VEHICLE AND A METHOD OF SIMULATING A DRIFTING/SKIDDING MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A vehicle includes a user compartment and a driving platform, wherein the driving platform is arranged to be in contact with a road/ground, wherein the user compartment is movably connected to the driving platform in a way that it may pivot around a vertical axis of the vehicle. The vehicle may be used in a method of simulating a drifting/skidding movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a user compartment and a driving platform, wherein the driving platform is arranged to be in contact with a road/ground, wherein the user compartment is movably connected to the driving platform in a way that it may pivot around a vertical axis of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a motor connected to the user compartment, wherein the motor is arranged to pivot the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, comprising a control unit connected to the motor and arranged to control the motor to pivot the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one sensor, which is adapted to detect when the vehicle is turning, wherein the at least one sensor is connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the motor to pivot the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle at least based on input from the one or more sensors.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the one or more sensors is a gyro-sensor or a g-force sensor.

6. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle comprises a GPS-system connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the motor to pivot the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle at least based on input from the GPS-system.

7. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle is connected to a cloud service, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the motor to pivot the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle at least based on input received from the cloud service.

8. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the pivot of the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle to simulate a skidding/drifting movement of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the pivot of the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle to simulate a skidding/drifting movement of the vehicle at a turn that the vehicle is turning.

10. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the pivot of the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle to point more inwards in a turn than the driving platform following the turn.

11. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the pivot of the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle continuously during a turn.

12. A method of simulating a drifting/skidding movement of a vehicle according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: pivoting the user compartment in relation to the driving platform around the vertical axis of the vehicle when the vehicle is turning.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising the step of: receiving, in a control unit, input of that the vehicle is turning, and controlling the pivoting of the user compartment in relation to the driving platform around the vertical axis of the vehicle in response to the input.

14. A method of simulating a drifting/skidding movement of a vehicle according to claim 3, comprising the steps of: pivoting the user compartment in relation to the driving platform around the vertical axis of the vehicle when the vehicle is turning; and controlling the motor, by the control unit, to pivot the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle.

15. A method of simulating a drifting/skidding movement of a vehicle according to claim 7, comprising the steps of: pivoting the user compartment in relation to the driving platform around the vertical axis of the vehicle when the vehicle is turning; and receiving, in a control unit, input of that the vehicle is turning, and controlling the pivoting of the user compartment in relation to the driving platform around the vertical axis of the vehicle in response to the input; and wherein the step of receiving input from one or more sensors of the vehicle, a GPS-system and/or a cloud service.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of controlling the pivot of the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle to simulate a drifting/skidding movement of the vehicle, even if the vehicle is not.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of controlling the pivot of the user compartment around the vertical axis of the vehicle to point more inwards in a turn than the driving platform following the turn.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, showing presently preferred embodiments and aspects of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a vehicle according to the invention with a rotatable user compartment, wherein the vehicle is driving in a mode as a normal vehicle.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a vehicle according to the invention, wherein the user compartment is pivoted to simulate skidding/drifting as the vehicle turns to the right.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] As already mentioned above, it should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0034] Embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure will be described and exemplified more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The solutions disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0035] The invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. This disclosure shows a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 comprising a user compartment 10 and a driving platform 20. The driving platform 20 is arranged to be in contact with a road/ground. The user compartment 10 is movably connected to the driving platform 20 in a way that it may pivot around a vertical axis A of the vehicle 1. According to an aspect the driving platform could pivot 0-90° to the right and 0-90° to the left. According to an aspect the driving platform could pivot 0-70° to the right and 0-70° to the left. According to an aspect the driving platform could pivot 0-45° to the right and 0-45° to the left. The driving platform 20 has two front wheels 22 and two rear wheels 23. The direction of the user compartment 10 is indicated by the user compartment directional arrow 11. In FIG. 1 the user compartments directional arrow 11 indicate that the user compartment 10 is directed in the same direction as the driving platform 20. In FIG. 2 the user compartments directional arrow 11 indicate that the user compartment 10 is directed in to the right in line with the direction of the wheels 22 turning the driving platform along the driving platform directional arrow 21.

[0036] The vehicle 1 further comprises a motor 30 connected to the user compartment 10. The motor 30 is arranged to pivot the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1.The vehicle 1 further comprises a control unit 40 connected to the motor 30. The control unit 40 is arranged to control the motor 30 to pivot the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1.The vehicle 1 comprises at least one sensor 60. The at least one sensor 60 is adapted to detect when the vehicle is turning. The at least one sensor 60 is according to an aspect connected to the control unit 40by a wire. The control unit 40 is connected to and arranged to control the motor 30 to pivot the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1. The pivot of the user compartment around the axis A is based on input from the one or more sensors 60.The one or more sensors 60 is a gyro-sensor or a g-force sensor, or a wheel-angle detection sensor.

[0037] According to an aspect a mobile device of the user can also be connected to the vehicle's control unit 40 to make use of any sensors as further gyroscopes, etc. available, e.g. in a smart phone. The control unit 40 may also have a user interface that can be accessed via a display (not shown) in the user compartment or via a mobile device connected to the vehicle as e.g. a smart phone or a tablet computer.

[0038] The vehicle 1 further comprises a GPS-system 70 connected to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 is arranged to control the motor 30 to pivot the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 at least based on input from the GPS-system 70 According to an aspect the input from the GPS-system could be the vehicle's position on the road and an angle of a turn on the road.

[0039] The vehicle 1 is according to an aspect connected to a cloud service 80. The control unit 40 is arranged to control the motor 30 to pivot the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 at least based on input received from the cloud service 80.The cloud service may be run by a company associated with the vehicle 1 to present the user with options and remote control the rotation/pivoting of the user compartment 10 so as to optimize the user experience. The cloud service 80 could according to an aspect remotely deactivate rotation of the user compartment, e.g. as an answer to government instructions, detected traffic situations or other situations where rotation of the user compartment is deemed not suitable.

[0040] The control unit 40 is arranged to control the pivot of the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 to simulate a skidding/drifting movement of the vehicle 1.The control unit 40 may in one user mode control the pivot of the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 to simulate a skidding/drifting movement of the vehicle 1 at a turn that the vehicle 1 is turning. In a further user mode the control unit 40 is arranged to control the pivot of the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 to point more inwards in a turn than the driving platform 20 following the turn as indicated by the driving platform directional arrow 21. In one embodiment the control unit 40 is arranged to control the pivot of the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 continuously during a turn so that the amount of simulated skidding/drifting is equivalent to the degree of turning.

[0041] According to the second aspect of this disclosure shows a method of simulating a drifting/skidding movement of a vehicle according to the first aspect. With reference to FIG. 3 the method comprising the steps of: pivoting S10 the user compartment 10 in relation to the driving platform 20 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 when the vehicle 1 is turning. The turn of the vehicle driving platform 20 is indicated in FIG. 1 by the driving platform directional arrow 21. The method further comprises receiving S11, in a control unit 40, input of that the vehicle 1 is turning, and controlling S12 the pivoting S10 of the user compartment 10 in relation to the driving platform 20 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 in response to the input. According to an aspect, the method further comprises the step of controlling S13 the motor 30, by the control unit 40, to pivot the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1.The method according to an aspect comprises the step of receiving S11 input from one or more sensors 60 of the vehicle 1, a GPS-system 70 and/or a cloud service 80.

[0042] According to an aspect the method comprises the step of controlling S13 the pivot of the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 to simulate a drifting/skidding movement of the vehicle 1, even if the vehicle 1 is not. Thus a drifting experience is effectively simulated. The user compartment 10 is as described decoupled from the driving platform 20 and the link between the compartment and the platform is motorized. The control unit 40 is configured to arbitrarily change the pointing angle of the user compartment 10. When a user enables a “Drift Mode”, any time the driving platform 20 initiates a turn, the user compartment will be turned so that it points inwards, simulating that the vehicle is drifting through the turn. The compartment angle will be changed continuously so that when the vehicle exits the turn it is straight again. Sounds effects from wheels skidding may be played in the compartment to enhance the experience but also to make the user aware that the “Drift Mode” is enabled.

[0043] The method according to an aspect comprises the step of controlling S13 the pivot of the user compartment 10 around the vertical axis A of the vehicle 1 to point more inwards in a turn than the driving platform 20 following the turn.

[0044] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments or aspect described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 it is indicated that the sensor or sensors 60 and the GPS-system 70 are connected to the control unit 40 by wires, but a person skilled realize that the connection could just as well be wireless. The vehicle could be any vehicle used on roads, from personal cars to trucks. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0045] Reference has been made herein to various embodiments. However, a person skilled in the art would recognize numerous variations to the described embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the claims.

[0046] For example, the method embodiments described herein discloses example methods through steps being performed in a certain order. However, it is recognized that these sequences of events may take place in another order without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, some method steps may be performed in parallel even though they have been described as being performed in sequence. Thus, the steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step.

[0047] In the same manner, it should be noted that in the description of embodiments and aspect, the partition of functional blocks into particular units is by no means intended as limiting. Contrarily, these partitions are merely examples. Functional blocks described herein as one unit may be split into two or more units. Furthermore, functional blocks described herein as being implemented as two or more units may be merged into fewer (e.g. a single) unit.

[0048] Any feature of any of the embodiments and aspects disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment or aspect, wherever suitable. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments or aspect may apply to any other embodiments or aspects, and vice versa. Hence, it should be understood that the details of the described embodiments and aspects are merely examples brought forward for illustrative purposes, and that all variations that fall within the scope of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.