system using a controllable solenoid. In some aspects, microprocessor-based control releases binding electronically based on input from sensors located in binding, ski and/or boot, as well as in other equipment or clothing connected to them or to skier, or binding releases when a mechanical threshold is overcome. In some aspects, sensor data are recorded for analysis of system performance and for adjustment and improvement of system parameters based on data analytics.

Some aspects include a ski binding system using controllable electromagnets, alone or in combination with permanent magnets, as means of attaching or releasing a ski boot to a ski during use. Some aspects include a ski binding system using a controllable solenoid. In some aspects, microprocessor-based control releases binding electronically based on input from sensors located in binding, ski and/or boot, as well as in other equipment or clothing connected to them or to skier, or binding releases when a mechanical threshold is overcome. In some aspects, sensor data are recorded for analysis of system performance and for adjustment and improvement of system parameters based on data analytics.